CX-9 roof rack (OEM) [Archive]

bladehack

07-24-2007, 01:52 PM

MY wife and I purchased an '07 CX-9 GT AWD a couple of months ago and it did not come with the factory roof rack. I would like to install the factory roof rack so that I can mount our Thule Weekender cargo box for vacations.

I can see where the rubber strips on the edge of the roofline have plastic clips that can be removed to reveal tapped holes (3 on each side of the roof). Is this all that needs to be accessed for installing the OEM roof rack? Is the installation this simple (ie., no drilling of the roof and no removal of headliner, etc. in the interior)? Has anyone on this forum installed the OEM rack by themselves?

Thanks in advance!

l-miwa

07-24-2007, 04:52 PM

Yes, that's all there is to it! The rails came installed on my vehicle, and I was interested in removing them, so I found the installation instruction pdf online somewhere (can't remember exactly where). I haven't actually removed mine yet because I don't have the plastic clips to cover the mounting holes!

OMF

07-24-2007, 09:41 PM

The rails came installed on my vehicle, and I was interested in removing them, ..... I haven't actually removed mine yet because I don't have the plastic clips to cover the mounting holes!

l-miwa,

Before you get the plastic clips... Here are two pictures of the installation. Be careful with the removal of the front cover, there is a locking pin that can break off (circled with red) from the front cover. This is not shown in the Installation Instructions!

112888
112887

Good luck,

George

eldo64

07-24-2007, 11:19 PM

Do the factory rails hold enough weight for a Thule box? I thought I saw that the specs said 100 lbs. Would it be better to get Yakima Q towers and crossbars? (Thule doesn't make anything that fits the CX-9 yet according to their website.) I'm expecting to buy a CX-9 and want to know how to carry my skis/bikes/etc. A cargo box is probably not in my future, but it'd be nice to know it's feasible! Thanks!

jrtouareg

07-25-2007, 03:18 PM

I got tired of waiting for the factory cross bars and purchased the Thule 450 Cross Roads with 50" load bars and they fit fine carrying my Thule 18 cf box. I was going to use it to go on vacation but had to cancel our vacation plans. I'll sell you the 450 system with the load bars for a real good deal. They've never been used. The whole system including locks cost me over $240.00. If you are going to haul bikes, skis, cargo boxes, canoes, etc. This sytem accepts all the Thule attachments. make me an offer.

ericvic

07-25-2007, 03:33 PM

My CX-9 didn't come with a factory rack either but we ordered one online and installed it in about 30 minutes, it is very easy.

I think the 100lb limit is for the cross bars, I think the side bars would hold much more than that.

I have two Thule sidearm bike racks on my factory cross bars but I had to make a new rear bracket for each of them because the original one was too short to go around the factory cross bars. I don't think a cargo box would fit on the factory cross bars since they are curved and I think all the Thule, Yakima, etc... cross bars are straight.

Eric

bladehack

07-25-2007, 08:53 PM

everyone,

thanks for all the replies...just the info I needed. I'm going to buy the roof rack and rails.

Hopefully, Thule creates a foot to adapt their crossbars to the roof rack.

OMF

07-25-2007, 09:11 PM

I think the 100lb limit is for the cross bars, I think the side bars would hold much more than that.

Roof racks have the same load specs: "100 lbs evenly distributed". I do believe this is a very conservative figure with a significant safety factor.

jrtouareg

07-25-2007, 09:47 PM

everyone,

thanks for all the replies...just the info I needed. I'm going to buy the roof rack and rails.

Hopefully, Thule creates a foot to adapt their crossbars to the roof rack.

Like I said above, the Thule 450 Cross Roads foot system fits right up to the roof rack side rails. The system uses Thule's cross bars so it fits all of Thule's attachments. The reason the Mazda cross bars took so long to become available is because they have had design issues with them. They could not make them strong enough to carry much more than 50 lbs. I gave up on the cross bars and got the Thule 450 Cross roads system. Much more versatile and have a 220 lb. rating.

elysium265

07-26-2007, 11:29 PM

Like I said above, the Thule 450 Cross Roads foot system fits right up to the roof rack side rails. The system uses Thule's cross bars so it fits all of Thule's attachments. The reason the Mazda cross bars took so long to become available is because they have had design issues with them. They could not make them strong enough to carry much more than 50 lbs. I gave up on the cross bars and got the Thule 450 Cross roads system. Much more versatile and have a 220 lb. rating.

The roof rails/cross bars are designed for 100lbs. That is the rating, if you put more than that and have issues (roof dents/deformation or broken rack) you will be out of luck. The Mazda cross bar were stong enough to carrry the 100lb load, because the cross section was used on other Mazda/Ford roof racks. There were other issues not load carrying capactiy.

OMF

07-26-2007, 11:43 PM

There were other issues not load carrying capactiy.

