To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
These aluminum aero bars are built to hold heavy loads up to 165 lbs while staying solid and steady through highway miles. Whether you’re hauling a kayak, canoe, or a fully loaded cargo box, the sturdy construction keeps your gear stable for the entire trip. The limited lifetime warranty adds peace of mind for years of travel and adventure.
Crossbar noise can get old fast on long drives. The WingBar Evo design keeps that to a minimum with its aerodynamic profile and split rubber strips that fill the top channels. As air moves over the bars, these strips help curb whistling and vibration so you can enjoy quieter rides without constant background noise.
This rack doesn’t lock you into one style of attachment. The top channels accept channel-mount accessories, while the bar shape also works with clamp-on carriers. That means you can easily swap between your kayak cradles, bike racks, or cargo box—whatever the trip calls for—without needing new crossbars.
Channel-mounted gear installs smoothly thanks to the split strip design in the top tracks. There’s no need to cut or trim rubber pieces before mounting. Just slide your accessory into place and the strip closes around it, sealing against wind and weather while keeping everything tidy up top.
If you want extra security for overnight stops or parking at the trailhead, this rack is ready for Thule’s One-Key System locks (sold separately). You can lock both the rack and your channel-mounted accessories with a single key, keeping your setup secure without adding hassle.
Alternate Instructions
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hi, I'm Daniel with etrailer, and today we're gonna take a look at, I'm gonna show how to install, the Thule WingBar Evo roof rack on our 2016 Ford Escape. There's a ton of space above your vehicle and adding some roof racks, it's going to allow you to throw some accessories up here like a cargo box, bike rack, or kayak carrier. Now, you can use T-slot accessories in these. All you have to do is, on the end cap, you can slide this back and slide your T-slot in that way. (roof rack clicks) You can also use clamp-on accessories, and those will clamp on the WingBar itself. I'll give you a measurement from the highest point of the roof to the bottom of your bar here, and that's gonna be 2 1/4.
So, that's good to know, just to make sure your clamp-on will be able to fit. Now, from the top of your roof to the top of the WingBar, that's gonna be about 3 1/2. So, that measurement's good to know. If you have a taller cargo box, you can add that 3 1/2, and that'll help you determine if you can pull in and out of your garage safely. These crossbars are 53 inches, and there is a bit of an overhang as you can see, and that's actually a good thing for some accessories.
Some of the T-slots can slide all the way to the end. And for kayak carriers that's a good thing, because you can more easily take that on and off. Now, your kit does come with weather stripping, so if you do have an overhang, you can take this end cap off and insert this weather stripping in here. (strip rattling) Just trim that off and that'll decrease wind noise and help everything stay clean. These towers have end caps (hand tapping) that you can take on and off to tighten down your assembly.
Now, you can lock this up with a flathead, or maybe your keys or a quarter, but you can actually upgrade this to metal locking cores, so you can have a key, and that'll help you unlock and lock 'em a little easier. This roof rack system is capable of supporting 165 pounds. Now do make sure you're checking your owner's manual, and make sure that your roof on your vehicle can support that weight as well. As far as install goes, these are really simple to install. You can take these on and off very easily as well.
