Roof racks??

TheHam069 · 10-11-2005, 08:08 PM

Hey guys, Me and my girlfriend are thinking of buying a roof rack. It needs to be able to hold mountain bikes, snowboards, skis, camping gear and have lots of cargo space as we tend to move alot. we have been looking at the Thule and Yakima kits, would you recommend them or is there a better choice?

thanks
The Ham

Chunk · 10-11-2005, 09:01 PM

I used to sell yakima at my old job, they are good quality and they have a ton of variations you can choose from for your rack. Also, they sell pretty much every part separatly so replacing a part or if you only need one little part its usualy in stock somewhere. A little pricy IMO but good quality.

Though i have zero familiarity or experience with Thule so i cant speak for them.

DaveM · 10-11-2005, 09:27 PM

I think Yakima and Thule are pretty similar, one has round tubes, the other has square. All attachments are interchangeable. They are good, you can't go wrong, and everyone has parts for them. For a bike attachment, I'd recommend the Sportworks, they will fit on Yakima/Thule racks and are IMO the best rack out there.

connor · 10-11-2005, 09:46 PM

I also have thule. It's super easy to mount to just about any car with the right kit. I'd say shop around the buy and sell, If you want a deal, on the rails and bike/ski/whatever attachments, then go to a shop and get the right fit kit, and make sure you get locks for it.

Chunk · 10-12-2005, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davet

I think Yakima and Thule are pretty similar, one has round tubes, the other has square. All attachments are interchangeable. They are good, you can't go wrong, and everyone has parts for them. For a bike attachment, I'd recommend the Sportworks, they will fit on Yakima/Thule racks and are IMO the best rack out there.

Yes i agree, sportworks is the way to go. I have a 1 and 1/4 inch hitch mounted rack for 2 bikes that has been taken on some rough shuttle runs in durango and telluride in colorado. I remember just looking back at the thing and hoping it held together. It more than held together, it took some damn hard abuse. And how can you go wrong when it secures your bike so well, so quickly?

Tom · 10-12-2005, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHam069

Hey guys, Me and my girlfriend are thinking of buying a roof rack. It needs to be able to hold mountain bikes, snowboards, skis, camping gear and have lots of cargo space as we tend to move alot. we have been looking at the Thule and Yakima kits, would you recommend them or is there a better choice?

thanks
The Ham

I would strongly recommend a Yakima with King Cobras. Seriously. I've used them for about a year and they work awesome. No need to screw around taking off the front wheel, and any bike fits in them (even BMX and road). If you're lucky, you might be able to find someone who is selling used because he drives a truck now and doesn't need it. Then all you'd need to buy new would be a snowboard/ski attachment and maybe one of those cargo boxes if you so desire.
http://bb.nsmb.com/showthread.php?t=65402

connor · 10-12-2005, 02:27 AM

yeah, King Cobras are super nice.. My buddie had one taken off his roof though. They just screw on with Butterfly nuts, and then just pop straight off. At least my stand up Thule can't come off without undoing the locks, or using tools for the fork down ones. Well they're not AS easy to get off, i guess nothing is impossible if a thief is motivated.

Tom · 10-12-2005, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by connor

yeah, King Cobras are super nice.. My buddie had one taken off his roof though. They just screw on with Butterfly nuts, and then just pop straight off. At least my stand up Thule can't come off without undoing the locks, or using tools for the fork down ones. Well they're not AS easy to get off, i guess nothing is impossible if a thief is motivated.

You can wrap the cable lock for the Cobra around the cross bar.

You could also quite easily replace the hardware with regular nuts available at any hardware store so you would need tools to remove them.

Tom P · 10-12-2005, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by connor

yeah, King Cobras are super nice.. My buddie had one taken off his roof though.

Yakima makes a $10 lock so that doesn't happen.

I have the Cobras as well and love em.

Tom · 10-12-2005, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .flow.

