I searched the threads and most discussion is about Yakima or Thule brands. I see the Priuschat Toyota OEM version is less money, and a few people have reported installing them. I have a few questions if anyone would like to share experience with the Toyota OEM roof rack. How easy to install and remove, after the initial installation? In the picture the front and rear bars appear fairly close together--any experience carrying a kayak? Likes/dislikes? Thanks in advance for your comments!
I have a pair that came with my Prime. I'm assuming they're identical. They have a notch that fits into a keyed hold in the sheet metal above the door so they can't be put in the wrong place or backwards. They go in and out pretty easily and are well made. The only thing is they are NOISY. There's a thread in the prime section on this. Someone tried a Rhino-Rack deflector with them and said it cut down the noise dramatically, so keep this in mind.
We bought one when we bought the car but the dealership installed it and I haven’t taken it off. I did carry a 16 foot canoe (weighing 49 lbs.) on it and had no issues but I had to buy canoe clips from Thule as our old clips were made for smaller bars. In order to secure the bow, we got some straps from Amazon that install by taking a hood hinge bolt off and putting it under the bolt. Worked great and there was a lot of wind driving to the lake which is over 400 km from where I live.
It looks cool when on, but I take them off because super noisy. Slap them on when needed. I carried a bed lol. And for bikes
To add to your original question, it too me a couple tryes before I get them on properly. I had a hell off a time removing the key cover when not on car.
I have the Toyota roof rack on my Prius Prime and found the noise unbearable. A 38” RhinoRack air dam improved that situation considerably. Sounds are attenuated even with the Thule luggage carrier affixed to the rack. It adds another $100 or so to the solution, but at least I can hear the radio.
I'm also thinking of getting the factory roof rack. Thule and Yakima are just absurdly expensive ($500 for the rack only vs $240 for the factory rack). I want to carry two 10' kayaks on a 1000-mile trip (round trip) up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan rather than spending the few hundred dollars to rent kayaks when up north. I realize there will be reduced mileage and increased wind noise, but I figure I can regain this purchase after a couple trips like this. I'm most concerned with what attachments I can use on these bars? I'd like two sets of kayak j-caddies and eventually a bike caddie, but I don't know what racks will actually affix to this factory system. Any advice would be appreciated.
