Ski Rack and Roof Rack Recommendations for a 2018 Subaru Legacy  

Question:

Expert Reply:

How you transport is really up to you. Your 2018 Subaru Legacy is still extremely new, so fits are being added all the time, and Subarus have a reputation for being incredibly flexible.

If you want to go with the full rack, or have other possible items to carry like bikes, kayaks or cargo, I recommend using a Yakima roof rack system. This has the added benefit of letting you use a wide variety of accessories and adds a more rough and tumble look to the car.

To add this kit to your vehicle, you'll need:

Yakima JetStream Crossbar, 50 Inches, part # Y00425
BaseLine Towers, part # Y28TR
Yakima BaseClip 145 (Front), part # Y06145
Yakima BaseClip 130 (Rear), part # Y06130

Be sure to purchase both BaseClip packs, as one is used for the front of your vehicle and one is used for the rear.

From here, you'll either pick a traditional carrier, or opt for a cargo box option for added flexibility.

If you want to go with the traditional carrier option, you'll want to opt for the Yakima FatCatEvo series, available in a 4 ski, 2 board, part # Y03095 or 6 ski, 4 board, part # Y03096 configuration. These value focused carriers include locking carrier clamps and a quick mount system that lets you easily add and remove these carriers from the bar while the carriers are unlocked. The integrated SkiLift lets you quickly adjust the height of the inside part of the carrier to accommodate oversized bindings on your skis or boards. Finally, this carrier can bias to one side or the other to mount over the side of the carrier, giving you easier loading options.

If you're going to want something that has multiple uses, a cargo box is a great choice.

For a cargo box, you'll normally measure your front clearance. Without the rack installed, you won't be able to take this measurement. you'll need to be aware that the box can impact the opening of the rear hatch, depending on how tall the hatch is.

Yakima offers a few fits for your vehicle with their crossbar kit. The SkyBox series of boxes feature a suite of standard features, such as quick mount clamps, dual side access and locking handles.

For your vehicle, I recommend the Skybox NX 16, part # Y49XT. This box can handle up to 69 inch (175 centimeter) skis and offers 16 cubic feet of cargo space for when you're using it the rest of the year. Requiring only 47 inches of clearance to the top of the rear hatch when open, you should have decent access to your vehicle's trunk with the box equipped.

I've included video reviews of most of these products so you can get a better idea of their features and performance and make the best decision for your new vehicle.

expert reply by: Jacob W

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Fred S.

12/21/2017

Is it difficult to build the crossbars? And, is there any cargo carrying wire-like box that you can put stuff in (like luggage) and tie in down?

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Jacob W.

12/21/2017

The Yakima towers aren't hard to assemble. I've included a video review of the towers that shows the assembly and installation process on a sedan so you can get familiar with the process. For a basket, the Yakima LoadWarrior, part # Y07070 is one of the best baskets on the market because of its ability to use its front and rear bars as though they were regular round crossbars letting you mount a ski carrier without having to remove the basket. I've included a video of this basket being installed onto a similarly sized 2010 Chevrolet Aveo so you can get an idea of the look and features of the basket.

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