should have ticked the option box on this - for some reason i thought they were standard on Elegance models. :'(

can you retrofit them? any idea on price? and can you DIY?

should have ticked the option box on this - for some reason i thought they were standard on Elegance models. :'(

can you retrofit them? any idea on price? and can you DIY?

Part numbers

Left side

5L08600251HH

Right Side

5L08600261HH

Part numbers

Left side

5L08600251HH

Right Side

5L08600261HH

or 2 x rolls of bacofoil....

Hi,

Roof rails are standard, roof bars are an option from your dealer. Beware standard rails are black, bars are silver only, even thule don't do a set of aero bars in black.

I.m looking at getting a set of bars power coated to match the car, all black.

Chris.

Hi,

Roof rails are standard, roof bars are an option from your dealer. Beware standard rails are black, bars are silver only, even thule don't do a set of aero bars in black.

I.m looking at getting a set of bars power coated to match the car, all black.

Chris.

I was also a bit miffed when I realised that Thule does not make black aero bars... (as my ordered Yeti rails are all black as I don't like the two tone black and silver rails) But then I thought all my bike racks that I will be attaching to these rails are silver anyway so re-using my existing silver Thule aero bars will save me money and they won't look that much out of place.

I was also a bit miffed when I realised that Thule does not make black aero bars... (as my ordered Yeti rails are all black as I don't like the two tone black and silver rails) But then I thought all my bike racks that I will be attaching to these rails are silver anyway so re-using my existing silver Thule aero bars will save me money and they won't look that much out of place.

Have just got the silver cross bars to go with the black roof rails - but hey ho!

The booklet that came with the crossbars refers to T-bolts and T-grooves as the best method of attaching holders - it warns that u-bolts might damage the surface finish of the cross bars. Our thule top box only has u-brackets - Any idea what a T-groove or T-bolt is???

Have just got the silver cross bars to go with the black roof rails - but hey ho!

The booklet that came with the crossbars refers to T-bolts and T-grooves as the best method of attaching holders - it warns that u-bolts might damage the surface finish of the cross bars. Our thule top box only has u-brackets - Any idea what a T-groove or T-bolt is???

It is what Thule calls Aero bars. They are U shaped with the opening facing upwards. On your bike rack or roof box you then have T-sections hanging down. These you slide into the U and then tighten thus there are no bolts pointing down towards your roof. Say you have bolts like that and then open your sunroof.... you can imagine what will happen....

Just to clarify: the Aero bars are U shaped and what you say the booklet calls "T-grooves". U bolts are far larger things that clamp around a roof bar with long pointy bits sticking down below your roof box/rack.

Just to clarify: the Aero bars are U shaped and what you say the booklet calls "T-grooves". U bolts are far larger things that clamp around a roof bar with long pointy bits sticking down below your roof box/rack.

The U-bolts that we use fasten around the cross bars with the lowest part of the U underneath the bar closest to the roof. The 2 ends of the U point towards the sky and go thru holes in the floor of the roof box and we fix them there with nuts - one on the end of each tip of the U. The booklet says that U bolts are not recommended because they might damage the surface finish of the cross bars. I still don't understand what t-bolts and t-grooves are!

On a related matter, the YETI hand book and the supplementary handbook that came with the roofbars both seem to contain some very odd translations into English!

I just saw these pics on the French Yeti forum that nicely shows what I presume is the Skoda roof bars and how they look inside to form the U-shaped channel I was on about:

Edit: Did a Google translate and yes these are genuine Skoda bars.

Edited 24 September, 201015 yr by 900000

Has anyone fitted the genuine Skoda roof bars?

I hope this makes sense, but is the vertical load actually taken by the bolts that fasten the crossbars to the roof rails, or do the crossbars sit directly on the top of the rails and the bolts just hold them in position?

Edited 26 September, 201015 yr by speedsport

Has anyone fitted the genuine Skoda roof bars?

I hope this makes sense, but is the vertical load actually taken by the bolts that fasten the crossbars to the roof rails, or do the crossbars sit directly on the top of the rails and the bolts just hold them in position?

Interesting question Speedsport... And by looking at those pictures I posted above I think you are right. ALL the load is taken only by the bolts since the outer black bit you think is resting on the rail is in fact only a cover over the mechanism... Hmmm. Not sure I like that. The Thule sustem clamps around the rail and this transfers the load that way.

I suppose the bolts are in shear (at which they are at their strongest) and by not clamping onto the side rails, that removes any risk of marking the top surface of the rail itself.

At the moment, I've attached my DIY system for my light bar on just the bolts, having fashioned the brackets out of galvanised steel & attached them with stainless steel M6x12mm bolts. I'm not too sure how happy I'd be about going up to the max allowable 75Kg load though.

Having said that, I suppose that means just over 9kg per bolt if the load is evenly distributed on a rack with 2 cross bars.

Actually, when you look at the roof rails, unlike some cars, there is no support mid-way along the rail, the load is taken only at the ends of the rail which is probably what limits the rack's capacity.

I'd still be interested if someone who has actually got a rack could confirm our assessment, is the load just taken on the bolts?

Edited 29 September, 201015 yr by speedsport

I'd still be interested if someone who has actually got a rack could confirm our assessment, is the load just taken on the bolts?

I have a set of the Skoda bars for my SM. Your assessment is correct, the rack clamps onto the bolts. There seems to be no other point of contact between the rack and the bars, so all of the load does goes onto the bolts. I have had a full roofbox (50 kg capacity) on mine without any problems

I don't know why people are worrying. The mounting system has been tested and passed all EU specifications, which probably loaded them more than 3 times the stated limit.

Stop worrying about it, and enjoy your Yeti!!

Your assessment is correct, the rack clamps onto the bolts.

Cool. I have no issues with that and if it has been designed that way all the better for not chafing and marking the top of the bar.

I've considered the Thule bars but have realised they have really messed up the design - or are just evil sharks forcing me to buy new bike racks. I have two seven year old Thule bike racks and one new one. The old ones just clamp to the bars since the Thule aero bars on my A2 has locking end caps. The new bike rack has an additional lock that locks the rack to the aero bar. So in their wisdom they thus removed the locks to the end caps on the new attachments that I'd have to get for the Yeti. Great. So anyone can just unclamp the two bike racks and slide them and the bikes locked on them out. Thanks Thule. Great security there! So I'll be getting some proper lockable Skoda ones and just have to live with the fact it is yet another key to carry around. The price difference is marginal too so not really an issue thankfully. Just one more thing to add as a dealer fit.