Now, if you don't have the time or tools to do this yourself, you can check out our dealer locator where you'll find a professional to get these installed for you, but if you're looking to do it yourself, follow along and I'll walk you through the process. Now, we went ahead and installed the front roof rail already, and I'll go ahead and show you how to install the rear. It's gonna be the same process. I'm just gonna flip the bar over, and you're gonna have a couple of rulers, and these will just slide in each side (ruler rasps) all the way down. And these are just so you can set the towers at a specific spacing. So, I'll get these put in both sides. And I'll flip this back over, and you can put the weather stripping in the top here. And your kit will come with a strip. You just wanna rip these apart, and these will just go right in the grooves, and I'll go ahead and show you what it'll look like installed. I'm not gonna install in this one. This is just for demo purposes, but this is what it'll look like installed, and this is where your T-slot accessories will slide in. So as you can see, this will stop rain from getting in there and it'll decrease wind noise. Now we'll take the rubber pad that's part of our fit kit and our tower, and do make sure you're grabbing the right one for the right side you're putting on, 'cause there's gonna be numbers on there. So, just make sure you check the instructions. (tower clicks) Now, this is just going to fit right on the bottom of this tower. I'm just gonna press this down. (tower rattles) Make sure that's properly seated. And then these pieces that will clamp around your vehicle, these also have numbers on 'em, so make sure you grab the right one. And they're gonna go right in here, (metal clanging) and they should click, (tower clicking) and that means it's good to go. Now we can put our towers in our bar. I'm gonna just flip this back over, and you just wanna make sure that this piece with the angle on it is gonna be facing out. Now there's gonna be two gray pieces on the tower, and I'm just gonna push both those in with my thumbs and that's going to make this top piece come out. So, that'll help you slide this in. (rail clattering) And we can put our bar on, and there is gonna be a front and back to this. The front's gonna be the rounder section and the back's gonna be more tapered. So I'll go ahead and get this put on. (assembly rattles) Just wanna make sure both your doors are open, (rail bangs) and adjust the towers if needed. (tower rattling) Now the front bar here, all we did was we took a measurement from the tower to the windshield. We got a measurement of 12 inches on both sides. So, now we know that the front is square to the vehicle. Now we just need to make the rear parallel to the front bar. So all we have to do is get a measurement from bar to bar, (tape screeches) and we're gonna put these at 27 1/2. (tape screeches) I'll just move this over until I get that measurement, and I'll just do that on both sides. (tape screeches) Now that we've got it parallel, we wanna make sure the overhang is even on either side. So, I will push in those gray tabs. And I'll just push this and take a measurement, and just make sure each side's the same. Now, I'll take the tool that comes in the kit and I'll tighten these down. And I'm just gonna snug this side down and go to the other side and do the same. I'll go back and forth just so I don't overtighten one side right off the bat. (tool rattling) So, just snug it down and then go to the other side. Now this tool will click when you've tightened it enough, and it'll be three newton meters of force. And once you hear that on both sides, it's completely tight. Once you have everything tightened down, you can get that ruler on the back, and put that all the way back to your tower, and that'll help you if you're planning on taking these on and off a lot. Then you don't have to mess with this. You can just set it and you'll know exactly where the tower's gonna sit. (door bangs) And now we can put our caps back on, (cap clicks) on the tower, as well as the crossbar. (hand bangs) Now, that just about does it for this roof rack kit. If you have any further questions about which fit kit's gonna be right for your vehicle, please feel free to reach out to us at etrailer. We'd love to help you out. And that was a look at the Thule WingBar roof rack on our 2016 Ford Escape.
Ratings & Reviews
Car: 4 door Civic sedan
Bought this as a set along with a set of locks. They did not have the locks in stock, so when I went ahead of canceled that portion of the order, they were able to process and ship it out the next day. It took roughly 1 week for it to arrive.
Following the instructions they provide you with was fairly simple, there was a QR code scan for a video that you can watch as well. I assembled this along with ski carriers that I had as well. I did struggle a little bit with the spacing I needed to fit my snowboard, but it wasn't too much of a hassle.
After assembling it, I was impressed with how it looked and also how stable and tight it was when I was trying to shake it around. As for the test drive, I was very impressed with how there was no wind whistle and they did not fall off (peaked at 70mph).
Overall, I would say it's definitely worth it to buy a good quality cross bar set. And more importantly it was worth it to purchase it from a retailer that does a good job processing and shipping your order without any issues!
Excellent product from Sweden. Well made, perfect fit, great directions, easy to install. Amazingly strong, secure installation on 2013 Honda Accord. Exceptionally strong and secure fit for a gutter-mounted roof rack! Only small unavoidable issue is that the gutter clamp pushed the Honda door rubber seal strip outward slightly, but likely not enough to cause rain to leak around top of door seal.
