Roof rack for a 2015 Hatch?

[TheDude300]

I'm going to be making a long 2,500km trip to the east coast. I'm really needing more storage space for my hatch as I'll have a full car. I noticed the Mazda does not recommend towing. Which is disappointing. My only other option is a roof rack. I was wondering other than OEM what would be my next best choice? The OEM roof rack is $480 with installation and that is just overboard to me considering it should be a standard accessory. Anyway, I'm wanting to go OEM for sure. Unless I buy from the states which they sell for under $300 in some places. It will cost me a fortune in shipping and with a low dollar I might as well go to my local dealer.


Anyway, what's the best way to go to get a good roof rack for my hatchback? Is there a cheaper alternative to get OEM instead of from the dealer?

[natspriceless]

TheDude300 I was looking into this as well but I got snagged trying to decide what I was going to need in addition to the racks. Are you planning on strapping the cargo directly to the rack? If not, you may need to add a few hundred dollars to your budget to get the box/bag. I found the good options on the Thule website

[ryan2.3]

they say don't tow because north america can't be trusted to follow directions. Mazda3's sold elsewhere in the world say they can tow

examples of people towing
http://www.mazda3forums.com/66-mazdaspeed/341620-do-you-tow-why-does-manual-say-no-towing-mazda-3-a.html


you should get a hitch (just over $100) and then a cargo basket (less than $100) to go and strap stuff to behind the car. rack and then a basket to strap your stuff into, so its not just sitting on your roof.
i have this
http://www.amazon.com/Draw-Tite-59504-Mounted-Cargo-Basket/dp/B001O0C1TI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1459273845&sr=8-2&keywords=rola+basket

but as much as i enjoy it, the tubing is a little oversized, and i probably could have gotten away with their thinner (and lower cost one)
http://www.amazon.com/Highland-1041900-U-Venture-Rooftop-Basket/dp/B007GMHTQ8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1459273845&sr=8-4&keywords=rola+basket

Here it is on my 3
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B3eycRJGDrBTalFyX2hzWEQ0b2c
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0B3eycRJGDrBTOFA0N1R5MDdka1U

Rola can be less than half of Thule or Yakima equivalents. I've had them for about a year now, have the rack and cross bars for my gen1 and passat and use the basket back and forth on them depending on what i'm driving for a trip. I have a zip up waterproof bag that i throw in the basket (HERE (http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-07203-1-Waterproof-Cargo-Cubic/dp/B00D9C2CDO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459274348&sr=8-1&keywords=roof+rack+bag)) which holds a stupid amount of stuff. i put a couple suitcases, a cooler and then odds and ends. This left the entire hatch empty for the dog to stretch out. I've even had a set of tires strapped to the roof in the basket

You'll save the most if you can get it off amazon, and have somewhere to ship it. But there should be some places around Toronto where you can pick up locally

[yearoftherat]

If you look on kijiji there are used Thule racks for sale. All you would need is the proper fit kit to make it work with your car.

[natspriceless]

ryan2.3 do you find it awkward getting stuff into/out of the basket?

[ryan2.3]

ryan2.3 do you find it awkward getting stuff into/out of the basket?

I'm not the tallest, but it's still not bad. i can throw things in pretty easily, but when i want to start tetris-ing to arrange it just so, i have to stand on the door sill. I could probably snap some "demo" pictures this weekend haha. going to be putting the car into summer mode and replacing brakes so i'll throw the basket on top and put things in it to get a better idea

[TheDude300]

Where am I able to find what size of rack I require? Also for the hitch I haven't had much luck finding one either. Would anyone be able to point me in the right direction for that? Also, the ROLA racks seem pretty expensive compared to just buying a stock Mazda rack which comes to $480 installed.

[ryan2.3]

Where am I able to find what size of rack I require?


read the dimensions of the rack and then measure your roof. if rack < roof then you're good.



Also for the hitch I haven't had much luck finding one either. Would anyone be able to point me in the right direction for that?
Regarding hitches, there's a lot available.

30 seconds of search gave me, Curt, Draw Tite, Hidden hitch..
All these are for 2015 Mazda3
http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Hitch-60344-Receiver-Trailer/dp/B00K32PY9C/ref=sr_1_6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1459446200&vehicle=2015-80-2435------------5-0&sr=1-6&ymm=2015%3Amazda%3A3
http://www.amazon.com/113773-Class-1-Trailer-Hitch-Old-Style/dp/B00GNBWYV8/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1459446200&vehicle=2015-80-2435------------5-0&sr=1-2&ymm=2015%3Amazda%3A3
http://www.amazon.com/Draw-Tite-24914-Sportframe-Class-Hitch/dp/B00R60Z76Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1459446200&vehicle=2015-80-2435------------5-0&sr=1-3&ymm=2015%3Amazda%3A3
http://www.amazon.com/CURT-113772-Class-1-Trailer-Hitch/dp/B00GNBRFOY/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1459446200&vehicle=2015-80-2435------------5-0&sr=1-4&ymm=2015%3Amazda%3A3
http://www.amazon.com/CURT-113771-Class-1-Trailer-Hitch/dp/B00GNBNSI6/ref=sr_1_5?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1459446200&vehicle=2015-80-2435------------5-0&sr=1-5&ymm=2015%3Amazda%3A3

all under $130



Also, the ROLA racks seem pretty expensive compared to just buying a stock Mazda rack which comes to $480 installed.