So, what were the real issues?

DashingMax

08-08-2007, 12:14 PM

Update on factory roof rails. For then entire US, these are on backorder. They are due to arrive into the country on August 13 and to your local dealer, a few days thereafter.

I'm having the dealer install mine for I don't want to monkey with a $36k car!

bladehack

08-15-2007, 03:36 PM

Well, just got back from our vacation.

Our local Mazda dealership got the OEM roof rails ordered and delivered in under 24 hours. I installed the OEM roof rails in a grand total of 14 minutes, lol. The attached .PDF in this thread was a great help since it let me know that I had to go out and get a T25 torx screwdriver ahead of time.

I purchased the Thule 450 crossroads foot system which adapt to the roof rails very easily. I already had a set of their 58" load bars which are recommended for the CX-9. We used our Thule Weekender cargo box to carry our gear. The combined weight of the Thule 450 feet, 58" load bars and Weekender cargo box was 45 lbs, so technically we were only able to carry another 55 lbs of gear on the roof.

The combo of the OEM roof rails and Thule system seemed so rock solid that we wound up putting about 80 lbs of gear up there and had no problem whatsoever. This was just the hint of wind noise from the addition and we had no problems cruising at 80 mph for the 350 mile one-way trip.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

DashingMax

08-15-2007, 06:14 PM

Had my roof rack installed today at the dealer. Still waiting for the cross bars to come in.

Man, what a difference!! The car now looks "complete". Without the roof rack, it just looked like something was missing! :)

ldcx9

09-09-2007, 11:03 PM

Where can I purchase the CX-9 Roof Rack on-line?
How much does it cost?
Thank you!

cx9er

09-10-2007, 07:08 AM

Where can I purchase the CX-9 Roof Rack on-line?
How much does it cost?
Thank you!

http://http://mazdagear.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=541

$194.90

There are other sites too...Google cx-9 accessories....I would stay away from Wayne Mazda

DashingMax

09-11-2007, 01:17 AM

We prdered our rack when we bought our car, so it was included in the financing. The dealer only charged us $199 for the rails and crossbars.

Wow! (thumb)
We paid $300 for rails and crossbars when we purchased the car. This included professional installation though.

svofan1

09-12-2007, 08:28 AM

...Just curious...why do you recommend staying away from Wayne Mazda?...they are the largest in the country...any bad expiriences?....care to share?...thanks..

cx9er

09-12-2007, 06:11 PM

SVOFAN I sent you a PM

njerald

09-12-2007, 07:51 PM

...Just curious...why do you recommend staying away from Wayne Mazda?...they are the largest in the country...any bad expiriences?....care to share?...thanks..

I haven't had any order problems with 2 orders but their communication SUCKS!!!!!!!

mattrappnj

09-13-2007, 01:44 PM

http://http://mazdagear.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=541

$194.90

There are other sites too...Google cx-9 accessories....I would stay away from Wayne Mazda

i too am curious as to why you would say to stay away from wayne mazda...

stefanovic

02-11-2008, 09:04 AM

ceric

02-11-2008, 06:59 PM

I recommend buying accessories from mazdaparts.org than mazdagear.com.
They seem to have about the same prices, but the former gives free shipping for purchase over $100. Tax is another concern, though it depends on where you live.
My stuff from mazdaparts.org was shipped within 1-2 days. Both are Mazda dealers, so no difference there.

TinMan

02-13-2008, 12:23 PM

Hi,

I have just purchased CX-9 and now am about to get roof rack to match my skis & bikes Thule racks.

I am planning to get Mazda Roof Rack (without crossbars), and Thule 450 Crossroad Foot. What would be the required length of Thule Rectangular Load Bars to have minimum side overhang? (Or, what would be the minimum Thule Rectangular Load Bars length to fit my car?)

I am planning to order from RackOutfitters.com. Any comments or suggestions.

Regards,
Stefanovic

I had 55 and 65 length bars on hand. The 55s were just long enough, but looked dumb. The 65s were too long so I cut them with a metal cut-off blade on my miter saw. I don't remember what the length was and there is a lot of ice outside right now for me to check. I think it was 58 to 60ish.

Also, a warning on fairings: the size fairing Thule says will fit is too long. The next size down would be too short IMO. I had already bought the size they said would fit, so I elected to use a paint stripping heat gun to heat the plastic fairing ends and give them a further rearward bend so the fairing would fit between the rails. A real pain, but the end result was worth it.

live2ski

02-27-2008, 04:41 PM

Do the OEM crossbars slide in the side rails? can you slide the rails back to the 'Not in Use' position without having to disassemble everything or is it just as easy to take them on/off as needed?

wakblak

03-14-2008, 02:12 AM

Here is the final rack setup:

Mont Blanc 47" Aero Bar Kit $170 (Compared to Thule version @ $304)

Where did you get the Mont Blancs from?

wil_

03-31-2008, 07:22 PM

where to get the rails? http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123701095

BlackCherry CX9

05-12-2008, 08:56 AM

I just ordered the roof racks and cross bars for my 2007 CX-9 from http://www.mazdaparts.org/macxrorawicr.html for $250.80 (USD), no taxes plus free shipping. Can't wait to get them, Should arrive tomorrow, to make my Blackcherry look complete.

