Recommended Roof Rack For 2007 Toyota Prius To Carry Plywood Mounted Solar Panel

Updated 04/10/2017 | Published 04/07/2017

Products Featured in This Question

Thule SquareBar Evo Crossbars - Steel - 43" Long - Qty 2

(272)

$179.95

Trailer Square U-Bolts (Qty 2), 3-1/8" x 3" x 7/16"

(680)

$26.32

Fit Kit for Thule Evo Clamp and Edge Clamp Roof Rack Feet - 5181

(477)

$159.95

Evo Clamp Feet for Thule Crossbars - Naked Roofs - Qty 4

(410)

$264.95

Question:

This might be a little long, so I apologize in advance. Im looking to install solar panels on the roof of my 2007 prius, and have decided on mounting to a sturdy piece of plywood, and then mounting to the top a roof rack that will mounted on my car. Ive been looking all over the internet at different roof racks, but I have a problem with all of them. They seem to not have additional holes in them to mount a piece of plywood to them. The aerodynamic racks i dont think would be of any good, even the square bars also. Seems I have have to drill holes in them, then god knows what would happen after driving around for a few months with the weight of a giant solar panel and plywood would. The solar panel Im getting weighs 52.9 pounds, and who knows how much the plywood will weigh. Is there any product you would have that you think would suit my needs? Preferable something with preset holes that I can mount the plywood too?

asked by: Merrill O

Expert Reply:

We do not have roof racks with holes in them as you mentioned but the best option I can recommend is to install a roof rack with a square crossbar like the Thule Traverse roof rack. This roof rack has 43-inch square steel crossbars and a custom fit kit for your 2007 Prius. to order this roof rack you will need part # TH712100, part # TH710501, and part # TH145181.

I then recommend using U-bolts similar to part # 7163183UB to secure the plywood on the roof rack. These U-bolts come with washers and nuts but you may want to fabricate a flat metal plate to add more stability.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L