not sure what your version is or where you're looking, but my rola rack was $220 and then i got the basket for $150, although i think i would have been better off with the thinner rack that was a little under $100 (http://www.amazon.com/Highland-1041900-U-Venture-Rooftop-Basket/dp/B007GMHTQ8/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1459446774&sr=1-1&keywords=roof+basket). A neighbor has it on his SUV and it is pretty good. so i don't see how it's more expensive than dealer
besides, why would you pay to have it installed. It's like 1 screw into each of the 4 bases into the roof. its not exactly an impossible tax

i dont know what the mount points are like in the gen 3, whether they're bolts like gen1/2 or something new, but if they're the screw in like gen1/2, i don't see why the set i got wouldn't fit since it allows for varying widths
http://www.amazon.com/59714-Removable-Anchor-Extended-Hyundai/dp/B008HBM0B6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

[natspriceless]

Install seems pretty straight forward...swap out existing guard rails and replace with the ones the rack attaches to.

http://imgur.com/a/dbZ0Z

[ryan2.3]

don't all the cars have the little caps nowadays? my gen1 didn't, so ended up drilling holes above where the mounts are. I have no intention of taking the rack off so i'm not concerned, if i was, i'd probably jsut put electrical tape over top. didn't want to pay $90 for the new guard rails just to get caps :rolleyes

[natspriceless]

don't all the cars have the little caps nowadays? my gen1 didn't, so ended up drilling holes above where the mounts are. I have no intention of taking the rack off so i'm not concerned, if i was, i'd probably jsut put electrical tape over top. didn't want to pay $90 for the new guard rails just to get caps :rolleyes

lol they give you a million other features that are un-necessary but never what you really need!

I'm still struggling with the bag/box....looks like Mazda is endorsing the Thule "Force M" box but the damn thing is $470 USD and it really doesn't look like it holds much.

[ryan2.3]

lol they give you a million other features that are un-necessary but never what you really need!

I'm still struggling with the bag/box....looks like Mazda is endorsing the Thule "Force M" box but the damn thing is $470 USD and it really doesn't look like it holds much.

yeah thats pretty steep. I'll get you some bag pictures too saturday. I was going to go clam shell but it was much more limiting with shape since there's no flex in it.
The bag i put in my basket is 15cubic feet. as far as visualizing that, the Gen3 sedan has about 12.5Cubic feet and the hatch has about 20. So with the bag in the middle, you've got an extra trunk thats in the middle of the two styles

[Wrap iD]

read the dimensions of the rack and then measure your roof. if rack < roof then you're good.
Regarding hitches, there's a lot available.
30 seconds of search gave me, Curt, Draw Tite, Hidden hitch..


Draw-tite and Hidden hitch and Reese are the same company, so OP can probably get the cheaper one and have it come from the same company with similar quality. You may also be able to get some Curt hitches from Uhaul for a bit cheaper.

[ryan2.3]

Ah crap. Forgot to snap those pictures natspriceless sorry. I'll try to do it tomorrow. It's raining out

[natspriceless]

Ah crap. Forgot to snap those pictures natspriceless sorry. I'll try to do it tomorrow. It's raining out

Awesome thanks!!

[ryan2.3]

Hope these are good enough. My wife wasn't home and it was starting to drizzle outside. Had to place the phone and set a timer

I'm 5'8"/9" (depends on the day haha) for reference. Also my neighbours must think I'm crazy

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160407/969d409382e62c4cd2b3ee563f99f83b.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160407/a4704b667d66fcd1ff32513ca92b52b8.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160407/73ba1bb2b84d2ba4284a768f5d35451c.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160407/9c3ef19c5cfb9f388989816887797c52.jpg

Lifting an oem 16" alloy pretty effortlessly. The height wasn't an issue for me. However If I was tetrising some stuff around in my waterproof bag, I'd want to stand on a door sill to better see from above and maneuver
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160407/920948679a929fd0bef03b97623c4367.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160407/56c61f3e61e9bf204e6f3b829b5996fe.jpg

I didn't attach the brackets that's why the footings are clearly not on the rails. (spacing is set for the passat as that's what had it on last)

Hopefully these help and if not let me know if there's a picture of something you'd like me to try or show

[natspriceless]

Thanks for the pic ryan2.3 😊 lol I'm 4'11 so I think I'll have an issue reaching no matter what but it seems like being able to pack a bag and then strap it on would be my best option then I really only would have to scale the car for a few mins to do that. I bet it would be a headache to work with the box

[Kiewan]

Thanks for the pic ryan2.3 😊 lol I'm 4'11 so I think I'll have an issue reaching no matter what but it seems like being able to pack a bag and then strap it on would be my best option then I really only would have to scale the car for a few mins to do that. I bet it would be a headache to work with the box

Keep a Step stool in the trunk?

[ryan2.3]

Could always get a tow hitch and get those cargo platforms that hang out the back


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Broken Wrecker]

ryan2.3

Hey your set-up looks awesome. But it does look like Rola Doesn't carry a base rack that works for the 2015 Mazda3. Does anyone know why this would be?

I wonder if there's a work-around, or if Rola Racks are just out for 2015 3 owners...

[ryan2.3]

if its the same mount style as gen 1 and 2, just get the rola universal that has bars that are wide enough to span the roof

[outofreach]

Currently looking for a roof rack for my car anyone here selling used? Thanks guys!