Mazda Newbie

05-20-2008, 11:58 AM

Proline racks .com. look at the Mont Blanc aero kits. cheaper than the standard Thules and have virtually no overhang. Quieter too. they will also accept almost any rack attachment, including T-channel mounts.

To resurrect this thread...

I notice Proline also has a set of non-locking crossbars to "fit most factory side rails," and they fit any Thule accessory (ski, bike, etc). The problem is, it looks like the bars are a little long, and have a hefty overhang. But couldn't I save myself ~$70 and just cut the ends down, instead of going with the Mont Blanc kit (assuming I don't mind that they don't lock)? Has anyone done this?

zoomzack

07-08-2008, 07:38 PM

I'm looking into adding crossbars to my CX-9 to carry a 16 cu ft cargo box(Sears X-cargo).

The Mont Blanc Aero bar kit( really looks good but by just looking at the pics, it doesn't seem to look as sturdy as the Thule 450 setup.

http://www.prolineracks.com/mont-blanc-3700-aero-wing-crossbars.html

How are the crossbars attached to the bar mounts and how are the bar mounts attached to the side rails?

Thanks!

Fishrule1

07-14-2008, 12:53 PM

BTW, has anyone had trouble finding the button that extends the front tie downs? It's a bit hard to locate but I finally found it.

Seriously? I'm going to feel pretty stupid if this is a joke! (smash)

I have a similar issue, however: tandem kayak, the front tie-down for which rubs on the front bumper. Did you make these extenders? If so, how? Thanks.

terrybfla

07-30-2008, 02:44 PM

Do the OEM crossbars slide in the side rails? can you slide the rails back to the 'Not in Use' position without having to disassemble everything or is it just as easy to take them on/off as needed?

The answer is YES. The factory cross bars easily slip on and off. They are 3 part crossbars - the bar and 2 sliding fittings that go in the Roof Rack. The crossbar quickly attaches to the 2 sliding fittings.

I bought mine on Sunday from Mazdaparts.org (Med Center Mazda in Alabama) and they were $250 for Rack & crossbars including shipping. It arrived on Wednesday, so very fast shipping. It was the cheapest price I found after scrounging eBay and the web. Installed in about 10 minutes. Easy.

QUESTION: Since I just installed both the Roof Rack and the crossbars today but want to leave the cross bars off until I need them, my question is do I leave the sliders in the Roof Racks or do I take them out? Anyone that has left the sliders in (without the crossbars) getting any wind noise from them? I can also see theft as an issue here as they are easy to remove from the Roof Racks.

terrybfla

08-03-2008, 12:20 PM

It was a joke that no one but you caught. I made them. I took large metric bolts, M8's, I think, and screwed them into the two front Tow Hook threads.

Sport Owner... I am trying to replicate your extensions and am having trouble finding the right bolts. They are definitely not M8's as that is about 1/4 inch in diameter. They are bigger than M12s and bigger than 5/8th inch SAE threads.

Could they be M18s? If so, where did you get these? The local hardware store has nothing that big.

Thanks!

Fishrule1

08-03-2008, 06:12 PM

I am trying to replicate your extensions and am having trouble finding the right bolts. They are definitely not M8's as that is about 1/4 inch in diameter. They are bigger than M12s and bigger than 5/8th inch SAE threads.

Could they be M18s? If so, where did you get these? The local hardware store has nothing that big.

Thanks!

Terry, I suggest you bring the tow eye with you to the hardware store. It's under the trap door in the cargo area. Just find a nut that fits and then match the threads.

Fishrule1

08-03-2008, 06:16 PM

It was a joke that no one but you caught. I made them.

CX9 SportOwner,

Thanks for the description. I have to say: just brilliant. I'll let you know how mine turn out.

terrybfla

08-05-2008, 08:06 PM

Forgot about the tow eye! Great idea! Thanks!

wingsfan

08-05-2008, 10:24 PM

SeCX-9

08-05-2008, 11:03 PM

I just had the factory rails & bars installed (included w/ the deal I made) and there is quite a bit of noise. Does anyone know if it is just the cross bars or the whole set-up. I don't think I can take this annoying whistleing sound

Thanks in advance for anyone's insight!

