Roof Rack Removal?

Just took posssession of a 2024 Lexus GX550 Luxury+. Drove home (to Connecticut) from Charlotte yesterday.

The dealer delivered the vehicle with a roof rack and I am puzzled about how to remove it. Any guidance in this forum or other sources?

Jeff Williams said:

Just took posssession of a 2024 Lexus GX550 Luxury+. Drove home (to Connecticut) from Charlotte yesterday.

The dealer delivered the vehicle with a roof rack and I am puzzled about how to remove it. Any guidance in this forum or other sources?

Click to expand...

Here ya go!

Jeff Williams said:

Just took posssession of a 2024 Lexus GX550 Luxury+. Drove home (to Connecticut) from Charlotte yesterday.

The dealer delivered the vehicle with a roof rack and I am puzzled about how to remove it. Any guidance in this forum or other sources?

Click to expand...

Congrats and welcome to the forum.

The video makes it real easy. I took mine off in less than an hour

Jeff Williams said:

Just took posssession of a 2024 Lexus GX550 Luxury+. Drove home (to Connecticut) from Charlotte yesterday.

The dealer delivered the vehicle with a roof rack and I am puzzled about how to remove it. Any guidance in this forum or other sources?

Click to expand...

Any chance you have pictures of the rack on the lux? Does it have different side rails? I’m trying to see how I can put racks on mine but it has the real thin side rails. Seems different than the OTs.

I don’t have any photos (and our GX is on the road right now).
The rails on the Lux are thin, tight (or close) to the roof, and different from the OT’s.
Each rail has two slots or depressions with one forward and one toward the rear. These slots or depressions are the locations of the fastening plates to which the roof rack posts are bolted. Plastic covers snap tightly over the slots and are simple to remove with a flathead screwdriver.
Once the cover is removed, the lower ends of the roof rack posts are easily lowered onto the fastening plates. Take care to align the hole in the base of the rack mounting post with the threaded hole in the rail fastening plate .
There were four bolts provided with our rack which we screwed through the base of the rack mounting posts into the fastening plate on the roof rail.
Tightening the bolt requires a T-30 sized, Torx star shaped Allen wrench.

Rpa11 said:

Here ya go!

T

Click to expand...

The roof racks on the OT are different from the Lux+ and are fastened the differently as well.

Jeff Williams said:

Plastic covers snap tightly over the slots and are simple to remove with a flathead screwdriver.
Once the cover is removed, the lower ends of the roof rack posts are easily lowered onto the fastening plates.

Click to expand...

I am trying this on my lux+ but the covers aren't coming off. Do I need to use the screwdriver to push in the slots or use it to pull it out.

Would it be possible for you to click a pic of the cover when taken off so I can get an idea of how it clips in. please please please.

I didn't want to completely remove the roof rack, just the crossbars to alleviate the wind noise and the above linked video didn't detail those options so I got around to taking a look. You'll need a trim removal tool and a 5mm hex bit and accompanying ratchet. Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.

Start off by removing the plastic decorative cover. Use a pry tool to reduce scratching. Pictured is only one side, but note on both sides of that cover is a small slot. Pry from both sides and the cover releases up.



Once the cover is off you'll be able to access the bolt. It's the only fastener that holds it in place (per side).






Once the bolt is removed it allows the crossbar to unclamp from the lower/inside portion. It slides towards the middle as pictured.



How it looks when opened up.



Repeat the steps on the other side and the crossbar simply lifts up. Just note that it leaves mounting holes on the inside of the roof rack. I'm short and the wife is shorter so it won't bother us.



It's the wife's and I had to get to work so I can't comment on the reduction in wind noise yet, but it was definitely there at highway speeds. Previous Mercedes also had a roof rack but without crossbars it wasn't a nuisance. We never found an opportunity to use it so I doubt I'll re-install them.

Hope that's helpful.

Jeff Williams said:

Just took posssession of a 2024 Lexus GX550 Luxury+. Drove home (to Connecticut) from Charlotte yesterday.

The dealer delivered the vehicle with a roof rack and I am puzzled about how to remove it. Any guidance in this forum or other sources?

Click to expand...

did you ever get your rack removed?

You should have a kit with a tool, plastic covers and instructions. Took my rack off my Lux+ because the rack was causing the panoramic roof to vibrate and cause a buzzing noise in the cabin. Pictures attached of my kit including instructions.

are any of the lux guys going with a full length roof rack? if so, im curious which one (westcott, prinsu, sherpa, etc.)