New Thule Wingbars

[hammb]

So Thule changed the Aeroblade bars to the Wingbars recently. I want to outfit my 2012 Trail Edition with a set of Aeroblades with the Crossroad FootPack. However, Thule recommends the 53" bars, and I would much prefer the 60" bars.

I know I've seen people in the past with the longer bars sticking out over the edges and it's worked fine, but I was curious if anybody has done it with the NEW Wingbars designation. Does it change anything? Still work out OK?

I'm going to order from REI, and their return policy is amazing, so it shouldn't be an issue to take them back if I had to, but I would prefer to know that it will actually work before I place the order. I bought my 4runner new and I've hemmed and hawed on ordering those bars for 8years, and now it's finally time.

 

[Cadesun]

I believe it is a STORE policy not to sell bars wider than the vehicle they will be installed on most likely due to some insurance reasoning. Just tell them the length of bars you want and don't mention the vehicle.

 

[hammb]

I believe it is a STORE policy not to sell bars wider than the vehicle they will be installed on most likely due to some insurance reasoning. Just tell them the length of bars you want and don't mention the vehicle.

Oh, I was just planning to order exactly what I want from the website.

My concern was that I saw a comment on a review somewhere that suggested that you may not be able to mount the new bars with large overhangs. That maybe the "mount points" or whatever that connects them to the foot pack may only extend so far from the ends of each bar.

I don't know maybe I need to speak to Thule directly, but was hoping maybe somebody here had already mounted the new bars and could just say, "yep, it works."

Other than the name/model number I cannot find good info if anything has actually changed on them...

 

[hammb]

So I went ahead and called Thule and got ahold of somebody pretty quickly (that was nice and unexpected). She did inform me that the underslotting on the new WingBars is no different than that of the old AeroBlades; however the minimum spread for mounting the 60" bars is apparently 42.75", and when I measured the rails on my TE it's closer to 41-42". Close, but no cigar. The legal regulation is nothing wider than the side mirrors, which are obviously well over 60", but the mounting points just won't work with these wingbars.

She did propose the ProBars as an option as they get even wider and have mounting slots the entire length of the bar, but I don't think they look very nice.

 

[Humble Leader]

I know this is an old thread and I know the OP mentions a trail edition which has a different rack dimension. However I run the 450r and evo wingbar 150 (60") and I can confirm it will fit a Limited (and probably SR5). I did a lot of searching because I too wanted longer cross bars. the footpacks are all the way to the inside of the crossbar but it does fit. the centre markings are about 1/8 of an inch off centre to the outside of the rail which I'm sure is well within the installation tolerances. the flat part of the 4runner rail is fairly wide so the footpack still sits flat on the rail even if it's slightly off centre

I had a hard time determining if it would fit just from internet searching because many people run the 53" (recommended by thule and etrailer and rackoutfitters/rackattack) and the 60" doesn't show up as a fit. there are multiple forum posts about this on various sites. I have all the measurements as well since online doesn't really list them out. hopefully this helps someone out there, if they actually use the search function

4runner roof rack width (limited, centre to centre): 41.5"
actual rail length of evo wingbar 150: 58.75"
underside channel length: between 9 and 12/16ths and 9 and 13/16ths
450r footback centre marker sits 1.25" out from the farthest point inside the underside channel

doing the math this just fits and I can confirm it does