I have the factory rails installed and no noise at all. I have heard that the cross-bars cause noise and should be kept far back from the driver when not in use.

wingsfan

08-06-2008, 12:04 PM

I will give it a try

Thanks!

terrybfla

08-08-2008, 10:01 AM

Can I ask what everyone is carrying on their racks? I'm curious why you are using the factory crossbars.

Windsurfers, surfboards, sometimes long lumber.

Craig-CX9

08-22-2008, 02:47 PM

Here is the final rack setup:

Factory Rails (Self Installed) $199
Mont Blanc 47" Aero Bar Kit $170 (Compared to Thule version @ $304)
Thule Peloton Bike Trays $142 / pair (Retails for $125 each)
Thule Stacker Kayak Rack $ 25 (REI Garage Sale. Retails for $120)

(I discovered that the Thule Stacker Kayak rack is actually the Thule Wheel Fork with an added tie-down cap. So I drilled the rivets, slipped the cap off, and revealed the wheel axle slots. I replaced the drilled rivets with a quick release bolt and knob. Sweet.)

With this setup we can carry two kayaks and two bikes.

CX9 Sportowner: Where did you find the feet that fit onto the OEM rack?
Thx,
Craig

Craig-CX9

08-22-2008, 03:00 PM

I have an '07 GT AWD, the Thule 450 feet and 58" crossbars, and a 21 cf box! I would love to get something better (stylish and secure) than the 450's. Aero bars would be cool too.

Hey, has anyone forgotten about the restricted clearance when you are carrying stuff on your rack? With my Thule box, I am restricted to a clearance of at least 7.5 feet..a little higher to be more comfortable.

Craig

harryhood

08-24-2008, 05:27 PM

I am getting an 08 CX9 and want to know more about the load capacity of the factory setup. I don't want to get an aftermarket Thule setup that requires drilling into the roof or is otherwise permanent, but with an 18 cu.ft. Yakima box that weighs about 54 lbs., I don't want to be restricted to 46 lbs worth of cargo up top.

Are there other options out there than the weak OEM setup and the drilled-in Thule feet?

scottybue

09-02-2008, 03:35 PM

Does anyone know off the top of their heads the width (thickness, I guess) of the factory crossbars? Proline has an interesting solution if it will fit (up to 3.5" thick)

http://www.prolineracks.com/64720-roof-bike-racks.html

EDIT- Measured last night, 2.5", so to speak...

Timobi

09-08-2008, 12:57 AM

Greetings. I am about to purchase a new 2008 CX-9. :)

Very excited!

It's really down to a Black Cherry Mica or the Galaxy Grey. I like the Black Cherry exterior better but the Galaxy Grey's interior. (rtfm) One has the luggage rack already in place and it's the one I prefer.

To me, most SUV's look a little more complete and sporty with a roof rack installed. The CX-9 however is probably the only one that looks good either way.

Since this thread is about the roof rack I'm assuming most here are in favor of roof rack-ed CX-9? :)

It's simply a cosmetic feature for us as we won't be actually using it.

davecoyne

09-08-2008, 01:39 PM

Welcome!

I have mixed feelings on the roof rack. I do not have one on my CX-9 and I will probably not put one on it in the near future. If you're doing it for looks, then by all means get the car the way you want it.

I think the only downside is the little extra wind-resistance the rack will cause. It is tiny, I'm guessing, but still a bit more drag on the car.

davecoyne

09-09-2008, 12:49 PM

I guess then if I don't have the roof rack I must be an inactive slob, eh? ;)

davecoyne

09-10-2008, 08:55 AM

I read what you wrote. You think the CX-9 doesn't look complete w/o the rack. Then you say, but then 'we are active and into USING our CX-9.'

Your remark appears condescending. I was poking fun at it.

scottybue

09-10-2008, 09:27 AM

Ugh, have a PM war... (blah)

Anyone have any experience with Proline (the actual brand, not online store) bike racks? Just got a couple for the OEM rack. Wondering what to expect.

Bhanup

12-10-2008, 12:38 PM

I just bought a 2008 GT and the dealer offered me free roof rack which will be installed in a week as he doesn't have stock. I realized today that the roof rack will be in black color. I expected that the roof rack will be the same color of my car. Is this true? How the black roof rack looks on the Copper Red CX-9? I still debating to get those installed or bargain for anything else instead of the roof rack. I appreciate your suggestions.

wnsrfr

12-21-2008, 02:07 PM

Bhanup, we have a Copper Red that I just put the rack combo generally recommended in this thread--Factory side rails, with the Mont Blanc Aero crossbars. The factory cross-bars are only rated to 100 pounds and are typical arched black thingies like on any car, while the Mont Blanc have a 220 pound rating (or something like that).

