There a number of cars that come from the manufacturer with roof rack mounting points built into the roof and some come with tracks installed on the roof. This style of side rail is relatively new but becoming more widespread. A wide range of raised rail sizes exists not every tower will fit every side rail.įlush side rails sit directly against the roof and typically have a channel or pin holes for towers to fit into. Raised side rails are elevated off the roof such that a tower can be fitted all the way around it. These typically, though not always, are strong attachment points engineered to support a roof rack system. Many SUVs, wagons and crossovers are equipped with factory-installed side rails that run front-to-back on the roof. Read about permanent custom installations here. These installations are permanent, offer greater flexibility in positioning the roof rack, but are more expensive than clip fit rack systems. The second main option for bare roofs is doing a custom permanent installation - using either track or fixed point mounts. These fits require precision measurement to ensure correct installation. These cars can be described as “Naked Roof” or “Bare Roof.”Ĭlip fits require two components the tower is fairly universal, while the clip or fit kit adapts the tower to fit specific vehicle(s). In the rack world, that is a “Naked Roof” car the most common fit solution for this sort of roof is a clip fit.Ĭlip Fit roof racks tension around the door frame of cars that have no pre-installed attachment points. For rack purposes, this is not a rain gutter. There is a common misperception that the plastic strips that run front-to-back on the roof of many modern vehicles is a rain gutter that can be attached to. The main roof types are:Ĭustom Permanent Track & Fixed Point Installations
Most cars have roof rack options that are temporary (can be removed) and permanent (can't be removed after installation). They roof racks you can use will depend on the type of roof your vehicle has.