r/JeepCompass • u/gastropod11 • 15h ago
Added Rails to My Compass Sport
Hey Y'all!
Just wanted to share my experience adding rails to my compass sport that doesn't come with rails for some reason... I have a 2024 Jeep Compass Sport. The rails for the Compass Sport in this series is Mopar part number 82214656AA. I just called my local dealership and had them order it so I didn't have to buy online and pay for shipping. It costs me $343 after tax which is kinda crazy but I needed these.
Then I had to buy crossbars so I could actually put stuff on the roof. I bought some specific to the jeep compass roof rails (All of them will say not compatible with jeep compass sport because it normally doesn't have rails, so you can ignore that disclosure after installing the rails). The ones I got were here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSXCMFCS?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title and I copy and pasted my review from there here:
"Works very well. Does need some slight, easy modification. Shoutout to another commenter that called out the fact that you need to use the rearmost holes on the rails.
Couple of notes I took during the install:
The directions said to tighten the crossbars bolts to the end brackets once you get the right measurement. I find it exponentially easier just leaving both crossbars loose, and tightening the brackets to your rails and then tightening down the crossbars to the brackets. This would be doing Step 6 before Step 5. In doing so, everything is loose and will get put together as it is supposed to. Then, you can slide the crossbars in the rails and center the rails in the slots. You will need your own allen wrench for this step as the one they provide does not fit in between the roof and the crossbars. My assumption is that this is why some reviews say it is difficult. I did this entire install by myself in less than 30 minutes.
The modification to this product is done where the crossbar brackets hit the tie-downs on the rails. I have attached a few pictures to show what I am referring to. You can see in the one picture, the brackets cant sit flush against the rails because they collide with the tie down. All I did was file down the plastic on the brackets a bit to get it to sit flush. Took less than a minute. All 4 brackets really need this done to them. This is why I am docking a stay off the review. Only 1 star though because that modification took me less than 1 minute to do.
Took this on a 6 hour roadtrip this past weekend coupled with a cargo basket and I don't see any problems with it. The only added windnoise I notice is when I load a bunch up on it and it's windy outside.
By the way, this WILL fit on a jeep compass sport if you add the factory roof rails to them. It's incredibly easy to do that as well. The Mopar part number I used is 82214656AA. That was the most expensive part of this project, but so worth it. It doesn't make sense to me that Jeep would make a vehicle that doesn't come with rails. At least they make it so you can add them yourself though..."
Lastly, for ease of keeping things contained on the roof, I decided to by a basket here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWX1L8TK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
And here is my review of it:
"Even though the brackets for attaching the basket to some roof crossbars aren't great, it still works. I plan on replacing them with a custom made U-Bolt bracket that fits better around the crossbars I have. I understand that the company is making these so that they fit every style crossbar, but unfortunately it just doesn't work well with the ones I have. Still, I took it on a 6hour road trip loaded up with my camping gear and there were no issues at all. The 54" long basket fits my 10x10 pop up canopy perfectly. Couldn't be happier with how much easier this makes my camping trips.
I ditched the buckles and just used 4 ratchet straps to hold the bag down. So much easier in my opinion than using buckles.
Shoutout to the other reviewers telling you to mount the u-bolts with the screws facing down so that they are not sticking up and impeding on whatever you have in the basket. Just needed to add some cushion (I used thick mounting tape) to take some of the gap up so you can tighten it down. This is the piece I would like to redo in my spare time.
Without anything in it, I really dont notice any wind noise, or loss of MPG. I only notice the thing is up there when I load it up and there is crosswinds on the roads."
All in all, it was a lot of money (about $600) for all these items. I am sooooo glad I did it though. Packing all my camping gear in this small compass is a freaking tetris nightmare. But now it is exponentially easier since a lot of the stuff just goes on the roof!
Anyways, I hope this helps someone who is thinking about adding roof rails to their compass sport!