Add Yours: Subaru Solterra Owner's Registry

Crossbar (roof rack) options?

8604 Views 69 Replies 21 Participants Last post by JJ AWD, 14 d ago

HogarthH

Discussion Starter · 7 mo ago

Not seeing any information on crossbar or roof rack options for the Solterra. Has anybody spotted or know of what style crossbars will work with this rail system?

41 - 60 of 70 Posts

Greg M

· #41 · 4 mo ago

I agree that this is the part that we need.
Given that Thule has a full description of the parts and exactly, step-by-step, how to install them, it seems really, really strange that they are not manufacturing them!

Reactions: 1

yalla

· #42 · 4 mo ago

Kennifs said:
just to confirm, you’re using this mix of Thule components with you are Soltera that has the flush rails on top? Because Thule claims they do not have a fit kit for this. Which is baffling to me.

Yes, I am using this.

Link to the kit at Thule Norway

Screenshot:

Automotive lighting Hood Font Screenshot Motor vehicle

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Greg M

· #43 · 4 mo ago

Patrick said:
unfortunately all of the people selling these have low number of ratings (like <100) and/or like 90% positive, which is pretty low.
here's the turkey ones, to me they look slightly better for the same price.

for Subaru Solterra 2022- Racks Cross Bar for Flush Rails SİLVER | eBay

This roof bar set fits vehicles with vehicleFlush Roof Rails. If you have these rails, this is the right set of bars. Have to Mount on Factory Rails. Capacity is 150 lbs each bar. We have all solutions in our factory for roof racks.

www.ebay.com

I decided to order these.
Received an email the following day saying that FedEx had a tracking number...5 days later and FedEx still had not received the package.
Eventually it did ship, arriving yesterday...but the order was incomplete! The cross bars and attachments for the cross bars were included, but NOT the critical parts (feet, screws, bolts, etc.) for attaching to the car.
The dealer has not responded to my emails.

Reactions: 1

Patrick

· #44 · 4 mo ago

Greg M said:
I decided to order these.
Received an email the following day saying that FedEx had a tracking number...5 days later and FedEx still had not received the package.
Eventually it did ship, arriving yesterday...but the order was incomplete! The cross bars and attachments for the cross bars were included, but NOT the critical parts (feet, screws, bolts, etc.) for attaching to the car.
The dealer has not responded to my emails.

sorry to hear that. honestly in my experience, its really hard to order something on ebay with anything less than 99.x% positive feedback. Like a 92% positive feedback is basically an "C" or "D" grade experience. I would just get your money back.

Reactions: 1

ASUBEE

· #45 · 3 mo ago

yalla said:
I have a Thule WingBar Evo mounted. Looks Ok. Very quiet.
View attachment 1279 View attachment 1280

Part numbers at Thule.com:
Thule Wingbar Evo | 711300
Thule Fixpoint Evo | 710700
Kit 187133

Rack at Thule.com

You have a touring or premium version, yes? When you attached the kit, did you just pop open those flaps and it attaches easily?

Laryngologist

· #46 · 3 mo ago

I’d appreciate your range experiences with the crossbars on. I look forward to getting crossbars. Still no word from our local dealerships.

Greg M

· #47 · 3 mo ago

Patrick said:
sorry to hear that. honestly in my experience, its really hard to order something on ebay with anything less than 99.x% positive feedback. Like a 92% positive feedback is basically an "C" or "D" grade experience. I would just get your money back.

Just got my money back. EBay was very good. They sent a mailing label, I repacked the bars, took it to the Post Office and got a refund on my credit card about a week later.

yalla

· #48 · 3 mo ago

ASUBEE said:
You have a touring or premium version, yes? When you attached the kit, did you just pop open those flaps and it attaches easily?

I have an edition called Nordic (it is the cheapest in Norway), with no glass roof and stuff.

Remove the plastic-flaps and attach, no problem

yalla

· #49 · 3 mo ago

Laryngologist said:
I’d appreciate your range experiences with the crossbars on. I look forward to getting crossbars. Still no word from our local dealerships.

I have had the crossbars attached from the beginning. In normal "country road" speed (in norway that is somewhere between 60-70 km/h average speed) there is not much extra consumption with cross bars and a ski rack. In highway speed it will affect consumption more. With cross bars, Thule Snowpack Large, four pair of skis, I have done 140km trips with an average of 70km/h, temp below 0c, with typically 20-21 kWh/100km in consumption.

