Is Rhino-Rack Roof Rack for 2018 Subaru Forester Secure to Use With Yakima SkyRise Tent

Question:

Can the Rhino Rack 54 inch vortex crossbar fit my 2018 Subaru Forester? I know it says the the 49 inch is meant for my car but I was looking for a bar that extends out a little further. I had recently purchased the 60 inch vortex bars, however, I was told in a previous question that the channels may not fit with the SX legs. Is it a 100 guarantee the 60 inch vortex bars will not fit? Any thoughts?

asked by: Russell

Expert Reply:

The Rhino-Rack Locking Endcaps for Vortex Aero Crossbars - Metal Cores # RRVA-LEC4 are going to be what you need if you use any accessories that go into the channels of your roof rack crossbars; if you only use accessories that clamp around the bars then the metal cores would not be needed.

In regards to the Rhino-Rack roof rack for your 2018 Subaru Forester, you mentioned you have the 59" Rhino-Rack Vortex Crossbars # RRVA150B-2, though that length may not work for your vehicle.

The Rhino-Rack SX Series Legs # RRSX100 are exactly what you need for your Forester with raised side rails but the correct bar length are the 49" Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars # RRVA126B-2. If you take a look at the accompanying photo, you can see the 49" bars installed on an '18 Forester. The Vortex bars that are 10" longer, the 59" # RRVA150B-2, would be potentially dangerous to people bumping their head, and they may be too long even to fit the legs - the channel under the bars the legs attaches to is likely not long enough.

Having said that, the Rhino-Rack roof rack system is a great set-up for the Yakima SkyRise HD Tent # Y07436.

These tents require roof racks that attach to raised side rails, fixed mounting points, or flush side rails, which is what you have on your '18 Forester, and a 165 lb capacity, which the Rhino-Rack roof rack has.

I have added links to video reviews for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Kyle S

click to enlarge

Russell

8/2/2019

Kyle S.

8/2/2019

While it is not a 100 percent guarantee you will be unable to install the longer 59" Rhino-Rack Vortex Crossbars # RRVA150B-2 on your 2018 Subaru Forester, it is unlikely they will work. The reason for that is the bottom channels of the Vortex bars are 300 mm (just over 11-3/4") and the feet take up quite a bit in the channels when they are installed. We have not test fit the longer 59" bars or the 54" Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars # RRVA137B-2 (Black) or # RRVA137S-2 (Silver), so I cannot guarantee the shorter bars will work either, though the 54" are much more likely to work than the 59". Having said all of that I very strongly recommend going with the 49" Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars # RRVA126B-2 (Black) or # RRVA126S-2 (Silver), as they will extend more than enough for you to effectively use any accessory on your 2018 Forester, including the SkyRise tent.