Car & Truck Racks - Expert Opinion & Facts

Thule Vertex 2, 4, and 5 Bike Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks

2012-02-01T17:28:00.001-05:00

    Thule's Vertex hitch mounted bike racks are a new product line that's anything but "standard". They replace the Thule RoadWay series, sharing many features with their high-end Apex product line while sporting much lower prices. The 2 bike and 4 bike hitch racks are compatible with both 1 1/4" and 2" receiver hitches by simply using the included adapter sleeve converter. (The 5 bike model is compatible with 2" receivers only.) The redesigned Hold Fast anti-sway cradles include reinforced rubber straps to secure bikes in place, while the No Sway Cage anti-sway mechanism helps prevent bike to bike contact. New grooved cushion cradles easily accommodate bikes with cables on the underside of the top tube and offer superior bike protection for nearly any frame design.
     The Vertex bicycle rack makes loading and unloading your bikes easier as well. The sleek, arched mast and bike carrying arms make the whole process easier, with increased clearance from the ground and rear bumper. The longer bike arms allow the bikes to sit further apart and at varying heights-not only making loading easier, but also keeping your frames, handlebars, and pedals from contacting one another while loading, unloading and transporting your bikes.
    The Vertex includes a new and improved quick release Hitch Switch, allowing you to fold the bike arms down and tilt the rack away from the vehicle to access the rear of your vehicle when not you're not carrying bikes. The Hitch Switch mechanism has an audible click to reassure you that the arms and mast are securely locked in position. A Thule TSTL2 SnugTite Hitch Lock (sold separately) is recommended to lock your Vertex rack to your vehicle.

New Thule Apex 4 and 5 Bike Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks

2012-01-30T09:28:00.000-05:00

Thule's new Apex 4 and 5 bike hitch mounted bicycle racks combine sleek new styling with innovative new features that make transporting your bikes easier and safer than ever before. Unlike most other bike racks, the Apex comes fully assembled, so setup is quick and easy. The new EasyMount System with integrated Snug-Tite Stinger makes installation tool-free. To install the rack, simply push the bike rack into your receiver hitch until the integrated auto-hitch-pin snaps into place or engages with your hitch, then turn the tightening knob to activate the anti-rattle mechanism. This helps eliminate vertical and horizontal movement of the rack by delivering 4 walls of fastening contact within your receiver for the most stable fit possible. The Thule 9025 Apex 4 Bike Rack is compatible with both 1.25" and 2" receivers, while the Thule 9026 Apex 5 Bike Rack is compatible with 2" receivers only.
The innovation didn't stop at installation-the bike carrying arms are longer, set lower, and arc-shaped, making loading and unloading your bicycles easier and helping eliminate frame contact between bikes. Thule's new Hold Fast anti-sway cradles with Road Dampening Technology (RDT) make sure your bikes get the First Class treatment they deserve. The RDT cradle with SoftTouch Anti-Sway Cages is equipped with thermoplastic elastomer (TPE, basically a greatly improved form of rubber) making the Apex cradle design unique. TPE offers a flexible soft texture that gently, but firmly, secures your bike frame and enables the cradles to absorb road shock and greatly reduce vibration, allowing it to carry nearly any bike frame type including carbon fiber frames (unlike most other bike racks). The integrated cable lock and Snug-Tite Stinger locking receiver pin round out the Apex's features, making sure your bikes are kept as secure as they are stable.

New From Thule - AeroBlade Aerodynamic Crossbars

2011-08-23T17:42:00.009-04:00

You asked for quieter roof racks, and Thule listened to you-so now you won't have to listen to your rack!Thule's new AeroBlade load bars are compatible with their Rapid Aero tower systems and accessories, making them available for nearly any vehicle on the road. This new design provides all the strength and versatility we've come to expect from Thule in a stunning new look that will get your gear where you're going while giving you a quiet, peaceful drive (providing your kids like to nap while you drive).
The new Thule AeroBlade crossbars are available in 43", 47", 53", and 60" lengths to accommodate all current Thule vehicle fits. New SwingBlade swing-out endcaps are included, and allow full access to the Thule T-slot without having to remove the cap. The WindDiffuser T-slot cover's specially designed shape helps reduce wind noise not only by covering the T-slot, but also by re-shaping the oncoming air flow. In short, Thule's outdone themselves once again. The Thule AeroBlade will be available in stores mid-September.

The World's Quietest Roof Rack-Whispbar by Yakima

2011-08-20T10:04:00.002-04:00

    If you believe that roof racks should be seen and not heard, you'll love the new Whispbar by Yakima. With an eye-catching low profile style that rivals the best factory installed crossbars, you won't hear any complaints about ugly crossbars on your new car. In fact, you won't hear much of anything-as their name implies, Whispbar roof racks are whisper quiet.
    The Whispbar crossbar was designed by former Rolls Royce aircraft engineer using numerous wind tunnel tests and real world road testing. The result is a strong, functional crossbar with the lowest wind noise and drag of any roof rack. Their innovative infilled T slot design allows for fast, solid mounting of bike trays and other accessories, without leaving an open channel on top of the bar to cause noise and reduce fuel efficiency.
    Whispbar roof racks will accept all factory rack compatible accessories from Yakima, as well as most from Thule and Malone.
Look for new Whispbar accessories from Yakima in the coming months, too.

The Allen MT-1 Trunk Mounted 1 Bicycle Bike Rack

2011-04-08T09:41:00.001-04:00

What's the size of a large box of doughnuts, sets up in seconds, and safely carries your bike? No, it's not a riddle, it's the new Allen MT-1 Trunk Mounted 1 Bicycle Rack. Installing the MT-1 on your vehicle couldn't be easier-just unfold the three support arms and snap them in place, rest the self-leveling rubber coated support pads on your trunk or hatch, put the three mounting clips in place, and tighten the straps. When you're ready to ride, pop your bike off the rack, take the rack off your vehicle, fold it up and stow the MT-1 in your backpack or duffel. (It even comes with its own small carry bag.) The one bike model is available now, and the Allen MT-2 Trunk Mounted 2 Bike Rack will be out later this spring.

While you're waiting for the last of the snow to melt, check out this video of the head of Allen Sports USA touring the factory where the Allen MT-1 is manufactured.

Thule's new Archway 3 Bicycle Racks are now available.

2011-03-24T11:44:00.001-04:00

    The new Thule 9010 Archway 3 Bike Trunk Mounted Bicycle Rack makes your basic bike rack just a little less basic. Its sleek new design utilizes a quick-set fitting mechanism to set the carrier to the proper angle for your vehicle, and its curved frame accommodates many vehicles with spoilers. The tried-and-true six strap mounting system attaches quickly and securely to just about any vehicle. The Archway features Thule's new Cinch-Lever bike arm adjustment system not only lets you fold the arms down when not carrying bikes, it also allows each arm to be adjusted up or down independently. Together with Thule's Stay-Put cradles, this makes the Archway capable of accepting bike frames of nearly any design (though NOT carbon fiber frame bicycles-those should always be carried by the tires or forks, otherwise you risk cracking the frame of the bike).
    Thule hasn't forgotten about bike security, either. The Archway's integrated lock cable secures your bikes to the rack, and Thule's Trunk Locker strap easily secures the Archway to your vehicle. After you've wrapped the Trunk Locker strap around the Archway's frame, just toss the hockey-puck shaped bob on the other end in your trunk or hatch-it's that easy! Two cut-resistant steel cables embedded within the Trunk Locker strap keep your bikes safe while the soft fabric shell keeps it from damaging your vehicle's finish.
    If you're in the market for a new trunk mounted bicycle rack, you'll definitely want to check out the Thule Archway. It's available in both 2 bike and 3 bike models, and it makes "basic" just a little better.

Got Paddleboards? Get the Yakima WaveHog!

2011-03-04T17:57:00.002-05:00

If you've been looking for a more secure way to carry your paddle board, meet your new best friend, the WaveHog. The Yakima 4051 WaveHog Surf, Paddle and Sailboard Carrier can carry up to three boards stacked piggy-back style. (Get it?-the WaveHog.) The SoulPad universal mount pads fit just about every roof rack out there. They mount easily with a couple of straps, quickly giving you a cushioned spot to lay your boards. The included SUP Brah Nose-Tail Tie-Down System for Paddleboards allows you tie down down then ends of your board for greater stability (if your carrying more than one board, you'll want to tie down the longest one.) The WaveHog also includes Yakima's RipCord Lockable 12' Straps to keep your boards in place with a firm, theft resistant grip. With rubber covered aluminum cam buckles and nylon coated steel cables running through the straps, the RipCord straps don't just tie down your boards, they fight crime AND corrosion. Does that make the WaveHog a roof rack superhero?

The Thule RaceWay 3 Bike Trunk Mounted Bike Rack

2011-02-24T16:31:00.003-05:00

Thule's new 9002 RaceWay 3 Bike Trunk Mounted Bicycle Rack just arrived in our warehouse this morning, but we're going to need more of them. LOTS more. Because everyone with bikes but no trailer hitch is going to want one. Thule spent about 2 years perfecting the RaceWay's design, and it shows. The RaceWay's integrated Fit Number system allows you to set the carrier's angle to match the back of your vehicle even faster than on previous models. Thule's new Sure-Tight cable system locks the RaceWay to your vehicle with a couple quick turns of a knob. This new ultra-stable system needs only 4 rubber coated hooks to hold the rack securely in place, and the locking adjustment knobs keep thieves from loosening the cut-resistant cables and walking away with your bike rack. Thule has also included an integrated cable lock to secure the outermost bike (which makes it nearly impossible to swipe your other bikes, too). You can check out the full RaceWay installation instructions on Thule's website.
Aside from being faster and more secure, the Thule RaceWay delivers all the standard features you've come to expect from Thule's trunk mounted racks. Thule's Anti-Sway Cages help eliminate bike to bike contact, and an additional included cam-buckle strap can be used to secure your bikes to the lower frame of the carrier. The bike carrying arms can be folded down when not in use. Of course, Thule has redesigned the bike arms, so folding them down is as simple as pulling on the central adjustment lever and pivoting the arms. The bike arms' spacing has been narrowed to just under 12 inches (versus 17inches on previous models), which allows the RaceWay to accommodate a wide variety of bike frames-including many children's bikes (just be sure your kid's bike's pedals don't scrape the frame on your full-size bikes if you carry them both at the same time). Don't have three bikes? Check out the Thule 9001 RaceWay 2 Bike Rack. It holds - you guessed it - two bikes.

