Remove Cross Bars on 6th Gen -- How-to? Issues?

[kinetic262]

If I remember from the videos I've watched on installing a full length rack, I think you have to slide the cross bars out the end of the rails. So you have to pop the plastic caps for the main rail mounts, unbolt the mounts completely on one end, and loosen on the other, and slide the cross bars out the open end. Then reverse the process to re-assemble with just the rails. But I may misremember the video I saw.

This may have been true on the 5th gen, but having just removed the rails on my 6th gen, I can tell you the process is much easier. The crossbars themselves have a cap that pops off. The plastic trim tool, allen wrench, and diagram were all included in my glove box. Use the trim tool to easily pop the caps off the bars, use the allen wrench to loosen the main bolts, and then you can wiggle the assembly loose and just pop the whole bar off. If they stick you can youse a torx to loosen the other two small screws on the assembly. It's about a five minute job in total.

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[Undefeatable]

I just removed mine to see if I can quiet down the ride at all. I can't say that I noticed wind noise coming from them specifically, but I am on a mission to get rid of as much noise as possible when it comes to wind noise, inside cabin rattles, etc... Plus, I will probably rarely ever need to use them, so the less on, the better (and the less things to have to wash during the car washes, the better).

 

[127.0.0.1]

I am keeping mine 'cuz never know when I need to strap random crap
up there. But I have found my SR5 seems* to have the least wind noise
with them as far apart as possible, so front to the first notches and rear to the rear
notches.

*difference is slight and I'm not bothered by any noise this rig makes anyhow
but I did experiment a bit

 

[Undefeatable]

I am keeping mine 'cuz never know when I need to strap random crap
up there. But I have found my SR5 seems* to have the least wind noise
with them as far apart as possible, so front to the first notches and rear to the rear
notches.

*difference is slight and I'm not bothered by any noise this rig makes anyhow
but I did experiment a bit

I do like the idea of having them "just in case". We have been know to go to Ikea to just walk around, and end up with something rather large haha. If I don't notice a difference in noise at freeway speeds since taking them off this morning, I will give your method a shot of furthest away mounts.

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