Roof Rack Cross Bar Recommendation for Roof Top Tent on 2019 Forester Sport

Question:

I was unfamiliar with Rhino Rack so I started to look into them and I like the features for the price, and the t-track on the underside of their aero bar is a nice touch for putting tie down loops. However, their towers that clamp onto the roof rails do just that, clamp. Where as it looks like Yakima, and maybe Thule wrap around. Though, they wrap around with a heavy rubber strap, they still go all the way around the bar. We have the factory raised side rails on our Forester. Our primary use for the cross bar system is going to be an iKamper weighing in at about 150-160 lbs. Its a Forester, so well only be doing light off-roading But I dont want to be worrying in the back of my mind if the gross bars are attached well enough because they dont wrap all the way around. Have any info that could help ease my mind, or suggestions on which of these three make the best setup for carrying a roof top tent?

asked by: Charles

Expert Reply:

Rhino Rack doesn't recommend using a roof top tent with any of their roof racks that are compatible with your Forester, as they state that the rack's static capacity isn't sufficient.

This being said, Yakima has an option that would work great for you. It would consist of the following parts:

-Yakima Core Bar Crossbars, part # Y00421
-Yakma TimberLine Towers, part # Y33TR

Once installed, the rack would have a 165 lb dynamaic weight capacity (while the vehicle is in motion) and a 600 lb static capacity (while vehicle is stationary).

I've linked to a demonstration/install video showing the roof rack being installed on a 2018 Subaru Forester

The TimberLine towers do indeed wrap completely around the roof rail.