Here is a test performed with an Kia EV6 with a speed of 120km/h, and as you can see cross bars adds 5% with no equiment attached, 33% with two bikes:

Equipment	Consumption kWt (per 100km)	Increase
Roof box	23,4	14 %
Roof rack (no bikes)	21,6	5 %
Roof rack (two bikes)	27,4	33 %
Roof tent	27,4	33 %
Bike rack on tow hitch (two bikes)	22,2	8 %

Google translated link of the article: Henger eller taklast: Så mye rekkevidde taper du

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jmwk

· #50 · 3 mo ago

I was doing some poking around and found the Thule (US) wingbar evo option.

Thule Wingbar Evo 135 cm roof bar 2-pack aluminium | 711400
Thule Clamp Evo foot for vehicles 4-pack black | 710501
Kit 145314

Their pic shows it mounted to a non-solterra rail. Anyone tried it yet?

Patrick

· #51 · 2 mo ago

I don't think you want these, they like clamp inside the gutter or something weird. There are threaded holes on the roof for a more direct fit. It looks to me like the correct (direct fit) kit is now available from thule.com. I haven't ordered yet.

Patrick

· #52 · 2 mo ago

The way you can tell it's the right kit for Thule is that it has part number 187133. You can see there's a single bolt. that goes into the bolt hole on the flush rails. Thule says it's in stock now.

Kit 187133 | Thule | United States

-

www.thule.com

Reactions: 1

Patrick

· #53 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Here is the setup. I went ahead and ordered the Solterra specific parts (187133) while it was in stock and will get the others later . Thule.com price doesn't seem to be bad though.

Thule Wingbar Evo

Thule Wingbar Evo
Model number: 711300
$259.95
Decrease quantity of product by one
1
Increase quantity of product by one
In stock

$259.95
Delete product

Thule Fixpoint Evo

Thule Fixpoint Evo
Model number: 710701
$249.95
Decrease quantity of product by one
1
Increase quantity of product by one
In stock

$249.95
Delete product

Kit 187133
Model number: 187133
$149.95
Decrease quantity of product by one
1
Increase quantity of product by one
In stock

$149.95

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3

jmwk

· #54 · 2 mo ago

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on the 127cm/50" vs 135cm/53" Wingbar Evo widths, either practically or aesthetically?

On my prior cars - two outbacks and a honda pilot - I've extended well beyond the mounting foot on each side with wider bars. I could just squeeze 4 bikes and a skinny carrier on my pilot. That was great with kids, but I don't need to go that wide any more. My kids are grown and I'm deliberately downsizing with my Solterra. (And my range would likely be less than 100 miles with that much stuff up there!

)

I can't find specs on how deep the wingbar's underside mounting channel actually is. Thule's FAQ says it "only reaches a certain distance into the bar, so upsizing is not always possible". From pictures it looks like it might be about 8" deep, and so the longer bar should fit the Solterra.

thanks!

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Ducatista

· #55 · 2 mo ago

I have been following up often with my local dealer in Canada and there is still no word on the availability of the official crossbar accessory options. Kinda ridiculous they are selling all the attachments here but not crossbars to put them on. The dealer has no new information from Subaru Canada regarding them. I just want the simple Aero ones.

Tire Wheel Vehicle Motor vehicle Hood

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Patrick

· #56 · 2 mo ago

You can buy the Thule set now, directly from Thule, it's just expensive. It's like $700 for the whole setup.

Ducatista

· #57 · 2 mo ago

Patrick said:
You can buy the Thule set now, directly from Thule, it's just expensive. It's like $700 for the whole setup.

Yeah exactly. It’s way more than what I want. Usually the basic aero crossbars Subaru has are more than half that price. Only want for skies mainly. I don’t need the higher load for like a rooftop tent.

Reactions: 1

Ducatista

· #58 · 2 mo ago

I sent this email to Subaru Canada customer care. I think everyone should do the same (and Subaru USA). Light a fire under Subarus butts. The “uncommon” term is a marketing thing Subaru Canada is using to describe the activities Subarus owners do with their vehicles:

Hello,

Can anyone please provide any insight as to when the Solterra crossbars will be available? It’s great that all the other accessories are available for the rooftop of the Solterra and Subaru shows this in all their media photos of the Solterra (ex. the canoe and kayak carriers, the Thule boxes, the Thule baskets and ski rack, etc.). But there is only one problem, there is no way for customers to attach all the other accessories until the crossbars are available. Please Subaru, get these available, can’t really do the “uncommon” adventures until they are.

This photo is from the Solterra brochure which customers expect to do.

