What are the best cross bars to get for the 04 disco? User install? Professional?
Thank you for all your help!
T
Thank you for all your help!
T
2004 Discovery Roof Rack
- Thread starter wtownsendmorris
- Start date
If you want to use the factory rails as the mounting point for your crossbars, both Yakima and Thule make components that will mount securely. One limitation is that your bar spread is only as long as the factory rails will allow, so if you need your bars further apart for some reason, then go with Option 2 (below). Another limitation of using the factory rails as the mounting point (at least on 1996-2003 Discos) is that the crossbars will not sit at the same height. The forward bar will sit slightly lower than the rear bar, which is not an issue in most situations. I'm not sure if this applies to the 2004 roof rails, which are different from previous years.
Option 2, as riceybean suggested, is the gutter-mounted towers. This gives you crossbars that sit at the same height and can be moved around to create whatever distance you want between them. The Thule part # is 953, they are called the "super high" towers or something equally obvious. Don't waste your time with the Yakima 1A tower extension kit, it won't work as well, if at all.
For crossbars you have a couple choices for length. If you go with factory rail mounted crossbars, anything from 56" - 66" will work. If you go with the Thule gutter mount towers, you will have to use the 65" Thule bars.
These kits are all fairly spendy new, but they pop up on ebay from time to time and buying used isn't a bad idea if they are in decent shape. I've had great luck finding cheap rack components used locally via craigslist.
Oh yeah, the other thing to keep in mind is height. I'm 6'4" with really long arms so I have no problem reaching the roof rack to put my bikes, skis, etc. up there. If you are not as tall you will have a harder time reaching the rack. With the Thule gutter mounted system you can stand on the rear bumper if you position the rack on the back half of the roof.
Option 2, as riceybean suggested, is the gutter-mounted towers. This gives you crossbars that sit at the same height and can be moved around to create whatever distance you want between them. The Thule part # is 953, they are called the "super high" towers or something equally obvious. Don't waste your time with the Yakima 1A tower extension kit, it won't work as well, if at all.
For crossbars you have a couple choices for length. If you go with factory rail mounted crossbars, anything from 56" - 66" will work. If you go with the Thule gutter mount towers, you will have to use the 65" Thule bars.
These kits are all fairly spendy new, but they pop up on ebay from time to time and buying used isn't a bad idea if they are in decent shape. I've had great luck finding cheap rack components used locally via craigslist.
Oh yeah, the other thing to keep in mind is height. I'm 6'4" with really long arms so I have no problem reaching the roof rack to put my bikes, skis, etc. up there. If you are not as tall you will have a harder time reaching the rack. With the Thule gutter mounted system you can stand on the rear bumper if you position the rack on the back half of the roof.
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