Caliber Roof Rack?

[bigmills]

Looks like yakima doesn't have any plans for a rack for the caliber. Has anyone put a rack on there Caliber yet? If so what kind? or did you happen to see another rack company offering one yet?

[DodgeInfoCenter]

Hey bigmills... :)
Have you checked out the Mopar website? Mopar makes roof racks for the 2007 Dodge Caliber. Visit www.mopar.com. If you are interested in a brochure, let me know and I can send one to you. At the same time, if you are interested in purchasing parts from Mopar, please contact your local DCX dealership parts department, and they can assist you.

I'll be around if you have questions.

Thanks

Kelly S

[pipesdl]

I've checked the mopar site and didn't see a roof rack anywhere? Could you post a link?

[mopartodd]

Looks like the only option is to use a hitch rack, if this is for bikes.

[bigtsr]

There is a new release of the Mopar roof rack.
Try part #82211409, it's supposed to be in the US now.

[klv]

are these made especially for the caliber? do you know if this is the new roof rack for the calibers meant to replace the original recalled roof rack? desperately need a roof rack just want to make sure what i am getting before ordering.

[bigtsr]

Yes this roof rack is designed for the Caliber but may fit other Chrysler
products as well and it does replace the original model which caused
damage to weather stripping and door integrity.
That is the part # and several people on different forums have already
ordered and installed according to their posts.

[klv]

thanks fo the quick reply. one other question what is that attached to the cross bars? is that part of the rack system when ordering or is that something else that you ordered to carry a specific item?

[bigtsr]

I would surmize by the design of the attachments on the rack
that they are ski carriers(2 pair).
I don't know if Chrysler has them to as additions to the base roof rack
or if they have links to suppliers.
Possibly check out Dodge.com or Mopar SuperCenter @ 1-800-456-5337

[klv]

thanks for the info i feel confident enough to order now.

[b raven]

Thanks for the above discussion and for solving the roof rack problem for me. I took the part number (#82211409) and the printed photos above to my local Dodge Dealer here in California and ordered a rack for my new Caliber yesterday (May 30, 2008). Previously I had been told by several dealers that the newly designed racks for the Caliber were not available from Dodge. They indeed are now available.

[brtrainer04]

Are these racks permanent, or can you take them on and off like racks from yakima?

[b raven]

Dear brtrainer04,

The newly designed rack for the Caliber (part #82211409) is an interesting design. Installation requires that the middle plastic body panel on each side be removed (the panel that covers the middle part of the joint at the point where the metal roof panel meets the side panel). The hardware to attach the rack is then mounted permanently to your car. This hardware will be invisible when the plastic body panel is reinstalled. This does not involve drilling holes in the metal parts of your Caliber, but holes will be drilled through the plastic panel that has been removed. Four holes will be drilled in the right-side plastic panel and four will be drilled in the left-side plastic panel.

The plastic bosy panels will then be reinstalled on the car. You may then mount either the two assembled racks (front and rear) on the car using an Allen wrench, or remove the rack and place eight black plastic "plugs" in the eight holes, thus restoring the pre-rack streamlined appearance to your Caliber. The removal of the plastic panels, installation of the permanent (hidden) part of the rack hardware, and drilling the holes in the plastic panels should by preformed by a professional (according on the instructions that come with the racks). This installation will require a few hours. If performed by a body shop, the cost of installation will likely exceed the cost of the rack. Mine was the first installation that my body shop had performed. Don’t let anyone tell you that they have to drill holes in the body of you car. These racks do not require that hole be drilled into the metal parts of your Caliber. Once the plastic panels are removed, this is plainly evident. You could of course attempt the installation on your own if you have the skills and the tools to do so, but it is not recommended by the instructions that come with the rack. My Dodge dealer referred me to a body shop.

The rack looks great, and in my opinion complements the car. The only aspect of the rack system that I do not like is that the front rack and back racks, if installed in accordance with the instructions, are somewhat closer together than I would like for nine foot plus surfboards. For my purposes, the rack is fine, but a lot of surfboard will be sticking out on both ends (front and aft). Removal of the rack and replacement is a simple manner that can be performed by anyone with a key to your particular rack and an Allen wrench. You will need to give some thought to attachments since the bars are oval shaped in cross section and not round like the bars that some of the sports rack manufacturers use. I had no trouble finding a surf rack attachments that will work perfectly on my new rack. I would be interested in learning of attachments for these racks for bikes, skis and kayaks. In the attached photo of my Caliber and rack, you can clearly see the middle plastic body panel section that must be removed to install the permanet portion of the rack hardware.

[bigtsr]

Good going on the install and write up.
I wish more people who receive help in reaching desired
results would do likewise.
I have posted your roof rack experience elsewhere on the net
in order to help someone else out.
Happy modding!!!

[brtrainer04]

Thank you for your help. I am now more confident about purchasing these racks for my Caliber. I have only had it for 3 days and I was worried about damaging it with racks.

[AIM]

Which dealer did you order from?

I am in LA and have had difficulty finding a roof rack for my car.

[lubos]

Hi guys,
does anybody have already own experiences with these 'Watersports carrier' # 82205416? I could not find any picture on WWW yet.
Thanks.
Have a nice day.

[Claude]

Hi,

Got a 2008 Caliber in Québec. Is the rack available in Canada ?

Claude

[b raven]

I don't think that these racks are yet in the catalog, so you will need to take the part number (#82211409) and perhaps a photo of the racks from this site to your Dodge dealer. You will probably have no luck if you just go into a dealer and ask for a Dodge Caliber roof rack. Without the part number, you will probably not be able to order a rack for your Caliber.

My dealer here in Northern California (Santa Cruz) was able to order one for me from the part number alone. I have no idea whether they are or are not available in Canada, but it seems reasonable that they would be available. At the time that I ordered mine, my dealer told me that racks of this type for the Dodge Caliber had only been delivered to one warehouse in the system. Whether that warehouse will ship to dealers in Canada I do not know.

The key again is the part number. When I ordered my rack in May 2008, they were not yet in the catalog. So I needed the above part number. Please note that my information is now two months old.

[lubos]

Hi,
I bought rack directly from mopardodge.com, it was sent to me from storage in state N.Y. to Pa. I suggest that to Canada wo'nt be problem to sent it also.
About kayak carriers:
item #82205416, seems to be well adjustable according of the boat/kayak shape.
I am not allowed to add url here yet.
Lubos

[Claude]

THX.

Very much appreciated.

Claude

[titomontero]

Hi:
The roof racks are available!
The roof racks give another dimension to the vehicle. They look robust, yet it complements the Caliber. I mostly use it for my surfboard and to carry a mountain bike.
I got my "Sport Utility Bars" (as they call it) from dodgeparts.com in Seatle, WA.
After getting it, I called directly Dodge, in Detroit, MI, they had no idea what i was talking about... I found the bars online and only few dealers on the west coast have them available right now in the US.
The installation is very simple, if you are handy... I did it myself.
I went to an Orlando dealer to have them installed, the technician told me that he can not install it because he hasn't seen one before. He also mention that he will probably had to keep the car for couple of days. He will had to charge $150 for the instal.
The Dodge dealers in Central Florida don't know s!@# about the products available for several cars, including the Caliber.

[ifish24]

Do you have any pics of the roof rack?

[b raven]

For photos of the new Mopar roof rack for the Dodge Caliber, please see the photos on page 1 of this thread.

[ifish24]

I was hoping to see some photos of the entire car with the rack on it. More of a distance shot than the close-ups of mostly the rack.

[bigtsr]

Here you go the ultimate-a CSRT4 with roofrack and Mopar pod.

[IanCaliber08]

Do you have any pics with the rack removed?
Does it look like straight rails or do you see components left on??

[bigtsr]

Do you have any pics with the rack removed?
Does it look like straight rails or do you see components left on??
Here's a pic with the towers off.

[ifish24]

Here you go the ultimate-a CSRT4 with roofrack and Mopar pod.

WOW!!!!

That looks BADASS!!!!

Nice Caliber.

Looks like my wife has some catching up to do with hers!

Thnx 4 da pix.

[Mo Diggs]

Anyone have a price on the rack and also the total price after installation? Thanks!

[IanCaliber08]

I just ordered one in Calgary for $263.00
Backordered, 1-5 weeks. Installation will depend on your shop.
The instructions seem simple enough. See attached.
At the most, have a shop do steps 1 thru 8.

[Mo Diggs]

Thanks so much for the info! I can't wait till payday!!!

[b raven]

A photo of the Dodge Caliber with the rack removed would look identical to a photo of a Caliber with no rack whatsoever. Eight small, drilled holes remain in the top of the plastic body panel (four on each side) when the rack is removed. These are capped with small black plastic plugs that come with the rack. If the rack were removed for whatever purpose, the only evidence that a rack had ever been mounted would be the black plastic plugs. The plugs are essentially flush with the top of the panel, and so they would not really be very evident from the side view. Here is a photo of the rack mounted with no attachments.

[titomontero]

Hello:
I paid $219.00 total price for mine, delivered to Florida from dodgeparts.com in Seatle, WA. I don't think you should paid more than that. I hope you can find the right one...

[jamesthemanearl]

Has anyone tried to install it themselves? Im looking into getting one ASAP due to traveling and moving people from place to place.

[mopartodd]

Did it yesterday. Took my time and it only took about an hour or so. The worst part is removing the molding clips without damaging them.