HD_Dude
New Member
- Joined
- September 20, 2015
- Messages
- 4
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- City, State
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2016 Ford EXplorer XLT
Hi everyone -
The roof racks on the 2016 Ford Explorers are totally, totally different.
Every Ford SUV I've owned, which includes 2 Explorers and 2 Expeditions, had roof racks with open spaces in between the roof mounts. So, you could tie a rope to them, put the Christmas tree up top, and tie it down.
The 2016 Explorer Roof Racks are solid, front to back...no open spaces for a rope. The only way you can tie anything to them is with either crossbars, or the little knobs they include...with are not heavy duty at all.
I believe they did it to reduce drag and wind noise.
As is, nothing except the factory crossbars will work for bike racks, cargo carriers or Christmas trees. None of the Thule straps that go around the rails will work, because there are no open spaces.
I searched this forum, and most of the roof rack threads included older Explorer owner comments - but the 2016 is totally different. Nothing that applies to older Explorers works - at all.
So we will have to use the Thule-Ford accessories, which use the Ford Crossbar.
Older Thule roof racks won't mount.
This is not a complaint - just an observation. Trying to help 2016 owners understand that there has been a huge change - and none of the older approaches work.
At all!
The roof racks on the 2016 Ford Explorers are totally, totally different.
Every Ford SUV I've owned, which includes 2 Explorers and 2 Expeditions, had roof racks with open spaces in between the roof mounts. So, you could tie a rope to them, put the Christmas tree up top, and tie it down.
The 2016 Explorer Roof Racks are solid, front to back...no open spaces for a rope. The only way you can tie anything to them is with either crossbars, or the little knobs they include...with are not heavy duty at all.
I believe they did it to reduce drag and wind noise.
As is, nothing except the factory crossbars will work for bike racks, cargo carriers or Christmas trees. None of the Thule straps that go around the rails will work, because there are no open spaces.
I searched this forum, and most of the roof rack threads included older Explorer owner comments - but the 2016 is totally different. Nothing that applies to older Explorers works - at all.
So we will have to use the Thule-Ford accessories, which use the Ford Crossbar.
Older Thule roof racks won't mount.
This is not a complaint - just an observation. Trying to help 2016 owners understand that there has been a huge change - and none of the older approaches work.
At all!