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?
Any options for no-drill roof rack system?
jeffs3232
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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?
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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.
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Here is the installation PDF of the OEM rails.
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
+1 for Honda roof rails. As you can see from the install pdf linked above, they do not require drilling as the attachment points came pre-installed from the factory, just hidden under the rain channel plastic trim pieces. Easy DIY job.
Thanks everyone. Ordering the Honda kit now. It looks pretty straightforward!
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It really is. Prying up the plastic near the tailgate was probably the scariest part (“will it snap, will it snap”). Otherwise, the old adage of measure once, cut twice applies.
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I cut it twice and it's still too short.
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I'm glad that you've found it! I'm not a fan of roof racks, what do you think about inside car racks as an option?
Cheers!
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Please explain. Have you seen something like that for the Ody?
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I've never ever seen it, that's a point... I'm wondering, is it possible somehow to combine it with back seats or replacement? Upd. I mean smth similar to these racks
Cheers!
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I'm having trouble picturing what you have in mind.
I've got platforms in my van, making the floor flat and level. I could add an E-Trak system to provide tie-down locations. I guess I could even build a frame with pull out shelves like I used to have in my trailer when my kids were racing Soap Box Derby cars. The E-Track might make sense. The tray system seems like a bit much, but anything is possible. Of course, I feel that most people need a roof rack for the extra cargo space because need the interior space for passengers. Once you move the rack inside, it's no longer a passenger vehicle.
With my platform system, I can get back to an 8 passenger van in a few minutes. A securely installed tray/rack system would make that rather difficult.
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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.
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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.
All I could think was some sort of small carrier for fishing rods or something like that...
The inside fork mount for a bike on a 2x6 is also fairly normal in the bike world. Better than just throwing it in the back...
-Charlie
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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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