Yakima makes a $10 lock so that doesn't happen.

I have the Cobras as well and love em.

Oooh...I didn't even know about those.
have a look at:
www.yakima.com - products - rack systems - security

TheHam069 · 10-12-2005, 05:13 AM

thanks guys, good to hear lots of people use these roof racks. We wouldnt be getting the bike mounts until summer as we wont be doing any bike road trips until next year. I have a Vp-Free and she is going to be buying a new XC bike in the spring so we need something that will hold em both.

Thanks again
The Ham

Chunk · 10-12-2005, 05:27 AM

If you have the $$ i would also recomaend getting a hitch for your car and getting a sportworks. They are THE best racks in the world. I have had mine now for 2 years and i love it! It takes seconds to get the bikes of the rack. And dont worry if you dont drive a truck, they make 1 and 1/4 racks. And i drive a mazda protege5 with a 1 and 1/4 hitch that you can barely see at all cause it tucks nicly under the bumper.

Tom · 10-12-2005, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHam069

thanks guys, good to hear lots of people use these roof racks. We wouldnt be getting the bike mounts until summer as we wont be doing any bike road trips until next year. I have a Vp-Free and she is going to be buying a new XC bike in the spring so we need something that will hold em both.

Thanks again
The Ham

[shameless plug] Yeah...but what if you could find a smoking hot deal on a full set up now? [/shameless plug]

Shmoe · 10-12-2005, 05:35 AM

I prefer my sportworks rack to a cobra anyday. Quite a bit quicker to put a bike on the roof with and seems a bit more solid.

ArrowRacer · 10-12-2005, 05:17 PM

For bikes, i'll second the Sportworks racks. I run two Bob-Ratchets on my Thule roof bars. Finding Sportworks stuff sucks! now that they were baught out by Thule... but if you can find 'em, or they actually are being shipped again (with the Thule name) they are worth every penny.

10-12-2005, 05:17 PM	#15
ArrowRacer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 81 Rep Power: 0	For bikes, i'll second the Sportworks racks. I run two Bob-Ratchets on my Thule roof bars. Finding Sportworks stuff sucks! now that they were baught out by Thule... but if you can find 'em, or they actually are being shipped again (with the Thule name) they are worth every penny. __________________ Your my boy Blue!

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10-11-2005, 09:01 PM	#2
Chunk Sexy beast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: far from you Posts: 3,934 Rep Power: 328921	I used to sell yakima at my old job, they are good quality and they have a ton of variations you can choose from for your rack. Also, they sell pretty much every part separatly so replacing a part or if you only need one little part its usualy in stock somewhere. A little pricy IMO but good quality. Though i have zero familiarity or experience with Thule so i cant speak for them.

10-11-2005, 09:27 PM	#3
DaveM www.davemackie.ca Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Coquitlam Posts: 13,945 Rep Power: 16091219	I think Yakima and Thule are pretty similar, one has round tubes, the other has square. All attachments are interchangeable. They are good, you can't go wrong, and everyone has parts for them. For a bike attachment, I'd recommend the Sportworks, they will fit on Yakima/Thule racks and are IMO the best rack out there.

10-12-2005, 05:27 AM	#12
Chunk Sexy beast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: far from you Posts: 3,934 Rep Power: 328921	If you have the $$ i would also recomaend getting a hitch for your car and getting a sportworks. They are THE best racks in the world. I have had mine now for 2 years and i love it! It takes seconds to get the bikes of the rack. And dont worry if you dont drive a truck, they make 1 and 1/4 racks. And i drive a mazda protege5 with a 1 and 1/4 hitch that you can barely see at all cause it tucks nicly under the bumper.

10-12-2005, 05:35 AM	#14
Shmoe MTB rider Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Lethbridge/Calgary Posts: 2,022 Rep Power: 49	I prefer my sportworks rack to a cobra anyday. Quite a bit quicker to put a bike on the roof with and seems a bit more solid.