If i was doing it over again, i would put spacers under the mounting plates and get the bar up as high i could. mine currently sits about 3/4" below the padding on the roof. Another point of interest. With the harness bar it limits how far back your seat can recline and that limits the size of a surfboard you can fit inside of your car. my 6-2 fit but i modified my harness bar and now my 7-0 fits also