[SirStretchalot]

Spoiler

So picked up the new Impreza Thursday. As you can see It's a pretty thing. I had a RTT that was given to me, and it was in my Outback that I traded in, so had to put it on the roof of this. As far as my research shows, you shouldn't carry them on just crossbars, but I really don't know. Can anyone help me out here? I want to be able to use it but I don't want to break something. The tent is a Yakima Skyrise HD, well under the weight limits that I have found

 

[MagikAram]

Not sure what crossbar weight limit is, but my Rodeo's factory roof rack is 200lbs max, so I imagine somewhat the same or less. Not to mention the extra forces from drag you'll need to account for.

 

[peaty]

from the owner's manual, from my 2019 but I suspect it's the same

 

[a_mozart]

Peaty is pretty much right on.
I'm pretty sure I have the same crossbars if those are the Subaru factory ones. They are pretty flimsy, (Max load of 150lbs) I have bike trays attached to mine and when I put my Yeti SB140 on top of the car the cross bars flexed a lot causing the bike and tray to wobble. The bike only weighs 31lbs. My advice would be to ditch the cross bars and invest in a Thule or Yakima aero rack that have a better quality extruded aluminum crossbar (Thule max weight 165 lbs.) not much more in the way of load capacity, but they will have very little flex.

 

[MagikAram]

The issue I see is that the crossbars mount in two points on each side making them more flimsy than the rails that run the length of the roof rails... The manual states you can only use a tent on the rail models. Despite this, you could install a rail -someone on the forum detailed the process here:

OEM roof rail installation

In case anyone is planning on installing the premium trim oem roof rails on a base model, I will share my recent experience: 1.) you will have to remove and cut the rain gutter trim. On the passenger side, pry up the rear and with a long flathead screwdriver, push each clip forward off of its...

www.impreza5.com

 

[peaty]

I think if I were to get a roof mount tent, I'd double up with 4 crossbars or maybe 3 if that were doable, just to more evenly distribute the weight assuming you had rails like our Forester and not just crossbars.