Tried putting my Yakima SpaceCase on. Factory crossbars, when spread farthest, are so close together that I had to drill new holes for it to fit. Then found out that it sticks so far back that you can't open the rear gate (nor can I remove the spoiler so the gate will open). Strike one.

Called REI to see about getting one of the newer Skyboxes. He asked what car I had and then responded that he wouldn't recommend it because the rack is too small and too far back. Strike two.

This is a big honking truck and I can't put something on it's roof that I've put on little Subaru wagons and nearly a dozen other vehicles.

Anyone else run in to this? Did you find a solution?

Yakima says that the entire rack is supposed to be able to slide forward. I seem to remember our sales guy mentioning something along that line as well, however the manual has nothing about this and our dealer can't find anything on how to do it.

Thanks,

 

Wow, your comment is timely. I just put my roof box on an hour ago, for the first time on my 570.

I have roof racked with a LX470 for years, and found that the factory side rails are plenty strong, but the factory crossbars are too wimpy for a roof box, and will flex and bob under a heavily loaded box.

I have used a Thule box for years and it works great-- I know now to use non-factory (in my case Yakima) crossbars and clamps that mount to the factory side rails.

It also helps with wind noise to buy the "fairing" that mounts in front of the bars.

All is well if you go this route, and you should be able to mount your box a bit farther forward. Hope that helps.

 

Which box did you put on? Which clamps? Are you able to open your rear gate fully or mostly?

Thanks,

 

I have a Thule "Evolution" box. I use Yakima bars and Yakima "Q-Towers" (which may have been superseded by now)

Yes, I can fully open the rear gate. I will try to add a pic later, but right now headed out to the mountains in about 10 mins.

 

I'd love to see pics of how yours worked when you get a chance. Have a great trip to the mountains. We're headed to what is lovingly referred to in MN as a ski bump (Lutsen, MN)

 

I'll post a pic when I am able

 

OK these pics did not turn out as well as they could have sorry about that. Let me know if you have questions:

 

Thanks for the pics. The back of your box appears a good 6" further forward than my Yakima. Much better arrangement.

My dealer did tell me that the rack can be moved forward, but is about a 2 hr job. They're still trying to determine how far it can be moved but think it's only about 4".

They said nothing can be done about the side rails being too short front to back. I threw some Q towers & bars on but could only get about 1" more separation than the flimsy factory cross rails. Better, but still not enough to avoid drilling custom holes in the Yakima's and doing an 'un-advisable mount'.

I'm more and more feeling like my LX570 is just a mini-van in SUV clothing.

 

I put on a tracklander aluminium bar with a close color code on the car...found the sports racks would not suit my purpose