International-market GM pickup trucks, specifically the Chevrolet Colorado (which is also known as the S10 in some countries), are available from the factory with roof rails that enable the use of a roof rack or roof-mounted cargo carrier. By comparison, American-market models do not offer roof rails, even as an option. Not only does this seem like a pretty unfair deal, but the topic itself is worthy of dialogue.
Now we cannot speak for everyone, but it’s probably safe to say that most people who opt for a Chevy or GMC pickup will carry and haul cargo or recreational equipment at some point in time. After all, that’s the entire point of having a pickup truck – an automobile capable of hauling people and their cargo, at the same time.
International-market Chevrolet Colorado features roof rails, enabling the installation of a roof rack
U.S.-market Chevrolet Colorado does not offer roof rails
Having roof rails (the longitudinal units mounted on the roof of the cab) as part of the vehicle enables one to mount a roof rack on the truck, thereby enabling owners to carry various items on the roof, such as bikes, skis, snowboards, paddle boards, surf boards, and other kinds of cargo carriers. Not only does this help keep the aforementioned items secure and steady during long drives (which is rather difficult to achieve in the bed of a pickup truck, as things tend to slip and slide around), but it also frees up a significant amount of space in the cab and bed for other things… things that are better-suited to be placed in either the cab or the bed to begin with.
We’d argue that having a roof roof rack on a pickup truck is the equivalent of having another box/bed, one that acts as a sturdy platform for items that won’t rattle or slide around during transport. But here’s the unfortunate part: not a single GM pickup truck in North America offers roof rails straight the factory… not even as an option. The only way one can get them on your truck is to find an aftermarket set.
Even if you did find a set of aftermarket longitudinal roof rails in hopes of bolting to them a roof rack or cargo carrier of some sort, installing the roof rails is less than an ideal proposition, since you would typically have to drill holes into the roof of your truck – a cringe-worthy endeavor, to say the least. Moreover, drilling is not even an option for roughly half of the market who lease their GM pickup trucks, for obvious reasons.
So, it seems like a no-brainer to conclude that GM pickup trucks should offer roof rails, at least as an option, from the factory.
Agree? Disagree? Vote in our poll below, and stay tuned to GM Authority for more Chevrolet news and Chevy Colorado news.
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Comments
Make them an option as a small percentage of buyers do want them.
I have no use for them on my truck and have them on my Acadia now and never use them. But some folks would like them.
Instead of making it a factory option a buyer could just install a aftermarket one! Why do people always feel the manufacturers have to do everything for them?
The manufacturers love these features. On most SUVs you PAY for and get them whether you want/use them or not.
Brian if the factory is involved they will put mounts under the roof rail covers that make these a bolt on deal. Otherwise it needs drilled.
Clamp on is not a viable option.
Also this can become a LPO option that is dealer installed and more money for GM and the dealer by adding this to the truck payment at purchase.
I drive highway 400 a lot. Which is likely the most cottage destination highway there is. I drove all over the Algonquin, Highlands, and sourthern part of Northeastern Ontario regions in Ontario. I’ve not once seen a truck with a roof rack ever actually use it.
I often see things like Tacoma’s, FJs, and jeeps with the safari style cargo cage.. but that’s is 100% for looks.
And I see Frontiers with factory roof rails, but that’s just part of a package. Those rails likely were never optioned when the person bought the truck to ever use, likely something else in the package was wanted.
You probably haven’t seen a truck with a roof rack because pretty much no one outside of Toyota (the Taco) offers the roof rails from the factory, making a roof rack an extremely difficult commitment. In other words, the rails were never optioned because they never were offered as an option to begin with.
If they were ever offered an option, then they could be ordered so from the factory or installed post-sale by the customer/dealer – feeding into the after sales part of GM’s business while giving those customers who desire these things what they want.
I see plenty of sedans however with aftermarket rails.. ie vehicles that dont have cargo space
and you know there are a ton of aftermarket rails that require no drilling into the roof, right?
As far as I’m aware, there are no aftermarket rails that do not require drilling.
Maybe there are the cross-members (aka base carrier bars) that are aftermarket… and those require no drilling (since they latch on to the aforementioned rails)… but aftermarket rails… nope, none of those.
Then have the shop you buy the rails from drill and install them! Why do you guys continue to live in fear of doing things on your own!
A dealer installed roof rack wouldn’t be a big deal! A 3rd party installed roof rack wouldn’t be a big deal either!
And yes I have had dealer installed or 3rd party companies do this type of work with zero of problem both initially and longterm!
So I dont understand why people still insist on asking the manufacturer to do this work!
Brian – suffice it to say that your world view of auto ownership does not at all align with:
1. How most automakers do business, and
2. How most consumers want to purchase cars, and
3. How most consumers want to accessorize the new cars they have just purchased
So while your do-it-yourself rhetoric might work for you in very isolated instances, it is far from reality for the overwhelming majority of car buyers out there. It’s also far from the optimal solution. End of story.
