Distance between Crossbars - Forester Cargobbox?

[MikeE]

Hi there,

I just purchased a Yakima cargo box for my other car and would like to
put it on top of my 2004 Forester as well. The crossbars are
currently 45" apart but the box is pretty small and the spread has to
be between 29" and 36" apart. Are there any issues if I move the
crossbars closer together? Should I move both towards the centre
equally or move the front one back or the back one forward?
Anyone have any experience with this?
thanks in advance for your help.

Mike

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

Hi there,

I just purchased a Yakima cargo box for my other car and would like to
put it on top of my 2004 Forester as well.  The crossbars are
currently 45" apart but the box is pretty small and the spread has to
be between 29" and 36" apart.  Are there any issues if I move the
crossbars closer together?  Should I move both towards the centre
equally or move the front one back or the back one forward?
Anyone have any experience with this?
thanks in advance for your help.

Mike

You may need to get Yakima 'towers'(adpaters) and Yakima cross bars.


Carl
1 Lucky Texan

 

[MikeE]

You may need to get Yakima 'towers'(adpaters) and Yakima cross bars.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

The Yakima website appears to imply that I should be OK with the OEM
Subaru crossbars. When I indicate that I have the Factory crossbars,
it suggests the box that I have (and no additional hardware). Does
anyone have any thoughts/experiences on moving the crossbars?

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

The Yakima website appears to imply that I should be OK with the OEM
Subaru crossbars.  When I indicate that I have the Factory crossbars,
it suggests the box that I have (and no additional hardware).  Does
anyone have any thoughts/experiences on moving the crossbars?

Hmmm... the ends kinda 'float'/slide in-out a little on the bars so,
I'd expect some experimentation would be OK. Just make certain stuff
is secure. maybe they just recommend the positions for minimum wind
noise?

maybe someone else will have real experience with this.

Carl

 

[Tim Conway]

Hi there,

I just purchased a Yakima cargo box for my other car and would like to
put it on top of my 2004 Forester as well. The crossbars are
currently 45" apart but the box is pretty small and the spread has to
be between 29" and 36" apart. Are there any issues if I move the
crossbars closer together? Should I move both towards the centre
equally or move the front one back or the back one forward?
Anyone have any experience with this?
thanks in advance for your help.

I really don't have any experience with this, but I seem to have heard that
you should place luggage as far forward as possible for better handling.
That would mean moving the rear bar forward some to meet the measurement.
That's assuming, of course, that it doesn't affect the balance of fastening
it to the roof in an adverse way.

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

Hi there,

I just purchased a Yakima cargo box for my other car and would like to
put it on top of my 2004 Forester as well.  The crossbars are
currently 45" apart but the box is pretty small and the spread has to
be between 29" and 36" apart.  Are there any issues if I move the
crossbars closer together?  Should I move both towards the centre
equally or move the front one back or the back one forward?
Anyone have any experience with this?
thanks in advance for your help.

Mike

maybe dig around/ask over here; http://www.subaruforester.org/

let us know what you discover OK?

 

[Frank]

Hi there,

I just purchased a Yakima cargo box for my other car and would like to
put it on top of my 2004 Forester as well. The crossbars are
currently 45" apart but the box is pretty small and the spread has to
be between 29" and 36" apart. Are there any issues if I move the
crossbars closer together? Should I move both towards the centre
equally or move the front one back or the back one forward?
Anyone have any experience with this?
thanks in advance for your help.

Mike

Curious, I just measured mine at 34 inches apart. Mine's an '03 and I
had set them off looking at a Forester picture because prep missed them.
I don't have boxes but sometimes use them to carry home lumber.

 

[4orrester]

The Yakima website appears to imply that I should be OK with the OEM
Subaru crossbars. When I indicate that I have the Factory crossbars,
it suggests the box that I have (and no additional hardware). Does
anyone have any thoughts/experiences on moving the crossbars?

Hmmm... the ends kinda 'float'/slide in-out a little on the bars so,
I'd expect some experimentation would be OK. Just make certain stuff
is secure. maybe they just recommend the positions for minimum wind
noise?

maybe someone else will have real experience with this.

Carl

-------------

Remember - the max load is 150 lbs, so placing them forwar or back should
not make a significant difference in anything but strong crosswinds. I put
mine to the extreme front and back for better cross-wind stability when
lugging our sea kayaks (17' & 16', approx 130 lbs with gear). I've had no
problems in the last 3 years. I have noticed that the rails have faded, but
they aren't there for show. I've also applied a high quality silicone
grease to the threads on the TORX locking screws which has helped when I
remove them for the Canadian winter. The areodynamic rails tend to flex, so
make sure the load is even in the carrier over both.

my $.02

 

[MikeE]

Hmmm... the ends kinda 'float'/slide in-out a little on the bars so,
I'd expect some experimentation would be OK. Just make certain stuff
is secure. maybe they just recommend the positions for minimum wind
noise?

maybe someone else will have real experience with this.

Carl

-------------

Remember - the max load is 150 lbs, so placing them forwar or back should
not make a significant difference in anything but strong crosswinds.  Iput
mine to the extreme front and back for better cross-wind stability when
lugging our sea kayaks (17' & 16', approx 130 lbs with gear).  I've hadno
problems in the last 3 years.  I have noticed that the rails have faded, but
they aren't there for show.  I've also applied a high quality silicone
grease to the threads on the TORX locking screws which has helped when I
remove them for the Canadian winter.  The areodynamic rails tend to flex, so
make sure the load is even in the carrier over both.

my $.02

Great advice about the silicone grease - I'm in Canada too and will
likely do the same.
UPDATE - I've moved the rear bar forward (no problems at all with the
TORX bit) to create a 32" spread to match my other car and I'll
attempt to put the box up on the weekend. Doesn't look like there
should be a problem. Thanks all for your advice. I'll report back.