I have read on here that one or two people have bought Thule fittings that clamp directly to the car body, round the door seals, to enable cars that don't have rails to use roof bars.

We are about to sell our car which has rails and we use it for our rails and roof box (which isn't used regularly).

I am wondering if I would be better buying roof rails and then still having to buy Thule fittings for my roof bars, or just get the direct to car fittings.

For those who have experience of the ones that go straight on the car, are they any good? Do you leave them on permantnelty or will they damage the door seals?

Thanks. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
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There is another option...Whispabar to an excellent set of bars that have a fitting kit which screws into the anchor points for the LR roof rails. I don't think though they are any good if you have a sun roof.
I have the Whispabar clamp ones on mine and they are fine and look really good on the car.

Thanks for that. I wasn't aware they had ones that used the existing mounting points.

As we already have the Thule Wing Bars I assumed the cheapest thing would be to buy the Thule fixings. Might check the Whispbar ones also tho. Could be a nice permanent option.

Would still appreciate any info from those who have used the Thule ones. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

Personally, I wouldn't use the Thule ones. My F2 came with them fitted & they had been on for quite a while. I removed them (sold them on Gumtree) over a year ago & you can still see where they marked the door seals. I prefer the roof rails with the cross bars. Just my opinion obviously but I would fit a set of roof rails & have done with it.

Cheers,

Nick

Thanks for that. The marking was my concern. Didn't want something I would have to take on and off as needed, but didn't want to spend loads if I didn't need to. The Whispbars look like the nest option so am going to go for them. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

Sounds like a good plan to me

Compared to the value of the car I would do it properly. They still add some value to the car when you sell it so it's not a total loss. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

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im in the same situation as looking towards getting a roofbox

had roof rails and LR roof bars, replaced to a car without roof rails

Do I, buy roof rails and use existing bars or whispbars and clamp on when needed

Used to think i liked the roof rails, but not sure now

How much are LR cross bars worth? Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Pinky I thought the dealers swapped your rails over ? Cross bars new are £200 from LR. Genuine rails and cross bars look neat. Aftermarket do not look neat why scrimp on a few bob  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
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i was going to have them swapped, but 5 year old bars on a new car, put me off and the plan was to buy some and put them on

but I'm not sure now, in five years i only used the bars once, but im needing to think towards a bike rack and roof box as the kids grow so does all their stuff

plus i'm looking at buying a blow up tent, for quick weekends away in the lakes, were collecting the caravan is too much hard work, with the dog, kids tent i'm also going to get a Thule Easy bag to go on the towbar bike rack as it give 300L of waterproof storage Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis