Ford Flex Thule 480R Aeroblade Rack and a Thule 635B Sonic Ski Box

The Ford Flex was introduced as a 2009 model, in the summer of 2008, as a replacement for the Ford FreeStar minivan. However, it is not a minivan. The Ford Flex is a cross between a minivan and an SUV with 3 rows of seating, unique styling, and an excellent driving feel. The Ford Flex has been popular with families, especially families that enjoy the outdoors.

Since 2009 we have racked up a number of Ford Flex’s with different varieties of roof racks , bike racks, ski boxes, and cargo boxes. The Ford Flex can come with either a Side Rail or a Naked Roof and some of the Flex’s have a panoramic glass roof while others just have a traditional sun roof. Recently, we had a customer come in with a 2009 Ford Flex with no side rails and a panoramic glass roof. The customer wanted to mount a box onto their vehicle that was capable of carrying downhill skis, snowboards, and cross -country skis. They also wanted the flexibility to mount other items such as bikes or a kayak onto the roof rack in the future.

We recommended going with the Thule 480R Rapid Traverse Roof Rack System. The 480R system is a great fit on the Flex offering a maximum load capacity of 140 pounds. On the Ford Flex the Thule Aeroblade ARB60 is used. The Aeroblade bars have an aerofoil design that reduces drag and noise that can sometimes be caused by a square or round bar system. The Ford Flex requires a 1518 Thule Fit Kit to attach the roof rack onto the vehicle. The 1518 Traverse Fit Kit includes the rubber coated clips and rubber pads that are built specifically for the Flex. You can see in the picture below that the clip is designed to custom fit directly onto the the edge of the frame inside the door. The clips are thin enough to not cause any issues with closing your cars doors.

The Thule Fit Kit includes specific information for how to set up the roof rack and where to install it. In this case we have positioned the bars further back than the instructions recommended so that the box did not hang over the windshield of the Flex. (Note: We recommend installing the roof racks in the position that Thule recommends. This vehicle has a flat roof so it is easier to play with the mounting points but you must ensure that the rack is properly installed as an improper installation can cause damage to your vehicle, the rack, or other vehicles or people around you if it came off.) Below you can see a picture of how we have set the roof rack up.

Now that the roof rack is installed we can mount the Ski/Cargo Box. This customer chose to go with the Thule 635B Sonic XL Black. This box is one of our most popular models since being introduced in February 2013. The Sonic XL offers 17 cubic feet of volume and is capable of carrying up to a 220 cm ski, although you would have to be crazy to get on a set of planks that long! The 635B is one of the most aerodynamic boxes on the market. Its AeroNose Design helps reduce overall drag by up to 35% when compared to previous generation models in a controlled analysis. The Sonic also has an anti-torsion rib strategically located in the lid of the box to help resist lifting and pulling forces and also allows users to quickly and securely open and close their cargo box.

Other features that are included with the Thule Sonic are the AcuTight mounting hardware which allows you to easily mount and dismount your ski box from your roof rack. The box is also dual side opening allowing you to mount the box in the center of the vehicle and access each side equally. Thule boxes are also made in the USA with up to 80% Post Manufacturing Recycled Content to reduce their impact on the environment and come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty to ensure a lifetime of use on all your adventures.

Are you looking for a roof rack or roof box for your Ford Flex or another vehicle? Here on RacksForCars.com and at both our Racks For Cars Store Locations we carry over 50 models of roof top cargo and ski boxes. We carry brands such as Thule, Yakima, Inno, Whispbar, and Sportrack and sizes ranging from 8 cubic feet up to 22 cubic feet.

If you are from Edmonton or the Edmonton area you can bring your vehicle to either of our store locations and we can size up your vehicle and recommend the best box for your needs. We display about 30 different boxes in our stores. Not for the Edmonton area? We offer shipping on cargo and ski boxes to your location. Feel free to call our roof box specialists’ toll free at 1-855-884-7225, they will be happy to speak to you about your needs and recommend a box for your vehicle.

 Happy Adventures,

 Dustin