I have a 2017 EXL naked roof, no factory roof rack. I was researching roof racks on E-trailer and see they all either require OEM mounts to fit aftermarket cross bars, or require invasive drilling. Are there not any that mount within the door frame that clamp on or anything else that doesn't require drilling?
jeffs3232
One positive of the OEM roof rails is that they won't mar your paint or possibly crimp/dent the frame. Aftermarket clamps may not necessarily take that into consideration. Also, the sliding doors would prevent you for installing clamps in that middle to rear area of the roof.
The OEM rails are roughly $200 on Bernardi Parts, although you might be able to find them cheaper, elsewhere. Any Odyssey can have the rails installed - it requires removal of the plastic moldings and performing a little bit of cosmetic surgery with a dremel or saw.
The OEM rails are roughly $200 on Bernardi Parts, although you might be able to find them cheaper, elsewhere. Any Odyssey can have the rails installed - it requires removal of the plastic moldings and performing a little bit of cosmetic surgery with a dremel or saw.
There was never a factory installed roof rack. The Honda OEM roof rack is/was always dealer installed on the 4th gen vans. Get the OEM rails and the cross bars of your choice.
Clamp on feet damage the paint and won't be as strong as the OEM rack rails.
-Charlie
Just to throw in my MacGyver version of an inside bike rack:
I used a fork mount bike rack, like this:
![Image]()
and I mounted it to a 2x4 piece of wood. That wood is set across the rear seats (folded down), with the bike facing the rear of the car. The rear wheel slots in between the middle seats. I will upload a picture of it if I can find it.
I used a fork mount bike rack, like this:
and I mounted it to a 2x4 piece of wood. That wood is set across the rear seats (folded down), with the bike facing the rear of the car. The rear wheel slots in between the middle seats. I will upload a picture of it if I can find it.
Let's see if this picture loads:
![Image]()
It is from my Honda Fit, but the same setup was used in my Odyssey.
It is from my Honda Fit, but the same setup was used in my Odyssey.
This is a late post, neither of the two major roof rack vendors Thule or Yakima have roof rack solutions for bare roofed Odysseys.
Having the OEM/"factory" (dealer or self installed) roof rails is a great starting point, but I strongly recommend going with aftermarket cross/load bars from either Thule or Yakima. With the aftermarket bars you have tremendous flexibility in the spread between the bars as well as the location of the bars. Have used the traditional Thule square bars for a couple decades with our Odysseys (starting with 1999, then 2006 and now 2015) with the Thule 415 then 450 crossroads feet (both discontinued). With stuff on the square bars like a roof box, kayaks or paddleboards its not too noisy. With just the cross bars the turbulent airflow howling is pretty annoying when driving faster than 25 mph.
Recently found a set of Yakima Jetstream crossbars at a yard sale and bought a set of Yakima Timberline Towers off a ubiquitous online auction site and installed them on the van. There is some airflow sounds but very subtle and completely acceptable even on the freeway--the Thule square bars will be put out to pasture.
Having the OEM/"factory" (dealer or self installed) roof rails is a great starting point, but I strongly recommend going with aftermarket cross/load bars from either Thule or Yakima. With the aftermarket bars you have tremendous flexibility in the spread between the bars as well as the location of the bars. Have used the traditional Thule square bars for a couple decades with our Odysseys (starting with 1999, then 2006 and now 2015) with the Thule 415 then 450 crossroads feet (both discontinued). With stuff on the square bars like a roof box, kayaks or paddleboards its not too noisy. With just the cross bars the turbulent airflow howling is pretty annoying when driving faster than 25 mph.
Recently found a set of Yakima Jetstream crossbars at a yard sale and bought a set of Yakima Timberline Towers off a ubiquitous online auction site and installed them on the van. There is some airflow sounds but very subtle and completely acceptable even on the freeway--the Thule square bars will be put out to pasture.
I have seen surfboard ”racks“ that are nylon straps that hold foam pads on the roof and are fed through the door frame with the windows down slightly and clip together inside the car. Who knows how one gets in and out of the car when the doors are essentially belted shut. Maybe they get tightened after the passengers and driver are inside.
glad the OP opted for roof rails.
glad the OP opted for roof rails.
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