The Bare Roof Trap: How to Put a Rack on a 2014-2018 GMC Sierra
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You are heading to the lake for the weekend in your 2014–2018 GMC Sierra 1500. The massive truck bed is completely filled with coolers, firewood, and a massive toolbox, leaving absolutely no room for your two 10-foot kayaks. You decide to mount them to the roof, so you run to a big-box sporting goods store and buy a set of "Universal" crossbars.
You get home, climb into the bed of your truck, look down at the roof of your cab, and your stomach completely drops.
The roof of your GMC Sierra is completely smooth bare sheet metal. There are no factory rails. There are no plastic ditch moldings with hidden threaded holes. There is absolutely nowhere to bolt your universal crossbars.
You just fell directly into the Bare Roof Trap.
Unlike SUVs or smaller crossover vehicles, full-size K2XX trucks were not designed from the factory with roof racks in mind. If you want to carry gear on top of your cab without permanently drilling massive holes into your roof's sheet metal, you must use a highly engineered, vehicle-specific "Clamp-On" tower system.
You don't need a drill; you just need exact measurements.
In this guide, we explain exactly how elite cargo engineers at Yakima and Rhino-Rack utilize laser-measured, rubber-dipped steel brackets to securely clamp onto your Sierra's door jambs. We'll show you why you can never mount a Roof-Top Tent to these bars, how to prevent wind noise, and how to safely free up your truck bed.
Compare Premium Roof Rack Upgrades
Vortex Aero, JetStream Teardrop, or WingBar Evo?
|
Roof Rack System |
Top Brands |
Tech / Build |
Best For |
|
Vortex 2500 System |
Rhino-Rack |
Glass-Reinforced Nylon. |
Heavy-Duty Utility. The ultimate Australian workhorse. Features the incredibly strong Vortex aerodynamic aluminum crossbars. The 2500 legs utilize Santoprene rubber pads that perfectly match the curve of the Sierra's roof, ensuring absolutely zero paint damage under heavy loads. |
|
BaseLine JetStream |
Yakima |
Teardrop Aerodynamics. |
The Quietest Highway Ride. Ditch the howling wind noise. Yakima's JetStream bars use an advanced teardrop shape engineered in a wind tunnel to eliminate aerodynamic drag. The BaseLine towers offer massive adjustability to ensure the bar sits perfectly level on your curved roof. |
|
WingBar Evo Clamp |
Thule |
TrailEdge™ Aluminum. |
Premium T-Track Accessories. Swedish engineering at its finest. The WingBar Evo features an integrated top T-track with a QuickAccess interface. You don't have to cut the rubber strip to slide in your bike racks or ski carriers; you simply slide them right in for a flawless, secure fit. |
Frequently Asked Questions (Roof Racks)
Will a clamp-on roof rack scratch the paint on my GMC Sierra?
No, they utilize custom rubberized pads.
Premium fit kits from Thule, Yakima, and Rhino-Rack include two critical components: a dense rubber base pad that sits directly on your roof's clear coat, and a rubber-dipped steel clamp that hooks into your door jamb. As long as you thoroughly wash and wax the roof before installation, the rack will not scratch your paint.
Do roof racks create a lot of wind noise on the highway?
Yes, but aerodynamic bars drastically reduce it.
Anytime you put a massive structure on top of a vehicle, it will hit the wind. Old-school square or round steel bars scream like a banshee at 70 MPH. Modern, premium aluminum bars (like the Yakima JetStream) are shaped like airplane wings to slice cleanly through the air. Pro Tip: Add a branded Wind Fairing to the front crossbar to push the air completely up and over the rack, creating a whisper-quiet cab.
Can I take my truck through an automatic car wash with a roof rack?
No, absolutely not.
The massive, spinning heavy-duty brushes in an automatic car wash will aggressively snag the overhanging edges of your crossbars. This can violently rip the roof rack clean off your truck, destroying your door jambs and shattering your windows. You must use a touchless wash or hand-wash your Sierra.
Free the bed. Clamp the cab.
Ditch the universal racks that scratch your paint and crush your weather seals. Upgrade to highly engineered, aerodynamic crossbars designed specifically for your smooth roof. Shop our verified collection of premium 2014–2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Roof Racks.