To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
Aerodynamic, aluminum crossbar lets you build an aftermarket roof rack for your vehicle. Full-length bar provides plenty of space for carriers and accessories. Vortex strips in C-channels reduce wind noise. Includes theft-deterring plastic locks.
Features:
Specs:
This low-profile, aerodynamic Vortex Aero crossbar lets you replace a damaged bar, add a third bar to an existing rack, or build a stylish aftermarket roof rack from scratch. The crossbar requires a pair of Rhino-Rack legs (manufactured in 2014 or later) and a custom fit kit to mount it to your roof. This bar extends past the roof rack legs to maximize the space for mounting carriers and accessories. Rubberized Vortex strips in the crossbar's top channel disrupt airflow for a quiet ride, and the bar is constructed of aluminum so it won't rust. The crossbar also includes Secure Core endcaps with plastic locks to help deter theft of channel-mounted accessories.
The rubberized Vortex strips in the top channel of this crossbar disrupt airflow with evenly spaced, wave-shaped grooves. This carefully controlled turbulence minimizes wind noise and whistling, so you won't need to add a fairing to your roof rack. And the slim, elliptical Vortex Aero crossbar cuts through the air with minimal drag - even at highway speeds.
The Vortex Aero crossbar is made of structural-grade anodized aluminum with an H-shaped internal extrusion. This extrusion strengthens the bar without adding a significant amount of weight. And the aluminum bar won't rust so you can leave it on your roof year-round.
The crossbar has a channel in the bottom for mounting to Rhino-Rack roof rack legs (sold separately). Each end of the channel includes a rubber ruler to help you center the bar on your roof. Simply use the numbers and hash marks on the rulers to ensure the legs are spaced properly in the channel.
The Vortex Aero crossbar has a built-in C-channel so you can carry channel-mounted accessories such as bike racks, watersport carriers, and ski racks. The Vortex strip in the top channel comes in 3 pieces, so it's easier to adjust than a single long, continuous strip. You can remove, trim, and re-insert the Vortex strips around the mounting hardware of your accessories to keep the crossbar channel capped and quiet. Replacement strips (sold separately) are also available if you remove your accessories or switch to clamp-on accessories.
You can also attach most clamp-on accessories to the bar, and the Vortex strip provides a shock-absorbing, no-slip cushion for any accessories that rest on it.
The crossbar includes 2 Secure Core locking endcaps made of durable polypropylene. These endcaps lock with a universal tubular key. The polypropylene locks secure the endcaps to the crossbar and help to secure channel-mounted accessories to the crossbar. For maximum security, you can upgrade to endcaps with all-metal lock cores (RRVA-LEC2 - sold separately).
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hey everybody. Welcome to etrailer.com. I am Bobby. And today we are taking a look at the Rhino-Rack's Vortex Crossbar systems, here today on our 2009 Ford F-150. Now these are primarily gonna be for your Retrax XR Hard Tonneau Covers. So of course, you guys probably wanna go ahead and pick yourself up one of these guys.
This system is excellent of course. I am sure you guys already kind of seen a little bit about it. You have a nice little canister system to go ahead and store it. Locking system and of course the big one, these T-slot attachments on here. So normally with Tonneau Covers, you kind of limit yourself.
As you have that Tonneau Cover, really reduces the space and the things you can do on your truck. These guys are gonna be exact opposite. Allowing you to maximize the amount of gear and accessories. You can actually start utilizing with the bed of your truck. Now these guys are gonna have a 220 pound weight capacity limit, that actually exceeds the weight capacity that our hard Tonneau Cover on here has.
Well we have this guy open for you guys to see how it works. You can see we have this nice little H protrusion in here. What that's doing, giving you a nice solid support throughout this, that's giving you that nice support to actually go ahead and get that maximum weight capacity. At the top here, you have your Bore Tech stripping. You guys can see, it fills this little T-slot channel.
