Roof Rack

[Craigevs]

Hi, Im new to the forum and also a new Scirocco 2009 owner, I've done some digging on the forum but keep getting confused with various different names/models roof racks...


All i really want is to know what the best on the market and how to protect the pain where the roof bases sit? I've priced a genuine VW part and find it a tad on the pricy side. The roof racks will be used to transport Mountain bikes and Various Kayaks..


Thanks again
Craig

[Roc Hopper]

Hi Craig welcome !
I had to get bars for my Roc to transport my kayak - opted for the LaPrealpina bars from Micks Garage - they were a lot less expensive than the genuine VW ones. Wrote this post a while back - the bars are not the easiest to put together correctly but the following should help - any issues feel free to PM me and I'll help if I can

To hijack this thread for future readers Ive just fitted some LP bars from MIcks garage to my Roc - I'm no engineer but its not an easy fix (3 clever guys 4 hours to put together and install based on the translated from Chinese into Italian and thence to English instructions !
My Observations are thus
When assembling the rear bar uses the 8th hole counting from the middle
the front bar uses the 10th hole when counting from the middle
Note the internal threaded bolt is the longer one and THIS is the bolt that the manufacturers are referring to (this is not clear from the instructions)
When attaching the bars the plastic square is used to slip under the window / glass rubber to allow the feet to slip under - this is the most vital piece of the jigsaw :-)
1. The metal "feet" that attach to the roof under the door rubbers with the semi circular cut out go to the front - this is to cater for the welds on the frame under the door rubbers & the semi circular cutouts bridge the weld.
2.The flat thin square rubber pads also go to the front
3.The rubber ovals fit to the rear bar
4. When siting the front bar the measurement from the vertical line of the glass for the window is 51 cm from the vertical plane towards the front of the car- I found that placing a micro fibre towel under the other foot to be a best practice to prevent scratching the paint
5. When siting the rear bar there is no weld to gauge by so the measurement again from the vertical plane of the front windows is 27cm towards the rear to the car

I used a chinagraph pencil to mark on the rubber drip seal the position for future use - i carry a Pyrannha Fusion Kayak regularly. Without the "Yak" apart from slight noise above 85 mph there is no discernable issue when driving.

LP need to take a leaf out of Lego's book for instructions - aside from that the bars fit great & the hold on my "Yak" is fine.

side note - under the two front thin square rubber pads i placed a couple of adhesive felt circles (the type you get from B&Q or The Range) just to give a few mm's extra clearance for the "foot" and to protect the paint. I'm not sure they are needed but hey why take the risk

Any issues please feel free to PM me - the instructions are underpants but the product once assembled is fine.

[wensleydale]

5. When siting the rear bar there is no weld to gauge by so the measurement again from the vertical plane of the front windows is 27cm towards the rear to the car

I used a chinagraph pencil to mark on the rubber drip seal the position for future use

If you look on the side windows there are two small black ^ marks printed onto the glass, the rear factory roof bar fit between those two marks. This should make it easier to get the correct location for non factory bars.

[Craigevs]

Thanks guys for all the help it's much appreciated. I need to locate 3m protective tape anyone know any shops that sell it? I thinks it's other name is possibly Helicopter blade tape???

[Craigevs]

What kayak carrier did you use with the LP bars? Also will be after a bike holder for the racks...

[Roc Hopper]

Thule kayak carrier J bars available pretty much anywhere that does roof bars etc

Quick ninja edit - you do need longer bolts than the standard supplied ones - available from B&Q

[Craigevs]

Longer bolts for the Kayak carrier is it?

[Roc Hopper]

Yep the supplied bolts that go thorough the "feet" of the bars where they attach are perfect for Thule bars as bought for my previous Ibiza cupra but too short for the LP bars

[polo classic]

I would only use OEM bars, after my laprealpina collapsed

[Craigevs]

Collapsed? What did you load on them to do that?

Much damage to the Vehicle?

[carmanvw]

After previously reading someone's post about the la. prealpina bars collapsing, mine have been left assembled in the shed since I bought them from Micks Garage about a year ago. I'm afraid to use them. Not sure if it's by design, but the black pieces which actually clamp onto the roof (feet, I guess) seem a bit too soft and bendy compared to roof racks I've had on my previous cars.
Maybe I'll give them a go soon, as I miss the load carrying ability of Golf etc.

The price for the aluminium looking ones was about €115 compared to approx €400 for the set VW main dealers supply. They are a fine looking set of bars and come complete with locks.

[pixelmix]

Sorry for the thread hijack. Where are you based?

I have just sold my Scirocco and have the OEM VW bars in my garage. Open to sell at a sensible price (not giving them away as I'll chop them up for a future van project if I keep them).

DM me if you are interested. They live in Edinburgh. I'll be in Lancs in October if that helps.

[Craigevs]

Sorry mate i've already purchased and partly fitted the LP bars.

To anyone that's fitted these... When i place the LP cover over the bars that contain the lock i can't get the lock to close, it's about 2mm short.

Any help would be great ha.

[polo classic]

Collapsed? What did you load on them to do that?

Much damage to the Vehicle?

Nothing heavy, just two bikes, so around 20 kg?

Scraped off paint under the window seals almost all the way and dented the c-pillar. Had to repaint from the a-pillar, the whole roof, c-pillar and all the way to the rear of the doors......not cheap

[carmanvw]

I'd love to get a second hand set of good quality roof bars at a good price, but I'm in Republic of Ireland, so I'm sure the cost of postage would negate any value to the deal, and impossible to check them out before buying. well worth your while sticking them on the for sale section, or DoneDeal- I sold my VW Golf bars there pretty quickly that way. Otherwise they'd have spent another few years in my shed.