Universal Roof Bars

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Sat 6 Feb 2010 18:47
Universal Roof Bars - a900ss
Guys,

I've had model specific roof bars in the past and, as expected, the fit has been excellent.

However, I'm now in a long term hire car (a Passat Estate at the moment) but could get any estate when they change the car which they do quite regularly.

I need to transport my mountain bike so I am considering getting some universal roof bars to fit to the integral rails that the estate car has. I don't want to get Passat specific bars as I may be given a different car (Mondeo, Insignia, etc) over the next 6 months or so. Likewise, if I get universal bars they can also fit my permanent car when I get one.

If you have used universal bars, can you give ne your thoughts on fit/security. Recommended brads would also be welcome, I have used Thule in the past.

Thanks

PS - I am fully aware that not all estates come with factory fitted rails but that is a chance I'll just have to take if universal bars are OK.

PPS - I dont want to get a rear mounted bike rack as I can't fit an electrical board to a hire car and I don't fancy the hi-rise rear mounted carriers.

Edited by a900ss on 06/02/2010 at 18:50

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Sat 6 Feb 2010 19:12
Universal Roof Bars - Old Navy
I have had good service from this company in the past, you may be able to use the vehicle fitting checker to find a set of bars that will fit all your car options.

www.roofrackshop.com/Car-Products/000623c.aspx

Edited by Old Navy on 06/02/2010 at 19:15

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Sat 6 Feb 2010 22:06
Universal Roof Bars - dieselfitter
Good suggestion from ON, because there's not quite such a thing as universal bars that fit all estates with integral rails, at least not in the Thule range, as far as I know. I had a set of Thule bars that did fit several cars in succession - a Mark 1 Galaxy, a Volvo V40 and a MkIII Mondeo Estate, all with factory integral roof rails. But they don't fit my A6 Avant, which has specific mounting points on the roof rails and even the bars couldn't be used with new "feet" as they were too short for the A6.

Edited by dieselfitter on 06/02/2010 at 22:07

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