Introducing the new HighLite premium bike rack from Yakima

2011-02-22T17:53:00.001-05:00

The new Yakima HighLite Receiver Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks offer all the features of Yakima's DoubleDown hitch racks in a new, lightweight design that fits both 2" and 1.25" receiver hitches. The HighLite's aluminum design provides you with a rugged, rust free bike rack that's quite easy to install. It utilizes Yakima's SwitchBlade anti-sway cradles for improved bike stability, an integrated LockDown security cable that locks your bikes to the rack, and a locking tongue assembly to lock the rack to your vehicle. The HighLite's TriggerFinger releases enable the bike support arms to fold down when not in use and allow the rack to tilt away from your vehicle for easy trunk/hatch access. It's available in both 2 and 3 bike models.

Get A Jump On Spring With New Surf And Bike Carriers From Thule

2011-02-15T17:54:00.001-05:00

This just in...or should we say these just in...new surfboard and paddleboard carriers from Thule have arrived. With new rack pads that fit Thule's Aero bars and most factory racks, as well as new board tiedowns like the Thule 531 Express Stretchable Bungee Surfboard Straps, you know spring is just around the corner. If that's not enough to get you excited, then take a look at Thule's new 9001 Raceway 2 Bike Trunk Mounted Bicycle Rack. (There will also be a three bike version available soon.)

Yakima's New 4055 Universal Foam Block Canoe Carrier

2010-03-04T10:56:00.003-05:00

Until now, there haven't been many options for carrying canoes on factory installed crossbars. Your only option has usually been to set the canoe right on the crossbars-which will get your boat to the water, but not before scuffing (or worse!) the gunwales and crossbars. The new Yakima 4055 Universal Foam Block Canoe Carrier is an inexpensive new offering that safely cushions your canoe on almost any factory crossbars. It also fits Yakima Roundbars, Thule square loadbars, and roofs without any rack at all!
The Universal Foam Block Canoe Carrier includes everything you'll need to safely carry your canoe. The foam gunwale cushion blocks are designed to fit most gunwale and hull designs, and the shaped crossbar cutouts fit Yakima round bars, Thule square and aero bars, and most aerodynamically shaped factory installed crossbars (most crossbars up to 2 1/2" wide by 1 1/4" high). For vehicles without any roof rack, the gunwale cushions feature a high grip laminated anti-skid pad to prevent your boat from shifting around while you're out on the highway. Bow and stern tiedowns and center load strap to secure your canoe are included, as is a handy mesh carry bag for storage. Setup is simple, and full instructions are included. Spring is on the way, so grab the Universal Foam Block Carrier, dust off your canoe, and get ready!

Take Advantage of Yakima's Spring 2010 Rebate Program

2010-03-03T11:46:00.001-05:00

If you read our last post, you'll see that Yakima and The Rack Warehouse are already working together to bring you lower prices on the all the great Yakima racks you know and love. What could possibly be better than lower prices? How about a big fat Yakima rebate!
That's right, get up to $50 back when you purchase any new Yakima products (that's right-this rebate applies to any brand new Yakima products you buy). Now through April 30th, get $30 back for any purchase of $300 or more, $40 back on any purchase of $400 or more, or $50 back on purchases $500 or more by mail. Just fill out this Yakima Rebate Form and mail it in with your receipt or invoice (must be postmarked by May 20th, 2010), and Yakima will send you a check. So what are sitting there reading for? Hurry up and start shopping for some great new Yakima gear!

Yakima - New Lower Prices

2010-03-03T10:20:00.001-05:00

Yakima racks have always been a great value, but they've just gotten even better. The Rack Warehouse has just lowered prices on nearly every Yakima product by 10%. So if you've been thinking of treating yourself to a sweet new roof rack or some cool new accessories, now's the time. 10% off Yakima--it's just the kind of economic stimulus your wallet and your weekend will thank you for.

Introducing the Alpha 3 Bike Hitch Rack from Kuat

2010-02-25T17:46:00.002-05:00

    Kuat racks. Their company name may seem funny, but when it comes to building a better bike rack they're all business. Kuat's new line of premium aluminum frame bike racks are lightweight but rock-solid.
    The Kuat Alpha 3 Bike Hitch Rack rugged frame is constructed from 6061 T6 aluminum and only weighs about 13 pounds (roughly half the weight of a traditional hitch mounted bike rack). It carries three bikes, with a maximum weight load of 100 pounds. The racks comes fully assembled, but folded flat (just the right size to fit in your trunk or behind the seat in your pickup truck). To set up the Alpha, pull the linchpin holds the tongue assembly in position and swing the tongue around. Next, reinsert the linchpin and slide the tongue into your receiver. After inserting the included locking hitch pin, tighten the large adjustment knob near the bottom of the rack and the small knob on the back just above the base. These knobs tighten the rack into the hitch and remove as much play as possible from the rack to help keep your bikes safe and secure.

    The bike carrying arms on the Kuat Alpha Bike Rack have been designed with the same kind of stability features as the base. To flip the arms up into position remove the linchpin, flip up the arm assembly, and reinsert the linchpin. Then tighten the small knob on the backside of the mast to finish tightening the arm assembly. If you've ever carried your bikes on a hitch mounted bike rack before, you know the bike loading routine...with one exception. Most bike racks use only one or two straps to hold each bike in place, But the Kuat Alpha uses four straps. In conjunction with the Alpha's anti-sway cradles, this helps prevent sway during acceleration / braking and bike-to-bike contact. When not in use the Alpha's bike arms conveniently fold down to save space and make parking easier. The Kuat Alpha Bike Rack provides maximum security with its built-in cable lock to secure bikes to rack and hitch lock to secure your bike rack to the vehicle. The Alpha 3 comes in 1 1/4" and 2" receiver styles.

Visit Us On facebook-You Could Win Free Gear!

2010-02-25T10:28:00.003-05:00

Usually you'll find info on outstanding new racks here on the Rack Expert blog, but it's time for you to tell us about your outstanding roof rack. Or hitch rack. Or truck rack. Or...well, you get the idea. If you have a rack setup that you'd like to show off to the world, if you like facebook, or if you just like to win free gear, check out our new contest on our facebook page.
Just like the racks we carry, entering our facebook contest is easy. Just post a picture of your great rack setup and a two sentence description on our wall. You'll be entered into our monthly drawing to win a $100 Rack Shopping Spree at RackWarehouse.com. You'll be included in the drawing every month until you win.

New EvenKeel Kayak Saddles From Yakima

2010-02-18T11:22:00.001-05:00

While it's still a bit early in the year for most of us to go kayaking, but it's never too early to get ready. If we plan ahead, we can hit the water as soon as the ice melts, right? Yakima's new EvenKeel Complete Kayak Saddle Set includes everything you'll need to cradle your kayak on just about any roof rack. The EvenKeel saddles utilize an all-new universal attachment system that fits round, square, and most factory installed crossbars. Optional security screws are included, to help make sure the EvenKeel saddles carry your boat, not someone else's. All tools are included, and the installation instructions are simple and straightforward.
The Yakima EvenKeel's flexible new HullFlex saddles bend inward AND outward to perfectly match the contour of your kayak's hull, and each saddle has a center mounter rubber pad to provide additional cushioning and superior grip. Yakima recommends using heavy duty cam-buckle straps and bow and stern tie downs to keep your kayak held snugly in place, so they've included them both with the EvenKeel. With a price that your wallet will love and all the features your kayak could ask for, Yakima's EvenKeel kayak rack is a basic saddle package that's anything but basic.

Introducing DeWalt Truck and Van Racks

2010-01-29T17:48:00.000-05:00

If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line truck or van rack, you're looking for a DeWalt rack. Produced in partnership with Thule, these new contractor grade and industrial grade racks are built to last. Designed with DeWalt's construction know-how and Thule's long history of quality rack products, the new DeWalt van and truck racks will handle any load from a single ladder to heavy loads of lumber.

The Pitchfork Low Profile Bike Tray from RockyMounts

2009-05-13T16:29:00.002-04:00

The new Pitchfork fork mounted roof top bike carrier from Rocky Mounts brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "low profile". Although the Pitchfork is only about an inch and a half tall, its tubular aluminum tray is 40% stronger and 2 inches longer (45") than previous tray designs, giving you more tray with less wind noise. The long-throw quick release skewer and rear tire ratcheting strap will hold your bike like a champ, whether you've got a road bike or a mountain bike with fat tires (up to 2.7 inches). The Pitchfork sports a unique dual-locking design. By locking the skewer with one Rocky Mounts Lock Core both your bike and the tray are locked to your roof rack. For even greater security, you can also install a second lock core to secure the tray to your rack even when the skewer isn't locked. The Pitchfork roof mounted bicycle carrier fits Yakima roundbars and Thule square bars (all mounting hardware is included) and comes with a one year warranty.

The SeaWing V-Cradle Kayak Carrier from Malone

2009-04-29T17:47:00.001-04:00

The Malone SeaWing V-Cradle Kayak Carrier is a great way to carry your kayaks on a factory installed rack. Not that it doesn't work perfectly well on Thule or Yakima crossbars (it does!), but it's really great on factory racks. The SeaWing's centrally located universal mounting hardware allows you to mount these kayak cradles as far to the side as possible, you can even let the cradle extend past the edges of your roof. On many factory racks this lets you carry two boats flat at the same time, something most other kayak saddles can only accomplish with longer aftermarket crossbars. The Malone SeaWing was designed to withstand Maine's punishing winds and saltwater, and it's sturdy polycabonate construction and corrosion-resistant mounting hardware ensure you'll be able to depend on the SeaWing for many years to come. The rubber insets in the SeaWing's cradles ensure a frim grip on your kayak's hull, and their V-shape design fits most hull types quite well (though we probably wouldn't recommend it for fiberglass hulls). The Malone SeaWing includes everything you need to carry one kayak on your roof rack, and for even easier loading, you can pair it with the Malone Stinger Kayak Load Assist Module.