Great product. Successfully assembled and installed it myself in about 3 hours. A more detailed assembly video would be helpful. Other than that; I'm 100% satisfied!
Easy install great product
2018 GMC Sierra duramax
etrailer fantastic customer service!
Thanks Lori B!
I think Thule products are painfully pricey......however the rack I put on my Ram 2500 is flawless and a absolute perfect fit. I added the Thule rack for the roof of the truck. I have a truck bed utility custom rack and it wasnt enough. I carry a 16' heavy canoe and a 12' kayak so the additional crossbars make for a very sturdy and dependable way to carry since we also tow a trailer. Very happy to have it.
Customer Service at etrailer is par none, both before the sale and after. I had an unpleasant experience elsewhere buying and installing a roof rack for my old Prius. After a few days of frustrations, I sent it back to that old online store.
This time, I contacted etrailer to see what ALL I needed to install a rack on my new 2018 Honda CRV. They sent me the part numbers and a link to purchase. Viola! After they arrived, I had difficulty with one of the parts (at 69 yo my hands are not too strong or flexible) and contacted etrailer. They sent pictures and more thorough instructions on installing the rubber strip. Another VIOLA!
I'm so very happy with my total experience at etrailer. Customer Service, truly, is not better any where else I have made online or brick-n-mortar purchases.
The package was shipped in its OEM box with no additional protection. As such the Thule Aero wing cross bars were both dented on one side. Not sure if I received a return or if the product was dented in shipping as there was a significant amount of packing tape on the dented side. Either way, the end caps wouldn’t fit into the dented cross bars until I cut away plastic from the end caps. For $XXX+ dollars you think that would buy more shipping protection. Unbelievable, really.
Website is easy to use & is better at putting together the correct package than Thule’s site.
etrailer had all the parts in stock for my 2020 Kia Telluride.
Payment process was simple.
Received periodic updates from staffer on my order & could actually reply if needed.
Installing the roof rack went well. Estimate start to finish was about 2 hours. Found it best to really examine each diagram in Thule’s step by step instructions to get it all right on the first try.
Hardness part of the installation was getting the crossbars installed at the proper distances. A tailor’s soft measuring tape & some masking were great aids.
Superb quality. Of course, it is from Thule and they are expensive for sure. But, you really get what you pay for!
And, just consider how expensive it would be if using something more affordable (cheap generic brand) and the racks/bars take off from the roof with the box on the highway!
These will not take off, super sturdy and fits the car perfectly.
Just be sure to get the right kit.
And follow the paper instructions coming along the parts.
Can recommend these, were for Nissan Leaf 2021.
And not to forget the etrailer company, they did their part as well with flying colors. All parts arrived in time and were correct!
I've owned this roof rack for a year now, and it has served my purposes (carrying my kayak around on my truck) quite well. It was fairly easy to assemble, largely because the entire instruction guide was in pictures.
I have had to retighten the rack a couple of times since putting it on the roof, so I tie the kayak down to the front and back of the truck as well as to the roof rack. I suspect the ocean kayak puts a bit of lift on the roof rack resulting in the loosening.
So far its the best roof rack you can get today! Had no issues when driving through rugged and bumpy terrains all day.
The bars are strong and fairly quiet, especially considering that I mount them on the main cab of my pickup truck and not on top of the canopy. My biggest concern is that the rubber strip that runs the length of the bar to reduce wind noise was badly damaged when I slid my canoe up on to the bars. Given the weight of the canoe, I'm accustomed to getting one end on a bar and sliding it back into position. Given the sensitivity of the rubber, is started pulling away from the bar and shredding when sliding the gunwales over the top of the bar. I'll try to be more careful, but a roof rack needs to be more utilitarian in my humble opinion.
I bought the Thule Evo Roof Rack to transport my kayak on my Lexus 300H. Thule will advise you on their website that his particular rack is not right for a Lexus 300H (i.e., they don't make a roof rack for a Lexus 300H); it is really for a Camry, but etrailer told me that is worked, I trusted them and they were correct. After all, a Lexus sedan is really a fancy Camry, but Thule will not acknowledge this point. It works great. Thule makes a solid product.
