Quote:
Originally Posted by MitchP213
... are there any other cons from aftermarket rails or pros that make them worth it?
|
Stock / EOM cross-bars may be less expensive, they may be more aerodynamic.
However:
Good after-market cross-bars (aka load bars)
rest on the raised factory rails. OEM cross bars rest on
plastic parts.
OEM cross-bars only go as wide as the factory rails, so you are more limited. For example it would not accommodate a Thule Hullavator kayak loader that requires a cross-bar extending past the raised rail.
After-market ones extend beyond the width of the factory rails (as long as 60 inches), AND you can vary how far they stick out on either side as needed to fit your accessories (i.e., the side where my Thule Hullavator kayak loader is mounted sticks out beyond the factory raised-rail by about 6 inches. The other side sticks out about 20 inches, allowing me to load another kayak alongside the one already on the Hullavator.
You cannot load 2 wide kayaks side by side on OEM cross rails
like this.