The Helium Lightweight Aluminum Hitch Mounted Bicycle Rack from Thule

2009-04-01T10:36:00.004-04:00

Thule's new Helium Lightweight Aluminum Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks are the most impressive new products that Thule has rolled out this year. They sport an incredibly sleek look, with an eye catching all-aluminum design. With such a slim profile you might think the Helium is a lightweight rack, and it does weigh about 1/3 less than a standard steel-frame bicycle rack. But don't let its good looks fool you. The Helium is every bit as tough as a steel-frame rack, and its aluminum frame can't rust!
As I'm sure you already know, looks aren't everything. The Helium wouldn't be much of a hitch rack if all it did was look good. With fully integrated locking security, Thule's premium T3 bike cradles, and the best anti-rattle hitch mechanism in its class, the Helium offers much more than just bike rack bragging rights. Thule's T3 cradles with included No-Sway Cages hold your bikes gently but firmly in place and help eliminate sway even on rough roads. The bike arm assembly folds down out of the way when not in use, and features an integrated bike cable lock to make sure your bicycles are safe from theft. The new "stinger" tongue assembly will fit both 1 1/4" and 2" hitch receivers, and its integrated tightening mechanism with locking knob hold the Helium securely in place and eliminate "rattle" while making sure no one walks off with your sweet new rack. There are two versions available, the 970 Helium Lightweight Aluminum 2 Bike Hitch Mounted Bicycle Rack and the 971 Helium Lightweight Aluminum 3 Bike Hitch Mounted Bicycle Rack. So if you want a hitch rack that'll really baby your bikes and make your neighbor's jaw drop, check out the Helium Aluminum Bicycle rack from Thule.

Get a Yakima Cargo Box shipped right to your door

2009-03-27T17:18:00.004-04:00

      You know there's one thing your vehicle never has enough of: space. Nothing makes a long trip (or a short one) less enjoyable than being crammed in with all your gear in your lap and under your feet. You could buy a bigger vehicle, or leave half of your gear at home, but a roof top cargo box would be a much better option. They're much cheaper than a new car or van, and you'll avoid the whole "What do you mean you left the luggage behind?" headache.
    A Yakima cargo box will give you all the cargo space you need, and they'll mount nearly any roof rack. There's only one thing more convenient than a Yakima cargo box, and that's having one delivered right to your home. The cost to ship a cargo box used to be quite high, often well over a hundred dollars, so we only offered cargo boxes for in-store purchase at The Rack Warehouse. But we've been working together with freight companies to lower these costs and pass these savings on to you. You can now have any Yakima cargo box shipped right to your door anywhere in the contiguous 48 states (sorry, we still do not ship cargo boxes to Alaska or Hawaii). Although these cargo boxes will be shipped via freight truck, we will only charge you the UPS Ground shipping rate, meaning you can place your order online and choose the UPS Ground option to quickly calculate your freight charges. Although expedited shipping is not available, delivery only takes 3-5 working days no matter where you are.
    Yakima's cargo boxes will fit Yakima and Thule roof racks, most factory-installed roof racks, Yakima RackandRoll trailers...well, you get the idea. If it has crossbars, chances are Yakima makes a cargo box that will fit it like a glove. A big, cargo carrying glove. For even more information on the full line of Yakima cargo boxes, you can check out a couple of their demonstrational videos at the end of this post. Of course, you can also give us a call toll-free at 1-800-272-5362. The staff here at The Rack Warehouse will be happy to answer all your questions, and we don't work on commission, so there are no high-pressure sales here. Just folks who want to make sure you're equipped for a really great road trip!

Thule's new Prologue Fork Mount Bicycle Tray

2009-03-25T10:41:00.002-04:00

If you're in the market for a quality bike tray that won't cost a fortune, look no further than Thule's new Prologue tray. The Thule 516 Prologue Fork Mounted Bicycle Carrier is a great entry-level bike tray with features that are anything but basic. The Prologue's head is a slim, aerodynamic design constructed of a high-strength nylon composite, and a beefy stainless steel skewer gives the Prologue a rock solid grip on your bike. The skewer's oversized lever makes loading and unloading quick and easy, and the skewer locks your bike to the tray, and your tray to your roof rack with the addition of one Thule lock core (sold separately.) It is also compatible with most 9mm disc brakes. The aluminum tray is a single-wall style that accommodates tires up to 2.6" wide, and wheelbases up to 48". The Prologue is compatible with Thule square bars and Yakima round bars, and can be mounted to Thule's Aero Bars with Xadapt9 Adapter Kit.
With the Thule 532 Ride-On Bike Adapter, the Prologue can be mounted to most factory installed crossbars. But if you've got two bikes, the Thule 515 Prologue 2 Bike, Complete Factory Rack Bike Pack is a heck of a deal. The Prologue Pack includes two Prologue bicycle trays, the Thule Ride-On Adapter, and a 2 pack of Thule 512 Lock Cores. Go to www.rackwarehouse.com and check these products out for yourself. You'll find that the 515 Prologue Pack is substantially cheaper than buying these parts separately, and we all like to save money. (Especially when we don't have to sacrifice quality to do it!)

TracRac Construction, Utility, and Work Truck Pick-Up Truck Racks

2009-03-06T12:01:00.007-05:00

    The TracRac construction, utility, and work truck rack may look great on your truck, with its polished aluminum frame and clean lines, don't look its looks fool you. The TracRac pick-up truck rack is no lightweight. It has a 1000 lb. weight capacity on most trucks, and its aluminum construction and stainless steel hardware mean you'll have a rust free truck rack for years to come. If your truck has stake bed pockets, the TracRac's base tracks can be mounted using special expansion blocks for a drill-free installation, which helps keep your truck's resale value high. No stake bed pockets? No problem! The TracRac's base tracks can also be bolted to the top of your bed rails. Spray-on bed liners won't interfere with mounting the rack, but some other bed liners may need to be cut if they're the over-the-rail type, or if they interfere with bolting the base tracks down.
    The TracRac is one of the most versatile utility racks around. Both crossbars can slide anywhere on the base tracks with a quick turn of two knobs to better match the length of your overhead load, or to push them out of the way of bulky items in the bed. If you need to remove the uprights entirely, just unscrew the four stop bolts at the end of the base tracks and slide the crossbar assemblies right off of your truck. If you're concerned about security, you can swap out the slide adjustment knobs with TracRac's Locking Trac Knobs, to prevent anyone from moving or removing your crossbars without a key.
    The TracRack full sliding system includes a set of four Crossbar Tie Downs to help secure ladders, lumber, etc. TracRac Base Rail Tie Downs are also available to provide tie-off points on the base tracks. If you need support for longer loads, the TracRac Cantilever Extension can be attached to the front crossbar, giving you extra stability for longer loads without sacrificing the sliding functionality of the TracRac. Other utility accessories include a Window Guard that doubles as a cargo divider which can be placed anywhere along the base tracks and sliding toolbox mounting kits. Getting ready to enjoy the weekend? TracRac's BikeMounts let you mount bicycles by their front forks to the base tracks or crossbars of your TracRac. Those of you who enjoy watersports will be happy to know that TracRac has recently confirmed that Yakima's new MakoAero kayak saddles are compatible with TracRac racks, so now you can carry your kayaks in style on your TracRac as well. So don't wait any longer. TracRac has truck racks that fit almost every pick-up made, and you know you won't just get a rugged rack that's built to last, it'll look great, too!

The Yakima QuickBack Trunk Mounted Bicycle Rack

2009-03-05T17:43:00.002-05:00

If you're looking for the hands down highest quality strap mounted bicycle carrier, then you're looking for the QuickBack from Yakima. It's great for carrying bikes on vehicles without roof racks or receiver hitches, and it's available in both 2 and 3 bike models. Both the QuickBack 2 and the QuickBack 3 install quickly and easily on virtually any trunk or hatchback, with integrated adjustment knobs that set the angle of the bike arms and the main frame, and a labeled strap system that takes all the guesswork out of mounting your rack. Its premium Tr-Padded feet and padded buckles protect your vehicle's finish, and it can be safely mounted on most glass hatches with the included Glass Hatch Hooks. The QuickBack features a new, narrower arm design which accommodates more frame styles than other trunk or hatch mounted bike racks. If your bike lacks a top tube, though, you'll need to pick up a Yakima Tube Top bike frame adapter so that the QuickBack has something to hold on to. The QuickBack utilizes Yakima's SwitchBlade anti-sway cradles to eliminate bike-to-bike contact. Another great feature of the QuickBack is its passive security system-a steel reinforced strap that goes into your trunk or hatch and prevents removal of your bike rack. The addition of a locking cable like Yakima's 7233 9' Locking Cable will give you complete bike security. You'll be hard pressed to find another strap rack that offers this level of security.

The Stacker Kayak Rack from Thule

2009-03-05T12:57:00.002-05:00

Do you need to carry one or more more kayaks in the absolute smallest space possible? With the Thule 830 Kayak Stacker you can carry up to four kayaks on their sides, making the most out of your roof rack. The Stacker comes includes all the load straps and bow/stern tiedowns you'll need to carry one boat, so if you need to haul more than one kayak, make sure you purchase enough tiedowns for your other boats. We also recommend using Thule 556 Rack Pads to cushion your kayaks where they rest on your roof rack's crossbars.
The Stacker features sturdy scratch-resistant steel and impact-resistant plastic construction. It will fit Thule and Yakima rack systems right out of the box, as well as most OEM factory racks. Installation on thicker crossbars may require the use of Thule's Xadapt3 longer bolt kit. The Stacker can be folded down flat when not in use to reduce wind resistance. The integrated ratcheting hinge system ensures that the Stacker is locked in position, so you'll never have to worry about your kayak racks collapsing, or having them flop around in the wind and bang on your roof. Not only is Thule's Stacker a space-saving kayak rack with an aerodynamic design, it's also very economical. Just try and find a set of kayak saddles that can carry four boats! On second thought, don't. It would just be a huge waste of time you could better spend out on the water!

Yakima's BoatLoader and Thule's Outrigger II Kayak and Canoe Load Assists

2009-03-04T15:32:00.003-05:00

nbsp;   If you've already got a kayak or canoe rack on your vehicle, but you wish lifting your boat up onto the roof wasn't quite so cumbersome, these load assist options from Yakima and Thule will help you get that boat on the roof without having to trade your existing rack for an expensive roller system. The Thule 847 Outrigger II Kayak / Canoe Rack Loader fits Thule square bar roof racks, and when not in use, the telescoping arm slides back inside the crossbar. Then the integrated load stop flips down and locks the Outrigger in place, so it'll never slide out unexpectedly and hit you in the head. Installing this might take all of three minutes. Pop off the end cap on your roof rack's load bar, slide the Outrigger II into the load bar flat side down, and tighten the retainer bolt with the included allen wrench. If you need to install an Outrigger on both sides of your vehicle, you may have to put one in the front crossbar and one in the rear if you have shorter crossbars.
    If you have a Yakima round bar base rack, the Yakima 4018 Boatloader Canoe and Kayak Side Load Assist will work like an extra set of hands, holding up one end of your boat while you lift the other onto your roof. The round load stop at the end of the BoatLoader ensures your boat won't slide off no matter how much the BoatLoader might rotate. Installation is ridiculously simple, just remove the end cap from one of your roof rack's load bars and slide the BoatLoader in place (the retainer bolt should be placed underneath the crossbar, not on top of it). Grab the included hex wrench, tighten the retainer bolt, and you're ready to go. If you're installing one on each side of your roof rack, you might not be able to install them both in the same crossbar if your bars are short. Tighten the large wingnut on the right-hand side of the BoatLoader to keep it in place inside the load bar when not in use.
    Both of these load assist options work well with kayak saddles, J style cradles, canoe carrier brackets, or kayak stackers. Just remember that these are not meant to take the place of longer load bars, so even though they will hold up your kayak or canoe while you load it, please don't use them as load bearing bars while you're on the road. That would be dangerous. We want these products to make your trips easier, so use them as recommended and they'll do just that.

