Which? roof rails for a T6?

Does anyone know if Vanstyle still sell Omtec cross bars? Their description states they're only rated for 40KG so I assume not.
 
Hello. Could you please help, I want to fit wing bars ( roof rack) to the VW Kombi 6.1 trendline. Dont know if the kombi will fit in garage once installed. I am looking at Thule of Frontrunner, which ever will be have the limited hight. Could you please help which bars will be the best and what the hight will be. Thx
 
My Omtec rails/bars were delivered in Omtec packaging, with Omtec branded instructions and with Omtec stickers on them.
Suggest you ask the supplier, as it’s difficult to tell from the website photos.

Pete
 
So we took the plunge and bought our first T6 SWB Caravelle:p. Absolutely love it. Great ride height, really comfortable, loads of room etc etc .

It came with roof rails are nothing more than steel tubes. Look good but absolutely useless for actually holding anything (too close to roof to get clamps on and no middle support so bows like a bugger)
Looking for something that can take a roof box and occasionally some kayaks, but with cross rails that can be easily removed and preferably locked in place...
Needs to be able to hold a decent weight as well (50kg min)

Looking at these on Van-tech (VW T5 T5.1 T6 Aluminium Roof Rails and Cross Bars Silver Pack). Decent load capacity but no lock option and out of stock for SWB :confused:
or these from DST (VW T5 & T6 Roof Rails & Lockable Cross Bars Set - SWB SILVER 2003-15-on) - that have a three cross bar option as well but no lock option for those

Does any have experience with either of these, good or bad,or can suggest something else?

See lots of comment about leaky roof rails. Do they need to be professionally fitted?

Thanks
(pic attached for those interested....)

Van.jpg
 
So we took the plunge and bought our first T6 SWB Caravelle:p. Absolutely love it. Great ride height, really comfortable, loads of room etc etc .

It came with roof rails are nothing more than steel tubes. Look good but absolutely useless for actually holding anything (too close to roof to get clamps on and no middle support so bows like a bugger)
Looking for something that can take a roof box and occasionally some kayaks, but with cross rails that can be easily removed and preferably locked in place...
Needs to be able to hold a decent weight as well (50kg min)

Looking at these on Van-tech (VW T5 T5.1 T6 Aluminium Roof Rails and Cross Bars Silver Pack). Decent load capacity but no lock option and out of stock for SWB :confused:
or these from DST (VW T5 & T6 Roof Rails & Lockable Cross Bars Set - SWB SILVER 2003-15-on) - that have a three cross bar option as well but no lock option for those

Does any have experience with either of these, good or bad,or can suggest something else?

See lots of comment about leaky roof rails. Do they need to be professionally fitted?

Thanks
(pic attached for those interested....)

View attachment 166934
Hi Road Rage!
I'm in a very similar position to you at present (new to us and needing roof box support etc) and was drawing up a list of questions. The 1st one being roof rails which you have just asked. Be interesting to see opinions, what side rails have you got on yours? I've been looking and need to make sure they are functional i.e. people can use as a step up and not just for looks.
Nice motor btw.
 
Hi Road Rage!
I'm in a very similar position to you at present (new to us and needing roof box support etc) and was drawing up a list of questions. The 1st one being roof rails which you have just asked. Be interesting to see opinions, what side rails have you got on yours? I've been looking and need to make sure they are functional i.e. people can use as a step up and not just for looks.
Nice motor btw.
Thanks, the side rails we have now are just tubes - purely for show. Another point I have thought of is clearance below the cross rails. My roof box has pincer type grabs that extend maybe 5-6 cm below the box. Is there enough roof between the cross rails and the roof to attach the roof box (Its a bit high to attach the roof box to the cross rails on the ground and then lift in to place!!!)
 
congratulations and welcome!!

The ones you have look to be for styling only rather than have a functional use. If your looking to use roof rails with cross bars to carry items then I personally would look at sourcing OMTEC rails with cross bars, these are the 'official' ones used by VW if you bought from them. Reason being is that they tend to have the higher weight carrying capacity of the roof rail types at 75kg, most only state 50kg and some dont state any at all.

