How easy is factory roof rack install?

[HotDog88GT]

Ordered roof rack for my 06 Mazda5. Dealer wants $80/hr to install and has "never done one before" so they don't know how much labor will be.

I'm just going to pick this thing up and put it in myself. Easy install?

 

[NYMZ5]

Your "dealer" is ripping you off!. It's like 5 min to install. How could a dealer not know this?!

 

[miatafied]

OMG!!! I think that it took me MAYBE 20 min. doing a VERY careful installation. I think that it would probably take me 5 to 10 minutes to remove it now that I know how it works....

Definitely compare your price to onlinemazdaparts.com Jason over there usually gives free shipping on orders over $100.

 

[jandree22]

Haha... reminds me of THIS. $70 labor to "install" a cigarette lighter (lol2)

DIY!!!

 

[X10James]

I ordered mine online at the already mentioned address. Was cheaper than the dealership would sell it to me, free shipping and it took me all of 5 minutes to install. Well.. OK, maybe 10 since I didn't realize that the bars for front and back were different and that it mattered which went where and I had to switch them the first time.

If you can get the key in the ignition, then you've got the skills to put the roof rack on yourself.

Indeed, it's so easy to take off and put on that you will find that you dont want to just leave it on all the time, but you'll only put it on when you need it.

 

[HotDog88GT]

Are they adjustable?

Indeed, it's so easy to take off and put on that you will find that you dont want to just leave it on all the time, but you'll only put it on when you need it.

Are the bars installed in a fixed location or can they be adjusted (front-to-back).

 

[perfecto]

Fixed location.

 

[HotDog88GT]

Fixed location.

I ask this because we already own a Thule luggage carrier - the 13 cu. ft., $279 model that is on the Mazda accessories site. It mounted to the roof rack of our old minivan, and I slid those bars around to fit the brackets on the Thule box. I supposed that if the mounting brackets do not line up I'lll have to drill new holes into the Thule - no prob! Only use the box when we're all traveling with lotsa luggage.

 

[HotDog88GT]

OMG!!! I think that it took me MAYBE 20 min. doing a VERY careful installation. I think that it would probably take me 5 to 10 minutes to remove it now that I know how it works....

Definitely compare your price to onlinemazdaparts.com Jason over there usually gives free shipping on orders over $100.

Thanks for the site...found some other stuff there as well...thanks...

 

[X10James]

the factory ones are not adjustable.

If you buy a luggage box from Mazda I assume it has all the holes in the right place. But if you buy the exact same box directly from Thule or from Sears (where I got mine) you will have to drill an extra set of holes for the rear support. It's about 2 inches further apart than their last set of holes.

 

[Kid Red]

Install is a tad more difficult than opening the box.

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

Even two blondes can do it in less then 15 minutes eh....(enguard)

 

[protosaab]

instructions

here are the instructions.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/instructions/mazda5/Roof_Rack_Base_Install_(Mazda5).pdf

 

[Benfolio]

Did mine in 10 minutes, in the dark, and it was about 10 degrees out.

Went and got the X-mas tree and it took another 5 to take it back off when we got home.

It's back here at work in it's box. Pfft, like I'm gonna buy it when I only needed it the one time