Canoe Brackets from Yakima

2009-03-04T12:54:00.002-05:00

When you want to carry a canoe on your vehicles roof rack, you know you've got a couple of options. You could just strap the boat directly to the bars really tight to prevent it from shifting side to side, and hope you don't damage the gunwales, but a better option is to use a set of canoe brackets. Yakima's 5007 Canoe Gunwale Brackets mount quickly to Yakima round bars and Thule square bars. They will also work great on a Mirage Truck Rack (just remove the "tabs" from the mounting hardware, as Mirage Racks use a slightly larger diameter crossbar than Yakima). They can be repositioned in seconds to accommodate different width canoes, or to move your boat to one side. Yakima's Gunwale Brackets feature a soft gripping surface with a rounded shape to hold your canoe gently but firmly in place. This design, coupled with their low profile, also makes loading and unloading your canoe easier. They include a pair of Yakima's Heavy Duty Straps with padded buckles to tie your boat down, but bow/stern tie downs are not included, so if you don't already have some, we definitely recommend that you grab a pair to complete your canoe rack.

If you're looking for something that will do double duty as a ladder or lumber rack, or if money's tight, Yakima's 5000 Load Stops and Canoe Gunwale Brackets are just the thing. Yakima's Load Stops are perfect for keeping any load from shifting side to side on your roof, from canoes to light loads of lumber. They mount very similarly to Yakima's Gunwale Brackets, but are only compatible with round bars. They will fit on Mirage Truck Racks, but it is a very tight fit, so we would recommend use of Yakima's Gunwale brackets instead of Load Stops on a Mirage Rack whenever possible. Tiedown straps and Bow and Stern Tie Downs are not included, but are required to complete your canoe rack if you don't already have some. Just as we've come to expect from them, no matter what your load (or your budget), Yakima's got you covered.

Sport Rack's J Stacker Kayak Cradles

2009-03-04T11:10:00.001-05:00

For carrying your kayak to and from the water when bar space and extra cash are in short supply, look no further than the Sport Rack abr511 Kayak Carrier J Stacker for Car Roof Racks. This J style kayak cradle set is built by Thule, and is very similar to the Thule Hull-a-Port. The mounting hardware is incredibly easy to work with, you'll only need to tighten two wingnuts on each cradle to mount the J Stacker on your Thule, Yakima, or factory installed roof rack crossbars. If Thule's fit guide shows that their 835 Hull-a-Port will fit your base rack, then the J Stacker will work for you as well. For thicker factory bars, the Thule Xadapt3 Adapter Kit provides longer mounting bolts(sold separately). Its space saving design takes up as little as 13" of bar space on your roof rack, giving you plenty of room to carry other gear even on top of smaller vehicles. The Sport Rack J Stacker includes everything you'll need to carry one boat, including load straps and bow/stern tiedown ropes. The J Stacker is a quality kayak rack at a great price, so if you need a new set of cradles for your boat, check it out at rackwarehouse.com today!

The Thule Hullavator Kayak Load Assist Roof Rack Kayak Carrier

2009-03-03T15:44:00.006-05:00

There are a lot of different products that make it easier to load and unload kayaks, but the Hullavator is truly in a class by itself. The Thule 897xt Hullavator Lift Assist Roof Rack Kayak Carrier uses gas struts to lift up to 90% of your boat's weight, and it can lower your kayak up to 40" from the roof of your vehicle for easy one person loading. The Hullavator gives you the same ease of use you'd experience with a trailer, but for a much smaller price tag and no bulky trailer. The Hullavator's premium padded cradles adjust to fit your kayak's width (up to 36") for a perfect fit. It can accommodate kayaks up to 75lbs. and includes heavy duty tiedown straps with padded buckles, and ratcheting bow/stern tiedown ropes. We recommend the addition of Thule's 512 Lock Cores, 2 Pack to protect your new Hullavator from theft. This won't lock your kayak, just the Hullavator. For complete kayak security, we recommend a kayak locking cable like the Lasso Kayak Security Cable.
The Hullavator works great on Thule's square bars, aero bars, Xsporter pickup truck rack, or on Yakima's round bars, and all mounting hardware and necessary tools are included. You rack must have between 4" and 8" of bar (the same amount front and rear) protruding from the tower on the side of the vehicle where you intend to install the Hullavator. One tip we can give you to make installation much easier: at Step Five-Assemble Arm to Bar Mount in the installation instructions, it helps to pull the black lifting arm assembly away from the silver kayak cradle base and wedge a small object (perhaps a tennis ball) between the two. This will hold the arm assembly open and make it much easier to insert the hinge pin. (Just don't use an object that will scratch the Hullavator's finish, or that will be damaged by being compressed.) We do recommend that you familiarize yourself with the Hullavator instructions before you install the Hullavator on your base rack. Setting up the Hullavator is a bit more complex than most other roof mounted kayak racks, but as long as you follow the instructions and take your time, you'll have the best looking, highest performing kayak rack on your block.

Yakima's New RailGrab Towers for Factory Installed Side Rails

2009-03-03T10:57:00.003-05:00

    Yakima has always had rock-solid options for putting crossbars on your vehicle's factory installed rails. Their LowRider and LowRider Max rack systems fit most vehicles with raised rails and the Locking EZ Rider towers fit most vehicles with flush rails. But now, Yakima has one tower system that works on both types of factory rails, the RailGrab. With the new Yakima 0138 RailGrab Towers for Railing Mounted Car Roof Racks, you can put Yakima crossbars on practically any factory installed rails, but this isn't your usual One Size "Fits" All situation. You truly get a custom fit for your rack, and if you buy a new vehicle, or you want to swap your rack between two vehicles, you'll still get a great, low-profile rack that fits like a glove regardless of factory rail type or size.
    Installing Railgrab towers won't take very long. For the front crossbar, first slide two towers onto the bar and install the end caps to keep the towers from sliding off. Then set the towers and bar onto your vehicle's rails and adjust the "claw" on the back of each tower. For most side rails the smaller claw (which comes pre-installed) is the correct choice, but if you have oversize rails you may need to swap these for the included larger claws. To adjust or remove the claws, just loosen the thumbscrew (not as painful as it sounds!), swap out the claws if necessary, slide the claw up or down to match the height of your rails, and tighten them in place. If your rails have a notch running along the inner side, you'll want to match the claws up to that notch instead of the rail's total height. Now flip the front covers down on the RailGrab towers and use the included hex wrench to tighten the black claw tightener bolt. This will secure the towers to your rails. You may need to alternate between tightening the claws and adjusting their height to get the best fit on some factory rails. Next, center the crossbar so you have an even amount of bar sticking out from either tower and tighten the silver bolt to lock the crossbar in place. Repeat this process for the rear crossbar and pat yourself on the back. You've just installed a top of the line Yakima roof rack. If you'd like even more details on setting up RailGrab towers you can download the complete RailGrab instructions straight from Yakima.com.
    It may not be magic, but Yakima's RailGrab towers will have you saying "Pick a car, any car! And I can rack it!" Just grab a set of Yakima RoundBars to complete your roof rack, and maybe a 4 pack of Yakima SKS Lock Cores to keep your rack from "magically" disappearing, and you'll be equipped for that great weekend trip faster than you can say abracadabra!

Yakima's Hully Rollers

2009-02-27T17:29:00.005-05:00

Does loading your big, heavy kayak onto the roof of your vehicle make your boating trip seem more like a chore than a day at the beach? You don't need divine intervention to get that kayak up there with ease, just Yakima's Hully Rollers. Yakima 4035 Hully Rollers Kayak Cradles can take the place of standard cradles at the rear of your boat, letting your roll that kayak up and into place in seconds. Once your kayak is in position, the rollers can be locked in place, so you'll never have to worry about your boat making an unexpected detour. They even come with a load strap and bow/stern tiedown strap to make sure you'll have everything you need to get your kayak safely from place to place. Hully Rollers are sold in pairs, so if you don't already have saddles for the front of your boat, you'll probably want to get a set of Mako Saddles to complete your kayak rack. Yakima's Hully Rollers come with all the hardware you'll need to mount them on Yakima roundbars or Thule square bars. They can also be installed on most factory racks with Yakima's Mighty Mounts or Universal Might Mounts (sold separately.)

Thule's Top Deck Kayak Saddles

2009-02-27T13:39:00.002-05:00

If you need a complete kayak rack to get your boat to and from the water this summer, but you don't want to break the bank, take a look at Thule's 881 Top Deck Kayak Saddles. Thule's Top Deck Saddles work with most factory installed roof racks, Thule and Yakima roof racks, and the Thule Xsporter pickup truck rack. They're super easy to install, and they'll hold just about any kayak up to 75 pounds in weight and up to 36" wide. Top Deck saddles cradle most hull types quite well, but the cradles' angles are not adjustable, so they aren't recommended for kayaks with highly curved bottoms or lightweight, easily deformed hulls. The included load straps, bow/stern tiedown ropes, and integrated rubber padding on the saddles themselves ensure your kayak stays in place, whether you're going across town or across country.