Now that's great for when it's not in use. You can go ahead and prevent any of that wind whistle that you might be getting from some of your other bars. If you have that open space, you're definitely gonna hear it. Now that's the one caveat with it. When you do go ahead and actually set your accessories in here, one thing to kind of watch, you will actually have to cut these guys to get them to fit around your accessory. Now that's not gonna be the biggest deal if you do find yourself consistently taking out some accessories. But if you don't really find yourself really needing them on your bar all the time, one thing I'd suggest, go ahead and utilize in the clamp system. Just to go ahead and go around this arrow bar. Now a lot of clamps systems are designed for these guys. They are gonna be pretty much what you see going standard in the future of the industry, which is great. And it's definitely gonna be easier to go ahead and clamp on this guy, if you find yourself, just kinda maybe throw it up on here. Something like that. The clamp style just seems to be working easier. But like I said, if you're really gonna be utilizing a bike rack carrier all the time, something on the side here, a T-slot is definitely gonna be awesome. And then you guys should cut that to size, to go ahead and cut down on that whistle. Taking a closer look at the bars here. We do have a nice black powder coat finish, that's gonna give you this nice look for itself. Also gonna make it hold enough well to corrosion. Now it also does have just an aluminum base, so you know it's gonna be resistant corrosion innately, which is great. Now with any black powder coat finish, it's gonna be really easy to start tarnishing this. So, if you do find yourself throwing up your gear, just kinda willy-nilly, you might start seeing some scratches and dings in it. However, if we're just being concise and methodical and we actually are getting our accessories on here, it's really not gonna be, hard to keep this in nice working order without adding those scratches and dents. Now if you're not liking the black, it does come in silver as well. So go ahead and check our store at etrailer.com to get the color that fits you best. While we take a look here, we do have a nice little locking core to go ahead and make sure that our roof rack stays attached to our vehicle when you leave it unattended. To access that, you are gonna take your included key, simply turn it to unlock. That'll take that front plate out, exposing these guys. And we kinda break down how we can actually get this installed. So you have these little red levers here. All you want to do, bring them to the inside. What that's doing, is actually pulling these guys in. So, that becomes really easy to go ahead. And what I really like too, you can store these guys in the inside right there. And that way they'll actually stay nice and not condensed. And then you can pop them like so. And really, it just takes a few little shifts really, to go ahead and get that to pop over. Just like that. And there you are nice and installed for the crossbar systems. Now, how our foot pad works. We go ahead and position these guys one more time. I think I'm binding myself up there. I did have it released and just pushed it over. So that's gonna go ahead and pop that out. You guys can see how this is actually held in here. So, these bolts are going to our T-slot attachments, those little square brackets just simply latch onto here. You want to keep them loose and then you just slide them down guys to where you want them. Now, what a good thing to do is go ahead and measure yourself a distance from your cab. Especially if you do have accessory you already know that you want to keep in mind, give yourself that front distance here between the front of your Crossbar System, to your cab, to go ahead and have that properly spaced. And then all you have to do is tighten it down with the included tool. That's going to secure your foot pad here and make yourself a nice little mounting point to go ahead and slot in your roof rack system. Now some important dimensions to keep in mind is how much clearance you are gonna have from the bottom of your rack. So, on our Tonneau Cover, is gonna be in the way. We are going to be putting ourselves right at about three and a half inches there to the bottom. Maybe just a little bit below that. But as you guys can see, that's going to give you that necessary clearance to go ahead and get your clamp styles on. Now I will say that's a lot of space. I don't think you're going to run into any issues with your accessories, interacting with your Tonneau Cover there, which is definitely great. Another important one to keep in mind though is gonna be from the top of the corrugate of our bed, to the very end here of our rack, because maybe we have some longer items we want to put in here. Maybe you got a dishwasher you're moving for somebody. Could be a pain, to take those T-slots out. Now, what's kinda nice about them, that installation doesn't take too much time. But that is gonna be putting you right on about 26 and one quarter of an inch there, between your top of your corrugate to the underside of your rack. Now, one other thing I want to go ahead and show you guys, you do have just a little bit of an interaction here, with our locking latch here. So you guys can see that does butt up just a little bit, really, really easy to overcome that right, by just simply pressing that just a little bit. And I really like being on this side see here especially with our Tonneau Covers because we can lock this guy, the XR, almost anywhere which becomes really nice, right I can lock it there, get it in, and you're really gonna be on this side a lot of the time, in my opinion, I found myself moving it a lot this way, because you do have that nice little gap to kinda get a hand in and move it. So while yes, it's kind of a slight inconvenience. It's really easy to overcome by simply pushing it down and sliding it around. Now we have seen some reviews, some of the other neighbors have already gone ahead and purchased one of these. Now after just a few months of using it, they actually have talked about how you do have a little bit of water intrusion just on this track. Now that doesn't go to your bed of course, but it does go to those T-slots. So right in there, we just have our little steel holders. All it is a little bracket right, that our threads are rolling in into. And then it pinches up and holds it in place. Now that stuff is actually just made of steel. It is going to be rusting. It is going to have a little bit of corrosion. How you can combat that I've seen a couple of people, just take a little clear coat on the bracket itself. And of course, just helping it kinda slide on here. A little paraffin wax can be a great thing. And of course, just servicing it every now and then, is gonna go a long way of actually making sure that they stay usable for the years to come. Now, if you don't find yourself adjusting your crossbars that much. It's probably not gonna affect you. But when you do want to go ahead and take these off for your bigger loads, definitely can become a problem. So, hopefully a few of those steps are gonna help it to make it easier to take them on and off. Well guys, I really do like the Rhino-Rack Vortex System. They're one of my favorite racks, just through out a variety of different vehicles. I think Rhino-Rack is really committed. Of course, it's kind of in the name, of making sure they have a high quality roof rack system for yourself. Definitely gonna last you for the years to come because it's really gonna allow us to do a variety of different accessories on here. One thing that's great about it. We have that 71 inches of space to go ahead and throw a variety of different accessories. I know a couple of times here, we've actually gotten three carriers to fit on here. And that's definitely excellent, allowing you to really maximize the amount of gear you can bring yourself to your destination with your truck, which is definitely awesome. Pretty hard to beat. Overall, gonna be great little system guys, go ahead, get your accessories to where you want to go. And otherwise, I think that about does it for our look at the Rhino-Rack Vortex Crossbar Systems here today on our 2009 Ford F-150. I'm Bobby. Thank you for watching..
Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (3123 Customer Reviews)
Aerodynamic, aluminum crossbar lets you build an aftermarket roof rack for your vehicle. Full-length bar provides plenty of space for carriers and accessories. Vortex strips in C-channels reduce wind noise. Includes theft-deterring plastic locks.I am using this longer crossbar with a Rhino Rack T loader I also got from ETrailer. The jon boat I am cartopping was too wide for the original bar. Everything is working great. ETrailer has been very attentive and willing to help. Very pleased with service.
Great addition to the bed track of my 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz! I got these for my rhino rack rod holder since they made such noise on the oem roof rack. So happy I went with rhino rack. You can't beat the price and the quality is as good if not better than Thule or Yakima. Highly reccomend.
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 shopped online retailers namely Amazon and EBAY looking for the cross bar setup I would need for my 2012 Toyota Camry LE. My Camry has a naked roof. The whole experience was confusing. None of the needed components were combined together. I found each component listed separately but nothing to indicate they were the correct components for my car. Then ETRAILER.COM popped up in my search. I simply entered my car’s year, make, and model, and answered the question about the car roof (being naked with no factory installed cargo bars) and suddenly I had a list of the available cross bars for my vehicle with all the necessary components to install them. One or two clicks put the whole thing in my cart for purchase. ETRAILER .COM is your one stop shop. As a side note I purchased Yakima ski racks on sale to install on these cross bars. Another customer asked if these ski racks would fit his car and I explained yes they will with the appropriate cross bars. I sent him to “ETRAILER.COM” so he could get the correct setup. Pictures forthcoming.
The selection process that etrailer uses is top-notch. This really helped narrow down the choices for my 2019 RAM Quad cab. I bought this all kitted together. The assembly process is very straightforward and well-documented. I would highly recommend etrailer as a source for vehicle accessories. I have Yakima bike racks on our Subaru and this is as good if not better.
2020 Ford Edge with Vista Roof. Product arrived ahead of predicted delivery date. Very easy to assemble and directions were very easy to follow. Product is very high quality. I found 150mm front and 140mm rear to be the correct dimensions (I read a feedback that said they were not correct). No problems with Vista Roof, legs sit on the metal roof part not the glass. Overall very pleased with my purchase.
Indeed they were the wrong parts in the box marked demo on them.
The new parts came and I was able to
Put it on my car with no problem!!
Thank you for listening to me and helping me problem solve. It looks great on my car and I'm ready to load the kayaks now!!
Kalie is a gal that sent me some return labels so I'm going to put that on the box and send it back to you guys!
While these seem very popular and generally well reviewed ( the reason I tried them) I cant see why, generally cheaply made molded parts with a just adequate fit. Most shocking were the pins that hold the towers and bars down to the base being plastic. Im sure Ill find some use for them but it wont be with my carbon fiber canoe on top, I just dont have the confidence in the connection. While they may be aerodynamic they are definitely not quiet on my installation. The locks can easily be defeated with a screwdriver. At this price I would look at other brands that might have a more positive and secure fit from bar to base. The service from etrailer was its usually quick and correct shipment and delivery though!
Look great, and function great. Just make sure you find all the parts packaged inside the rails themselves after you open the box!
2017 F150 Camper Shell. Nice system and install is pretty simple once you gather your measurements, Luckily, I have a friend with an identical truck, so it didn’t take me very long. I used blue painters take to layout the tracks and drilled my holes. System is nice but does whistle at 70 mph.
UPS destroyed the first rack system that came but etrailer sent a second one very fast. Zero complaints
The Rhino Racks Vortex Aero are solid. My first drive with them was to Brighton Utah from Riverside California. They were not only secure throughout the drive and hard winds, they were also reasonably quiet. On top I attached a Thule Force L 628 roof box and it fits perfectly. The only complaints I have are how difficult it was to install the racks to my fixed points. It took several friends, a mechanic, and two days to get everything right.
