Hi. I'm new to the Freelander (2012 model) but already loving it. I need some help and advice however. I want to carry two Kayaks; my Freelander has a sunroof but no roof bars. The local dealer tells me to fit the standard factory produced bars then fit cross bars to these. This seems an expensive (and complicated?) solution and I wonder if it is possible to just fit cross bars straight onto the roof. If so, can anyone recommend the best make and type?

Look at Thule.
You'll need the feet and a pair of cross bars - work out considerably cheaper than the OEM fitted version and they work fine with a sunroof and can be removed easily when not needed.

A quick search will reveal a number of threads about where to buy.

I've used www.roofbox.co.uk. Halfords also sell them.

Magicol
The LR roof rails and cross bars are very good - the site sponsor Dan@Duckworths recently has a very special offer on the cross bars. Pester him and maybe he can get that special offer running again as a few folks on here are after those LR cross bars.

If that fails contact Roland at Exeter Roofracks (just google E R) and he'll sort you out a cheap Thule system for the roof rails and gutter feet to fit the FL2 as well as the Thule Kayak carriers. Thule makes the system LR use

A number of FreeL2 members on here have bought gear from Roland and he'll despatch to anywhere at very reasonable cost. I recently bought a Thule Ranger 90 from him cheaper than any offer on eBay, and he despatched from Exeter on a Monday morning and delivered to my Swiss home at 3pm the following Wednesday - superb service.

I've bought many items from both Dan and Roland and can say without hesitation that they are both very decent chaps - thoroughly professional.

I went with some thule bars, cheaper easier, can be removed, less drag, no holes, get aero bars though, I just picked a second had set from flea bay £25 but needed the foot kit from Halfords £33 job done, you don't even have to look for land rover fl2 ones, mine were from a merc.

I use the Thule slidebars. These are the mutts as you can load up from the side and then slide onto the roof. When you don't need them, store them in the garage ! FL2 HSE Auto Galway Green
Evoque SD4 Auto Blue.
FL1 HSE TD4 Manual Black - Gone.
RR Classic V8 EFI - Gone

What is the Thule foot pack number?? Black FL2
L200 Warrior

750 foot with 1443 fitting kit

Thule Rapid System for LANDROVER Freelander 2 07-, Foot Pack 754, Roof Bars 762 / 862, Fitting Kit 1443

I have ProRack Whispbars. They fit similar to the Thule but are VERY aerodynamic. They also have accessory fittings direct into the upper slot of the bars, avoiding clamps etc. NB: with these and Thule, there is not a great space between front and rear bars (75 cm centres using Whispbars). To carry long kayaks you will need to steady them fore & aft or at the very least at the front end. This is where the OE bars have the advantage.
Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Much appreciated everyone! I am really grateful for all your help and advice. I came on to this site as a last resort - I should have tried this first! Lots to digest but I now know that alternatives exist. Thank you.

Resurrecting this thread, wondering if anyone can help. I've got some thule aero bars left over from a previous car, they're 122cm wide including the fold down end pieces. Ideally I'd like to use these with a new foot pack and fixing kit for the fl2. Will they be wide enough? Un-scientific measure across the roof says they should but Thule reckon I need the 135cm ones - these would overhang the roof a bit. Anyone using the 122s successfully? Thanks.

I bought LR Rails for my FL2 some years back and re-used my Jag foot pack to carry kayaks

Click image to enlarge

muddywheels - funnily enough I'm moving over from an x-type too.

From your pic it looks like my current aero bars won't have a wide enough span as the clamp-on feet I'll be using (no roof rails on my fl2) look to sit further apart than the roof rail foot packs.

I've already got a buyer for the old kit so that takes away some of the sting...

Thanks for your help

No problem

I went from a D2 to a Jaguar X type but after a year bought a FL2 because I didn't like the Jag and never looked back

The thule foot pack uses longer rails as you say - I was worried about scratching the roof so fitted rails instead. I still have the jag foot pack and 2 lengths of aero bars (jag & FL2). The jag bars have since been used on OH FL1 and now on sons punto with thule foot pack if we kayak in his car. The longer bars I bought were used on 2 FL2s but now surplus as I have fitted oem rails and bars this time to sport - even fitting myself the cost made my eyes water

If anyone has rails like in the pic I posted and interested in aero bars with jag feet to fit let me know and I'll post them in for sale section  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!