I own the 120cm Thule square bar 761 from a previous vehicle. Thule's own website recommends the 127cm 769 bar for the new Octavia hatchback but I have a suspicion that my old bars will fit. Oddly Halfords (and at least one other website) seem to recommend the 761 for Octy III hatch, in contradiction to Thule's own website.

 

So, I have sent the question to Thule using their online form, but we are only talking 3.5cm per side so the 761 may fit. I was just wondering if anybody has tried a 120cm bar on the hatch and found it to be OK (or the 861 aero bar / 961 wing bar, I guess the issue is the same with these).

Odd... the Thule FitGuide says x61 for the estate... I would have thought it would be the same length bars for the hatch as well.

Have ordered the feet & fitting kit for the Octy. Will soon find out whether the old bar fits or not! No big deal if it doesn't as I'll just buy the other bar, but it means that this experiment has ruled out the Skoda OEM bars as an alternative.

Have ordered the feet & fitting kit for the Octy. Will soon find out whether the old bar fits or not! No big deal if it doesn't as I'll just buy the other bar, but it means that this experiment has ruled out the Skoda OEM bars as an alternative.

I've just checked my Thule roof bars with the 127cm bars fitted. I can't see any reason why the 120cm bars wouldn't fit. There looks to be about 5cm from the 754 to the square bar end cap on each side.

Odd... the Thule FitGuide says x61 for the estate... I would have thought it would be the same length bars for the hatch as well.

Doesn't the estate roof rack fit to the roof bars, not the edge of the roof like the hatchback?

Doesn't the estate roof rack fit to the roof bars, not the edge of the roof like the hatchback?

 

It does indeed - but the length of bar is down to the width of the car (or at least that's what I've always thought) - and I'm pretty sure the hatch and estate are the same width.  Of course, I could be completely wrong, wouldn't be the first time and certainly won't be the last!

I've just checked my Thule roof bars with the 127cm bars fitted. I can't see any reason why the 120cm bars wouldn't fit. There looks to be about 5cm from the 754 to the square bar end cap on each side.

Thanks Dave, good to know. Your reply is much more useful than Thule's response!

So I tried the 761 bars and it's close, but no cigar. The rear one would be comfortable, but the front doesn't really fit. It could be made to, but the end caps wouldn't go on and it would all get a bit messy, so for the extra £35 I stumped up for the 769 bars and it's all now mounted OK-ish.

 

I say "ish" because the front bar has a bit of a bow on it, there's a definite dip in the middle. I'd be interested to know whether anybody else with the Thule square bar has experienced this? I tried moving the feet slightly inboard and slightly outboard of the recommended position but it made absolutely no difference. If I slacken off the mounting the bar straightens, but then it's apparently not tightened to the recommended 3Nm. I tightened it using the included allen key with the green bit in the middle that twists to indicate that your done. I'm a long way from the indicated torque when the bar starts to bow.

 

Does anybody have experience of what I'm talking about? How tight is 3Nm, and how accurate is the included allen key doobury? I have a torque wrench, but it's a completely different size and 3Nm wouldn't even register on the scale!

So I tried the 761 bars and it's close, but no cigar. The rear one would be comfortable, but the front doesn't really fit. It could be made to, but the end caps wouldn't go on and it would all get a bit messy, so for the extra £35 I stumped up for the 769 bars and it's all now mounted OK-ish.

 

I say "ish" because the front bar has a bit of a bow on it, there's a definite dip in the middle. I'd be interested to know whether anybody else with the Thule square bar has experienced this? I tried moving the feet slightly inboard and slightly outboard of the recommended position but it made absolutely no difference. If I slacken off the mounting the bar straightens, but then it's apparently not tightened to the recommended 3Nm. I tightened it using the included allen key with the green bit in the middle that twists to indicate that your done. I'm a long way from the indicated torque when the bar starts to bow.

 

Does anybody have experience of what I'm talking about? How tight is 3Nm, and how accurate is the included allen key doobury? I have a torque wrench, but it's a completely different size and 3Nm wouldn't even register on the scale!

I have the same with my Thule setup. The bow is not very pronounced at 3Nm but it's definitely there. As you say, backing the torque off a little does straighten out the bow, but then it wouldn't be compliant with the Thule instructions. Sometimes, more intricate something gets, the worse it can be. I used the same set up on my previous car, only using the 751 footpack instead of the 754, which came without the torque key. I used to tighten it until I thought it was tight enough without bowing the bars and never had a problem.

Well 3 NM is only finger tight so its not much.

Maybe the allen key is going too tight.

Has anyone brought the genuine skoda bars for the octavia 3 and how do they compare in quality to the Thule ones?

Probably going to get these Cruz ones:

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel3.php?emulate=whycar&query=8110&vptype=&producttype=Roof+Bars

Thule are too expensive for occassional use.

Has anyone brought the genuine skoda bars for the octavia 3 and how do they compare in quality to the Thule ones?

Genuine ones are about £125 on Superskoda, so not as pricey as Thule, should work OK.

Edited 17 May, 201610 yr by glosrich

I couldn't cope with any amount of bending of the bars.

 

I'd be binning the square bars and getting a set of Thule Wing Bars.

 

These are pictured on my MkII but they fit on my MkIII estate also...

 

 

I'll be buggered if i can even find them on superSkoda web site. You got a link chap please

Here...

 

http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/OCTAVIA-III/Octavia-III-Combi-Basic-rooftop-carrier-original-Skoda-Autoas

 

But at £130 delivered you'd be crazy to buy these over a set of Thule Wing Bars at £156...

 

https://www.roofracks.co.uk/Thule-Fit-Guide/_-/?make=Skoda&model=Octavia&version=III&type=5-door-Estate&rails=with-roof-rails&modelYear=2013-plus&id=33

Ha. Think this is for the estate model. Mine is the 5 door saloon model. I assume they are different??

I'd be binning the square bars and getting a set of Thule Wing Bars.

 

 

I originally wanted wing bars, but they don't fit with the box that I stole from my Dad. I don't really want to buy a new box, so square bars it is. To be honest, with the box on it's fairly quiet, it's only with bars and no box that they make a racket. I only stick them on once a year (maybe twice) to go on holiday and the box lives on the car for the duration (only place you can keep it secure when camping) so I very rarely have bars but no box on anyway.

 

The bowing is minimal and doesn't affect the function.

Hi all,

With ref to roof bars I have the Thule 9581 S on my current car does anyone know if they will fit the Octy Mk 3 estate?

Haven't got the Octy yet hopefully pick it up this week!

Edited 18 May, 201610 yr by MR99VXR

I originally wanted wing bars, but they don't fit with the box that I stole from my Dad. I don't really want to buy a new box, so square bars it is. To be honest, with the box on it's fairly quiet, it's only with bars and no box that they make a racket. I only stick them on once a year (maybe twice) to go on holiday and the box lives on the car for the duration (only place you can keep it secure when camping) so I very rarely have bars but no box on anyway.

The bowing is minimal and doesn't affect the function.

Be aware that Thule, Halfords etc sell conversion kits so that roof boxes can be mounted to wing bars using the t track. Approx £30 per roof box I believe. Could be an option?

In terms of the OP. I have an estate VRS and on the searches for roof bars all of the "matched" bars are 120cm. So even though you have a hatch, I'd say your 120's should be ok.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Probably going to get these Cruz ones:

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel3.php?emulate=whycar&query=8110&vptype=&producttype=Roof+Bars

Thule are too expensive for occassional use.

Just wondering if you purchased these roof bars in the end and whether they are any good.

 

Thanks

Simon