What purpose do the roof bars serve?

I’ve tried searching on here but can’t find an answer to my question. Does anyone actually use the roof bars for anything useful?
I know on VW T5’s for example the are often fitted for cosmetic reasons but I can’t even see one of them on my Symbol!

I think you will find the handbook says they are for aesthetics.

This refers to Warwick Duo, I assume the same text is in the Symbol AS manual

There is reference to them being cosmetic in this thread....

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Thanks all, another daft question answered quickly. What’s the point of a styling feature when you can’t even see it 

I was disappointed with my Warwick Duo, when I found out that they are styling features only; I had intended to attach a solar panel to them and thus save drilling holes in the roof.

Spospe wrote:I was disappointed with my Warwick Duo, when I found out that they are styling features only; I had intended to attach a solar panel to them and thus save drilling holes in the roof.

I was disapointed too. I was thinking they would be useful for a roof box.
I have a hard time accepting them as a "styling feature" because they're out of sight unless I'm looking from the bedroom window.

Our previous 09 reg Broadway ES had a very substantial rear ladder that gave safe easy access to the roof on which were two transverse  bolted down roof bars. Therefore, assume combination of the ladder and roof bars gave functionality for loading and storage?

Spospe wrote:I was disappointed with my Warwick Duo, when I found out that they are styling features only; I had intended to attach a solar panel to them and thus save drilling holes in the roof.

Could you not use a flexible panel which is stuck to the roof instead? Just a thought.

They did save me once when I was fitting the solar panel on a very windy day, against the advice of my better half!, when a sudden gust caught me and I had to grab the rails.

Otherwise just for show.
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Richard

groundhog

I have fitted a solar panel by adding brackets which have been fitted to the roof by drilling (no leaks so far). But, it would have been nicer to use the 'stylish' roof bars, but AS assured me that they had no strength and were there for cosmetic purposes.

So, in any way shape or form, a complete waste of time, weight and materials

Dbvwt wrote:I’ve tried searching on here but can’t find an answer to my question. Does anyone actually use the roof bars for anything useful?
I know on VW T5’s for example the are often fitted for cosmetic reasons but I can’t even see one of them on my Symbol!

My thoughts were similar to others in this post. What a waste of materials. I needed to carry a windsurfer on the roof so had to remedy the situation myself.
Check out this post, persevere to the end if you can lol. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Hats off to you Windychippy, that is impressive. I’m also very hands on and will also do mods while my van is still in warranty but that is beyond what I would do.
I’ve got a 13 foot Kayak hence my original question as I thought about a roof solution but I’m hoping it will fit inside the van for travelling.

Hi Dbvwt,

Your 13' Kayak may well fit inside. When travelling solo my board which is 3.8mtrs approx 12'  travel inside and there is  another  900 mm spare. The van is XL though.
A member called Kingham might have the rack solution as he carries a Kayak on the roof.

Cheers Windy

Windychippy, have sent you a pm

Thanks windy, it’s more like 12 and a half foot and the tape measure says it will fit but until I try it I won’t know for sure.
I’m a fair weather kayaker so something to investigate in the coming weeks.

As mentioned by others I had visions of attaching load bars and carrying 'stuff'.
Now resigned to the roof rail mountings acting as a home for green 'stuff' which needs periodic gentle attention with an old tooth brush.

Not quite the same type of roof bars but our Rienza has roof bars across the roof. I only noticed them and the solar panel when I tried the rear ladder before we bought it.  The sales person didn't even know there was a solar panel fitted.
I asume they are sturdy enough to take the weight of the solar panel as they are bolted into the raised edges of the roof. The solar panel sits just below the raised edges leaving a small gap to clean the roof.
Other than mounting the solar panel I can't see why the ladder and roof bars were fitted. A roof box couldn't be fitted at the rear because of the roof vent above the rear lounge. I do climb up there to annually wash the roof but it's not somewhere I would be going too often.  .

On our van on the side where the canopy is fitted the stylish roof bar is completely obscured. On the drivers side it can only be seen from several yards away.. A pointless addition which we have all actually paid Autosleeper for as well

I wonder how many people have seen the roof bars and bought a van just assuming the bars were actually usable as roof bars?
A kind of false advertising.

Windychippy wrote:....................

A member called Kingham might have the rack solution as he carries a Kayak on the roof.

Cheers Windy

My short whitewater kayak sometimes travels inside the van, but our 17’ 8” sea kayaks are far too long and are often too wet, so the Karitek Easy Lift Roof Rack (ELRR) allows me to load the kayaks by myself.

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I would love a great solution like that Kingham but for a part time fair weather kayaker like me I think the expense may outweigh the use!!
Funnily enough I tried to see if mine would fit inside my Symbol yesterday. Problem solved   
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I’m pleased yours fits so well   but my layout with the fixed bed at the rear and needing travelling floor space for my Labrador, leaves the roof as the only option. 

Will you be treating yours to a towel dry, if it’s been out overnight in heavy rain, or will you be putting a waterproof sheet down ?  With my whitewater kayak being smaller, I get away with towelling it dry, before putting on top of the bed.

Not being as hardy as your good self I only tend to take it away in good weather so at most a quick wipe to get the early morning dew off it should be enough!! 
I’ve got a few of those Poundland compact picnic blankets kicking around which I’m thinking of using to protect the cushions etc...