Then go ahead and tell your buyers that they need to live without the options that they want on a vehicle! Because there is not one manufacturer that can offer every possible option on every vehicle they make!
So the buying public will either buy what is offered from the factory or they will modify there vehicle once they buy it!
I say buy the vehicle you want with as many options as you can and then modify to your liking!
Roof racks are something true off road and desert people like to use.
It comes up on the Colorado forum often. They like to put baskets on the, to carry their gear or hook a awning to it for camping.
You then have a hand full of folks like my buddy with a Taco that just had to have one for looks.
Both groups are small much like the bed mount spare bit make it a bolt on option supplied by a vendor then everyone can just choose.
In third world countries they are big and on most trucks as they need them there for work. Deep water and unfortunately ammo depending where they are.
Most folks here have no need much like a majority of suv roof racks. But still sone do use them.
Having spent a significant amount of time in third world countries where GM offers the international-market Colorado, I can say that the roof racks on those trucks are not used “for work”. Instead, they are used to carry recreational items like sports equipment (bikes, boards, etc.) on weekends… allowing the bed to be used for larger things that actually need that space (like the entire family’s luggage for wherever they’re going).
How many one will see depends greatly on where one lives. In Miami, where I spend half of my year, roof racks are few and far between (typically used to carry bikes or for water boards). In Denver, where I spend the other half, roof racks are highly popular (typically used for bikes, snow boards, and/or skis). Of course, I’m referring to roof racks on non-truck vehicles… due to the fact that it’s extremely difficult to get a roof rack installed on a pickup sold in the U.S. these days.
I was not speaking of GM.
Third world I was speaking of Toyota in places like Africa, India parts of the Middle East where trucks are mondern day mules and recreation is not an option.
I deal with many of these countries like Yemen, Nepal etc and sell baskets to them for work not play.
I am not speaking of Australia and Thailand.
The uses vary for roof racks depending where you live as you said and if they are even used.
Here you may see a travel box up there for vacationers. Bikes on the roof of a SUC where they will not fit inside. But Americans often toss things just in the beds.
Again call for it is small but the option should be made to those who need it.
Just count up the roof rails not in use on all the SUV models. It would be similar on trucks. Most never have a cross rail installed.
One problem is too that depending what is on the roof it may not fit in the garage too. Most Americans have garages.
My Denali antenna just clears a standard door. It also the standard garage door played a roll in the height of the ZR2.
a lot of garages are too low if you put rails on the roof of a pickup. my 2018 silverado just clears the open garage door and my foundation is 13 blocks high which is higher than standard
Optional roof racks that are removable would be fine. Just not fixed to roof from factory, they look horrible. Would be like an old station wagon.
Chevrolet needs to treat the Colorado like a car which means to go through the parts bin and make almost anything available as an option including the 275 hp LTZ 2.0L DOHC-4v 4-cyl turbo or the L94 Vortec 6.2L V8 because the motivation is to sell as many vehicles as possible.
I wanted to buy my Tahoe without the roof rails and couldn’t. I personally can’t stand them.
You had they joy of paying for something you didn’t want though. Just like satellite radio or dual zone a/c is in a $4000 option package, take it or leave it.
Ah the joy of listening to your roof rails whistle in the wind while driving 80mph or better….. just adds to that American safari effect. Personally I like a slick roof, and I try to keep it that way when I purchase. One of the reasons I owned 2 Mazdaspeed 3s. Forget about roof racks, I hate sun roofs too! And the panoramic jobbies you can now get are a real turn off for me.
Steps down off soap box….
I think you have your understanding of the topic in question a bit backwards.
Roof rails – the ones that run longitudinally – do not create wind noise.
The base carrier bars – the ones that run transversely – do create wind noise at times… which is why you take them off when you’re not using the roof rack.
I would buy the rack. Can always use the room on my fishing trips to ontario and elk/antelope/mule deer hunting in the west.
Best Service
Is there even aftermarket roof rails for a 2018 Silverado? What is underneath the black plastic strips that run from front to back in the roof? Are there factory mounting holes underneath? How do I remove them so I can see for myself? I’d like to have the rails so I can install my fishing pole holder, they don’t fit in the bed of my truck.
I just took delivery of a 2021 Colorado. I came out of a Tacoma which had built in roof rails that flipped, if you wanted, side to side as an option. I only used them once in a while but absolutely love the way they looked! I should have done my homework because I just can’t find aftermarket, unless you go with the “ad on” ugly, ski type, roof racks. Very, very disappointed! I do like the truck but I love the Tacoma rails… If anyone knows of a similar setup I’m in. Money is the driving decision, it’s the look of them. What the hell is wrong with GM…?
I have owned 2 Avalanches both with roof racks. While not used often, they are great for trips when the bed is full and I am taking the kayaks. I have used the roof mounted systems in the past and I can’t wait to get them off. Additional wind noise and the constant need to check them makes the factory rack a way better option. Silverados and Sierras need the factory installed option. They come on Tahoes, Yukons, and Suburbans so why not on puckups?