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When you’re loading up for a paddle trip or a long road haul, you need solid bars that can handle the weight and stay steady. The Rhino-Rack Vortex Roof Rack gives you two 54" long aluminum crossbars built to carry up to 165 lbs, while still following your vehicle’s roof tracks securely. The full-length design means more usable space for accessories, so you can fit your kayaks, cargo box, or camping gear without fighting for room.
Long drives are better without the constant whine of roof noise. These aero-style bars use rubberized Vortex strips in the top channels to help cut down on drag and sound. That smoother airflow keeps things quieter on the highway and improves efficiency when traveling with your gear up top. You’ll notice the difference as soon as the wind picks up.
Leaving your rig parked for a night shouldn’t make you worry about your gear. Each crossbar includes integrated plastic locks that help deter theft of accessories mounted in the top channels. You can also upgrade to all-metal locks (RRVA-LEC4 — sold separately) for extra peace of mind. Lockable cover plates on the legs keep the rack itself secured to the roof tracks.
From bikes and boards to boxes and skis, this rack handles it all. The Vortex crossbars work with both channel-mount and clamp-on accessories, so whether you’re using watersport carriers or rooftop tents, you’ll have plenty of options for how you mount them. The aluminum construction keeps things strong but lightweight, perfect for constant weekend use or long-distance travel.
The aluminum build gives these crossbars lasting strength while resisting rust and corrosion through years of exposure to weather and road grime. The system carries a limited lifetime warranty on the crossbars and a 5-year limited warranty on the legs—proof that it’s designed for years of hauling adventures.
Ratings & Reviews
Very straight forward to install. Took about a half hour in total. No whistling whatsoever. They look awesome on my 2016 Ford Explorer Sport! Especially with my running boards and tires...
Waiting on my Rhino basket to get here to install that next!
This is Thai Khuu ,Thanks I got packaged ,and I already installed, It just take about 1 and 1/2 hour,but I just take time to do carefully,so it is took me 2 hours, It is great ,me and my wife like it,and I my order the other package exactly like this for my second acura mdx 2016, I enclosed the pictures installed roof rack , Thanks
Wow! It's a real well made and engineered product and was delivered fast. I got it so I could remove it due to garage door clearance... It is heavy duty enough to carry our boat and 2 kayaks. The key lock, pivot system and removal system were well thought out and so easy.
Perfect. Low Profile, Looks Good. Solid Rack System. Had a year and Highly recommend
I used this rack to mount two 65lbs kayaks to my vehicle and travel. One of many trips was over a thousand miles (round trip) and they moved maybe half a centimeter a piece during. I was extremely pleased with how easily I could adjust them. The original shipment had everything that was supposed to be in it and the directions were realitively clear. I had them together and on in roughly an hour. Also, they look great. When they are off the roof the only issue I have arises. The rubber feet that sit directly on the roof tend to fall off easily. Not a big deal.
Works great like the quick disconnect for taking off cross bars
My Thule UpRide Roof bike rack mounted perfect in the T-Slots! Mounts easily and no issues in the Truxedo T-Slot rails on my Ford Ranger.
Mounts perfect in Truxedo T-Slot rails.
Very fast shipping, and exactly what I needed for our truck rail system with tonneau cover.
Solid platform for all your gear. Easy to install and adjust, great looking as well. Initially I was frustrated because I failed to insert the plastic ruler under the cross bar. If you don't cover all the gaps they will whistle like crazy!
The instructions don't tell you that...I had to call Rhino tech support. They are quiet now at any speed.
I'd buy them again for sure!
my rhino crossbars and a rhino basket purchased else where months ago. With dogs traveling in the backseat and limiting my cargo space with a locking retrax bed cover I needed a little bit more room for those extra things I couldn’t live without in my travels. Paula S was the bomb and assisted me with the perfect size setup. Super fast shipping.
These are excellent! Check out my YouTube channel, Road and Reel, to see how I used the to carry 4 bikes above my Retrax Tonneau cover.
The crossbars are great, but the rubber strip in the middle gets bunched up or comes out when loading heavy items across the bar. But the rubber provides grip, and the grip is amazing. I am not worried about kayaks or rafts sliding around. I do need longer ones though...
