Thule AeroBlade Podium Roof Rack with Longer Bars for 2017 Ford Explorer  

Question:

Expert Reply:

It is possible in some cases to substitute longer-than-recommended roof rack crossbars in a roof rack setup. But do note that bars that extend out past the roofline can pose a safety issue - head bumps happen.

That said, the various roof racks made for your 2017 Ford Explorer that has flush mounted rails that run front to back DO come in different crossbar lengths ranging from 48-inches with the Yakima round bar system (parts # Y00408, # Y00148, # Y03536 and # Y00245) up to 54-inches as with the Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero bar rack (parts # RRVA137B-2, # RRVA-FK2-2 and # RRRLCP45).

For their Podium Aero racks Thule recommend a bar length of 60-inches. The black crossbar Podium Aero rack they recommend for your Explorer consists of parts # TH711520, # TH460R and # THKIT3151. You can substitute longer 60-inch bars but be careful to avoid bumping your head. Also keep in mind that the longer bars do not add weight capacity to your roof, which remains with a 165-lb total load rating.

I linked an installation video for the Thule rack mounted on an Explorer.

expert reply by: Adam R

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