How to Best Attach Thule Peloton Bike Carriers to VW Factory Roof Crossbars

Question:

Hi - I have VW OEM roof racks on a 2008 Jetta. Id like to purchase accessories to mount 2 Thule 517 fork mount bike carrier. VW roof rack has T-slots, wide base 2 3/8in x 1 1/2intall. thinking if you had T-bolts that would fit VW I could use that to mount plastic fork support and maybe an xadator9 kit with longer bolts for the back? thanks a million for your help.

asked by: Mark K

Expert Reply:

Thule used to offer an adapter to allow their roof-mount bike racks to attach to factory roof racks like that on your 2008 Volkswagen Jetta but they no longer do, so a new rack will be your best option and we can help you to choose one. Avoiding an adapter will also help reduce the overall height of the vehicle with the bike loaded.

The linked article will help you consider the best rack type for your particular bike, and the linked product page will let you see all carrier options which include fork-mount, frame-mount and wheel-mount types. You can use the filters on the page to narrow the results based on you bike type and features, such as disc brakes.

A great cost-effective rack for factory bars is the Swagman Upright # S64720 which is a frame-mount rack that works with disc brake-equipped bikes.

expert reply by: Adam R