How Long of Crossbars for 2017 Subaru Forester

Question:

I was just wondering how the fit was confirmed for the 65inch bars on a 2017 forester. The fit guide on the manufacturer web site says use 50 or 58 inch bars.

asked by: Ken

Expert Reply:

The Malone SteelTop Roof Rack- 65" # MPG203 will fit your 2017 Subaru Forester. The 50" # MPG201 and 58" # MPG202 are recommended because they won't stick out too far past the body of your Forester. It is not recommended to have your bars stick past your side-view mirrors. The 65" will be 3-1/2" on each side more than the recommended 58" model. I don't think you will have issues extending past your mirrors with the overall width of your vehicle being 70.7".

I say go for it! You can get a lot more gear on your roof with the longer bars especially when it comes to carrying Kayaks, it just might look a little goofy when you're not fully loaded. Just make sure you stay under the 165 lbs weight capacity. Another thing to be mindful of is hitting your head getting in and out of the vehicle. As a taller guy I can say it is definitely a possibility to hit your head on longer bars.

expert reply by: Zach D