On the Copper Red, the Aero cross bars have aluminum ("silver") as the primary color with black highlights. The side rails are black...on the Copper Red, with chrome and black trim on the car, the rack combo looks GREAT but that is just my opinion :)

I've been looking around, the Mont Blanc Aero style is what some pretty styling cars are going with, such as BMW and Mini...I would recommend it both for looks and utility, since the Mont Blanc bars have the strength (as noted in this thread) to handle bigger loads than the factory, and the silver cross bars complement the black side rails and other trim elements very nicely.

mamboamn

03-07-2009, 07:49 PM

Does any one know how wide the cross bars are. are they less then 3 inches wide.

blath

09-10-2009, 01:55 AM

Does Anyone know of a site that sells CX-9 OEM roof rails and ships international?

sjg

09-11-2009, 12:03 PM

The limitations of the factory crossbars and Yakima's non-support for the CX-9 rack in general have been documented here. I'd still like to know if anyone has put a Yakima cargo box on the factory crossbars. My only concern is that the crossbars are not perfectly flat (they run in an arc across the car) so the box may not sit on them as designed. That said, I just spoke with a parts person at mazdagear.com and he explained that mazda sells Thule boxes that are not specifically designed for these rails and that a Yakima box should mount just fine. Any stories to share?

ceric

09-11-2009, 12:36 PM

Does Anyone know of a site that sells CX-9 OEM roof rails and ships international?
I don't know of any, but isn't there a Mazda distributor where you are located?
I would imagine that shipping to where you are located would cost you an arm and a leg for it (unless you are talking about Canada or Mexico). The roofrails come in a big package (size-wise). It also weighs about 10lbs. Unless one ships by sea (takes a while to arrive), by air, it will be very expensive.

sjg

09-14-2009, 11:13 AM

I can confirm that Yakima EZ Rider towers do not work with the OEM roof rails. These are the towers I had on my Subaru 05 Legacy GT Wagon and I was hoping they would fit. They actually sit on the CX-9 rails nicely but they don't expand enough to grab the bottom of the rail. They do reach the inside groove in the rail but I wasn't too confident in the strength of the rail at that point. It looked like tightening the tower would bend the inside of the rail.
Any suggestions for alternative Yakima towers? Lowride? Railgrab? I would love to make this work without changing brands. Otherwise I may go for the Mount Blanc Aero setup.

captainbingo

09-16-2009, 12:22 AM

I second the Mont Blanc cross bars. They are great! Great suggestion from Sportowner.

sjg

09-17-2009, 01:17 PM

So I just had an exchange with Yakima re: their support for the CX-9 OEM rails/crossbars. As has been mentioned here, Yakima provides no support for the CX-9 factory rails or crossbars. The reason being that Yakima considers them dealer installed and therefore there is too much variability in installations. I took issue with this, first pointing out that the CX-9 rails are a factory option with no room for variability (even if installed by a dealer) and the crossbars are a very straightforward install with little room for variability.

My thoughts are that Yakima should find a way to support at least the factory rails. Other manufacturers (Thule, Mont Blanc) have managed to do so and Yakima probably has one or two towers in their collection that would work...it's just a matter of setting it up in their fit system and sticking out their neck a little bit. They claim that manufacturers have changed crossbar designs in the past without notice so if they don't want to support the Mazda rails, that would be reasonable.

I have a lot of Yakima gear but I'm about ready to ditch it all because of this issue. From the posts here it seems like I can get the Mont Blanc system for about what I would pay for new Yakima towers anyway. I'm pretty sure my Yakima skybox would be compatible. I will need to get some new bike racks though. Anyone know how long the crossbars are on the Mont Blanc rack and what bike carrier options I would have? With my Yakima 50" bars I can (just barely) get 2 copperhead bike racks in addition to my skybox (one on each side). I'd love to be able to pull this off. Otherwise it's a hitch or trunk mount. Anyone have success with a trunk mounted bike carrier on the CX-9? Looks like the spoiler may get in the way but I thought I'd ask.

vikefan7

09-17-2009, 03:31 PM

There are a few posts here on a hitch mounted bike rack.

sjg

10-13-2009, 01:33 PM

Well I'm not going to scream that Yakima sucks but their support for the CX-9 definitely sucks.
I took the advice of many on this site and went with the Mont Blanc crossbars. They are great. Why doesn't this brand make a bigger push in the US? The ease of installation puts Thule and Yakima to shame. They are on and off the roof in a minute with no tools. There's a little bit of extra work in trimming the plastic strips to fill the channels where the towers attach but not a major effort and it's a one-time thing. The look may not be as clean as the OEM crossbars but some might prefer the mont blancs' aluminum look and they are probably more useful.

The only challenge at this point is finding mont blanc attachments and I would like to provide this observation/question:
Audi: $160 for Barracuda (http://www.audi-collection.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=8E0071128A&SKW=AUQ5TR&Cat=car&SubLevel=21&lcat=)
VW: $136 for Barracuda (http://www.cmgestore.com/vw08/SKUDetailsVW08F6Q71128A.Asp)
Suzuki: $99 for Barracuda (http://www.suzukiauto.com/sx4_crossover/accessories/)

It seems that these are all identical, made by mount blanc and ready for clean installation via t-bolts. Can I assume this is the case? Can I chalk up the price difference to marketing and the snob factor?