The ShowBoat Kayak and Canoe Roller System from Yakima

2009-02-26T17:14:00.003-05:00

The Yakima 4040 ShowBoat Slide-Out Roller System beats all other kayak and canoe roller systems hands down. It's wide enough to load two boats side by side (without having to buy two sets of rollers!) fits on almost any roof rack, and it supports up to half of your boat's weight. The ShowBoat slides out up to 34" over the rear of your vehicle, so you won't have to worry about scraping your boat across your roof. When you're done loading your boat, just slide the ShowBoat back in out of the way and flip the two red safety latches back to lock the ShowBoat in place. The ShowBoat requires a pair of Yakima round bars for use as the telescoping poles that support the roller. For most vehicles we recommend the Yakima 0410 66" Round bars . The bars are sold separately because the bar length required varies depending on your vehicle. It mounts to round, square, and most factory installed roof rack crossbars. The ShowBoat is a great accessory for any kayak or canoe rack, and it really lets you save your energy and get your exercise paddling out on the water, instead of weight-training with your boat!

Thule's Set-to-Go Kayak Saddles

2009-02-25T17:26:00.002-05:00

Looking for kayak saddles that gently cradle the hull, but hold it in place with an iron grip? Look no further than the Thule 878xt Set-To-Go Roof Rack Kayak Saddles. The cradles feature a soft, rubbery gripping surface for a strong, stable hold and maximum hull protection. Set-to-Go saddles have three pivot point per saddle to allow the gripping surface to conform to your kayak's hull with ease. Set-to-Go saddles are sold in pairs, so you'll need to pick up two pairs for your kayak. Or you could also put a set Thule's 875xt HydroGlide Kayak Saddles in back for easier loading and unloading, since the Set-to-Go saddles don't lend themselves to sliding a kayak in from the back that well.
Each pair of Set-to-Go saddles includes a load strap with padded buckle, a ratcheting bow/stern tiedown, and all the mounting hardware. They fit quite nicely on square bars, round bars, Thule's aero bars, and many factory installed roof racks. Thule's Set-to-Go saddles are rated to carry kayaks measuring up to 36" wide and weighing up to 75 pounds. (Of course, if your rack is rated for less than 75 pounds, don't exceed that lower weight rating.)

Yakima's Mako and MakoAero Saddles Kayak Cradles

2009-02-25T15:17:00.005-05:00

Carrying a kayak "flat" on a set of kayak saddles is really the way to go if you want to baby your boat. This is especially true with newer lightweight kayaks, as carrying them up on their sides could deform the hull. Yakima's Mako Saddles make it easy carry your boat, with thick felt pads on the cradles that cushion the hull and make it easy to slide your boat up onto the roof. Special inset rubber pads grip the hull when you tighten the load straps for a firm but gentle hold on your kayak. Mako saddles are curved to fit most hull types, and are sold in pairs. Two pairs of saddles are required for each kayak, so you can use Mako saddles for both the front and back, or you can pair them with Yakima's Hully Rollers to make loading your kayak even easier. Each pair of Mako Saddles includes one load strap with padded cam buckle, one BowStern tiedown strap, and all necessary mounting hardware. Yakima's 4037 Mako Saddles Kayak Cradles will mount to round or square bars right out of the box, and may be locked to your roof rack with Yakima's Accessory Lock Housings and SKS Lock Cores (both sold separately.) The Yakima 4044 Mako Aero Saddles Kayak Cradles are designed to fit round, square, and most factory installed crossbars, and each pair of MakoAero Saddles can be locked with a 2 Pack of SKS Lock Cores (not included.) TracRac has also confirmed that the Mako Aero Saddles are compatible with their truck and van rack systems. This is great news, as TracRac's kayak cradles have been unavailable for some time now. So if you'd like some kayak cradles that'll bite onto your boat like a shark on a steak, but without taking big chunks out of your boat (or your wallet), grab yourself some Mako Saddles today and head out onto the water. Don't just take our word for it...watch these demonstrations of Yakima's Mako Saddles and see for yourself!

Mako Saddles for Yakima and Thule Roof Racks

MakoAero Saddles for Factory Roof Racks

Hull-a-Port PRO J Style Kayak Carriers From Thule

2009-02-25T11:01:00.004-05:00

J style kayak racks are becoming much more popular now as vehicles keep get smaller and more streamlined. Smaller vehicles usually get better gas mileage, so instead of hitting our heads on crossbars that stick out a foot on either side, we get smaller roof racks. Carrying several boats on a smaller roof rack is much easier with a J style rack like the Thule 835pro Hull-a-port Kayak Rack. Not only will the Hull-a-Port PRO maximize the available space on your roof, it'll even help reduce gas mileage and wind noise by folding down flat when you're not carrying a kayak. It comes with all the straps and tiedowns you'll need to carry one kayak, and the load strap "buckle bumpers" and padded cradles ensure your kayak's hull will stay in pristine condition. Rust-resistant, heavy duty steel tubing and hardware mean the Hull-a-Port PRO will give you years of worry-free operation.
The Hull-a-Port PRO is easy to load and unload, with a centrally located locking lever to fold and unfold the cradle. A strap holder at the top of the cradle allows you to put the load straps in place before you load the kayak, so you won't have to reach up and over the boat to tie it down. Installation should only take a couple of minutes. All you have to do is stick the mounting bolts down through the bottom of the cradles (you may need to pull the rubber cushion a bit to the side), set them on the bars, and attach the mounting plates underneath the crossbars with the included wingnuts. The Hull-a-Port PRO kayak rack installs easily on square bars, round bars, Thule aero bars, and most factory racks. For mounting on the Thule Xsporter, or on factory racks with thicker crossbars, Thule's Xadapt3 Hull-a-Port Adapter Kit provides longer mounting bolts.

RockyMounts Lariat SL and SLX Bike Trays for Mountain Bikes and Road Bikes

2009-02-24T17:30:00.002-05:00

The Rocky Mounts Lariat Fork Mount Bike Tray is an excellent balance of functionality and price. While significantly less expensive than bike trays from Thule and Yakima, the Lariat fits on their roof racks like a glove. The head is a rugged, low profile cast metal unit and features a long throw, stainless steel quick release skewer. The head is attached to the front crossbar using tamper-resistant bolts. For additional anti-theft security, you can add a Rocky Mounts Lock Core to the skewer.
The Lariat is available in two sizes. The Lariat SL has a 43" long aluminum tray and is designed to hold road bikes and mountain bikes with tires up to 2.3" wide. The larger Lariat SLX has a 45" long aluminum tray designed to hold mountain bikes with tires up to 3" wide. The Lariat SL is compatible with some disc brakes, the SLX is not. So if you need the wide tray, or your disc brakes refuse to "play nice" with the slimmer SL tray, grab the Rocky Mounts Disc Brake Adapter. This kit lets you convert either version of the Lariat tray to a disc brake's best friend. The Rocky Mounts Lariat SL and the Rocky Mounts Lariat SLX will mount to Thule square bar racks and Yakima round bar racks. They will not, however, fit on factory racks or on Thule's aero bar racks.

The Yakima Boa Bicycle Carrier for Car Roof Racks

2009-02-24T15:51:00.003-05:00

If you're looking for a basic fork mount bicycle carrier at a great price, the Yakima 2065 Boa Bicycle Carrier for Car Roof Racks is the rack for you. Just like a real boa constrictor, once the Yakima Boa's quick release skewer gets a grip on your bike, it's not going anywhere. It uses the same rugged plastic head unit as the Copperhead, with a universal skewer that can be locked with one SKS Lock Core (not included.) Instead of a long tray like that on most fork mounts, the Boa has a short plastic rear tray that will allow the rear wheel to be attached to the rear crossbar on your roof rack. You do have to be careful though, because in order for this bike rack to work properly, the distance between your bike's front fork rear wheel must be within a few inches of the distance between the bars on your roof rack. The Boa can be safely mounted on racks whose crossbars are between 32" and 50" apart, so if your roof rack has a shorter or longer span the Boa will not work at all. Also, if you use two Boas at once, both bikes will need to be roughly the same length; if they have different wheel spans, two Boas most likely will not work. The Yakima Boa will fit on Yakima round bars or Thule square bars, and installation is a breeze. Tighten a few bolts with the included Allen wrench on the front, tighten a wing nut on the back, and you're ready to go!

Thule's 558p Bike Carrier for Tandems and Recumbents

2009-02-24T11:43:00.004-05:00

The Thule 558p Tandem Bike Carrier for Roof Racks offers a safe way to carry your tandem or recumbent bike around town or across the country. This bike mount features a swiveling head that allows you to attach the fork to the skewer without having to lift the whole bike on top of your rack. Once the fork is in place, just lift the rear wheel up onto the tray and strap it down. The Thule Tandem bicycle tray mounts directly to Yakima round bars or Thule square bars, but is not compatible with Thule aero bars, the Xsporter, or factory racks. Also, a minimum of 22” between the front and back bars is required to mount the Tandem to your roof rack. The only tool required for installation is a 1/2" wrench (not included.) for added security, the use of Thule's 538 Cable Lock with the Tandem carrier is highly recommended, as the Tandem carrier does not have any built-in locking functionality. Though the lack of a locking feature is an inconvenience, the 558p Tandem Bicycle Carrier is an otherwise fine fork mount that will give you years of dependable service.

The Thule Sidarm Upright Bike Carrier

2009-02-24T10:20:00.002-05:00

If you’re looking for a top quality upright mount, look no further than the Thule 594 Side Arm Upright Bicycle Carrier. A perfect match for odd frame styles or carbon-fiber frames, the SideArm adjusts to clamp on to the front tire in front of the fork on the bike. This rugged rack will accommodate any wheel size from 20-29", and loading a bike can take as little as 30 seconds.
The SideArm comes pre-assembled for passenger side mounting, but the SideArm instructions give full details on reversing the mechanism for mounting on the driver's side. The only tricky part of mounting the SideArm to your roof rack is getting some of the carriage bolts through the baseplate on the side where the arm is located. Just follow the instructions on removing the baseplate, inserting the bolts, and reinstalling the base plate, and you'll do fine. The SideArm includes all the hardware you need to mount it on round or square bars. For mounting on Thule aero bars or a Thule Xsporter, a Thule Xadapt kit is needed. Two lock cylinders are required if you want added security. (One lock secures the SideArm to your roof rack, the other locks the bike to the SideArm.) Still have questions about the SideArm? Do you already have a SideArm but you're having trouble installing it? Give us a ring at 1-800-272-5362 and let us share our expertise with you.

