How Difficult Is It To Remove Yakima SkyLine Roof Rack From 2019 Toyota RAV4?
Updated 02/10/2026 | Published 01/19/2026
Question:
2019 Toyota Rav4 XLE Hybrid. Flush rails. I am wondering how easy it is to remove the racks when not needed? And, do the mounting feet stay on the rails when the cross bars are removed? Also, are these racks likely to be superseded when I change cars in the future, ie. will the basic rack system be forward compatible with just changing out the mounts, and not the whole assembly? I had this happen with Thule Square bar racks.
asked by: Stephen W
Expert Reply:
Hello Stephen, thanks for reaching out. For starters, the Yakima Roof Rack # Y53GB is the correct fit for your 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Hybrid with flush rails. The rack itself is not terribly difficult to remove. To install it you basically attach the landing pads to the flush rails, attach the crossbars to the towers, then attach the towers to the landing pads. So to remove it you can just reverse this process. The towers can stay attached to the crossbars. The landing pads can stay attached to the rails, or if you want to pull those off too you can just remove the hardware. Just make sure and keep all the pieces together in a place where you won't lose them. Typically, people just leave the roof rack installed, but if you want to remove it when not in use, it can be done without too much hassle.
As far as re using the roof rack, it may be possible to transfer the crossbars and/or towers to another vehicle, but it completely depends on which vehicle you would be using it on. The CoreBar crossbars have been around for a while, and they won't be going away anytime soon. It just depends what vehicle you get, and whether or not Yakima offers a CoreBar fit for that car. The crossbar length is also a factor since not every vehicle calls for a 50" bar. This is typically something we would look at on a case-by-case basis. If you want to let me know what new vehicle you are looking into, I can let you know if any roof rack parts will cross over.
What will you be using the roof rack for mostly? How often do you plan to use it?
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Product Page this Question was Asked From
Yakima SkyLine Roof Rack for Fixed Mounting Points - CoreBar Crossbars - Steel - Black - Qty 2
- Roof Rack
- Crossbar Rack
- Aero Bars
- 50 Inch Bar
- 2 Bars
- Overhang
- Black
- Yakima
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Jesse M.
2/10/2026
Hey Stephen, how did things go with removing the Yakima roof rack from your RAV4 when you didn’t need it? Was the process about as simple as reversing the install steps? Your experience could help others who want a removable setup for their flush rails.