The reason I am installing a set of aftermarket bars is because I will need to haul several sets of ski's and also a cargo box. I needed to have a rack that extended wider then the stock rack system. I am traveling with a car load of family and dont feel like having a truck full of luggage.

I chose Thule for no other reason then I used Yakima before on a different car. I wanted to try something different. For the rears I went with the Thule CrossRoad Railing Foot Pack. It attaches to the OEM rails. Because the Armada rails are so thick it required some modifications. I disassambled then and did some cutting. <see pics> The rears feel very solid.

Still working on the fronts. We will be going on a trip to Tahoe soon and would need to get the rack settled asap.

Miguel

What part are you cutting? I was looking at your pictures (very nice ones by the way) and wasn't sure if you were cutting the factory rails. Are you making them adjustable front to back? looking forward to the compelted setup. :)

In the pic I am cutting the metal rails that the OEM crossbar slides. I needed to cut it in order for the CrossRoad strap to secure around the stock rack.

The fronts are a little more difficult but I am making progress.

Miguel

Thule CrossRoad attached to the Nissan Armada rack.

hi, its not my intention to hi jack this thread, but i wanted to discuss aftermarket roof rack options because the stock 05 rack sucks.

i called nissan and it was like $400+ for another crossbar,i said eff that.

i am in the same boat as the op, but i think i may design my own rack and have a mobile welder come weld it up after i cut all the aluminum myself.

thinking to fabricate a safari style rack, about 6 feet long, right up to my roof top no draft window.

does anyone know of someone with pics of a diy rack that goes from the furthest setting to the rear all the way to the front rack?

do you think it will work?

ty

You may want to take a closer look at the rack. There is very little metal to weld on the OEM system. Unless you plan to cut and weld into the roof. :rolleyes:

I spent a decent amount of time putting together a system which worked well for my application. But it did cost about $500, which included the rails and mounts, snowboard racks, fairing and cargo box.

Miguel

Calcpeed, What size crossbars did you end up using? Im assuming that you needed the wider rack so that you would have room for your wide board/ski rack & your Luggage container side by side? I am going to order another OEM rear crossbar & just run my board rack between the back two crossbars. I found an adapter kit (Thule FM1) to attach to OEM bars. I have a complete rack & faring that I have on my civic, I thought about pulling it off & using it, but thought it might be cheaper to just buy the fit kits for OEM. I may have to switch up in the future, but I think this will work best for me now. I think I will put my bike rack on the hitch...dont wanna take the chance of ripping it off, giong under an over hang or through drive thru...LOL
I like your pics of the rear mod for your rack, can you post pix of your front mod for your rack? I assume your Fairing is attached to your Thule crossbar...is this correct? Did you see a way to attach it to your OEM cross bar? Im hoping I can attach it to my OEM, but I didnt see a way right off.

Thanks
O... PS Calspeed... I got my NISMO decals on the way, I prob be asking your for location measurements if you dont have the youtube presentation up by then.