Yakima's Raptor and Raptor Aero Upright Bicycle Carriers

2009-02-23T15:21:00.004-05:00

The Yakima 2085 Raptor Upright Bicycle Carrier and the Yakima 2093 Raptor Aero Upright Bicycle Carrier are bicycle trays that have stood the test of time. While the Raptor has undergone a few small improvements over time, the same basic design has been in use for many years, and it's a great choice for anyone who wants a dependable, no-frills upright bike carrier. Its long tray holds almost any length bicycle (except tandems and recumbents), and the down tube clamping arm accepts most common frame types. This clamping system may not work on some odd shaped frames, and is not recommended for use with carbon fiber frames (you wouldn't want the clamp to deform your carbon fiber frame).
Loading a bike onto the Raptor is easy. Just loosen the big red knob on the clamp a few turns, line the bike up in the tray, tighten the clamp back up, and strap the wheels down. The standard Raptor fits round and square bars, and can be adapted to many factory racks with Yakimas Mighty Mounts. The Raptor Aero comes with Yakima's Universal Mighty Mount hardware, and fits round, square, and most factory racks right out of the box. The Raptor can be locked with one SKS Lock Core (sold separately). On round and square bars this also locks the tray to your roof rack when a bike is loaded. To lock the tray to your factory bars, you can use Yakima's 7220 Accessory Lock Housings. (The bars on many factory racks aren't locked with a key, though, so Accessory Locks may not be much help in those cases.)

Thule Cargo Boxes-Now Shipped Right To Your Doorstep

2009-02-23T12:59:00.007-05:00

    Many of us have had that bad road trip. You know the one. Where you can't see anything through the rear-view mirror because of all the gear crammed into the back seat. Half of the seats are folded down to make room for skis. None of us want to go through that again. A Thule Cargo Box is a great way to increase your vehicle's cargo space, and now you can have one shipped right to you from The Rack Warehouse.
    You may have checked out Thule cargo boxes online at www.rackwarehouse.com before, and found that they were available for in-store purchase only. The reason for this was that freight costs were quite high, and we did not fell it reasonable to expect our customers to pay such high shipping fees. But we have been working together with freight companies to significantly reduce these costs, and we are happy to be able to pass these savings on to you. We can now ship Thule cargo boxes anywhere in the contiguous 48 states (sorry, we still do not ship cargo boxes to Alaska or Hawaii).
    So whether you need a small roof top box like the Ascent 1100 for carrying a few pairs of skis, or a big 21 cubic foot box like the Atlantis 2100 to carry everything but the kitchen sink, we can have it delivered to you in in 3-5 business days. Expedited shipping is not available for cargo boxes, so if you order one online, please choose "UPS Ground" as your shipping method during checkout. (Even though your cargo box will be shipped via freight truck, not UPS, we will charge you the lower UPS Ground rate.) If you have any questions, or would prefer place an order over the phone, feel free to give us a call at 1-800-272-5362. We'll be happy answer any questions you might have.

Thule's 2009 Catalog is out!

2009-02-23T10:50:00.002-05:00

Thule's new 2009 catalog is out, so you can finally sneak a peak at some exciting new Thule rack products like the Helium ultra light aluminum hitch rack. You can fill out the 2009 Thule catalog request form on Thule's website and have one sent right to you. Of course, if you'd rather not wait for it to arrive in the mail, you can view the 2009 Thule catalog online as well.

The SteelHead Fork Mount Bike Tray from Yakima

2009-02-20T16:12:00.003-05:00

Just like the name says, the Yakima 2045 SteelHead Bicycle Carrier for Car Roof Racks has an all steel head unit that's built to last. It's aerodynamic design not only looks good, it increases stability, which is great for those long trips. It's not compatible with disc brakes, though, so if your bike has disc brakes you may want to check out the Yakima 2098 ForkLift. The SteelHead will carry any size bike except for recumbent and tandem models. The SteelHead is a prefect fit for Yakima aficionados, and mounting it to your Yakima roof rack is a breeze. This model only fits Yakima round bars, so if you have a different brand rack you'll want to look at a different bike rack. Once you've mounted the SteelHead to your rack, just make sure the skewer's security peg is lined up with the corresponding hole in the fork block while threading the adjustment knob onto the skewer. After it’s installed it's smooth sailing down the road.

Thule's Criterium Upright Bike Carrier

2009-02-20T11:43:00.003-05:00

Thule’s 598 Criterium Upright Bicycle - Bike Carrier for Roof Racks is a nice step up from the Big Mouth. The clamping arm features a turn dial tightening knob that allows for down tubes up to 3 3/8” in diameter. This upright roof rack mounted bike rack will work with nearly any bicycle, regardless of frame style. Two lock cylinders are recommended for complete locking security on this model. One lock cylinder secures the bike to the carrier, and the other will secure the carrier to your roof rack. This rack requires only a small amount of assembly. Just follow the Criterium installation instructions and make sure to put the correct length t-bolt in their corresponding places. No tools are needed installation. The Criterium will work on round, square, and Thule aero bars. For mounting on aero bars, a Thule's Xadapt8 adapter hardware package is needed. The Criterium can also be adapted to fit on most factory installed roof racks with the Thule 532 Ride-On Bike Adapter.

The Yakima SprocketRocket

2009-02-20T10:19:00.002-05:00

The Yakima 2090 Sprocket Rocket Bicycle Carrier for Car Roof Racks is Yakima’s latest design in fork mount bike racks, and they've spared no expense on style and security. Like the HighRoller, this model has a tough, double wall wheel tray that's as easy on the eyes as it is to operate. The rear wheel strap assembly slides smoothly on the tray for quick, one-hand adjustment to your bike's wheelbase. The head unit is rugged, powder coated steel, and the stainless steel skewer employs an integrated tensioning knob you can adjust with one hand. The skewer tension adjustment knob is normally hidden beneath a flip-up lockable steel cover, so the addition of one SKS Lock Core (sold seperately) gives you the best security available in a fork mount bike carrier. The SprocketRocket accommodates fat or skinny tires, as well as most disc brake types.
Installation is simple. The head unit hinges open and closes around your roof rack's crossbar, and is tightened in place when you push down the red switch on top of the head. The skewer slides through both halves of the head unit, for complete security when your skewer is locked. For the rear, a Yakima SnapAround wraps around the crossbar and is connected to the tray with a bolt and wingnut. The SprocketRocket is compatible with Yakima round bars and Thule square bars, and all mounting hardware is included. For even more info, you can download the complete SprocketRocket instructions, or watch the following demonstration of the Yakima Sprocket Rocket.

The Echelon Fork Mount Bike Carrier From Thule

2009-02-18T16:47:00.001-05:00

The 518 Echelon Roof Rack Mounted Bike Carrier is Thule's premium fork mount bike tray. This model features a reinforced double wall wheel tray and all steel head unit for unparalleled strength and stability. Utilizing Thule's new Equalized Twin Cam clamping system, the Echelon holds your bicycle's fork with an iron grip. The center mounted skewer adjustment dial allows you to adjust the skewer tension with one hand. Adding a Thule lock core (not included) to the Echelon gives you complete security, as the steel head unit closes over the adjustment dial and mounting hardware.
Not only is the Echelon built to last, its streamlined design and aluminum tray look great. Installation is simple, even if you're not mechanically inclined. Just grab the included allen wrench and the instructions and you'll be done in no time. The Echelon mounts directly to square or round bars, and with the addition of Thule's Xadapt 9 adapter kit, the echelon can also be mounted to Thule's aero bar racks or Xsporter. The wheel tray accepts tire sizes up to 2.6 inches in width, and the head will accept nearly any disc brake/suspension fork combo made. The Echelon demonstrates exactly the type of quality we've all come to expect from Thule.

Thule's Big Mouth Upright Bicycle Carrier

2009-02-18T12:58:00.003-05:00

The Thule 599xtr Big Mouth Upright Bike Carrier is the staple in Thule’s line of bike racks. Easily the most popular model, the Big Mouth provides a self adjusting clamp to grab hold of the diagonal down tube on the frame of your bike. It can be used with a tube as big as 3 1/8” in diameter. Better still, the Big Mouth can be mounted for access from either side of the vehicle, and the handle which operates the down tube clamp is at the bottom of the clamping arm, meaning you won't need a stepladder to load and release your bike! Both wheels are strapped down to the tray. It works quite well with kids bikes. This model is great for driving around town or across country, and with such fast and easy loading and its great price, it's not hard to see why this has become one of Thule's best selling bike trays.
If you'd like to leave your bicycle unattended without worrying about somebody stealing it, the Big Mouth has you covered. Just pop in one Thule lock core (sold separately) and you can lock the clamp to your bike's down tube. This also locks the tray to your roof rack. Installation has a few more steps in this model than some others. The Big Mouth comes set up to mount on the passenger side of your vehicle, but if you need to mount it on the driver's side, just follow the instructions for moving the clamp assembly to the other end of the tray. Then follow the pictures in the manual on how the mounting hardware is put together. The Big Mouth mounts directly to square and round bars right out of the box. If you have a Thule aero bar rack or an Xsporter, you will need Thule's Xadapt2 Adapter Kit to mount the Big Mouth.

The Thule Peloton Fork Mount Bike Tray

2009-02-18T09:25:00.001-05:00

The Thule 517 Peloton Roof Rack Mounted Bike Carrier is one of the more popular bike racks sold by Thule. This bike tray features a hard plastic head unit with one finger skewer adjustment, and it's compatible with disc brakes and suspension forks. The rear wheel tray is a super stiff double wall design for maximum strength and stability, and the sleek black finish looks great on any vehicle. Security for the Peloton is is accomplished with one Thule lock core, which is within easy reach from either side of the tray. When locked, the fork of the bike is locked to the skewer and it prevents anyone from taking the Peloton off the bar rack as well. (Lock cylinders do have to be purchased separately however.) A hex-key wrench is provided and is the only tool needed for installation. The Peloton will work on round, square, and Thule aero bars. For the aero bars, a Thule Xadapt kit is needed. Before you install this bad boy, decide whether the rear wheel strap needs to be in front of the rear mounting hardware or behind it. It all depends on how far apart your bars are from each other. Also, if you have a hatchback or wagon, be careful when opening the door. On some roof racks the hatch may hit the end of the tray. If this happens to you, you may be able to move your roof rack forward, or try mounting the tray facing the backwards.

