Roof Rack - full or short?

I have a 2021 ORP. I would like to get a roof rack but unsure what size. I would like to use the rack to transport snow skis and kayaks from time to time (and I surmise other items at some point). I do have a sunroof so I was thinking that maybe the short rack would make more sense. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

 

I went with a full-length Southern Style Offroad rack because I don't use my sunroof and I am putting on an 8ft ARB awning and I wanted the full rack for support. You can get a full-length rack and leave out the rails over the sunroof.

 

I put the LFD cross bar bundle on the factory sides. Plenty of surface for skis. I’ve never hauled my kayak but I think they take a different mount that makes the kayak rest on its side. I believe it would attach to either.

https://www.lfdoffroad.com/catalog/toyota/5th-gen/crossbars-5th/ruggedized-crossbar-bundle

 

Dang these are pretty nice. How do you like them? I've been wanting to find some way to mount some rear roof lights, I wonder if these would work.

 

I have a full victory 4x4 rack. Strong and durable. Good build. Still allows use of the sunroof. Fast ship as well. Great company.

 

Just out of curiosity, why can't the stock rails carry your skis and kayaks?

 

The stock rails are super low to the roof. In my profile photo you can see I have a Yakima skybox, the arms were so close to the roof, I had to stick in some polyethylene sheets to keep them from striking the roof.

After that trip, I was done with the rack and got a full Prinsu. If you are not going to get a modular rack like the Victory or Prinsu, that LFD cross bar setup ya boy posted is pretty amazing at adding the clearance needed to help hardware not strike the roof.

 

Can you carry those with stock cross bars? When you don't need them may be you can remove them.

I'm someone who absolutely hate wind noise, so prefer not to have a roof rack.

 

Looks like those LFD 's may be a good alternative for you.

 

I like them a lot but be advised that others have found the front fairing to be too close to their roof and scratching the paint. Mine and others have not had this problem but it has been an issue for some. Do a search and read about it. You will also see several pictures, including mine.

 

I went with this guy. It's a shorter length modular rack that mounts directly to the crossbars. No noticeable wind noise. Couldn't be happier.

https://www.artecindustries.com/ty4r5g-roofrack

 

I know Bajarack has full length options that are compatible with the moon-roof. It just comes down to how much space you want/need. And, what do you prefer?

I could get by with a shorter basket, but I like having extra space.

 

On the LFD site the front fairing looks like it has some sort of protective lip. That still causes scratches?

 

I installed this bundle on my 2019 TRD-OR 2 months ago - I also added 1 "wide" crossbar to the package. It doesn't seem like I'm hearing much difference in additional wind noise - if it's there it certainly is not obnoxious. I occasionally drive a police car with overhead light bars and I definitely can hear the wind bouncing off them. I'm happy with them..

 

If you mean the rubber strip you can put on the bottom, I didn’t use it because I have good clearance. Like not even close to contact. Don’t know for sure about anyone else.

 

I bought lfd crossbars but returned them because the front deflector crossbar touched my roof. There was no room to put the rubber strip because of that (unless you push the roof sheet metal down).

There was another forum member that had a very small gap, but no contact. He did not put rubber trim on (probably because of insufficient space). However he described that at speed, the wind caused some sort of flutter that basically jackhammered the roof into the bar repeatedly and left a gouge.

 

I considered the LFD crossbars too.
But I do a lot of remote hiking and would be a little concerned about somebody stealing anything of value off the rack while the station wagon is sitting off road.
Suppose they could just break a window to get at the inside but would be far easier to snag something off the roof.

 

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and comments. Apparently, I have a lot to consider! Happy New Year all!