As we all know, the factory cross bar mounting sucks. No room underneath and not that easy to secure or move. Here's what I did so I could mount my kayak carrier and it was less than $25


I started with a 2" piece of 1/8" flat steel, a 5/16 threaded coupler, a 4 1/4" piece of 1 1/2" square tube, a 5/16" x 1 1/2" stainless Allen screw, and a cap for the screw.


I welded the coupler to the 1/8" steel. I had to grind the sides just a little to get it to slide in the roof rack track.

I drilled a 1" hole in top center of the tube. You'll need to drill a larger hole in the bottom to allow the welds of the coupler to pass through. I found that out later and just cut a square out with my die grinder.



The Allen screw head gets pressed into the plastic **** in a vise. It holds very well, I'd never used this set up before. I used a stainless 5/16 nut as a spacer and the shouldered one to help grip when I tightened it down.

The cross bar itself I took the factory latches out, drilled out the hole to 3/8" and cut the little circle tabs off the bottom around the hole. If you look at it it should make sense.

A couple coats of satin black and it's good to go.

 

I like it. Can you post more pictures and where did you get those *****? I haven't used mine in years and would like to be able to use them.

 

Anything you'd like pics of specifically? The ***** came from my local industrial supply place, they're kind of like a Fastenal.

 

Thats a great idea, reps sent

You can source *****, handles and such from jwwinco.com great selection and no minimum order

 

Just pictures of the whole roof rack from different angles.

 

Ask and you shall receive:

 

To me this looks like an easier and cleaner look than padding the whole roof rail like some have done.

Looks good!

 

Geez bro, for under $100 I could have built you a whole roof rack setup and made it so you couldn't park the Ex in the shop anymore.
Seriously, it looks like a solid way to lift the cross bars and make the factory rack useable.

 

Update: I made my first trip with the modded rack and can report great results.

 

Did this allow you to use your original cross bars? I never have had any with my ex. Really wouldn't recognize oem bars. Sure looks like an easy fix. thanks for sharing

 

Yes, those are the original cross bars. Took them off after I bought the x because they rubbed the roof. They sat in my shop for 5 years before I decided to do anything with them.

 

Great look. Minimal and functional. I moved mine up 1" with PVC to allow for my carrier.