Using Sunroof on 2018 VW Golf SportWagen with Thule WingBar Evo Roof Rack Installed

Updated 04/23/2019 | Published 04/21/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Evo Raised Rail Feet for Thule Crossbars - Factory Raised Rails - Qty 4

(224)

$264.95

Thule WingBar Evo Crossbars - Aluminum - Black - 47" Long - Qty 2

(1277)

$279.95

Question:

Hi I have a 2018 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SEL with the factory raised rails. I am looking for a rack system that will allow me to maintain the full functionality of the panoramic sunroof. I looked at both the Thules Evo WingBar and AeroBlade Edge. Am I correct in understanding that the Evo WingBar will allow me to use the sunroof, but the Edge will not? Lastly, is there a particular roof box that you recommend with these bars? Thank you.

asked by: Cavill H

Expert Reply:

The Thule WingBar Evo Roof Rack for your 2018 VW Golf SportWagen that consists of # TH711220 for the 47" Crossbars and # TH710401 for the Foot Pack will indeed allow for more clearance between the roof and crossbars than the AeroBlade Edge system that you also mentioned.

I reached out to my contact at Thule regarding operation of the panoramic sunroof on your vehicle with the bars attached and she said that this is not something that Thule recommends with any of their racks just due to the potential for damage to the glass along with the amount of noise that the bars create with the window open. With that being said if you really want to open the sunroof with the bars mounted what you can do is simply see if the glass extends above the raised side rails on your VW's roof. If the glass sits below the top of the rails when it's open then there won't be any physical interference between it and the Thule bars.

For a roof cargo box I really like the Thule Motion XT # TH629706 that features 16 cubic feet of cargo space, a dual-side-opening lid that lets you load/unload from either side of your VW, and a sleek high-gloss black finish. Please just keep in mind that with this and any other roof box the hardware that clamps around the bars might prevent you from opening the sunroof when it's attached.

expert reply by: Chris R