[chucky_ott]

Interesting thread. I just ordered a RAV4 LE Hybrid specifically because it comes with the roof rails. The RAV4 LE ICE did not. The "Build" tool for the LE Hybrid allowed me to add cross-bars to my order. I confirmed the roof rails with the dealership.

It seems that this is becoming common practice with the base models. Honda CRV, Nissan Rogue, and a few others were all missing rails for the base model

 

[Lakelandrav]

Here is what we just ordered that rack attack, etrailer and rhino rack says will work on a 2022 rav 4 le :

Qty	Description	Price	Total
---	---------------------------------------------------------	--------	--------
1	DK Fit Kit for 4 Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Roof Rack Legs	105.30	105.30
	Discount Shipping	1.00	-26.65
1	Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars - 49" - Black - Qty 2	190.00	190.00
1	Rhino-Rack 2500 Leg Kit for Vortex Aero Crossbars - Qty 4	202.00	202.00
	SHIPPING AND HANDLING PER	1.00	26.65
		Sales Tax	34.81
			-----------
			532.11

 

[owilliams47]

Here is what we just ordered that rack attack, etrailer and rhino rack says will work on a 2022 rav 4 le :

Qty	Description	Price	Total
---	---------------------------------------------------------	--------	--------
1	DK Fit Kit for 4 Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Roof Rack Legs	105.30	105.30
	Discount Shipping	1.00	-26.65
1	Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars - 49" - Black - Qty 2	190.00	190.00
1	Rhino-Rack 2500 Leg Kit for Vortex Aero Crossbars - Qty 4	202.00	202.00
	SHIPPING AND HANDLING PER	1.00	26.65
		Sales Tax	34.81
			-----------
			532.11

Would love to know if this works on yours! Please post with the verdict and pics if you can!

 

[Lakelandrav]

Would love to know if this works on yours! Please post with the verdict and pics if you can!

Works perfectly! Attached to the crossbars are the Inno sup carriers which are amazing!

 

[owilliams47]

Works perfectly! Attached to the crossbars are the Inno sup carriers which are amazing! View attachment 182760
View attachment 182761

Looks great! Thanks!

 

[Canyon Peep]

Grant,

I just purchased a 2022 LE AWD (american version) with the bare roof and assumed there MUST be attach points from the factory to add rails to. Much to my dismay, there is NOTHING to attach a roof rack system to. I even peeled back the rubber strips on the sides of the roof to see if there is any kind of bolt hole or raised clip underneath them, but there is nothing but smooth metal. I'm not sure what other roof systems may become available but I have checked Yakima and Thule and so far there are no roof rack options on the market for a 2022 Rav4 with a bare roof.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm in the same boat,
-Nick

I am also in the same boat as well. I contacted a company in Portland Oregon called Rack Attack. They install aftermarket racks for these and have a system that uses some of Thule and another company. I asked about leaks and they said they don't have problems. Portland is a very wet place so I would think they would know. I would see if there is a company that does aftermarket installs. Yes, they would be drilling. The cost including installation, parts as needed, and crossbars is $885.

I hope this helps,

Todd

 

[leolo007]

Hey Nick, you posted a few months ago on this thread about removing the weather strip on the roof looking for factory holes.

When I installed roof rails on my Tacoma I had to punch out the holes where I was going to screw in the rail bolts. The factory holes were covered with a very thick tape-like material and painted over. Do you think you might have missed this when you looked for the holes on the Rav4?

View attachment 181949

Well I checked myself, can confirm, no pre-drilled holes, there are indentations but it's all metal.

 

[OscarSIX]

I bought a RAV4 LE 2022 just a couple of months ago in part because I thought it would be a better vehicle for hauling kayaks and bikes. I just today started what should have been a simple process of installing a roof rack and am just flabbergasted to find no roof points. I can’t possibly understand Toyota’s thinking on this one. I also get the sense that the Toyota dealer I bought it from wasn’t aware of the change (or was dishonest) as the salesman said putting a roof rack on after purchase would be a piece of cake. I’m pretty pissed about this.

 

[OscarSIX]

Has anyone come up with a reliable means of purchasing the Australian Thule kit?

Thule SquareBar Evo | Thule | Australia

-

www.thule.com

 

[Lakelandrav]

I bought a RAV4 LE 2022 just a couple of months ago in part because I thought it would be a better vehicle for hauling kayaks and bikes. I just today started what should have been a simple process of installing a roof rack and am just flabbergasted to find no roof points. I can’t possibly understand Toyota’s thinking on this one. I also get the sense that the Toyota dealer I bought it from wasn’t aware of the change (or was dishonest) as the salesman said putting a roof rack on after purchase would be a piece of cake. I’m pretty pissed about this.

