Sherpa Fremont Roof Rack for 2019-2026 Subaru Forester
Sherpa Fremont Roof Rack for 2019-2026 Subaru Forester
Two Things to Check Before Ordering
- Installation requires headliner removal. No drilling, but the headliner comes down to reach the mounting points.
- Wilderness owners, read the fitment table below. A 2025 Wilderness takes the 5th Gen rack. The 2026 and newer Wilderness is not compatible with the Fremont at all.
The Forester is the Subaru people buy when they want the capability without the size. Tall roof, good clearance, symmetrical all wheel drive, and a shape that carries gear well. The Fremont is the Sherpa PEAK Subaru Forester roof rack built for it, covering 2019 through 2026.
This Forester roof rack spans 81.5 inches with 8 extrusion crossbars and carries 300 lbs dynamic and 700 lbs static. Construction is 1/4 inch aircraft-grade aluminum side panels with stainless steel hardware, at about 55 lbs. Bolt into the crossbars or strap gear directly to the side plates. No drilling is required, though the headliner comes down during installation. Black textured powder coat, black anodized crossbars, black oxide stainless hardware. Choose a Full Height wind fairing or a Half Height fairing sized for a single-row light bar. Manufactured in Colorado. Lifetime Warranty.
Which Version Fits Your Forester?
The Fremont covers two generations, and the Wilderness trim has its own rules. Find your row before ordering.
| Your Forester | What You Need |
|---|---|
| 2019-2025 standard Forester | 5th Gen Fremont |
| 2025 Forester Wilderness | 5th Gen Fremont |
| 2026+ standard Forester | 6th Gen Fremont |
| 2026+ Forester Wilderness | Not compatible. Call us at 844-200-3979 |
The one that catches people out is the 2025 Wilderness: even though the newer Foresters moved to the 6th Gen platform, a 2025 Wilderness takes the 5th Gen rack. And the 2026 and newer Wilderness does not work with the Fremont in any version. If your Forester is a Wilderness, call us before ordering and we will confirm it against your exact year.
About the Installation
Nothing is drilled and nothing is permanently modified, but the headliner has to come down so the mounting hardware can be reached from inside the roof. It is the most involved install of any PEAK rack, and it is careful work rather than difficult work.
Plan a few hours. Many owners have a shop handle it, which is a reasonable call on a newer vehicle where you would rather someone else be responsible for the trim clips. Two install guides are available below, one per generation. Download the right one and read it fully before starting.
Beyond the Factory Crossbars
Shopping for a roof rack for Subaru Forester builds usually starts with a fair question: why not use what came on the car? Most Foresters come with factory rails, and they handle a couple of bikes or a cargo box perfectly well. What they do not give you is a platform. You cannot mount an awning cleanly, you cannot strap a long load across the full roof, and factory rail capacity sits well below what the Fremont carries.
Eight crossbars and full-length side plates change what the car can do. Awning on one side, traction boards or a shovel on the other, cargo down the middle, a rooftop tent if you want one. For anyone shopping Subaru Forester accessories to build the car out rather than just hang things from it, the rack is where that starts.
The PEAK Series
Industry leading premium roof rack systems. The PEAK series is the go-to for a premium aluminum roof rack. It is the line that Sherpa built its name on, and for years it has carried the gear of the most extreme adventurers. Sherpa believes in the constant evolution of their products, building the toughest systems on the market. From industry-leading alloys to uncompromising mounts with rubber seals, you will always Adventure with Confidence.
Crafted
Manufactured in Colorado with precision laser-cut 1/4" aluminum sideplates formed with CNC accuracy by Sherpa's team of professionals. They have created a very stout mounting structure, secured with stainless steel hardware, that will keep your gear where you need it. Six mounting brackets ship with rubber seals, which seat cleanly against the roof and keep water out.
Adaptable
Sherpa knows the importance of mounting all of your goodies on your rig. With the PEAK Series, you have the ability to mount just about anything, anywhere. With slots and holes all over the rack, plus Sherpa's line of accessories, you will never find yourself wishing you could mount something. Eight crossbars slide to whatever spacing your gear needs across the full 81.5 inch platform.
Durable
Strength is built into Sherpa's brand and the PEAK System is what they built their name on. Using the best in materials and hardware, you can beat on this system every weekend and trust it to show up to work on Monday. On a Forester that commutes during the week and hits a trailhead on Saturday, that is exactly the right standard. All backed by Sherpa's Lifetime Warranty.