Yakima Aquires RACKandROLL Trailers

2009-02-17T12:42:00.001-05:00

If you've ever seen a RACKandROLL trailer out on the road, you know you want one. With a sleek, corrosion resistant aluminum frame, alloy wheels, and impressive motorcycle suspension, what's not to love? Not to mention all the benefits of a roof rack with virtually none of the lifting! These trailers have always been of the highest quality, and with Yakima's recent acquisition of RACKandROLL™, LLC (www.rackandroll.com), things can only get better.
Reinforcing their commitment to enable more consumers to experience the Yakima brand of innovative cargo management solutions, Yakima Products Inc. announced January 19th their acquisition of RACKandROLL™, LLC, a manufacturer of high performance multi-sport trailers based in Frederick, Maryland. Appealing to multi-sport outdoor enthusiasts, paddlers, cyclists and family campers, Yakima RACKandROLL™ trailers and accessories will enable consumers to apply Yakima’s broad line of top of car gear management solutions for transporting kayaks, bikes, camping equipment and other cargo to high performance multi-sport trailers. With the addition of trailers to its existing line of premium cargo management equipment offerings, Yakima provides consumers with the most innovative, smart choices for carrying their outdoor gear. The trailers, branded Yakima RACKandROLL, will be sold through RACKandROLL’s existing distribution and current Yakima dealers effective immediately.

"We continually strive to bring the smartest cargo management solutions to market to meet the needs of paddlers, cyclists, campers and outdoor enthusiasts seeking the easiest ways to transport their gear," said Jerry Heinlen, CEO of Yakima. "RACKandROLL trailers are an excellent fit with the Yakima brand, our consumers, our customers, and our business model. Adding RACKandROLL to our Yakima family enables us to immediately provide more solutions to every consumer segment we serve... Significant synergies in manufacturing and distribution between RACKandROLL trailers and current Yakima product offerings will allow us to integrate this new business quickly. Most important, the new Yakima RACKandROLL line of trailers clearly supports Yakima’s position as the premium brand in the cargo management equipment category and gives our customers and business partners new ways to grow their business in 2009 and beyond."
Here at the Rack Warehouse, we believe RACKand ROLL's customer service will rise to even greater heights under Yakima's care. With Yakima's extensive experience in the manufacture and distribution of high quality gear management systems, we expect fewer shipping delays and greater product availability on RACKandROLL trailers and accessories than ever before.

The Yakima 2091 High Roller Upright Bicycle Carrier

2009-02-16T16:45:00.002-05:00

Like the name says, the Yakima 2091 High Roller Upright Bicycle Carrier is Yakima's high end upright bike carrier. While somewhat similar in design to the King Cobra, the HighRoller has a sleeker look, with a durable gray automotive finish that's a great match for any color vehicle. It sports a beefy double-wall wheel tray (similar to the SprocketRocket) with an easily adjustable sliding rear wheel strap that can be operated from either side of the vehicle. The HighRoller accepts bikes with tire sizes from 20" to 29". Another feature that makes this bike rack stand out from the crowd is the custom-molded covers that go over the mounting hardware in the front, giving the HighRoller a clean, aerodynamic look while keeping thieves snatching your bike tray.This rack is very easy to use, with large red release button and fine adjustment knob to cinch down the front wheel, and integrated locking cable for complete locking security (one SKS lock core is recommended, sold seperately). This rack comes complete out of the box and is a quick, tool free install, requiring only minor assembly. The HighRoller fits Yakima and Thule roof racks, and may be adapted to fit many factory racks with Yakima's Mighty Mounts.

The Yakima 2084 King Cobra Upright Bike Tray

2009-02-16T14:58:00.005-05:00

The Yakima 2084 King Cobra Upright Bicycle Carrier is the answer to fitting any bike regardless of wheel size and frame style. This roof mounted bike rack has a frame that grabs the front wheel of the bike, while the rear wheel is strapped down to the tray. This is one of the fastest bike racks you can get when it comes to mounting your bike. Just set the bike up there, bring the frames around the front wheel, strap the back wheel and literally within a minute you are set and ready to drive off. An integrated cable lock wraps around the frame of the bike and simltaneously locks the bike tray to your roof rack (cable lock requires one SKS lock core, sold seperately). When not is use it folds down for a lower profile, so with most garages clearance isn’t an issue. Just remember to take your bikes off before you go into that garage!

The Yakima Viper Roof Rack Mounted Bike Rack

2009-02-16T12:50:00.005-05:00

You can tell they put a lot of thought and effort into making the Yakima 2000 Viper Fork Mounted Bicycle Rack. This is Yakima’s first disc brake compatible roof rack mounted bike rack. When you look at this carrier the first thing that stands out is the beefed up skewer. They went to extremes on this one to make sure no thief would waste their time on it. The Viper is also great because it will work on Yakima round bars or Thule square bars and also has the advantage of having an all metal head unit as well. Pop the bike carrier on to the rack, clamp down the red lever, and slide the skewer in and your done. No hassles, no worries.

Tips For Installing A Hitch Mounted Bike Rack

2009-02-13T17:55:00.002-05:00

    Before you consider buying a hitch receiver mounted bike rack, you'll probably need to know what size receiver you have. If the size isn't printed somewhere on the receiver, you can measure it quite easily. Just grab a tape measure or ruler, remove the protective cap (if you have one) from the end of your receiver, and measure the space between the walls of the receiver. Whether you measure left-to-right or top-to-bottom won't matter-the measurement will be the same.
    The standard sizes of hitch receivers are 2" or 1 1/4". If your measurement is just under one of these two measurements you may have to remove rust or road grit from your receiver. Before you go searching for tools, try removing the build-up with your finger; sometimes the gunk comes out pretty easily. If that doesn't work you may need to use sandpaper or a metal file. You could also use a flat head screwdriver to chip and scrape the rust from a receiver. To help keep your receiver rust and dirt free after you've cleaned it up, make sure you place the protective cap over the open end when you're not using it. If you don't have a cap for your hitch, you can usually pick up a replacement cap wherever you had your receiver installed. Also, spraying the inside of your receiver with a little silicone spray will help prevent corrosion and keep your bike rack from getting stuck in a rusty receiver.
    The setup of a hitch mounted bike rack varies from model to model. For most hitch racks this involves bolting the tongue assembly (the part that slides into your vehicles' hitch receiver) to mast assembly (the upright post). Some models may also need to have the bike arm assembly bolted to the mast, but most come pre-assembled. Tray style hitch racks take slightly more assembly, as each tray must be bolted in place individually. The only tool needed for assemly is usually an adjustable wrench.

Kayak Carrying Systems and Load Assist Options

2009-02-13T13:10:00.002-05:00

Are you ready for spring yet? Pretty soon it'll be kayak season again, so it's time to start thinking about how you're going to get your kayaks down to the water. If your vehicle has a roof rack, all you need now are some kayak saddles...or J-racks...or foam pads...or rollers... Actually, there are a lot of options, so why not read on and decide which kayak racks best suit your needs?

Kayak Carriers for Roof Racks and Pickup Truck Racks

    First off, you'll want to decide how many kayaks you'll need to carry at once. Kayak saddles are a great way to carry your boat flat on its bottom, and may be paired with rollers in the back to make loading your kayak easier. This is the perfect way to carry lighter kayaks to avoid deforming the hull. Most factory installed roof racks are only wide enough to carry one kayak this way. This also applies to racks on smaller vehicles, so you may want to consider J-style kayak cradles instead.
    J-style kayak cradles carry your boat up at an angle, so they take up a lot less space on your roof rack. Most roof racks can hold at least two kayaks this way. Depending on the length of your roof rack's bars (and its weight capacity) you may be able to fit three or more kayaks at a time with J-style cradles. Loading the center kayak(s) will be more difficult this way, as you'll need to lift the kayak over the outermost cradles.
    Rather than mounting several sets of J-style cradles to your roof rack to carry several boats, consider kayak stackers. Available from Thule and Yakima, these stackers are rated to carry up to four kayaks at a time! They only come with enough tiedown straps necessary for one boat, so if you'll need to pick up more tiedown straps and bow and stern tiedowns to carry two or more kayaks.
    For those of us who'd rather get our workout paddling instead of struggling to lift our kayaks up onto the roof, there are plenty of different load assist options available. For kayak saddles, you could slide the boat on from the rear of the vehicle. A rolling system like Yakima's Hully Rollers makes this much easier. If the rear crossbar on your roof rack is too far forward to make regular rollers practical, Yakima's ShowBoat Slide-Out Roller System can be telescoped out from the rear crossbar to load and unload your boats. Other loading options include extension arms for Thule and Yakimas roof racks which slide out from the end of the crossbar, allowing you to rest one end of kayak on the extension while lifting the other end into your kayak cradles.
    The most innovative load assist by far is Thule's 897xt Hullavator Lift Assist Roof Rack Kayak Carrier. The Hullavator is a complete kayak carrying solution for one kayak, integrating padded kayak cradles with pneumatic struts which do most of the lifting for you. If you would like to see a video demonstrating the Thule Hullavator, click on the image at left.
    If you have a pickup truck or SUV, and would like to carry longer kayaks than your roof rack would normally allow, a hitch mounted T-bar may be just what you've been looking for. Yakima's DryDock and Thule's GoalPost both allow you to mount a standard crossbar on your hitch, and both are height adjustable. This setup allows you to utilize standard kayak cradles while giving you a stable, secure mount for longer boats. The Fulton Hitch Mount Canoe Loader is a similar system with a shorter, swiveling crossbar to help load the boat. While designed to carry canoes upside-down on their gunwales, you could also use it to carry a kayak. The swiveling rear mount makes one person loading and unloading of a boat much easier. Standard kayak cradles won't fit on the Fulton Canoe Loader though, so if your kayak's hull is fiberglass or is otherwise easily dented, we wouldn't recommend it, as you would need to strap the kayak directly to the rear crossbar.
    If you'd like to check out kayak carrying optinons in more detail, head on over to rackwarehouse.com. We stock everything you need to get your boats out of your garage and out on the water.

Bicycle Racks For Pick-Up Trucks

2009-02-11T11:35:00.002-05:00

Pickups are great for getting just about anything from Point A to Point B. Sand, lumber, appliances, you name it. But they're also great for carrying all your weekend gear, too. Most pickup truck have more than enough space in the bed to carry two or three bicycles, but without a way to secure your bicycles, both the bed and the bicycles end up getting scratched and dented. Here at The Rack Warehouse, we have plenty of Bicycle Racks for Pick-up Trucks.

Tailgate Mounted Bike Racks

Thule and Yakima both offer bike racks which can be mounted to your truck's tailgate in seconds. The Thule 501 Insta-Gater, Pick-up Truck Bicycle Rack holds one bicycle by the front tire and can be locked with on Thule Lock Core. The Yakima 1116 Beddy Joe Pick-up Truck Bed Mounted Bike Rack carries two bikes by the front forks (a cable lock is recommended for full locking security.) Both racks provide a strong, stable mount for your bikes while protecting your truck's bed. No tools are required for installation, just run the included straps up underneath the tailgate between the hinges and you're ready to go!

