heypete

How wide are the cross bars? I have a snowboard rack from my old car, and want to know if it will fit on the Porsche roof rack before buying it online... its looks really wide

bgsntth

It is really wide. So much so that I had to use XL surf-rack pads designed for a Hummer H2, and those barely fit.

alsamrob

You can get any of the Thule racks to work, using the Thule TK1 base. Much more economical and practical, coupled with a larger variety of racks (Kayak, bike, carrier) you can put on the Thule rails. My 2 cents.

Cole

FWIW I would also use a Thule or Yakima track mounted rack if you don't have the factory roof rails. If you have the factory roof rails you can use a Thule or Yakima rail mount kit.

Here is mine with the winter wheel set up and ski/boad rack on for winter. It is a Yakima track mount set up. Comes on and off very easily.




One nice thing about the Yakima round bar set up is that you can rotate the ski carriers down when not in use. They will lay down flat for better aerodynamics and clearance in short parking structures.

Bad picture, but you can see the ski carriers laying down flat. (they can't touch the roof).

heypete

thanks for the pictures Cole. Did you have the 48" Yakima crossbars?

Cole

Think they are the 48" set.

alexl911

Just to clarify... a roof rack can be installed on any Cayenne (with or without rails)? If my understanding is correct you can either add the rails and then use feet which clamp around them or purchase the Thule or Yakima track system feet?

medtech

The OP wants to know what the measurement is from rail to rail.

I will try to measure it for you tonight, if someone doesn't get to it before me.

Dennis C

I use the Thule Tracker II system on my Cayenne. Like the Yakima rack, you can pop the bars off easily and leave the mounts in place when you aren't using them. I like this system much better than the Porsche racks.

bgsntth

The thing I liked about the OE racks is that they can be taken on/off in 1-3 minutes and they do not generate a lot of wind noise. And when they were off, there was no mounting hardware left behind.

gnat

There is also a question of how much you can carry on the rack.

I believe Porsche says 200lbs on the new P!g with rails and their rack.

When I called Thule the rep said that without the factory rails they only support 100lbs.

When you figure boxes seem to be in the 40-50lb range that doesn't leave much left over for gear.

matt_o_70

FYI - i have a set of Porsche "roof transport system 95504400072" racks I'd like to sell if you are looking for factory. These are for the car without any side rails. They connect to the tracks recessed into the roof. This style pop in and out very easily & quickly.

BTW I have a Thule set up that I use due to needing wider rails to fit all my gear and a roof box.

alexl911

So... all Cayennes have a 'track' into which either the OE Porsche rails or the Thule/Yakima system fit into??

blazing928

MY12 onwards; roof rails are factory fit only, so must be ordered with them.
Earlier cars they can be retrofitted or use cross bars only.

With MY12 cars you can still use a cross bar only system, but the load weight will be less. The racks hook into the door frame to hold tehm on.

The MY12 roof rails support 100KG/220lbs.
I like the fact that the racks are not on the duco.