Stupid question, but I've never had a roof rack on a vehicle before..how do you put stuff up there? Do you just place the carrier or whatever on top and bungee cord it down? Do you place the load on top of the crossbars, or directly on the roof? I'm talking luggage stuff, not surfboards or bicycles...was thinking about one of those big bags to put everything in...what is the weight limit?

Manual seems to be quiet about this thing.

I think the limit is about 75lbs but it can hold more. It placed carefully. I removed mine for aesthetic reasons and to save gas by being more aerodynamic. Don’t die laughing. With today’s gas prices I will try anything.

you put the luggage on the crossbars....well thats what my dad did on many past road trips and that turned out alright. we then used nylon rope or bungie cords to strap em' down.

i too removed my roof rack and i think i save more gas on freeway high speed cruising.

Use the cross- and sidebars to surround the luggage or roof bag and to help the bungee cords keep things up there. The roof can support a few suitcases.

For luggages (say to and from airport,) you can simply bungee cord them down onto the roof rack. Just make absolutely sure that they are secure.

For road trips, I'd recommend at least a vinyl cover or a bag in case of inclement weather, and a blanket on the roof to avoid scratches.

Buy a Thule if you plan on doing this often. It can be secured on the roof rack.

Don't any of you guys hate the look of no roof racks though? I have tried taking them off...but put them back on because I had the opinion that without them, it makes the car look really...plain. (don't know how else to put it)

in my opinion i like my rx without the roof rack. kinda makes it look sporty like the cayenne or the cx-7.

Look can be subjective, ever think about why no current Lexus sedan has any roof rack and mud flaps and no one ever think they are plain?
Also have you think about how a RX look with paint peeling off the roof rack? That is plain ugly, I would rather take the roof rack off and mount it back on if I ever need it.

Thanks for the tips, guys..I didn't think that the stuff would really sit on the crossbars too well, but wanted to make sure that I wasn't crazy and the luggage does sit directly on the roof, surrounded by the crossbars.

Huh? Now i am confused

If you follow the changes in RX you would not be confused.

The Early Rx's had rubber strips on the roof and cross bars.

Guess what happened when ppl put luggage on the roof?

Lexus immidiately replaced the roof rack, with slats and cross bars so the weight gets trasferred to the sides.

Salim

I've had two RXs, both purchased used, and neither came with the factory rack. I guess I know why now. Any one of you guys who had taken the rack off want to sell them? I gotta make a long distance drive around Christmas time and while it's always been a tight fit with luggage and two dogs, now we have added a baby seat so something's gotta give.

If you follow our discusssion, the carrier can not hold much weight. I guess the dogs and baby are out of question to be on the top, specially in the winter time .

Seriously, If you want to carry weight, a small 2'x5' platform on the receiver hitch is the thing that comes to mind.

Salim

well, for me to aviod scratches and stuff. i use a campers shell on mine and lock it also. it is secure, safe, bug free, and weather free.

Rooftop Cargo Boxes are cool:

Those are available from Sears and Amazon.