I had to warranty the bars because the rubber strips that seal the attachment channel would not stay attached.
Blew off on the highway. Poor design.
Thule warranty is awesome, They sent me 2 new sets. Still wouldnt attach securely.
Thule sent me a new set of bars.
I already bought some square bars.
I dont even want to use the wing bars. I want aerodynamic profile not the rubber strips.
These bars are light weight and easy to set up. However, the measurements in the directions were not right to fit them to my vehicle, and they were really difficult to adjust once the bars were on the roof. They seem to be snug on the roof and working well, I did a test drive yesterday at varying speeds and they are secure. They don't cause any unpleasant noise - you'd forget they were on there.
It is great. I love appearance of the Thule roof rack that I install today.
Same great design and quality of Thule bars, but this one was missing one of the four end caps. Fortunately, I have extras from other bars, but it could have been a real problem. Also, no instructions with the bars. You apparently have to buy all the attachment pieces with it to get instructions?
Items arrived later than expected despite cancelling an month long order due to waiting stock on a different set up that was in stock. Once it arrived the box was all torn up and the person that delivered it just dropped it in the garage with the boxes spilling out of the bigger box. Love Thule products, etailer and the shipping supplier not so much,
Overall solid product. The little rubber strips that fit into the top bar are relatively fragile, I installed them, pulled one out to trim about 1/8 inches of excess length and the strip deformed such that it never went back in correctly. Fortunately etrailer had replacement strips.
Reliable and durable
Great quality products! Easy installation with properly guided instructions. One of the best tracking information, from ordering to delivery. Would strongly recommend etrailer to anyone looking for roof or hitch bike racks.
Thule is an excellent product and the fit on my 2017 Chevrolet Colorado is perfect. The good people at etrailer were super helpful in getting the correct fit parts to me as quickly as possible, especially during a tough year for all. I’ve found my Thule racks to be the perfect tool to take our kayaks on our adventures!
I’ve been searching for a set of crossbars for my 2021 Crosstrek. After looking at several different companys,, I decided to go with etrailer.com and get the Thule Wingbar Evo Crossbars and Evo Raised feet. Ordering was quick and shipping was even faster! Installed them in about an hour with no issues. I love the way they look, and the construction is solid. Shout out to the staff for doing a great job and for the great communication from placing the order, confirmation, updates and shipping the order. You will not be disappointed!
I've always trusted Thule bars. I have an old Xsporter on my truck that works really well and it has held up over time. I needed to get a Thule rack for my Jeep Grand Cherokee and found that etrailer had all the parts I needed specified for my model. That was one of my favorite things about the site. No need to search around for the different parts to attached onto the factory rails. Once I received the rack and components, it was really easy to install. I pretty much watched the etrailer videos before hand.
I have the older Hullavator 897XT to haul my kayak in. With the WingBar Evo, I found I needed to get a slightly longer bolt (6-1.00 x 30), which I got from the local Ace hardware store, to attached the Hullavator support bracket to the WingBar. Once I got those bolts set up, I was on the water with the kayak the next day.
Talked to the customer service a few times and they are great friendly people. And I can understand what they are saying.
53” Thule bars fit our 2021 RAV4 Hybrid! Most people appear to be using 47” bars for the 2021 RAV4 with flush roof rails, but that’s smaller than I wanted. I sometimes carry a sheet of plywood, or a kayak plus a cargo box, and wanted a wider rack for that. I had heard that upsizing to the 53” bar was potentially not possible because the mounting slots on the bottom of the bar may not accommodate the rail locations relative to the bar length. ETrailer helped me out with some dimensions, so I bought the 53” bar knowing it would be close. There is only about a quarter inch of play on either side on the rear bar, but it fit (the front bar had more play, since the towers are a bit further apart at the front).
I’m SO happy with the result! Now I can carry what I want on the rack, and have room to spare! It looks pretty good too!
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