rsw

I swapped my 1999 RX300 for the first 350 off the truck and have been very happy with the trade except for one thing- the roof rack. The 300 had a rail system that could accept different accessories. I removed the original and put on a quick release system from Thule. Worked great.
The new 350 doesn'thave the same rail system as the 300. I have a Thule ski box that is on a crossbar system which previously inserted into the rail-based quick release feet.
Anyone know of an adaptation of the new rack to accomodate quick release?
I know I may have to buy a new system, but the locals here say it can't be done for love nor money...

bob

jef

Bob,

If I were you I'd call Thule customer service for a quick answer to the question about whether or not they have an adapter kit that will secure your cargo box to the RX350 crossbars. Thule is very good about these sorts of things.
Good luck.

Jeff

tfischer

I'm no expert on roof racks, but the crossbars on the 330/350 are not very securely attached to the rails that run front to back. This is handy for moving the crossbars fore and aft quickly using the nice latches supplied by Lexus, but I would not think that an accessory that was going to take a lot of stress should be attached to the cross rails. Something that holds skis would be, I should think, fine, but one of those bicycle holders would have to be attached to the rails.

I have a safari rack (from a previous car), and the kit that mates it to my RX330 attaches to the rails, not the cross bars, and it is very secure.

Thule makes top of the line equipment, and I would check there first, because if they make an adapter, it would surely be secure. Be careful about anybody else's adapter.

lexuslover

i have the thule ski/snowboard racks attached to the factory crossbars w/ the thule fatmouth clamps (sold separately). i believe the fatmouth clamps take most of the rooftop carrying devices. they are not very easy to remove/reinstall each time, so usually once i put them on they don't come off again until after the ski season is over.

in any case, the fatmouth clamps are very tight and i have absolutely no problems hauling 4 boards around.

i had an 01 RX300 and i find the new RX's crossbar system better because you don't have to twist those tighteners until your hand hurts. the new RX crossbar just has stop points and they willl not move once locked into place. one time on our old RX the front crossbar slid back towards the rear of the vehicle while i was driving 75mph on the highway and it scared the crap out of me. it just seemed like you could never tighten those things enough, even if you used pliers.

tfischer

My guess is that the change in the roof rack and crossbar setup from the 300 to the 330 in '04 was to streamline everything for less wind noise and less air resistance. As a result they have a system that looks very streamlined without those big screw down things like a Jeep Cherokee.

Much more elegant.