LX 570 OEM roof crossbars - feel like I am taking crazy pills

[bjorn240]

I swapped my LX 570 roof rails for LC200 roof rails. Easy peasy direct swap. Then I put the LC 200 cross bars on - again, no problem. Then I went to put on the LX 570 cross bars on the LC rack...thinking that 4 crossbars would give more support for my kayaks. But lo and behold the LX bars were ~8mm shorter than the LC cross bars and don’t fit...

Looking at parts numbers, it does appear that they are different!

LC200 crossbars are: 63409-60070
And LX 570 (pre-16) crossbars are: 63409-60080.

So are LX 570 crossbars really a tiny bit shorter? Sure seems that way! That would seem to indicate only LX crossbars work on LX racks and only LC crossbars on LC racks. Caveat emptor, maybe?!

 

[grinchy]

Oh I hope not. @tbisaacs dont you have both on an lc rack?

 

[tbisaacs]

Oh I hope not. @tbisaacs dont you have both on an lc rack?

I have OEM 570 bars on an LC rack. Mine is an 08, not sure if that matters.

 

[FinallyGotOne!]

Those of you who did the swap: Where did you get the LC bars? There are a TON available on eBay and I am hoping to avoid risk by ordering exactly what one of you has successfully installed. Thanks!

 

[bjorn240]

I bought my LC rack from @Union here. It was from a 2017 LC200. The rails fit perfectly on my 2015 LX570. And the LC cross bars fit on the rack. But the 2015 LX cross bars don’t appear to.

I am going to actually take the caps off the ends of the cross bars and measure this weekend.

 

[tbisaacs]

My guess is that this is a newer LX thing?

 

[FinallyGotOne!]

My guess is that this is a newer LX thing?

Not sure what you mean, but mine is a 2011 and the rails are shorter than the LC rails, though the holes for the longer rails are available.

 

[bjorn240]

Yes, the rails on all LX 570s are shorter -- what I'm a bit confused about is that my LX crossbars are shorter than the replacement LC ones.

 

[tbisaacs]

Not sure what you mean, but mine is a 2011 and the rails are shorter than the LC rails, though the holes for the longer rails are available.

Rails are shorter yes, but holes to mount LC rails are present in the roof. The LC rails bolted up no issues.

On my 2008 LX, I have LX crossbars on a LC rack. No issues.

 

[chipsterguy]

Interesting. What are the advantages of the LC rails on the LX?

I imagine that the middle mounting point increases the load capacity. Given that the LC rack is longer, does it also allow the cross bars to move any more forward on the roof?

I ask this because my Thule roof box interferes with my upper hatch when fully open. the spoiler on the LX interferes with the Thule roof top box. If the LC rails allowed the front cross bar to move slightly more forward (0.5" might do it), I would not have this minor interference issue. The problem with the interference is that the top of my spoiler gets marked up/scratched as it hits the roof box when the tail gate is opened.

 

[bjorn240]

Yes, you can move the cross bars approximately 10” more forward.

 

[tbisaacs]

Interesting. What are the advantages of the LC rails on the LX?

I imagine that the middle mounting point increases the load capacity. Given that the LC rack is longer, does it also allow the cross bars to move any more forward on the roof?

I ask this because my Thule roof box interferes with my upper hatch when fully open. the spoiler on the LX interferes with the Thule roof top box. If the LC rails allowed the front cross bar to move slightly more forward (0.5" might do it), I would not have this minor interference issue. The problem with the interference is that the top of my spoiler gets marked up/scratched as it hits the roof box when the tail gate is opened.

What @bjorn240 said. I have a large Thule box that wouldn’t clear the hatch.

 

[chipsterguy]

OK. I’m sold. How difficult was the swap? Do i just unbolt the old, bolt in the new? Any other parts needed?

Looks like a bunch of chinese knock-offs on ebay. Anyone source one of these? Any quality or install concerns?

 

[bjorn240]

I used a 2017 OEM LC rack purchased on here. It was $300 for the rails and cross bars. I think I overpaid a little bit, but I wanted it right now, and wanting a deal real bad means you'll do a bad deal! I think that's a better deal than the ebay route though.

It’s a 60-75 minute job. You will want to take the time to clean out the tracks carefully when the rack is off.

- Remove front and rear rack caps
- Remove cross bars
- Remove rail mount covers at positions 1 and 3 in each side. (LX rails use positions 2 and 4 only)
- Remove rail towers (loosen each pair of bolts equally - read the instructions here on mud!!!!!)
- Remove cover clips from positions 1 and 3.
- Remove rubber trim
- Clean channels
- Install LC rack (towers in positions 1, 3, 4)
- Install cover clip in position 2
- Install rail mount cover in position 2
- Install cross bars
- Install rail rack caps

Oh yeah, the LC rails are black, not body colored.

 

[bjorn240]

Here’s an in-process pic. LC rail on near side, LX rail on far side.

 

[chipsterguy]

Like the black. Will look better on my black LX. Will search for install instructions here in Mud.

 

[SC4TA]

Bumping thread for some sources and reviews. As others have noted, there are quite a few Chinese knockoffs on eBay and Amazon. Curious if anyone has bought one and if they have held up well.

 

[Tighe]

OEM is cheap enough, just go that route. Ed Martin may still have some LC racks that have been removed. Don’t skimp and get a knockoff here...one of us may be driving behind you (probably tailgating) when whatever you’re carrying on the roof flies off!

 

[bjorn240]

Since this got bumped - the width of the cross bars is adjustable by loosening the Phillips head bolts on one end. All crossbars fit all 200s. I have 4 on my LX570 now for car topping my tandem folding kayak.

 

[CharlieS]

I was told that the LX570 crossbars are shorter. I can't confirm through personal observation, but I trust the 'mud member who told me.