So my girl and I are getting more into bicycling and more kayaking this summer, as well as snowboarding in the winter. So, I think it's a good idea to get a roof rack.
Who here has one? What type do I get? I'm really digging the Yakima racks.
-Markus
2002 Yellow Cavalier LS Sport
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I have a Yakima rack that I've used for at least ten years and through several cars. It works great, the engineering is fine and the parts fit, if being a bit too universal for an expensive rack. (Mine holds two bikes upright, with wheels mounted, in channels with a brace that holds the bike up and secures it.) On the upside, most racks can be modified to carry bikes, kayaks, etc. with available accessory parts.
The most common downsides are the initial cost, the accessory cost, and the cost of mounting brackets for the next car you buy (and the next after that). If you plan to mount the rack and leave it on the car, some people (ie: my wife) don't like the wind noise it generates at highway speeds and may tell you to take it off until it's needed next. The initial setup is the hardest, but constantly mounting and removing it is a pain. Also, though they're well engineered, some damage (to paint and such) is hard to avoid over time. Lastly, a sticky note on the dash that reminds you when you have bikes on the roof is handy BEFORE you pull in the garage. (You may laugh, but I know several intelligent, educated professionals that have forgotten their bikes were up there.)
There are other major players in the rack business (Thule comes to mind) that also make quality products and are highly regarded.
damn you Mark.
Why do we think alike.
I have been toying with the idea of a roof rack for some time now.
Dude, we're just awesome like that.
Mark, thanks for the info! What kind of mounts do I use? Are there any major stores that carry Yakima?
-Markus
2002 Yellow Cavalier LS Sport
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Take a look at REI.com for ideas (that's where I bought mine). They carry both the Yakima and Thule lines (and there are even a couple of stores in Michagan. I'm in Washington.)
Looks like Yakima still makes the rack I have. If you want a roof mount, you basically select a rail kit and roof sill brackets (sold separately) to hold them on. Then you can add whatever carrier you want that spans the rails from an enclosed shell to whatever. They're expensive, but should last longer than my interest in the bikes. - Good luck.
Thule or Yakima are the big 2 brands for roof mounts. I chose Thule over Yakima. I was gonna buy it all through my work (Thule makes the OEM Toureg racks so we have wholesale account with them) but it ended up being cheaper to buy most of it through REI and spend $20 on the membership (every year you a 10% refund back for what you've spent that year) then I bought the bike carrier separate from the rest using the 20% off member coupon. I don't remember the total but it gets pretty pricey. But on the bright side if I ever get a new car it's as simple as buying new rubber pads on the mounting feet and I can reuse the rest forever.
I bought (for my Honda)
400XT Aero Foot
LB50 Load Bars
2180 Fit Kit
871XT Fairing
91724 Universal FlatTop 4 (Carries 4 sets of skis/2 snowboards)
594 Sidearm (Bike carrier)
588 Lock Cylinders (8 pk)
You can go to Thule's or Yakima's site it will price and give you part numbers for everything you need with an option to buy from one of their retailers.
That looks so funny ^^^
M62, 42's, ZZP 3", ZZP S3 H/E
214whp 190wtq
i just bought a complete thule roof rack with two 599 big mouth trays for 260. really good condition too. retail = over 900.
i just need to get the fit kit for the cava cuz it came off an 89 mk2 gti. i tried putting it on and that went terrible. so i gotta get the right one now.
i got a nice set up through the bike shop i used to work at. its a yakima rack, got 2 bike trays, one with the front wheel, and one without. then i also have the pads for a kayak or whatever else. i think with my discount i paid about 230 ish.....
the fit kit was 70 dollars for 4 pices of metal covered in rubber and 4 rubber pads. wtf.
anyway here's what it looks like.
^why would that look good if ur car was slammed? someone chop it!
WiGM-Tuners member.
I think I want to start off with just the mounts and the bars, then add the appropriate gear later.
-Markus
2002 Yellow Cavalier LS Sport
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Roof racks are probably the dumbest trend I've ever seen.
Proud member of Jbody of Kentucky ... Click on sig to go!
I know it might be hard to comprehend but some people actually buy them and use it. I use it at least once a week. I don't want a muddy mountain bike IN my car.
JoeyDaBomb wrote:Roof racks are probably the dumbest trend I've ever seen.
I need one so my girlfriend and I can finally go kayaking, and I'm tired of folding down my backseat just to squeaze in a couple wet snowboards...
-Markus
2002 Yellow Cavalier LS Sport
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Flickr
EcoMark wrote:JoeyDaBomb wrote:Roof racks are probably the dumbest trend I've ever seen.
I need one so my girlfriend and I can finally go kayaking, and I'm tired of folding down my backseat just to squeaze in a couple wet snowboards...
I ski but most of my freinds snowboard instead, alot of them find it easier to get that crazy space space bubble dealt that sits in top over actual snowboard racks, they said it's nice cause you can just open it up and throw all your shot in there, board, boots, snowpants, gloves, goggles, etc. Just dump it in and close the lid, nothing excpet you ad what your wearing in the car.
I looked at those too and they're even more expensive!
-Markus
2002 Yellow Cavalier LS Sport
Check it out! -->
Flickr
I have a THULE rapid aero system.
-594 Sidearm bike trays
-RB43 rapid load bars
-400xtr rapid aero footpack
-245 fit kit
-8 pack lock cylinders
I work at a bike shop and we sell both Thule and Yakima. Thule is strongly preferred by most people including myself because of the quality and warranty, so I'd reccommend it.
My side arm loads from the passenger side.... Can you swap it to load from drivers side? Any close up pics of the 2 of them?
May 1-10 REI has 20% off on Thule and Yackima
