Question about Thules for a Subaru

[nellgirl]

I know that looking in person is probably best, but we’re trying to reduce our time in stores right now and I’m having trouble figuring this out from just looking online.
We have a 2018 Subaru Outback and we’re looking to get a Thule for it. The Subaru has integrated roof rack bars. Does anyone know if the Thule attaches directly to that or is there some kind of extra adapter that we need to get?

[Susie]

This is getting dated, but we had Thule roof racks on our 2008 Forester.  We used the Thule aerobars with the Subaru integrated rails, and then the bike racks coupled to the aerobars.

*ETA aeroblades, not aerobars.

[InBetweenDays]

Are you talking about the cargo boxes or a different rack (bike, SUP, ski, etc.)? For the cargo boxes it *should* just slide over and attach to the factory rack on your car. That is how it is with our Yakima rack.

If you let me know which exact rack you are looking at I can check it out. I worked at REI years ago and occasionally sold roof racks.

ETA: Does your Subaru have the cross bars or just the rails?

[nellgirl]

Jul 31, 2020 13:02:52 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

Are you talking about the cargo boxes or a different rack (bike, SUP, ski, etc.)? For the cargo boxes it *should* just slide over and attach to the factory rack on your car. That is how it is with our Yakima rack.

If you let me know which exact rack you are looking at I can check it out. I worked at REI years ago and occasionally sold roof racks.

ETA: Does your Subaru have the cross bars or just the rails?

Yes, just a cargo box, like a Thule Motion XP or something similar. We need a bit more storage space for camping gear, especially when we bring our large dog and can’t store stuff in his spot.
Yes, the car has the cross bars that swing out.

[steamboat185]

We attach ours to the crossbar on the Forester using the brackets Thule provides. You can go to the Thule website and it will tell you if it fits on your car.

[felicity]

Our Thule attaches right on the Outback rails. Nothing else needed.

[keyslover]

Jul 31, 2020 12:51:32 GMT -5 nellgirl said:

I know that looking in person is probably best, but we’re trying to reduce our time in stores right now and I’m having trouble figuring this out from just looking online.
We have a 2018 Subaru Outback and we’re looking to get a Thule for it. The Subaru has integrated roof rack bars. Does anyone know if the Thule attaches directly to that or is there some kind of extra adapter that we need to get?

We have a 2019 outback and bought Thule Force XT XL Roof Box, I am so impressed how easy it is to attach to the car.

Nothing else needed.

[preppy]

We used to have a subaru crosstrek with subaru crossbars and our thule attachments for kayaks didn't need any adapters of any kind, they just went right on. Nothing else needed.

[nellgirl]

Thanks so much, everyone!!

[basilosaurus]

Mine had racks fit ski racks no problem. Ive had 3 subies over the years speaking over a decade of model years, and they all had the same racks although I only utilized 1.

[4speedy]

Where are you buying it from?  You can buy it online from REI with curbside pickup.  I have a friend who just bought a cargo box and they brought it out and attached it for her right there.

[nellgirl]

Aug 2, 2020 8:09:22 GMT -5 4speedy said:

Where are you buying it from?  You can buy it online from REI with curbside pickup.  I have a friend who just bought a cargo box and they brought it out and attached it for her right there.

We’re in Canada and our REI equivalent (MEC) doesn’t really carry much in the way of cargo carriers.
We do have a cargo/bike rack/other types of rack specialty place in town that we’re likely going to head to.