Which Fairing Is Right for You?
Sherpa's full height fairing is built for people who do not want to put a light bar on their rack. The half height fairing is made so you can fit a single row light bar while keeping everything flush. Both cost the same, so this is purely a build decision.
Specifications
| Vehicle | 2019-2026 Subaru Forester |
| Not Compatible | 2026 and newer Forester Wilderness |
| Weight | ~55 lbs |
| Crossbars | 8 |
| Rack Dimensions | 81.5" x 46.5" x 2.25" (5th Gen) |
| Dynamic Load Rating | 300 lbs |
| Static Load Rating | 700 lbs |
| Sideplate Material | 1/4" aircraft-grade aluminum |
| Mounting | 6 brackets with rubber seals |
| Installation | No drilling. Headliner removal required |
| Finish | Black textured powder coat |
| Crossbar Finish | Black anodized |
| Hardware | Black oxide stainless steel |
| Fairing Options | Full Height (no light bar) or Half Height (single row light bar) |
| Manufactured | Colorado, USA |
| SKU | 152744 |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
What's Included
📄 Installation Instructions
Two guides, one per generation. Download the one that matches your Forester, and read it fully before starting the headliner removal.
Pros
- A full-length Subaru Forester roof rack platform rather than a pair of factory crossbars
- 700 lbs static and 300 lbs dynamic, well beyond factory rail limits
- Eight crossbars across 81.5 inches of roof
- Covers both 5th and 6th Gen Foresters with the correct version for each
- No drilling, with six rubber-sealed mounting brackets
- 1/4" aircraft-grade aluminum sideplates, thicker than most competing racks
- Choice of Full or Half Height fairing at the same price
- Made in Colorado with a Lifetime Warranty
Cons
- Installation requires removing the headliner, the most involved step on any PEAK rack
- Not compatible with the 2026 and newer Forester Wilderness
- A 2025 Wilderness needs the 5th Gen version, which is easy to get wrong
- About 55 lbs on a car that feels roof weight more than a truck does
- Fairing choice is made at purchase, so switching later means buying the other fairing separately
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a Forester Wilderness. Which rack do I need?
It depends on the year, and this is the one people get wrong. A 2025 Wilderness takes the 5th Gen Fremont, not the 6th Gen, despite the year. The 2026 and newer Wilderness is not compatible with the Fremont in any version. If you are shopping for a Forester Wilderness roof rack, call us at 844-200-3979 with your exact year before ordering and we will confirm it or point you to something that fits.
Why does the headliner have to come out?
The mounting hardware is accessed from inside the roof, so the headliner has to be dropped to reach it. Nothing is drilled and nothing is permanently modified, but it is the most involved installation of any PEAK rack. Plan a few hours. Many owners have a shop handle it, and either way, download the guide for your generation and read it fully before starting.
Which generation is my Forester?
The 5th Gen ran 2019 through 2025, and the 6th Gen arrived for 2026. Order the version matching yours, since the mounting geometry differs between them and they are not interchangeable. The exception is the 2025 Wilderness, which takes the 5th Gen rack. Call us at 844-200-3979 with your year and trim if you want it confirmed.
Why not just use the factory crossbars?
Factory rails handle a couple of bikes or a cargo box, and for many owners that is enough. What they do not give you is a platform. This Forester roof rack provides eight crossbars and full-length side plates, so you can run an awning, strap long loads across the full roof, mount recovery gear, and carry considerably more weight. It is the difference between hanging things off the car and building it out.
Can I mount a rooftop tent on it?
Yes. 300 lbs dynamic covers the tent plus accessories while driving, and 700 lbs static covers the tent plus occupants once parked. The 81.5 by 46.5 inch platform suits most softshell and lighter hardshell tents. A Forester is a car, so a lighter tent keeps handling and fuel economy closer to normal. Browse our rooftop tent collection here.
Which fairing should I choose?
Choose Full Height if you are not running a light bar, since it deflects the most air for the quietest ride. That is worth weighing on a Forester you drive daily. Choose Half Height if you want a single-row light bar to sit flush with the fairing line. Both cost the same, so if a light bar is anywhere in your plans, Half Height saves buying a second fairing later.
Complete Your Build
Standard or Wilderness?
Tell us your year and trim. Wilderness fitment has exceptions, so we will confirm the right version before you order.
844-200-3979
