I just purchased a 2005 Explorer. The ceiling of my garage is quite low, and I need to remove the crossbars on the roof rack so that it will clear the garage door opener.

I have searched through the forum and found some information, but it does not appear to apply to my 2005. Any guidance and insight on removing the crossbars would be greatly appreciated. <O</O

Thanks!!<O</O

- Dan<O</O

 

uh, not tring to be cute here, but did you take a look in the owner's manual?

 

The manual only says how to adjust the position of the cross bars. It would be great to learn the right way to remove them.

- Dan

 

Hacksaw maybe? J/K I am sure there is a way to unscrew them. After all, they were installed at the factory some way.

 

call a good service department and ask....

If I recall, the cross members were an option, even with the rack. I see Expys running around everywhere without them.

Anohter possibility. If I recall, the "adjustment screw" is like a gear that runs across a cog which you turn, and the thing moves.

What if you adjust it all the way back or forward. Could you just keep turning and take it out?

??

 

You can unscrew the front or rear mounting brackets then slide them off. I removed mine and a friends that way.

 

ahhh, there we go.....

 

Thank you for your suggestions and ideas. It is appreciated.

Was either of these that you referred to a 2005? I believe that the 2005 is a different design than previous years. On mine, the end point brackets appear to be mounted directly to the roof (no visible screws) with the side rail is between these two fixed ends. There are screws on the rails (torx that are difficult to get to) and assumably if I were able to get these rails off I could then slide the cross bars out. However, it may also be possible to release the cross bar ends without removing the side rails at all.

My hope is to benefit from someone's experience and try to avoid hacking anything by doing it the "right way" if possible.

Thanks to everyone who has or can offer any help on this.

- Dan

 

I contacted the dealer service department and they were able to confirm process. Just completely unscrewed the thumb bolt for adjusting the bars and also the accompanying torx bolt. Bars came right off. Apparently the 2005 design is unique.

Thanks!

- Dan