I want to windsurf again and I am looking for some roof rack bars, i don't want buy another car for going a few times to the beach.
Also I wander if anybody has ever carry a roof box on a xk? I know its might be rare but I am kind of curious...lol

 

Would love to bring my bicycle on top of the XK. Took me years to find roof rack for my XJ350 and when I did find it, I was month or two away from buying the XK...

Roof rack manufacturers are not digging the aluminum body design like we do.

 

Thanks Mosesbotbol once more,

Jaguar XF XJ XK XJS Universal Roof Bars Roof Rails Rack Estates Saloon | eBay

I found but but I asked him as i am not convinced yet.

 

Sadly, I think you are out of luck... No such rack exists that I have found.
Only makeshift option I have seen so far involved a mount with big suction cups for the rear glass, and although I would maybe consider it for something like skies, I don't think I'd even want to try a bike....

Vince

Went searching for others: here & more

 

yes it's a bit scary...

 

My father-in-law has a factory in Los Angeles that makes roof and trunk racks as well as high quality bicycle racks for many cars. If there was enough interest I could approach him to make a limited run of adaptable racks that would take different attachments to handle different tasks. He has done it before. If you go to the website, Surco Inc., you can see some of the applications in the online catalog.

 

Lots of roof racks over on the corvette forum. I wonder if any would be adaptable. Corvette Forum - View Single Post - Finished!!! Bicycle Roof Rack Project

 

I would be scared of how easily Aluminum would bend/flex/dent for most mounts touching the metal.

Maybe something with suction cups on the front glass (each upper corner?) and up high on the rear glass (each corner). That way all the wind drag would really be pulling the windshield rearward instead of lifting the lift-gate glass.

I know you could get a custom hitch made if you wanted it bad enough. The European style hitches are hidden behind the bumper, and unlike the common US hitch, their receiver sockets angle downwards instead of rearwards. With nothing in the receiver, it remains completely hidden.

Now finding a bike rack to use that type receiver might not be easy to find either, but I'm sure something could easily be made.

For those of you not familiar with euro hitches, Here is a guy putting a Westfala hitch on his M3


Just dreaming out-loud....
Vince

 

there is also some soft racks for surf who can be purchased, the strap goes indeed inside the car, all around the car.

 

one question for xk8 owners, as i only see soft racks for models upto 2006. I wander if the reason would be cause you can open the rear window? is this correct or not? if not these oft racks should also work on newer models.

 

I looked high and low for one so I could take my bike with me to races. I found a rack made by Allen that fits pretty well but it's a trunk rack. Probably wont work too well for a surf board

 

I finally found a rack that works for my needs - A Sea Sucker Mini Bomber 2



Works as advertised - I've taken the car up to 85 with both TT bikes on the roof and they are as stable as can be. It's quick to install and remove - takes about 2 min.

It's not cheap but, it'll work on pretty much any car and the suction on these things is no joke. They're supposed to hold 210lbs each (there are six of them on this setup) and I don't doubt that claim for a second. No more trunk rack for me!

 

That's a very neat solution.

I see they also do board and kayak mounts:

SeaSucker | Vacuum Mounting Systems

Graham

 

I'd look for them on e-bay before buying straight from the manufacturer though. I picked up mine for about $300 total with the main rack, the front wheel holder that mounts between the forks of two bikes, and 3 extra suction cups - all brand new

 

That solution looks cool, but I am scared to try that. I was sold a solution for my S2000, only to have my Italian masterpiece almost fly off on the Expressway with no where to pull over.

About 3 months ago, we saw a top end Trek come off the back of a car on MA Pike (as it goes through the city) and we swerved in the Range Rover to just miss it. No way that guy could pull over to retrieve his bike if he valued his life...

 

I admit, I was more than a little apprehensive at first but, after the first few drives with it mounted, I can tell you that this rack is no joke - that's over $10K worth of bikes on the roof and I wouldn't risk it unless I was convinced that it works.

Here is the setup I used previously - it's nowhere near as stable as the Seasucker and it made me nervous to use on the freeway.



The first drive was with the rack itself, then with my mountain bike, and then I threw my TT bikes on the roof and drove out to a race about 3 hours away. The cups are pumped down - they're not regular "suction" cups, and there is a line on the little piston that shows you if the suction is beginning to release. I've had it mounted in the garage for 2 days without losing suction at all.

One of the reviewers hit a tollbooth at 40 mph with his bike mounted and while his bike was split in half, he said the rack was only pushed back about 12" on the roof lol. I do understand your reluctance though, I felt the same way.

There are a couple of different options too - there is a single bike rack as well - the one I went with fits two along with one front wheel on the roof

 

Hey, Gray XK, it's been awhile but wondering how the SeaSuckers have worked out long-term and if you ever had any problems with them. The new has worn off my 2012 XKR and giving a thought to putting our tandem up there rather than get another vehicle. Probably won't be able to bring myself to do it, but thought I would ask about your experience.

Thanks!

 

Save your money and don't buy that expensive roof rack. You can eliminate all possible problems with your surfboard, bike, etc., flying off the rack and damaging your XK or causing an accident involving others. Be safe and rent an SUV or other vehicle large enough to carry those items inside.