go for it. someone has to be first.

 

They work well for me, although I do like the OEM Sport black ones on the HL SE better.

 

Let us know how you like them and how easy they are to install.
Good luck,

 

The spread between crossbars is only 27 inches, I need far more than that for carryingfound these after market raised rails from Taiwan, for 2014-2017 Highlander. Lots of pics but no reviews, etc, thoughts on taking a chance on them?

Yeah, current rails are poor design for sure cause cant adjust cross bars. On aftmkt pics, didn't see cross bars ? Also couldn't tell how far apart cbars can be spaced? Do they adapt to oem rails or have to remove them to install new rails? If so, then it'll require headliner. Get more info.

 

Did you try them? I need something similar.

Supneil, I would be very interested to know if you tried these rails. I currently own a 2012 V6 RAV4 and often carry 18' sea kayaks. It's an ideal vehicle since the roof rack cross bars slide to 39" apart and the rear door opens sideways so there is no interference with the overhang from the kayaks.

BUT, I want a 2018 Highlander now. The fixed, 27" spread between the cross bars is a no-go with 18' boats. If I can't find a solution that allows at least a 36" spread, it's out-of-the-question. Thule and Yakima make a few clamp-on systems that state a spread of 31", I think, but expressly state that they're not for canoes longer than 14'.

Would love to hear if anyone has come up with something that works.

 

Would love to hear if anyone has come up with something that works.

I carry an 18 foot canoe on mine. I made an "adapter" by U bolting longitudinal (front to back) aluminum angle stock to the existing bars and adding a large suction cup foot to the ends of each bar. Then I installed a cross rail at the front and back of the aluminum angle. Doesn't look Thule or Yakima cool, but works beautifully.

 

gbenzon...Also check out ..eide boat loaders. Keep looking, recall seeing one for canoes mounted on top of suv, but need tow hitch. Maybe others, so keep lookin. Good luck.

 

I emailed one of those sellers for the aftermarket rails on Ebay, and asked if it would support and work with crossbars, and he said they didn't have any ideas about that, and it sounded like he was saying they are more decorative.

But this was at least a year ago, (and I think was a bit different looking), so perhaps there are others or may have done some more development. Worth a shot, but I would ask the seller some questions first.

 

They emailed me back and said it can carry 160- 170lbs.
At least for this model, I think it's the same....
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/272598721059

 

I went ahead and bought the roof rails from eBay for my 2016 XLE. My suggestion: don't do it, unless you've got money to burn. The roof rails are bolt on, no drilling required. But it turns out, that Toyota basically made the Highlander in a way that prevents easy bolt on. In order to secure the rails, you've got to remove the entire headliner. The brackets that the bolts screw into are between the cars frame and headliner. Theres no way to access those brackets until the headliner is removed. And you need the brackets to secure the bolts.

I was able to very easily remove the OEM rails, but one I realized I couldn't access the brackets, I brought the car to a mechanic/body shop to finish it. At that point, I was committed because I could no longer put the OEM rails back on without the brackets. Once you unscrew the OEM bolts, the bracket falls into unreachable territory.

It cost $600 to install and it took the shop about 7 hours to finish because not only was removing the headliner complicated, but the rails didn't fit properly and needed slight modifications.

I'm satisfied with the end result, but if I had known it would cost $800 (600 labor plus 200 for the rails), I wouldn't have done it. Now, in the market for cross bars and the rack is complete.

I was, however, able to easily bolt on TAC running boards, also from eBay. Theres a very good installation video on YouTube. Took me and my wife 2 hours to finish.

See pictures below.

 

Wow! That is great! Ya, maybe pricey, but you have a real functioning roof rail system. Pretty unique and functional. I wonder if there is a way without the major hassle of removing interior. Maybe there are new models that just bolt on top vs replacing? Or for LE owners that dont have the decor rails, it maybe easier bolt on.
I think that maybe the case and what the makers of this aftermarket part intended....for the LE model.(?)

 

These seem interesting, they say they are perfect fit:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-PCS-Fit-...89989022?fits=Year:2018|Model:Highlander&hash=item23a4dfd99e:g:dT0AAOSwsXFbQI98

 

They also say "Fitment Type: Direct Replacement" which is what I believe the OP ended up with and you'd have the same issue with these new rails - reusing the existing brackets between the frame and headliner.

I"m in the market for a '14-16 HL and really disappointed by the rail/crossbar situation on the '14-19s. Previous '09 in my family with the raised roof rails that would accommodate OEM or any aftermarket crossbars (with appropriate feet/clamps). I understand why Toyota did this from a wind resistance, noise and cost standpoint and the fact that a large majority of HL owners never use their roof rack, but I do and have quite a bit invested in Yakima and Thule products. I'll take a look at Yakima's hard roof mounted rails system that would replace the OEM rails, but worry about the holes left by it once removed. :frown:

 

Get a Dodge.

 

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Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk

 

Aha! A classic case where, learning that something exists, its' easy to find. Thanks all.


Adding "heightening" to the search for "highlander roof rack 2014" gives a couple of options. The side rails alone (with space underneath for rope/strap) for about $250 and also a "4 piece roof rack" with adustable cross bars for about $450. Be very careful. The same rack seems to vary between about 238 and 700 bucks!


