Volkswagen roof racks are designed to make your life a whole lot easier because they carry extra luggage or items too large to fit inside the car cabin. There is a large variety of designs available including trunk-mounted, hitch-mounted carrier and roof-mounted carriers, any of which is generally considered to work well on a VW. Installing a roof rack adds permanent value to your vehicle, and you can do it yourself.
Decide on the type and size of roof rack that suitable for your vehicle. Visit auto parts stores, consult your dealer and check the owner's manual for more information. Think about the kinds of items you want to transport on the roof rack and roughly how often you would be using it. The larger and heavier the objects and the more regular the use, the stronger it needs to be.
Measure the dimensions of the vehicle roof. Determine the best location for the rack based on its size and the manufacturer's instructions. Place the base rails in the roof in their appropriate locations and mark their attachment points on the roof.
Remove the rails and drill mounting holes through the roof at the marks. Make sure you do not drill through any wires or objects below. Secure the rails with the bolts and sealing gaskets provided with the kit.
Place the towers, which act as additional support, on the side rails. Position them according to the manufacturer's directions and attach them to the rails using the kit screws.
Attach the cross bars into the towers with screws. Depending on the model, there may be as many as four cross bars. Install all end caps and trim if needed. Attach straps and clips if provided.
