The Ford Escape crossbars are inexplicably on a slant, making it impossible to properly connect j-hooks to hold a kayak flat. I looked online and could not find any justification for the slant, and most people spent $500 for aftermarket crossbars to resolve this problem. Luckily I determined that Mazda Tribute 01 thru 07 crossbars fit PERFECTLY in the 2008-2012 Ford Escape roof rack tracks, and they lay FLAT. You can find them online for $100 - $150. How Ford could screw up such a simple concept as flat crossbars I don't understand, the Escape 07 and older do not have this issue to my knowledge.
The Ford Escape crossbars are inexplicably on a slant, making it impossible to properly connect j-hooks to hold a kayak flat. I looked online and could not find any justification for the slant, and most people spent $500 for aftermarket crossbars to resolve this problem. Luckily I determined that Mazda Tribute 01 thru 07 crossbars fit PERFECTLY in the 2008-2012 Ford Escape roof rack tracks, and they lay FLAT. You can find them online for $100 - $150. How Ford could screw up such a simple concept as flat crossbars I don't understand, the Escape 07 and older do not have this issue to my knowledge.
- Jeffrey S., Brookfield, CT, US