Fairly easy to install onto my 2017 Honda CR-V. The crossbars feel very sturdy and are securely attached to the vehicle. Took me about 30 minutes to get it installed and could be done even quicker if you get help from another person. The bars themselves are a little fat so my Thule ski rack has a super tight fit. There is very minimal wind noise, so I'll probably be getting a fairing for that. The instructions felt a bit jumbled but with just the measurements alone, you can install it with a bit of common sense.
Hi George from etrailer,
The rack is awesome! Strong, firm hold and nice looking. When doing surveys, I put my ladders on the rack.
I highly recommend this etrailer.
Purchased the Rhino Quick Mount Legs and Vortex-Aero bars, to mount on our Retrax XR Pro Tonneau cover. As always buying from trailer is easy, Terri N make the experience much better, from order to delivery. Terri ensured compatibility with existing hardware, and that everything needed is included.
The Rhino system is an easy install, the fit of the T-slot plate style nuts was tight, eliminating the damage that can occur with loose fitting slot inserts. Assembly can be completed on or off vehicle, as long as all accessories are fitted first. If done off vehicle, accurate measurements will be needed for the base fitment.
We paired the Rhino system with 1up USA bike racks, and a Yakima box.
Incredible product super reliable , over a year of having it not a single issue , ima super hardcore fisherman , and also use the bed of my truck for various activities I can’t believe how easy this is too completely disassemble and put back together , this is a thief deterrent. Use it on a F 150 2022 truck with retrax electric bed cover
I purchased Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars with Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Legs (RRRLKVA) and Fit Kit (DK284) for my 2020 Honda CR-V EX Hybrid. The rack was easy to assemble and took about an hour. The only tool not supplied that you need is a sharp knife or scissors to cut the rubber strips to length. Once assembled, the installation took about 30 minutes, making sure to measure accurately for placement. I used blue painter's tape to initially mark the locations. I then placed the white marking arrows (supplied) to align with the marks on the tape. I then removed the tape, placed the racks aligned with the arrows, and tightened the clamps.
This product seems well made and engineered (I'm a retired mechanical engineer). Kudos to Rhino-Rack and to etrailer for selling it.
I purchased a full kit for my 2017 Ford explorer, connectors, Feet and these cross bars. I will use them for hauling my roof top box on trips as well as other things that will not fit in my vehicle. The install is farily simple however some of the tools provided for tightening are not the best. Luckily I had a number of other tools to get this complete. The main thing I feel is needed is a socket allen key to tighten down the cross bars nice and tight. The allen key provided is difficult to work with and get the leverage you need to snug the bars down.
Another tip is to be sure to use the excess measuring closure to close off the inside of underside of the bars. Use a box cutter to cut the excess and fit it to the inside. I read some reviews about noise and I have zero noticeable noise. Do not tighten the bars down until you have this all inserted in and slid under the feet. Then snug it all down. If you do these things and close all the gaps the bars are almost silent.
The bars look great on the vehicle and seem very sturdy and solid. I would have no reservations hauling ladders, lumber and all of the typical stuff you see on roof racks. The rubber strips are heavy duty and add a nice non slip feel to the top of the bars.
These Aero Racks are perfect on my Scion XB, stylish cool look & importantly Quiet with absolutely no wind noise! Also bought the Rocky Mount Cargo Basket & it comes WITH a full bunji net cover. It is also quiet with no wind noise & you can tie surf gear on top like racks (use padded rack pads) & or put things inside for more carrying space. Also a cool stylish look on the Scion XB or any other compact car like my wifes Toyota Yaris... We move it back & forth to who ever needs the Cargo Basket for the days Adventure.