I feel you- I was promised I could bring it back in the following week to get the rack installed. I was irate and do feel that it was a dishonest practice. I did get 1k back from them in a check. If you look through the thread I posted what I purchased and I have been totally satisfied with it - I have driven all over with my sup.

 

[OscarSIX]

I feel you- I was promised I could bring it back in the following week to get the rack installed. I was irate and do feel that it was a dishonest practice. I did get 1k back from them in a check. If you look through the thread I posted what I purchased and I have been totally satisfied with it - I have driven all over with my sup.

If I understand your previous posts, you went through Rack Attack. I was browsing their website and didn’t see an option for the 2022 Rav 4 LE. I think I’ll just go in to the store to talk to them in person. Thanks for your thorough description of what you did.

 

[cocowood5]

Works perfectly! Attached to the crossbars are the Inno sup carriers which are amazing! View attachment 182760
View attachment 182761

I feel you- I was promised I could bring it back in the following week to get the rack installed. I was irate and do feel that it was a dishonest practice. I did get 1k back from them in a check. If you look through the thread I posted what I purchased and I have been totally satisfied with it - I have driven all over with my sup.

Hi There - apologies if I'm missing something, but would you be able to provide a link on where you purchased this equipment? Your setup looks great! I too purchased the 2022 LE AWD and was shocked to learn roof rails are not able to be installed. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Lakelandrav]

Hi There - apologies if I'm missing something, but would you be able to provide a link on where you purchased this equipment? Your setup looks great! I too purchased the 2022 LE AWD and was shocked to learn roof rails are not able to be installed. Thanks in advance!!

I ordered through e trailer, these were the racks that I got, they have worked perfectly and i love the sup carrier

 

[cocowood5]

View attachment 185004 I ordered through e trailer, these were the racks that I got, they have worked perfectly and i love the sup carrier View attachment 185005

very helpful! much appreciated!

 

[zemontic]

I already purchased cross bars when I realized that the LE doesn't have side-rails. So I have the intention to saw-off those protrusions and bolt the mounts trough the roof. I'll do it adequately - installing rubber pads, pealing the head-liner, rustproofing the hole-edges etc.

The bars will be a bit lower than if there were plastic side-rails, but actually stronger.

Now comes the question - what means that vague "messing up the warranty"? I expect to lose the corrosion, or structure warranty, however I'm afraid to not be screwed with something like the drivetrain, because of 8 holes on the roof.

 

[surf7silver]

Works perfectly! Attached to the crossbars are the Inno sup carriers which are amazing! View attachment 182760
View attachment 182761

Hey thanks for this help! So this was able to be installed level and does not make any obnoxious noise while driving?

 

[Lakelandrav]

It doesn’t make any noise when driving regardless of whether or not my SUP is on or off. It’s really fabulous!

 

[surf7silver]

It doesn’t make any noise when driving regardless of whether or not my SUP is on or off. It’s really fabulous!

This is so awesome, I had given up on finding something. Thank you for sharing with us!

 

[zemontic]

I just talked to the dealer and he assured me that if i don't do some dumb thing as scratching the paint, or drill trough wires I will not have any problems with the warranty. So, I'm carefully drilling the roof and bolting down solid crossbars made for Toyota.

 

[SeanM]

I just talked to the dealer and he assured me that if i don't do some dumb thing as scratching the paint, or drill trough wires I will not have any problems with the warranty. So, I'm carefully drilling the roof and bolting down solid crossbars made for Toyota.

The roof metal is not very thick, and you could not get a good thread on the holes unless you drill through the channels where the plastic/rubber strips are. I presume this is what you have done. In the channels you can see the little circular marks where the roof metal is welded onto the curved areas above the doors.
Where did you drill the holes? If it was easy to remove the ceiling inside the vehicle you could attach a plate on the underside of the place where any drilled holes are.

At the moment I am thinking of making a removable roof rack using suction cups to hold it in place. I tested some suction cups that I have. They stick/stay on very well, if you put them in a fairly rigid area. If I tug on them after a day I can get the roof metal to flex. I don't need a roof rack very often, mainly to transport long pieces of wood that I cannot fit inside the RAV4.

I remember my Dad had a roof rack that stuck onto our car roof, mainly to carry his long fishing rods.