Roof rails for decoration only??

[demark1]

From the '22 manual: "Do not install crossbars if your vehicle has a moonroof. Do not place any load on your vehicle if it has a moonroof. Using cross bars or loading the vehicle roof may void your vehicle's warranty". Bummer... so why are roof rails an option? They seem fairly common.

 

[markfm]

The low tow capacity (given the vehicle size and HP/torque), and lack of functionality of the roof rails (other luxury SUVs have functioning roof cargo capability) are head scratchers. The true "hunh?" Is that they're not available as an option on a Premier 1, which has no glass in the roof (so really should have no problem carrying things).

 

[Jacyte]

The roof rail load capacity is likely the limit the designed rollover resistance is exceeded. The structural capacity of the roof with or without the sunroof is likely pretty high. The weight limit is basically Fords way to protect themselves from liability in the event of an accident or damage to the vehicle. Even the explorer only has a 75lb limit with the sunroof and the escape is 0lbs also. The weight of the moonroof hardware is subtracted from the rated limit and often will end up at 0lbs. I would not worry about structural damage to the vehicle when carrying 100lbs or so but just be ware than in an accident if it rolled over you may have a fight with your insurance company.

 

[APL Rep]

Moonroof lifts up and slides back. Would not surprise me for somebody to load the roof in a way where when they opened it the glass hits their load and one thing or another gives way. Loads settle down and might interfere with the glass operating. In an effort to eliminate that from happening maybe ford/lincoln simply went with 'don't do it'?
I do see people down here with surf boards and kayaks loaded on top of aviators and older nautilus'. So apparently a lot of people don't care or don't know and are doing it anyway.

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[markfm]

Moonroof lifts up and slides back. Would not surprise me for somebody to load the roof in a way where when they opened it the glass hits their load and one thing or another gives way. Loads settle down and might interfere with the glass operating. In an effort to eliminate that from happening maybe ford/lincoln simply went with 'don't do it'?
I do see people down here with surf boards and kayaks loaded on top of aviators and older nautilus'. So apparently a lot of people don't care or don't know and are doing it anyway.

Question - did those older vehicles have the "don't actually load things on it" from Lincoln that sounds like the case for the '24 Nautilus?

 

[Jacyte]

Question - did those older vehicles have the "don't actually load things on it" from Lincoln that sounds like the case for the '24 Nautilus?

2023 nautilus

2023 aviator


Just no-one really pays much attention to the limits. Prior years the sunroof and roof rails couldn't be ordered together on some models (edge).

 

[markfm]

2023 nautilus
View attachment 21582
2023 aviator
View attachment 21583

Just no-one really pays much attention to the limits. Prior years the sunroof and roof rails couldn't be ordered together on some models (edge).

And of course the '24 Nautilus configuration w/out moonroof - Premiere 1 - is the one you can't get with the rails. Honestly, that's a true poor move by Lincoln, having the vehicle configuration where they would nominally be usable the one where you cannot get the car with roof rails (even as an add-on Option/Accessory).

As I mentioned in another post, I wouldn't be surprised if the frame that the roof sheet metal goes over already has the holes drilled, though I don't know for sure - cheaper to crank out one design than to batch out w/holes and w/out holes. Paying another 9K for a Reserve 2 just to get the roof rails, given nothing else in the Reserve is of interest and the switch to larger tires is an active negative for me, would make no sense, particularly since I'd be stuck with the panoramic roof which is another not-interested-at-all item.