Roof Rack Questions?

"Patrick Nichols" (pnichols)
06/08/2015 at 12:07 • Filed to: None

So I have a mk6 golf and am looking to add a roof rack for my recent paddle board purchase (along with the kayak I already have and snowboards in the winter). So I’m wondering if any of you have any experience?

Will probably get the J racks (2 sets) as well for the kayak and paddle board (maybe another if one comes up cheap on craigslist), and eventually one of the cargo containers for hockey/snowboarding stuff. So I have a few questions for everyone:

How much should I be looking to spend for the rack system itself?

How easy is it to install myself? I have very little experience doing any modifications to my car other than putting in a new head unit. Speaking of which I have another question related to that that I’ll put at the end.

Does a wind deflector do anything? I do like the look on the golf with it much better than without it.

Anyone have a recommendation for the brand? Thule? Yakima?

With J racks, could I potentially fit 1 kayak and two paddle boards on my golf? Would one set of J racks and then stacking the paddle boards flat make more sense?

Bonus: How hard is it to wire the transmission into the head unit so it knows when I’m in park or reverse? How much effort is it to put in a backup cam? all on the same mk 6 golf 2 door 6sp auto.

As always thank you to everyone who has even a little advice

DISCUSSION (10)

Nibby > Patrick Nichols
06/08/2015 at 12:12

Nice rack, bro. Can I touch?

CB > Patrick Nichols
06/08/2015 at 12:13

Thule is an excellent brand, but rather expensive. I’ve seen their rooftop boxes go for over $600 (but they may be longer than your Golf).

In terms of installation, depends on the kinds of crossbars you’re getting. Some actually latch on right where your door meets the roof, meaning you don’t have to drill holes. For drilling holes, you might want someone else to do it (or measure a fuckton, cut once).

Wind deflector for windows or the hood? The window deflectors reduce noise and that weird pressurization thing that occurs when the windows are open. The hood ones are considered effective for preventing bugs from hitting the windshield.

That’s all I got.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Patrick Nichols
06/08/2015 at 12:18

I use the Thule square bar system and it’s got great load capacity and I notice absolutely minimal wind noise. But that can vary vehicle to vehicle (‘08 Skoda Octavia estate). Otherwise the system is really easy to install, set and remove, and is properly secured with numbered keys which can be re-ordered from Thule if lost.

There’s a fitting guide for your Golf here: https://roofracks.co.uk/_pdf/1323.pdf

Patrick Nichols > CB
06/08/2015 at 12:20

Yeah I’m most certainly not drilling any holes myself and the wind deflector is for the roof rack just above the windshield (in this case its where you can read Thule).

I imagine I can probably find the cross bars pretty cheap used and then just get the right mounting kit. Would having a 2 door affect the ability for the rear mounts to be added?

'Wägen, EPA LOL > Patrick Nichols
06/08/2015 at 12:20

Yakima Whispbars!!! They are seriously great - have a set on my mk6 jsw tdi. No noise at speed and really small (negligible) affect on mpg. They have a true aero profile and are available in both through bar and flush mount configs (Personally I think flush looks better.

You an always add a wind jammer, but this set really doesn’t it. It just increases drag.

Bobbyzoom > Patrick Nichols
06/08/2015 at 12:21

Search of VWVortex or GolfMKVI for someone selling a used OEM roofrack. That’s what I did and bought the snowboard attachments. Rack was around $200-250 & used my old snowboard roofrack attachment. No idea about J racks and kayak/paddleboard mounting however.. I am an EX-VW guy that had a MK5 and MK6 so any other questions ask away.
You can add rear camera, either by going the cheap way and mounting it onto your plate frame and running wires to a RCD/RNS with rearview capability ($500-$800 purchase) or you can get the one that flips out of the rear VW symbol.

CB > Patrick Nichols
06/08/2015 at 12:22

I imagine it would definitely increase the difficulty with installing.

As for the wind deflector up top? No idea.

Patrick Nichols > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
06/08/2015 at 12:25

Did you go for the wind deflector? Thanks for the response

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Patrick Nichols
06/08/2015 at 12:31

No, no wind deflector. I don’t notice any wind noise with just the bars, and only a little with the roof box on. There’s a fair bit of bug death on the front of the box though after a long journey, and you may want the deflector because your load is uneven and isn’t particularly aerodynamic :)

Patrick Nichols > Bobbyzoom
06/08/2015 at 12:31

Thanks for the tips. And I have a pioneer appradio 3 so I would just need to wire in the transmission and get a cheap camera, but I have no idea how to do either of those and haven’t taken apart any of the trim other than the dash.