Can Any Roof Bike Rack Fit Rhino-Rack Vortex Crossbars on a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

Updated 07/28/2015 | Published 07/27/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars - Aluminum - Black - 46" Long - Qty 2

(2754)

$239.98

RockyMounts BrassKnuckles Roof Mounted Bike Rack - Wheel Mount - Black

(24)

$349.99

Rhino-Rack SX Series Legs for Vortex Aero Crossbars - Raised Factory Side Rails - Qty 4

(494)

$299.99

Yakima CoreBar Crossbars - Steel - Black - 60" Long - Qty 2

(118)

$209.95

BaseClip Fit Kit for Yakima BaseLine Roof Rack Towers - Qty 2

(887)

$71.95

BaseClip Fit Kit for Yakima BaseLine Roof Rack Towers - Qty 2

(887)

$71.95

BaseLine Towers for Yakima Crossbars - Naked Roofs - Qty 4

(88)

$274.95

Question:

Hello, Thank you for your helpful videos and website. I was looking at a set of the Rhino Aero cross bars for my 2013 VW Tiguan. Im Wondering if i buy those cross bars, do i need to buy a rhino roof bike rack or would a Thule or Yakima fit? Thanks

asked by: Mat

Expert Reply:

Which crossbar set-up you need will depend on whether or not your Tiguan already has the side roof rails running front to back along the edges of the roof. If you have this feature, you'd use a rack made up of the following parts:

44 Inch Vortex Aero Crossbars, part # RRVA118B-2
Roof Rack Legs, part # RRSX022

If you have a bare roof, I'd recommend a Yakima CoreBar rack, using:

Yakima CoreBar Crossbars, part # Y00422
Roof Rack Legs, part # Y28TR
Vehicle Specific Clip Kits, part # Y06117 and # Y06150

The Rhino Rack crossbars you mentioned measure 3-1/8 inches wide, and the Yakima CoreBars are 2-1/4 inches wide. As long as the bike rack you choose is compatible with elliptical crossbars, and can accommodate the 3-1/8 inch width or the 2-3/4, you do not necessarily need to use a Rhino Rack bike rack. If you click the provided link, you can see the roof mounted bike racks compatible with an elliptical crossbar.

I really like the RockyMounts BrassKnuckles, like part # RKY1201. It's compatible with the Rhino Rack crossbars and Yakima CoreBar, it won't require removing the front bike wheel, and it holds the bike by the wheels, not the frame, so it won't mar or damage the bike frame.