You don't have to get them from VW themselves, I got mine from Van Demon and they were the OMTEC branded ones. although I saw a post on here the other day saying Van Demon no longer do the OMTEC ones so just watch for that.

Fixing wise, they all just screw into the captive nuts on the roof, I would check out this thread (link below) and do them yourself so you know they are done properly, its really easy to do and no specialist equipment needed.

 
congratulations and welcome!!

The ones you have look to be for styling only rather than have a functional use. If your looking to use roof rails with cross bars to carry items then I personally would look at sourcing OMTEC rails with cross bars, these are the 'official' ones used by VW if you bought from them. Reason being is that they tend to have the higher weight carrying capacity of the roof rail types at 75kg, most only state 50kg and some dont state any at all.

You don't have to get them from VW themselves, I got mine from Van Demon and they were the OMTEC branded ones. although I saw a post on here the other day saying Van Demon no longer do the OMTEC ones so just watch for that.

Fixing wise, they all just screw into the captive nuts on the roof, I would check out this thread (link below) and do them yourself so you know they are done properly, its really easy to do and no specialist equipment needed.

I just bought some from van demon and they are not OMTEC ones and I think I will return them as they are not as sturdy as I hoped.
Cheers
Toby
 
I just bought some from van demon and they are not OMTEC ones and I think I will return them as they are not as sturdy as I hoped.
Cheers
Toby
Thats annoying as they used to be OEMTEC, a few others have also now said the same, seems they have switched supplier
 
Could any one recommend good quality roof rails for my T6.1 Ascot Grey, not sure gloss or satin black.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Could any one recommend good quality roof rails for my T6.1 Ascot Grey, not sure gloss or satin black.
Omtec seem to be the OEM supplier.

Colour-wise, black goes with everything. However it’s worth having a look at other vans in the Team Ascot Grey thread.
 
Could any one recommend good quality roof rails for my T6.1 Ascot Grey
I looked at a few rails for my Shuttle. After being a little alarmed at the load rating, or rather lack of it on some brands, I bought a pair of VW roof racks.
Much better load, and easy to put on and remove when not in use.
They have locks supplied and four sets of keys.
I also bought large tap washers, new bolts and penny washers, and along with a smear of plumbers silicon grease ensure the roof is sealed when the roof rack is in the garage.
 
Could any one recommend good quality roof rails for my T6.1 Ascot Grey, not sure gloss or satin black.
I would recommend OMTEC brand ones which I believe is the official supplier to VW. When I was looking for mine, they had the highest load rating at 75kg over most of the other van accessory websites which ranged from unspecified to 50kg.

I think OMTEC only come in silver or matt/satin black. regarding gloss(if available) vs satin I doubt you would be able to tell the difference between them up on the roof unless your especially tall!
 
After much research on putting rails and bars on, I decided to go with the 'proper' official VW (Omtec) ones partly because of the 75kg rating and also because I thought they would be a good fit. How wrong !! they are absolute rubbish fit, don't sit on the pads fully and the holes only just about lined up with the fixings in the roof with bit of a struggle. Really disappointed with this poor quality from VW. Putting together the cross bars, a blade had to be used to clean off mouldings to get rubbers to fit and the screw holes had to be cleared with a 6mm bit to get the screws through.
After all the faffing around, I then find that I have 3 left hand bar ends and 1 right hand. :mad:

I did use the leak free method of fitting which is great but, as I said, the holes don't line up centrally so was a struggle to get a long reach socket on to the top fixing nylon nut.
 
Hi all,

Just joined the Velle club with a Gen Six 2016.

Unfortunately it doesn't have roof rails or bars and I need to carry surf boards....

What's the verdict on which rails and bars to get? I'd like them black to match the side bars on my Velle...

Cheers in advance! And some pics to follow of the Velle tomorrow....its returned home after a 3hr drive and needs a clean!

Landy
 
The roof rails are all pretty similar design from different suppliers - I got my ones from here.


They also do the cross bars although I never bought any.


When you get the roof bars you MUST ignore the fitting instructions and follow this thread - involves buying some additional nuts, bolts and washers, otherwise they will leak into the van where they bolt to the roof.

 
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