BEND, Oregon – “I hope it’s worth the noise!” I kept hearing Richard Lewis shout with grand fanfare in the film “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.” For over 13 hours, I drove the 2024 Lexus GX 550 Premium+ along California and Oregon highways at a steady 70 mph. The wind noise increased significantly due to the full-roof accessory rack I had installed for my trip from Agoura Hills, California, to Bend, Oregon. Despite the GX being surprisingly quiet for its boxy shape, the roof rack—which was chosen for its aesthetic appeal and functionality—generated a steady roar at higher speeds.
In Part 1 of my GX outdoor adventure road trip story, I mentioned that the Premium and Luxury trims lack the raised roof rails found on the Overtrail trim, which would allow for installing crossbars or other racks. I opted for the $1,580 full-roof accessory rack over the $440 official crossbar accessory for its visual appeal and practicality, especially for transporting a rented kayak in Bend.
To test its effectiveness, I consulted Danielle from Bend Kayak School and Rentals (pictured above left), who helped secure a bright yellow tandem kayak to the rack.
“So, I’m borrowing this car. I was wondering if that big rack up there actually makes a difference for transporting and securing kayaks?” I asked while Danielle attached the kayak with straps. She confirmed, “Oh yeah. All that extra surface area is going to make it a lot more stable and make it easier to get up there.” It turned out the noise was indeed worth it!
The GX’s height—matching my own at 6-foot-3—made hoisting the large tandem kayak onto the roof challenging. Danielle, who is about 5 feet tall, managed it with skill, using the door sills and the vehicle’s height to her advantage. For frequent kayak transport, a lower roof vehicle might be more practical. I wondered if Audi offers a full-length platform roof rack for the RS 6 Avant.
In addition to the roof rack, I brought along a Yakima StageTwo heavy-duty bike rack, which had previously accompanied me on a similar trip with a Honda Pilot TrailSport. The GX’s standard 2-inch trailer hitch, concealed behind a conspicuous panel, made installing and removing the bike rack straightforward. The GX's design proved excellent for carrying a bike; the rack folds up when not in use and tilts down for liftgate access, though the pop-up rear window often allowed easy access to the cargo area without touching the rack. This was a major advantage over the Land Rover Defender, where the door-mounted tire complicated bike rack usage.
The bike rack also proved useful as a river float tube rack, eliminating the need to inflate it at the river or awkwardly tie it to the roof rack. The GX’s boxy shape was ideal for packing various items, including a fold-up Thule stroller, a child bike seat, helmets, a kid’s balance bike, inflatable rafts, small oars, camp chairs, and groceries. I even had extra space, which was impressive given the large and oddly shaped items.
During this trip, I met my family in Bend—my wife, 3-year-old son, mother, and father. Although the GX can technically fit everyone in two rows, my son’s large car seat made the second row cramped, so we kept the driver-side third-row seat up. My wife, who is 5 feet tall, found the third row comfortable and appreciated the GX’s spaciousness compared to other vehicles. With the passenger-side third-row seat lowered, we had ample room for our gear, demonstrating that even with one of the smallest cargo spaces behind the third row, the GX's versatility was not a drawback on this trip.