2016 CX-9 Roof Rack Cross Bars
 

I purchased my CX-9 earlier this year and given our need for a little more space during road trips have purchased a Thule Force XL cargo box. I understand that I need cross bars to attach to the roof rack but it appears that nobody makes ones except Mazda. I would like to hear if anyone has added cross bars and which ones they used. Also, is it worthwhile to get locks on the cross bars if I'm going to attach a very nice cargo box. I would think so, but the Mazda bars aren't lockable.

Thanks

Steven Hart

Hi Steven -

I bought the Mazda crossbars for my '16 CX-9. So far so good, though I have only used bike racks, not a roof box. You're right they are not lockable, but having installed them myself, I can't imagine a theif actually getting away with removing them. It took me a solid half hour of blindly fiddling with the allen bolts upside down to install them. If you can get your dealer to put them on for you, I would recommend it!

Hope that helps,

Travis

Hi Travis,

Would you mind sharing a picture of your car with the cross bars? Looks like they only come in black. Do you notice added wind noise with the Mazda cross bars?

Thanks!
Ivan

No wind noise at all - they are silent. There's also no branding or color, they very much look like OEM - like something that should come with the car. But they're all powder coated metal and very sturdy.

Thanks Travis!

Update on Thule Force XL
 

I purchased the Thule Force XL and it is HUGE!!! Not sure how it will fit but I will be getting crossbars tomorrow and will try it out. Might need to downsize to large. The XL is 84 inches long. Wish the Mazda site would be better, they showed the XL and the medium as options.

I will attach and post pics.

Please do! I'd love to see what that looks like. You'll be able to go on some major road trips with one of those.

here is my yakima skybox 22 box. fit a ton of luggage !

Thule Force XL Cargo Box
 

So, I brought the cross bars and the Thule Force XL Cargo box.

Here are some pictures with the cargo box mounted.

It clears the shark fin nicely (the picture looks tighter than it actually is).

At highway speed, I do hear added wind noise, but not too much with the sunroof shade closed. I think because this is the XL and the overhanging do generate wind noise right above the sunroof.

Only had a 5 minutes drive on highway though.

Roof rails and crock bars
 

hello
are you a roof rails and crossbars OEM Mazda parts And if so did you install them?
Thanks Dave

Hi Dave,

The roof rail comes with the car (Mine is signature trim). I got the crossbar from an online Mazda dealership and it is official Mazda accessory. I did install the cross bars myself. A several like two screws on each side of the crossbar. It is on the underside so it takes some patience to slowly tighten them while make sure it is threaded correctly (no cross threading). Otherwise, not really require a mechanic or the dealership to install them.

The rail already has the holes there so there is no guessing or drilling involved. Align the crossbar holes to the railing holes and put the screws in while holding the crossbar (so it won't force on the screw and risk misalign or cross threading).

Hope that helps!
Ivan

How is the Thule fit
 

Ivan,
thanks a bunch for your response. I am just curious how your Thule cargo box fits on the curved OME Mazda Cross bars. I read in another thread that “flat” things like cargo boxes don’t fit on the curved cross bars. What’s your experience and is there a lot of wind noise with the box up there? Thanks again Dave

My Thule Motion XT Alpine box is wider than most, 37.5". It fits well on the Mazda crossbars. Very little additional noise either with the box or just the bars on. I put the bars on only in the winter when I use the box for ski trips.