If your car has not been fitted with a factory installed roof rack you will need to access one of the many roof rack kits on the market. These kits come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit almost every make and model of car and van. They also have various different components to create the roof rack and connect it securely to the roof of the car.

In general terms, a roof rack system consists of a number of towers or feet that are used to anchor the roof rack to the car. A set of roof rails or bars run transversely across the vehicle, serving as mountings. These are either connected to the towers or feet using clips or may be ready connected by the kit manufacturer.

Roof rails and bars are designed to fit most models of vehicle and some are telescopic to ensure that they are suitable for a range of different cars. They are hard wearing and durable, being capable of bearing heavy loads. For added security, most roof rack kits include locks. The roof rack retailer will normally provide easy to follow fitting instructions to ensure that the roof rack and the roof rails and bars are safely and securely connected to the car.