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Although the Freelanders other than the S model (except by dealer
option) are equipped with roof rails, they stop short of the total roof
length. To remedy this, Land Rover offers the Extended Roof Rail Kit with
Cross Bars. For those who are happy with the standard rails already
installed, the cross bars are also available to enable you to add bike
racks, kayak mounts etc.
LRK20100 Full Length Roof Rail Kit with Cross Bars $399
LRK20150 Rail Grabber Cross Bars (for short roof rails) $155
The part numbers listed here are Land Rover part numbers and prices
quoted here are discount prices available through many retailers of oem
Land Rover gear. My dealer in Northern Virginia will match any price on
original Rover equipment. Keep in mind that even if your dealer is even a
little higher in price, if you pick the parts up yourself you can save a
LOT of money on shipping- particularly on large or heavy items like brush
guards and roof rails. The total cost can be less in the end with the
dealer on many parts. Shop wisely!
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to pull the headliner or
drill into the body of the Freelander to install this kit. You have to
drill four holes into the black trim that runs the length of the roof, but
Land Rover provides a metal template so it's nearly impossible to drill
them in the wrong place.
If you have the short rails already on your Freelander, you must first
remove the covers on the pillars and remove the two bolts on each corner.
For those with an S model, pry off the plastic covers on the trim plate
which runs the length of the roof. The installation shown here is on an S
model US Spec Freelander.
When unwrapping your new rails, be careful not to upset the rubber
gaskets that are affixed to the base of the pillars.
While following the directions carefully, apply the metal template to
the roof and drill the 1/8 inch pilot holes in the black trim. Be very
careful not to drill into the body of the vehicle.
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 First
off, you must remove the vertical plastic trim pieces that frame
the sides of the rear window. Use a thick rag to avoid slicing
your fingers- the plastic is very sharp. The fun part here is that
you can Rambo those things off; the kit includes new ones since
they will break upon removal.
There's a 10mm plastic nut that needs to be removed, which
frees the black aluminium trim. The trim is then CAREFULLY pried
upwards. You can slide the clips that hold the trim to the roof
with a screwdriver toward the front of the vehicle or remove the
rearmost clip completely.
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 Once
the trim can be lifted away from the roof enough to provide
clearance for the drill, place a wood block or something similar
under the trim to hold it in place for the 3/8 inch holes to be
accomplished. |
After the drilling is done, the rear mounting block is slid into place.
The trim is then put back into place. On my particular installation, the
trim was very difficult to get back into place over the mounting block.
When the final assembly is done and the nuts are tightened into place, the
trim was pushed down into place by the rack pillar foot. Don't' worry if
you can't get the trim all the way into place at this point.
The middle mounting block simply bolts to the threaded holes in the
roof.
The end is near- Place the rails on the roof and line up the rear
pillar holes over the threaded studs protruding from the rear mounting
bracket. The front pillar is attached with two bolts, but don't tighten
down the front completely until the rest of the rack is in place.
The rearmost mount can strip easily, so be careful not to overtighten
the nuts. Once it's firmly in place, tighten the mid bracket and finally
the front. The front and rear pillars are then covered with the
aerodynamic plastic covers, the cross bars pop right on and you're done!
Now for the bold- The Thule PlayPen basket is a great add-on for either
the short or extended rails. If you have the short rails, you need to
order the cross bars if you don't already have them. The PlayPen can be
had for somewhere around $225 mail order. I paid $219 plus $19 for UPS
shipping.
Installation of the PlayPen rack couldn't be easier. It assembles out
of the box in about 5 minutes. Four screws, attach the wind deflector and
it's ready to mount. You may have to adjust the distance between your
cross bars slightly, then the PlayPen drops right on. Two thumbscrews on
each of the four mounts, then pop on the covers and locks- done! The locks
are included and everything fits perfect right out of the box.
Wind noise is minimal so far- and now I can fit ALL my camping gear
without folding my seats forward.
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