Luggage Rack?

[Steve8316]

This isn't exactly "tuning", but it is a mod.

I installed a rack from a '15 Ltd. on my '16 PIU, but there were no crossbars. I don't actually remember ever seeing crossbars on one of these, but I've looked them up, and they exist. BB5Z7855100AA is supposed to fit '13-15, and GB5Z7855100AB is for '16-17. I can see some small differences in the pics, but what are the FUNCTIONAL differences? Any? None? After some searching on Amazon/eBay, it doesn't appear that the same aftermarket bars are offered for '15 and '16, so that suggests there IS some functional difference. But which bars would fit these '15 rails on my '16 roof?

This shows the style for '15: Amazon.com
...and this shows '16: Amazon.com

 

[peterk9]

Hi Steve. The 2016 refresh changed the roof rails so that the crossbars from the 2011-2015 Explorers will no longer fit the 2016-2019 models. Can 2011-15 roof rails be put on 2016+ ?

2016 / 19 Explorer Roof Racks - Totally Different

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...

www.explorerforum.com

Peter

 

[Steve8316]

Thanks. I found some other listings that show the '16-up rails as molded plastic (which I hadn't thought to investigate before posting this thread) instead of the steel tubes that I installed. So it looks like I'll be using '15-back crossbars.

 

[Steve8316]

I got this cheap set extra-cheap, which seems about right considering the poor instructions and the rear bar being too long. But they seem solid enough, since the rack is only rated for 100 lbs.