Are roof rails level?

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TinMan

Member

• Oct 16, 2007

• #1

My rails are on order, but I have a question that I can't seem to answer by looking at available pictures: Is the center section of the top of the roof rails level with the ground, or do they slope up from back to front matching the roof-line of the CX-9? This would matter when installing a roof-top box carrier. If it is going to be tilted up in the air, a shorter box would be better, but if the rails are level, a longer box would be fine. Could someone with rails run out and tell me? I just can't tell from pictures, but I am leaning toward not level, i.e. follows the incline of the roof in that section.

 

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DashingMax

Member

:

2006 MazdaSpeed6

• Oct 16, 2007

• #2

It is level

They're completely level. The roof line sweeps back down, however, the rack (at least the OEM roof rack) is 100% level.

 

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TinMan

Member

• Oct 16, 2007

• #3

Sweet. That means the space between the rail and the roof is greater at the back than at the front of the rail? Can;t tell that from the photos, but I am sure glad it is level. Didn't make sense otherwise: mounting a roof box that was tilted up in front would create some lift at speed...

 

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DashingMax

Member

:

2006 MazdaSpeed6

• Oct 16, 2007

• #4

Here are some pictures of my CX-9 with factory rails & crossbars. Hope this helps.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3379778&postcount=26

 

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ericvic

Member

• Oct 19, 2007

• #5

On my CX-9 they don't seem to be level. The roof rails are the same distance away from the roof so they curve just like the roof does.

 

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TinMan

Member

• Oct 19, 2007

• #6

Got them today, they don't seem level to me either. I have a 4ft level, so when I get the cross rails on, I am going to check for level across them. Should be tomorrow. Kind of annoyed by that.

 

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TinMan

Member

• Oct 20, 2007

• #7

Not

Hmmm. Not even close to level... (notcool) Going box shopping today, big thule sale at ems. I think any box I put on is going to be raised up in the front. (rant)

For the benefit if others, I'll post pics if I still buy one.

 

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Lindyrect

:

2007 GT FWD, Bose/NAV

• Dec 5, 2007

• #8

I used my standard thule cross bars and no matter where I placed them I could not get a level on the rails, sooooo I put my Thule X1 box on and used a rubber shim under the box mounting points to level it before sinching down.