Finally, does anyone have the barracuda and does it attach using t-bolts front and back or does it use clamps around the crossbar? How much space (side to side) on the rack does it take up? I'd like to get two on the roof next to my Skybox.

togaf

10-16-2009, 10:36 PM

DO OEM rails mentioned in this post fit Series II (2010) CX-9?

Can't get these rails from local dealers in Australia, so going to have to import. Any leads on US dealers that ship internationally? Similarly any US sources of Mont Blanc 3700 Aero Wing that shipp internationally.

Sam.

sjg

10-22-2009, 04:31 AM

Can't speak for the 2010 (don't know if the rails have changed) but the montblanc is fairly flexible and looks like it could grab most rails without a problem. You might want to wait for confirmation from another 2010 owner just to be sure. The rack isn't too easy to find in the US either. You might want to see my post above and see if the same equipment is sold by Audi, VW or Suzuki in Australia.

Touring9

10-25-2009, 01:27 AM

2010 is the same body. Just the taillights, mirrors, and front clip are different.

fxpthl

11-27-2009, 12:08 PM

Wow, what an easy install! Purchased the roof racks online and had them installed in a matter of a few minutes! Reading all of the postings here helped me make the decision to do it myself and that'st that!

Catman

12-06-2009, 08:16 PM

I just took my Thule cross bars off my factory rack for the winter. When I did so I noticed the factory rack was bending in towards the center of the car. Anyone here who thinks the factory rack is sturdy should actually see how it is mounted and what it is made of. The "feet" on the factory rack are plastic, no metal at all. I just took the whole factory rack off my car. I will not trust it to carry my bikes and I am looking for an alternative. Trying to find out more on the Thule Podiums.

ceric

12-07-2009, 12:35 AM

I agree. The factory rack does not seem very sturdy to me.
It is rated at 100lb only so treat it with care...
A bike is usually around 25lbs. Four of them will exceed the rating.

Catman

12-08-2009, 10:20 PM

I disagree. Weakest rack I've had on an SUV. I wouldn't trust my bikes up there at this point. Both my bikes are worth over $4000 so I'm not risking it. Plastic is not an appropriate material for the rack feet. I'm looking to replace the whole rack at this point. 100lb rating is pretty low.

Catman

12-09-2009, 10:59 PM

My tests and real world experiences with the rails are pretty conclusive.

We've carried bikes (ours cost 4k also. I must be as superior as you, huh?), 13.5 foot boats, and lumber on it with no problems. Perfectly stable.

One more time: If your AM crossbars don't lock the rails in place, you will have a problem. Get better crossbars and place them correctly. Properly transferring the load, the plastic is just fine.

I suppose you are implying I am arrogant. Maybe I just don't want to lose my bikes to a flimsy rack? Thanks for the unnecessary jab? The crossbars do lock the rails in place but when they are tightened there is a slight pull to the center of the car. So, after investigating I looked closer and removed the entire factory rack. While I have no doubt you've successfully used it as I have, the bottom line is it is not a robust, strong rack by any means.

Lindyrect

12-09-2009, 11:35 PM

I am a bit confused on this whole dialog. I have a Thule carrier and crossbars (w/ mazda rails). The Thule cross bars and carrier were made to fit my Jetta wagon rails. I was able to fit them, barely, and I do not have bowing problems, and believe me doing cross country moves, with clothes and pans they have done well. The Thule bars slide side to side if not properly fastened, but the CX-9 frame rails are more than adequate to handle mediocre loads. The Thule feet are not just plastic. They are metal feet w/ plastic aesthetic covers.

sjg

12-10-2009, 02:27 PM

I followed the advice of many on this forum and went with the Mount Blancs. They seem to fit the OEM rails very nicely. When they're properly adjusted there doesn't seem to be any tension pulling the rails to the center. As with most such systems, the towers get adjusted to the outside of the rail and clamps tighten from the inside/out so there's no pulling to the center. The whole system feels rock solid when tightened up. Are the OEM rails the most solid I've ever seen? Hardly. But I'm pretty sure they should do fine with the rated 100 lbs.

Catman

12-10-2009, 07:08 PM

I have the newer Thule's, not sure of the number. They have a belted rubber strap that wraps under the factory rails and and then fits into a slot on the outside of the "foot". When you tighten it the strap pulls the rail slightly towards the center of the car. Where it became obvious was the middle foot on the factory rack. The plastic cover began to misalign with it's base. I may call Thule and complain, maybe they will do something for me. The OEM rack isn't all to blame but the flimsy nature of it doesn't help.