I wanted to share the items I used to be able to haul two Wilderness Systems Tsunami 145 kayaks on my 2006 Scion xB. This may help others who struggle with deciding what to use. I am pleased with my purchase and hope this helps. I originally thought I wanted the Thule Hull-A-Port Aero, but they discontinued making the fit kit for their roof rack systems and I ended up going with the Kuats. I am glad that they didn’t make the fit kit for approximately $[XX] and so they missed out on the rest of my business. Here are the items I used for anyone interested – pictures included. Custom DK Fit Kit for 4 Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Roof Rack Legs - Naked Roof #DK138, Kuat Class 4 V2 Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Folding - 1 Kayak - Black #KU53VR and these are really cool, Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Legs for Vortex Aero Crossbars - Naked Roofs or Fixed Mounting Points - Qty 4 #RRRLKVA, Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars - Aluminum - Black - 54" Long - Qty 2 #RRVA137-B2. The 54” crossbars fit really well and the perfect length in my opinion and it doesn’t stick out like the longer ones would. Also purchased two sets of these Malone QuickLash T-Style Hood Loops for Bow and Stern Tie-Downs - Qty 2 #MPG308.
I love the Rhino-Rack Quick Mount Legs for Vortex Aero Crossbars. At first they were a pain to crossbar on, but they I used my thumbs correctly on the lock, and haven't had an issue since the first alignment. They really served their purpose and lifted the old Sears Sport 20-SV cargo top carrier off of the roof for easier mounting and for now hold the kayaks. I do need longer crossbars, but that's a future problem that etrailer.com will be glad to provide a solution to.
I give all 5 stars for the product and service, but...I prefer the parts to be all in one carboard, also I was a little panicking looking for blue plastic key...It was inside of cross-bar ??not falling out with strips. Anyway,
I"m owner of Honda cr-v 2022 with bare roof ,and I just installed the rack. Was it simple enough? Yes,so I can share this:
First, rubber pads are all the same, and after placements to plastic legs should be placed with arrow*out*-that is it(a lot of info regarding vertical parts, that they are all different)??
Second, on other hand, in video we informed that clamps are same -they are not. Bigger "hooks" are for rear bar, smaller ones-for the front one.
Third, do not expect precision in rubber pads position(especially on rear bar)regarding plastic rail strips on bare roof.it is not achievable, just try to make same look on both sides.
I was worried about rain and water gets inside. Well, let us see.
What I plan to care on rack? Just a small 6ft step ladder. Believe me or no CR-V is my business vehicle ,and ladder carry was the goal of rack purchase. And only question I have if I can get to underground parking with no problems to cross the front entries usually limited with 6 ft in heights I will find out soon, but rack height plus ladder on it makes me worry.??The review will be update soon. regards.
I own a 2013 Honda CRV I purchased a couple months ago. It has a naked roof and no rack or side bars, and I wanted to be able to carry up to three kayaks. I didn't really want to buy and install the side bars, and then the cross bars also. I also needed the cross bars to be a little wider than the vehicle itself, as I own two Ocean Kayak Scupper Pros, and a Venus.
This Rhino Rack package looked like a great option for my needs. Weight wise, the three boats come right to the limit. Other racks had lower weight limits, and wouldn't work.
I had a couple issues with the initial package, but etrailer took care of the problem right away, and sent out what I needed.
Installation was pretty smooth. I recommend reading and rereading the instructions, before you cut anything. The videos on the etrailer website or directly on YouTube are very helpful to see all the steps. I'd like to see more personalized instructions added in the future, just to to make everything even smoother. Make sure you identify your vehicle and the bar you received on the kit instructions before you start.
These bars are so wonderful. The aero bars make no noise when driving and no whistling that I can tell. They don't seem to effect my gas mileage. I made sure the top rubber strips and bottom measurement strips were cut perfectly with no gaps, as this is important to prevent whistling.
They look so stylish. I get complements on them, and people can't believe they are after market, and that I installed them myself. They really complement the vehicle. Once installed the first time, I can take them off or put then back on in about 12 minutes. I don't really plan to take them off though. I don't use car washes, and I like the look of them on my vehicle.
I made sure to not overtighten them, and then tightened them a few times over the next week and with a couple kayaking trips. These babies are strong and I can't make them move when I test them. I still check them regularly to make sure they are secure, for safety purposes.
I highly recommend this Rhino Rack package. They know how to make the perfect roof rack and you can tell the quality and thought that went into them. Look at my photos I have included.
Thank you to etrailer for such great service. You made the whole process so pleasant and easy.
Excellent product and construction. I also have used it for mounting a cargo carrier for vacation and they held the weight with contents with no issues.
Great product! Works well with our Thule Tracker II rails installed on our truck cap. Solid system that is easy to install and remove.
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