Regards,

Antonio

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Reactions: 2

Islander

· #59 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Ducatista said:
I sent this email to Subaru Canada customer care. I think everyone should do the same (and Subaru USA). Light a fire under Subarus butts. The “uncommon” term is a marketing thing Subaru Canada is using to describe the activities Subarus owners do with their vehicles:

Hello,

Can anyone please provide any insight as to when the Solterra crossbars will be available? It’s great that all the other accessories are available for the rooftop of the Solterra and Subaru shows this in all their media photos of the Solterra (ex. the canoe and kayak carriers, the Thule boxes, the Thule baskets and ski rack, etc.). But there is only one problem, there is no way for customers to attach all the other accessories until the crossbars are available. Please Subaru, get these available, can’t really do the “uncommon” adventures until they are.

View attachment 2104

This photo is from the Solterra brochure which customers expect to do.
View attachment 2105

Regards,

Antonio

I just got my roof rack fit kit (and "feet") today! Still waiting for the actual bars to arrive (should be here tomorrow) but the bars/feet have always been available - it was the fit kit to connect to the Solterra that was the thing that was missing. I will send a pick when I get it installed.

I had been checking frequently to see when the fit kit was available and recently saw that the fit kit was on Thule's website but it said it wasn't available for online purchase. I called Thule and they said they had a small number in stock in the US warehouse but that they don't ship to Canada (Canadian warehouse didn't have any yet) . Rack Attack (the main Canadian supplier) said the fit kit wasn't available yet BUT Racks for Cars (based in Alberta) was able to sell them to us (they got them shipped from US warehouse). Racks for Cars website isn't awesome, but their staff were really knowledgeable and helpful when I called and they got everything shipped out very quickly. Their prices seemed reasonable.

What I ordered was:
Thule WingBar Evo (50" is the minimum width that I was told would fit; I went for 53", which shouldn't stick out too much but I'll confirm when installed).
Thule Evo Fix Point (710701)
Thule Fit Kit (187133)

I believe you can also use the Thule Aero bars instead of Evo. Aero is probably quieter and more aerodynamic but they don't give as much space as the Evo's and I sometimes have lots of adventure gear to carry (canoe/surfboard/SUP/kayak). I'm really excited to finally have this in my hands. The only other available EV with decent ground clearance is a Tesla X (not counting the newer trucks). The X can't have a roof rack b/c of the wing doors so it wasn't an option I considered (not to mention high price tag). There are lots of other "SUV" EVs that could get a roof rack, but I'd be nervous taking them offroad as they seem more like sports cars in the shape of an SUV than a real SUV. I suppose Rivian is the car to beat for adventure EVs - it looks awesome but bigger than I wanted and way more $.

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Ducatista

· #60 · 2 mo ago

Islander said:
I just got my roof rack fit kit (and "feet") today! Still waiting for the actual bars to arrive (should be here tomorrow) but the bars/feet have always been available - it was the fit kit to connect to the Solterra that was the thing that was missing. I will send a pick when I get it installed.

I had been checking frequently to see when the fit kit was available and recently saw that the fit kit was on Thule's website but it said it wasn't available for online purchase. I called Thule and they said they had a small number in stock in the US warehouse but that they don't ship to Canada (Canadian warehouse didn't have any yet) . Rack Attack (the main Canadian supplier) said the fit kit wasn't available yet BUT Racks for Cars (based in Alberta) was able to sell them to us (they got them shipped from US warehouse). Racks for Cars website isn't awesome, but their staff were really knowledgeable and helpful when I called and they got everything shipped out very quickly. Their prices seemed reasonable.

What I ordered was:
Thule WingBar Evo (50" is the minimum width that I was told would fit; I went for 53", which shouldn't stick out too much but I'll confirm when installed).
Thule Evo Fix Point (710701)
Thule Fit Kit (187133)

I believe you can also use the Thule Aero bars instead of Evo. Aero is probably quieter and more aerodynamic but they don't give as much space as the Evo's and I sometimes have lots of adventure gear to carry (canoe/surfboard/SUP/kayak). I'm really excited to finally have this in my hands. The only other available EV with decent ground clearance is a Tesla X (not counting the newer trucks). The X can't have a roof rack b/c of the wing doors so it wasn't an option I considered (not to mention high price tag). There are lots of other "SUV" EVs that could get a roof rack, but I'd be nervous taking them offroad as they seem more like sports cars in the shape of an SUV than a real SUV. I suppose Rivian is the car to beat for adventure EVs - it looks awesome but bigger than I wanted and way more $.

Oh I’m aware. But nothing is available from Subaru directly in North America as they have for all their other vehicles. More specifically the Aero bars, not the higher capacity Thule bars. And the simple Subaru aero bars are typically way cheaper than the Thule bars.

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