Lindyrect, my plastic comment was directed at the OEM rack. The connecting points on the OEM rack are all plastic.

Lindyrect

12-11-2009, 08:55 AM

Catman

12-11-2009, 05:45 PM

Catman. Not a jab. I am responding to your suggestion that my practical experience counts less than your OPINION of the rails based on them being plastic. I've had this setup for 2 and a half years with no issues. I wouldn't risk our bikes or boat if I felt the rails were too weak. I also wouldn't have put all of my weight on each individual bar to test them unless I thought the rails could handle it. They can. If they were as weak as you suggest, I certainly wouldn't be able to grab one and rock the entire car, which I can.
I am conveying to the group that any normal load with a properly fitting and quality crossbar is going to work just fine with these rails. I would not use the factory crossbars for anything other then show.
I have seen MUCH flimsier rails than the CX9. Looking at the design and material, I'd guess the plastic feet on the CX9 are just as reliable as they would be in aluminum, without the corrosion risks.

The Mont Blancs work so well because as they clamp from the inside. They also lock themselves to the crossbars, creating a solid bridge between the rails. I do recommend pacing the clamps right at the joint between the rail and foot, both for maximum spacing, and to transfer the load directly to the feet.

I'm just here to help.

.

If you look at your pic... the plastic cover over the middle foot actually got misaligned from the pull on the rail. I think I am going to go with a setup that actually bolts to the fixed points on the roof. Should be a bit stronger, less complex and lower the whole rack a little. If I do this I will post up some pics. Thanks.

Catman

12-11-2009, 05:45 PM

Eww, rubber belt. I have not paid attention to newer models. Bought mine in 05' and the bracket that wraps underneath on mine are metal w/ rubberized coating. The only plastic on mine are the lockable covers

I say it's rubber, which it is, but it's reinforced and very strong.

Catman

12-11-2009, 11:30 PM

Actually, it's exactly where it's supposed to be. You really want there to be something wrong with my setup, but there isn't.
The rack is very solid, and every part is in place and perfectly aligned. The other nice thing is that I can take the whole thing off, leaving just the rails, in about a minute.

This is the best setup I've seen for a CX9, for cost, simplicity, and sturdiness. That's why I bought it, and recommend it.

I even looked at the aero version of the Thules you show, but they don't fit the rails very well and still pull laterally on them. They also cost about 3 times as much as the Mont Blancs. The MBs also come standard with locks that are harder to defeat.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with yours, there is with mine. I'm just saying........if I am going to rethink this than I would rather completely replace the factory rack with a new one that mount directly to the fixed points on the roof.

vikefan7

12-12-2009, 02:13 AM

Just spend $235 and get the Yakima Control Towers with landing pad 11 and then get some crossbars.

Catman

12-12-2009, 01:48 PM

You mean on YOURS that part was distorted? If that's the case I apologize for the misunderstanding. I read it as you saying MINE was distorted.

If you need the lower clearance then maybe direct mounting is better for you.

Having done all the research and having over 2 years experience, for a normal AM crossbar setup, I'd still recommend the one I chose.

If you come up with a direct mount, post photos and details for anyone who may want to go that route.

See my next post for my suggestion.

Yeah I wasn't implying anything wrong with yours, it looks fine. I actually sent in some feedback to Thule and I will wait to see what they say.

sjg

12-14-2009, 11:59 AM

I've ordered from Proline and Rack Attack in the past. Both have been reliable.

Separately, Yakima seems to be taking a beating here. I am really disappointed for their lack of support for the CX-9 and the Mazda roof rails. But I've found their racks to be great in the past. I like their round bars which are incredibly strong, durable and (as long as you're using other Yakima gear) pretty versatile and compatible. I've had good experiences with their bike carriers and a cargo box. They are also generally cheaper than Thule. The round bars are also nice when mounted to rails that are curved. More and more cars seem to have rails with a slight curve to them and that leaves the two square bars sitting in a way that their top surfaces are not parallel. I haven't taken out my level but I'm pretty sure I see some of this when I look at how may mount blanc aero bars look on the CX-9 factory rack. I love the mount blancs but I wish I could have found a satisfactory way to get my yakima bars on the factory rack.

jdoering

12-21-2009, 04:37 PM

I have a question on the load capability thoughts of those using the Mont Blancs. It's been discussed repeatedly but I want to make sure I'm understanding the consensus.

I believe these are facts:

1) Mazda factory rails are only rated to 100lb.
2) Mazda factory crossbars are rated to 100lb.
3) Mount Blanc bars themselves are rated to 220lb.

Based on this I believe either the factory crossbars or the Mount Blancs are only OFFICIALLY rated to 100lb when installed on the factory rails. So on paper the factory crossbars are sufficient.