Product fits the Thule rails on the Leer camper shell on my 2019 Tacoma. Had to remove the back mount end to get the rail nuts on as the rails did not have a slot to fit the nuts in. One nut that attaches the feet to the crossbars was machined wrong but there were enough extra parts to get around the problem. Shipped via USPS which was slow and hard to track. I live in rural Iowa and had to go to town to pick up as the carrier just left a note saying it was at the post office.
Nice rack. Has performed as advertised… I carry canoes and kayaks around in the warmer months, snowboards in the winter, and cargo boxes at various times all year long.
Very nice rack package. Everything was complete, and install was easy 4/10. I had used another review for the hole spacing, as it was easier. Holes at each end 5/8 in then at 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, for a total of 8 on each rail. I bought the heavy duty set, that’s why there’s 8. The standard has only 6/rail. I marked a centerline on the cap, and put the rails at 36” on center. I used painters tape to be sure they were straight. I also measured , and laid out the holes on the cap and drilled a SINGLE HOLE at the 36” mark. Then verified that the end holes would hit the reinforced portion of my ARE cap. Once that was verified, I drilled the rest of the holes. Because of the camber of the cap, a second person is helpful (holding the rail tight to the cap) when tightening up the nuts from inside the cap. After that, the rest was easy. Just center the rail mounts and lock them in. I would definitely recommend this rack set up, Especially since it was half of what my local Yakima dealer quoted me.
This was installed on a 2016 Silverado, 2500.
Tools used- Tape measure, grease pencil, painters tape, 1/4” drill bit and Cordless drill.
Great strength and look. I love em. About to put on the kayak racks and get some fishing going.
Been a year of having and the Product is good ,just make sure to count how many through fasteners that are included. (Or read instructions first and count parts)
The instructions had a measurement as a “drill through” every certain amount of distance note and as it turned out , I had 4 less through fasteners than the measurements alloyed for on my track rails. I happened to find a pack of the fasteners on eBay so it all worked out.
Just learn from my mistake and double check.
Be careful with this system. Our side rail failed on a trip after 2 years of use. The rear right side cracked out while going down the interstate. We lost our kayaks on top. We were under the weight limit and had everything ratchet strapped down to the system. We did contact rhino rack about the warranty, they were less than helpful. They denied our claim based on the fact we did not have the kayak strapped to the front and rear bumpers. etrailer was very helpful getting us all the information we needed to submit a warranty claim.
Normally I never leave a review, but be cautious of the aluminum rails, they did not hold up long term.
The rubber molding easily compressed and served no purpose other than to fall into the channel and thus shred the aluminum gunnels on my expensive Kevlar canoe. I contacted Rhino rack and they were quick to dismiss my information with zero concern or questions. This is a product easily made better with modest changes to improve. Too bad customer service doesn’t exist…
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.
This review is for the Rhino Rack Vortex Aero Aluminum-Silver crossbars and
associated legs and custom fit kit (RRVA137s-2, DK284, RRRLKVA) necessary for a naked roof installation on a 2018 Honda CR-V. Just enter the model and year of your vehicle and etrailers website will tell you exactly what additional items are necessary to complete the install. etrailers installation instructions and videos are very helpful. The installation document provided is for more than one vehicle and for more than one style rack, so take your time to understand witch measurements apply to your installation and refer to the installation video if necessary. ON that note: The measurements given for front rack did not fit as nicely on the roof as the rear rack, I adjusted the the front rack measurements slightly. I would suggest trial fitting on your vehicle before cutting the metric rulers to final length. Stick On tags are supplied to indicate front, rear and the location to install on your vehicle. Once the rails are adjusted and tagged you can remove and reinstall the racks very quickly. Korren was very helpful in keeping me informed as to availability of items in stock and email shipping tracking. I am very satisfied with etrailers customer service and happy with the appearance and functionality of the Rhino racks.
Great option for our 2016 Prius C. Coupled with our roof cargo box also from etrailer, we've already done some epic road tripping with 0 issues.
We had the challenge of how to carry 2 kayaks this summer in addition to hauling a 30 foot gooseneck horse trailer. We have F450 crew cab with custom truck bed. We hoped to use the "head ache" bar on the truck bed to support the rear sets of Swagman Rincon supports and purchased a single Rhino Vortex bar for the forward sets on top of the cab. We have 10.5 and 12 foot kayaks and this looks to be an excellent solution. The kayaks are clear of the gooseneck trailer even in a "jackknife" position. Please note the truck bed is extra long therefore there is plenty of room forward the nose of the trailer. We have not hauled yet but will convey any issues if there are any. eTrailer tech support was excellent. Product shipped as projected. Installation took approximatly 3 hours.
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