I have a 2006 XC70 and am curious about the strength of the roof rack. I'm not referring to how much weight it can hold on top, I'm talking about how much it will hold laterally. I have a bike rack that hangs on the back of the vehicle, with most of the weight held by the straps that attach to the top of the rack. The problem I have is that the top straps don't fit into the seam at the top of the hatch, so I need to attach them somewhere else. The logical next place is to attach the straps to the roof rack cross member but will it hold two, forty-pound mountain bikes? I know there are other styles of racks, including the hitch mount rack but I just spent a couple of hundred on the rack I have and would like to use it, if possible.

 

it *should* be ok. if you are using the rear mounts of the rack. i wouldnt see that being an issue.