Now I want to make sure I'm understanding this right and that the whole assembly with the Mount Blancs isn't somehow improved to 220lb.

I believe the opinions are that:

A) The factory rails are pretty sturdy. So the 100lb rating may be fairly conservative.

B) The factory crossbars don't seem so sturdy so there is a suspicion that they are a weak link when used even though they match the rating of the rails. Based on this 100lb may be a very important limit for this setup rather than a conservative rating.

C) The Mount Blancs attached to the factory rails appear to be very sturdy so combined with assumption (A) there is a common opinion that 100lb capacity is a conservative number for this setup with a large safety factor.

Am I understanding this right? I have the factory crossbars. I have used them for moving lumber, some skis, etc. Light-duty stuff where they worked fine. But I'm looking at adding a cargo box and the 100lb rating is pretty low. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth upgrading to the Mount Blancs while keeping the factory rails. I'm not thinking of super-loading the roof; but I don't want to have to be paranoid about ending up with 120lbs up there.

Obviously I'm asking for pragmatic feedback. I understand that if the roof or rails have any issues and Mazda can prove that I had 101lbs up there that it's beyond the ratings, etc.

-Jeff

sjg

01-03-2010, 04:46 PM

I've got the mont blancs on the factory rails with Yakima's biggest skybox mounted on top. Definitely have exceeded 100 lbs. but probably not by too much. I don't think there's any science that's going to tell you that putting 220 lb. crossbars on a 100 lb. rack is going to increase the capacity. Nobody at Mazda will have much sympathy if you have a problem.

My biggest concern was that the roof and rails are slightly slanted down in the back. It's a nice look but you can see the slant very clearly in the skybox. I was initially concerned that at high speeds the wind might get under the lip of the top of the skybox and start lifting it off. I got up to speed slowly the first few times with a frequent peaks through the sunroof. The front of the box shakes quite a bit but everything seems fine.

Pootie Tang

01-11-2010, 12:35 PM

gpalm44

01-18-2010, 09:34 PM

I'm wanting to add a roof rack to my 9 solely for the purpose of carrying several Snowboards and/or Skis (currently it's a naked roof....). Does anyone have suggestions, and hopefully some photos, for a good setup?

I'm not worried about some expensive setup for carrying lumber, expensive bikes, roof containers, etc!!

Pootie Tang

01-19-2010, 09:53 AM

Davicho

01-19-2010, 11:48 AM

Pootie Tang...you cut out the best thing of your avatar...."the rack"

Just started 4th grade....

kegels

01-30-2010, 12:58 AM

I anyone using a Thule clamp-on(for a Thule ski rack) on their roof rack cross bars? If so, which one? The clamp-on that used to fit on my Jeep is too narrow. Thanks.

Catman

02-07-2010, 05:15 PM

OK, here's my solution. I removed the factory rails and got Thule 460's that mount to the same fixed points as the factory rack. A lot cleaner in my opinion. This kit was recalled at one point due to brittle bolts. The one I bought was all set. I would have preferred larger bolts but the factory fixed point are what they are. Pretty good though. The load bars are spread apart pretty far but my Peleton bike mounts fit fine as well as skis, etc. Also, the max load rating from Thule is 165 lbs.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb252/Tinshield/rack.jpg

Catman

02-07-2010, 11:08 PM

My money is going to be on the OEM side rails holding just about anything one could put on them. And the OEM crossbars, modestly over 100lbs. In the many different SUV racks I've dealt with (1993 and 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, BMW X5) this seems to be the case.

I wouldn't bet on it. I don't think I would exceed 100lbs with the factory rails. After taking them off and looking at the hardware I am not as confident.

cgdcx9

02-25-2010, 06:23 PM

sjg

02-28-2010, 08:20 PM

The bars are not parallel with each other. I'd recommend the Aero version of the 460's if you want fix point mounts. Then you can use the T channel, which is more forgiving, along with the wing shape.
On my Mont Blanc Aeros, the difference in angles wasn't a problem.

With the OEM rails I think the crossbars would be a few inches further back which minimizes (but not eliminates) the un-parallel bars. (This is one area where round Yakima crossbars come in handy as they cannot be out of parallel.).

Catman

03-01-2010, 12:25 PM

Catman,
How long are the load bars you used? Also, do the two load bars sit level to each other on the roof? I plan on carrying 2 kayaks using a Thule 897Hullavator for each kayak.
Thanks,
CGD

Not sure what the length of the bars are, or what they were originally. I always cut the load bars with a hack saw so I don't have any overhang. The front load bar has a slight angle forward, the feet compensate a bit for this but there is definitely a disparity. However, I haven't seen that is causes an issue with my Thule ski or peleton bike rack. I haven't put my kayak mounts up the yet but I don't think it will be a problem.

pdxa4

09-11-2011, 06:17 PM