Found at autoxspace, and kratosaxe, for example.

Shown below.

 

Last I checked(Couple years ago) there were no xbars, ....Well, thats cool, they are now functional with xbars....
but lame pricing.
The OEM for those side rails are about a way over priced dealer tag of ~800$, But less functional.

 

am i missing something or does 2017 limited hybrid come with the right OEM rails. I don't see any issues with things being flush, i've used my cross bars many times..

 

I think that the rails themselves are completely non-functional, as there's no way to strap something onto the top of the vehicle. And cross bars are only marginally functional for some uses. You could easily strap a kayak to your HL crossbars. A 4'x8'? Not easily. The crosbars aren't adjustable. The Highlander Crossbars are of such limited function, they take the "U" out of "SUV" for me at least.



Rails that have a little space underneath them are so much more functional. I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee circa 1998. Smaller vehicle. The rails and (adjustable) crossbars were way more useful. I view the HL rails as a total design fail, as I don't like spending 800 bucks for a couple pieces of trim.

 

Just bought a 2019 Highlander and stumbled across this post looking for a rack solution. The photos above are the same Sidebars I just installed. Purchased on eBay for $250. I used 53" Thule Aero cross bars ($200 on Amazon) with Evo Raised Rail towers ($100 on eBay). The 53" bars gets you just a bit of over-hang for a better strap attachment point (and I can actually strap a sheet of plywood on the car now). If you're straight-up replacing the factory rail, this is a relatively easy install. I would rate it a 6 out of 10. Understand that the side rails came with no instructions. However, the install is straight forward, but you'll need to head scratch a bit, since there are extra parts in the kit that I believe are for models without the factory side bars. You'll need to reuse (4) of the 12mm bolts from the Toyota rack. The kit comes with the other (8) hardened steel Allen head bolts, pre-cut gaskets for the (4) 12mm location and a tube of rubberized sealer (which you want to use for each bolt you reinstall). All in all pretty happy with this solution. The sidebar fit was dead-on and the finish is overall pretty good. The whole thing looks factory. Now I just need to replace the craptastic chrome plastic wheels.

 

Soul.. Did u have any issues with headliner removal ? Tks for pics/info.

 

No issues with the headliner; didn't have to fuss with that at all. If you're replacing the factory sidebars, its pretty much a straight-up bolt-on. The replacement sidebars use the same bolt locations.

 

Ok, gotcha. Curious on the cross bars...how far apart (distance between) can u space them? Tks again.

 

I have them set at 41" on center. Looks like I could go as wide as about 48".

 

Thanks for posting this. Any link to the items?

 

Siderails: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PCS-Silv...age-Carrier/163808705070?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Crossbars: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005IMGRQQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Evo Raised Rails: https://www.amazon.com/Thule-710401...d=1571676493&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=Thule+Evo+Raised+Rail,sporting,201&sr=1-1

Thule Locks: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00THH9K44/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

* NOTE: I bought the EVO raised rails on eBay as an "Open Box". The link is to the same item on Amazon. Note that Yakima makes exactly the same set-up and I'm sure there are others. The "raised rail" part just needs to be a clamp-on style.

 

Same concerns as most of you. The stock cross bars are far too close together to support anything longer than a roof box or a bike.
I finally got fed up the other week and purchased a Yakima set up... went for the gutter grabber instead of the bolt on so that I can spread them out to a full 36in. So far very happy, and with the long bars can fit the roof box and canoe together.

 

Soulcalsurfer,
How are the side rails holding up? I just ordered a set of the these raised side rails for our new 2019 Highlander. I hope to avoid buying new feet and bars - again. Instead, will try to use our existing Thule Rapid Crossroad Feet TH450R with our 53" Aeroblade cross bars off our Sienna van. Wish me luck. The order is in so no turning back now.

 

The side rails are holding up really well; the painted finish looks just like the day I mounted them. I've strapped sheets of plywood on there, extension ladders and of course surfboards. No worries at all; the rack is really solid. Also, its been raining quite a bit in Southern California this season and I've had no leaks. Take your time, be patient and use that tube of sealer at every bolt. Get all the bolts started and tighten everything down together going back and forth from front to back. The one thing that took some time was trimming the body to rack rubber gasket. The gasket is double stick taped on the side rails, but it's long at certain points. I used sharp scissors and carefully trimmed it. Good Luck!

 

The roof rails arrived without a tube of sealer. Any suggestions? I'm assuming the extra brackets and hardware are for cars without OEM side rails. Does that sound correct?

 

1st of all, the extra hardware is for cars without factory sidebars. If you're replacing sidebars, you don't need those (4) brackets. The sealer I got was a white rubberized silicon. It reminded me of this DAP product I've used before: DAP 2.8 oz. White Silicone Rubber Sealant-00752 - The Home Depot This would be my recommendation. One tube should be plenty.

 

" The sealer I got was a white rubberized silicon. It reminded me of this DAP product I've used before: DAP 2.8 oz. White Silicone Rubber Sealant-00752 - The Home Depot
"

 

Mine is a 2019, same as Soul's, but interested in this question too to avoid mishaps.