Truck Bed Mounted Bicycle Racks

    Unlike many truck bed mounted bike carriers, the Thule 822 Bed Rider Pick-up Truck Bicycle Rack requires no drilling. The Bed Rider utilizes a locking, pressure-mounted bar with rubberized gripping surfaces, providing a stable, scratch free bike mount. The Bed Rider carries up to two bikes by the front fork. Thule's BR1 Bed Rider Bicycle Truck Rack Add-On Fork Block can be added on to the Bed Rider for carrying more than two bikes. We recommend using a cable lock to lock your bikes to the Bed Rider.
    Most fork block for pick-up truck beds have to be bolted on. If you'd rather not drill through your new truck's bed, try out the Yakima 1132 BedHead Pick-up Truck Clamp-on Bicycle Carrier, or the Locking BedHead pictured at right. These fork blocks clamp onto your truck's bed rail, giving you a great fork mount for your bicycle without having to permanently mount it to your truck.
    For those of us who do want to bolt a fork block to our pick-up truck's bed or bed rail, there are several different fork blocks to choose from. The Rocky Mount 9mm Clutch Bolt-On Fork Mount, Yakima's BlockHead, and the Thule 821 Low Rider Fork Block Bicycle Mount are all high quality fork blocks with rugged 9mm skewers. Yakima and Rocky Mounts also offer locking versions as well, and all of these fork mount carriers are compatible with bike cable locks. Mounting hardware is not included.

Truck Rack Mounted Bike Racks

        If you already have a truck bed rack on your pick-up, you may already have the makings of a great bike carrying system. The TracRac BikeMount can be attached to the bed rails or crossbars of any TracRack truck rack (including the T-Rac clamp on models without bed rails.) Mirage Truck Racks can also be fitted with fork blocks on the rails.
Xadapt kits will    If you have the Thule Xsporter, then Thule's allow you to mount most Thule bicycle trays to the crossbars (depending on crossbar spread, of course.)

    I don't know about you, but all this thinking about bicycles is making me want to get out there and enjoy the fresh air. If you still don't have a bike mount for your truck, go check some out at rackwarehouse.com. If you've got a bike mount already, what are you waiting for? Get out there and ride!

Introduction To Spare Tire Mounted Bicycle Racks

2009-02-04T17:08:00.005-05:00

If you're in the market for a bicycle carrier and your vehicle has an externally mounted spare tire, you may already know that most hitch mounted racks won't work for you. Strap on racks that mount to your trunk or hatch are also out. Luckily, there are several bike racks available that will mount directly to your spare tire. In fact, installing one is quite simple, and should only take a few minutes. Currently, The Rack Warehouse offers three different models of spare tire mounted bicycle racks. So, if your vehicle has a rear mounted spare tire, and you like to ride bicycles, check out our comparison of these three racks. We hope that, just like Goldilocks, you'll find that one of them is "just right."

General Overview of Spare Tire Mounted Bicycle Carriers

Just like most receiver hitch mounted bicycle racks, these carriers all hold your bikes by the top frame tube. If any of your bikes have step-through style frames, you'll need a bike frame adapter for each one.

Allen, Thule, and Yakima all make their own bike frame adapters, and any one of them will work fine, no matter which brand of bicycle rack you purchase. You will need to remove your spare tire's cover, if any, before installing a spare tire mounted bike rack. This applies to both soft and hard covers. One more thing to keep in mind while choosing a spare tire mounted bike rack is that the manufacturers of these bicycle racks have tested them on vehicles with stock spare tires, so even if their fit guides show their rack as a fit for you, the rack may not work if your spare tire is NOT the standard size of spare tire that normally comes with your vehicle. If this is the case, you may want to speak with one of our rack experts before making a purchase.

Allen 303d Deluxe 3 Bike Spare Tire Mounted Rack

The Allen Deluxe 3 Bike Spare Tire Mounted Rack has the largest bicycle carrying capacity of any spare tire rack we carry, with the ability to carry up to 3 bikes (100 lbs. max) at once. It will fit almost any rear mounted spare tire, including many spare tires with over-the-tire third brake lights (like Chevy Trackers and Jeep Wranglers). Allen's patented tie-down system protects your bikes, holding them securely in position away from the road and hot exhaust. Installation is quite simple. Just set the top-foot/carry arm assembly over the top of your spare tire, rest the bottom-foot against the front of the tire, and hook the bottom hooks under the edge of you vehicle's hatch or bumper. Finally, tighten the two bottom straps and you're done! Please note that you should not open your trunk or hatch with the Allen Deluxe 3 Bike Spare Tire Mounted Rack in place.

Thule 963 Spare Me 2 Bike Spare Tire Mounted Bicycle Rack

The Thule 963 Spare Me 2 Bike Spare Tire Mounted Bicycle Rack is definitely the most rock solid spare tire mounted rack available. The only downside? You'll have to remove that slick-looking cap (if you have one) from the center of your spare tire's rim. That's because the Thule Spare Me uses a mounting plate with a rugged steel post which comes out through the center of your spare, and unlike other spare tire racks that strap onto your spare, the Spare Me is locked onto the vehicle with a locking knob! You can download the PDF file with full installation instructions straight from Thule (or just stay here and read the next paragraph.)
The first time you set up the Spare Me it will take you a couple of extra minutes to take off your spare tire, slide on the mounting plate, and reinstall your spare. After placing the mounting plate, getting the Spare Me off and on your vehicle is a breeze! Slide the Spare Me onto the mounting post that sticks out through your spare and tighten the locking knob into the center hole. If the Spare me doesn't set right up against your spare tire, pop the included spacer blocks onto the frame before tightening the locking knob. Now, if you're ready to load up your bikes, flip up the bike holder arms and lock them in place with the thumb wheels on either side of the Spare Me. If you want to baby your bicycles even more, you can pick up the Thule 538 Cable Lock with Keys for complete locking security, or get the Thule 955 No Sway Cage Accessory to help keep your bikes from swaying back and forth on the road.

Yakima 2618 Spare Joe 2 Bike Spare Tire Carrier

    The Yakima 2618 Spare Joe 2 Bike Spare Tire Carrier is a versatile strap rack that fits almost any vehicle with a rear mounted spare tire (fits tire sizes p205/75R15 to 32x11.5/R15). It comes pre-assembled for use on spare tires that are mounted on the right side of the vehicle, but the bike holder arms can easily be adjusted for use on spare tires that are centered or on the left side. This keeps the bikes centered no matter where your spare tire is mounted. The Spare Joe can carry up to two bikes (70 lbs. maximum load).
    Installing the Yakima Spare Joe on your spare tire is simple and easy. Flip open the adjustment levers on either side of the Spare Joe, then set the top of frame around the top of your spare tire. Next, adjust the carrier's angle so that the bottom rests snug against the spare. Now pull the rear strap out under the pare and thread it though the bottom buckle, then take the right side strap, run it under the spare along the center of the tread and thread it through the left side buckle. Then level the rack and tighten the straps. If necessary, open the red levers again and rotate the bike support arms up to a slight angle, one at a time. Now you're ready to go!

    Now that we've shown you all the ways you can use your vehicle's spare tire to carry your bikes, we're sure you'll be ready for your next great road trip. Just don't go overboard and try to carry kayaks on your spare tire! We don't have any racks that can do that yet, although, you can carry skis and snowboards on the Spare Me with the Thule 987xt Hitch Ski Carrier for Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks (but that will have to wait for another post.)

Introduction To Hatch And Trunk Mounted Bicycle Carriers

2009-02-03T16:17:00.011-05:00

There are a lot of different bike racks available these days. If you're an occasional rider looking for an affordable way to bring your bike with you, a trunk or hatch mounted rack is a great option. With these strap on racks, there's no need to stretch and strain while lifting your bike up onto the roof. There's also no need to have an expensive hitch receiver installed on your vehicle, either. They are likely to interfere with rear of vehicle access while strapped onto your vehicle, though, so if you're a more frequent rider with a lot of gear to haul, you may want to take a look at receiver hitch mounted bicycle racks or roof rack mounted bicycle racks instead. We hope this introduction to trunk and hatch mounted bike carriers will help you decide if a strap mount bicycle rack is right for you.

Trunk or Hatch Mounted Bicycle Carriers

    Most vehicles on the road today can safely utilize trunk and hatch mounted bicycle racks, even on most hatches with glass or plastic at the top. Thule and Yakima's strap mounted racks have straps which can be threaded out from inside the hatch in these cases, instead of attaching load-bearing clips directly to glass or plastic areas. These racks won't fit on certain vehicles with spoilers, and some vehicles just aren't meant to carry weight on the trunk or hatch, so it's always a good idea to double-check your vehicle in The Rack Warehouse Fit Guides. These racks won't work with your vehicle's spare in the way, so if you have a rear mounted spare tire, you'll want to check out our spare tire mounted bicycle carriers.
    Installation of these carriers is fairly simple. For most vehicles you will set the carrier's center hinge angle first. This involves opening the hinge by an amount specified in your carrier's instructions, and then locking it in place using an adjustment knob or switch. Then the top two straps are hooked into position on the top of your hatch or trunk. Then, with the carrier resting on its thick, finish-friendly foam pads, the side and bottom straps are hooked in place. Finally, all the straps get tightened, and you're ready to go!
    Just like most hitch mounted bicycle carriers, these racks have two "arms" with special cradles that grip the top frame tube on your bike. If your bike lacks a top frame tube you'll need a bike frame adapter for it. Most hatch or trunk mounted bicycle racks even allow you to fold the bike arms down if you'll be driving around without any bikes on the rack. This makes parking much easier!

    Hopefully, our introduction to hatch and trunk mounted bicycle carriers has given you an idea of the many options available to you to carry your bikes. We'll be going over spare tire mounted bicycle carriers and a lot of other gear hauling options later on, so be sure to check out carrackfacts.blogspot.com again. Of course, if you need some more personalized advice on bicycle carriers, feel free to give us a call here at The Rack Warehouse. We're always happy to share our expert advise with you at 1-800-272-5362.

Introduction To Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks

2009-02-03T13:10:00.008-05:00

It may not be spring for a couple more months, but it's never too early to get ready for bicycle riding season. Whether you're bringing the whole family's bikes with you on vacation, or you're heading out to the trails every weekend, you'll need to choose which way you want to carry your bikes. While you could carry your bicycles up on your roof, using Trunk and Hatch Mounted Bike Racks, or in the bed of your pickup truck, carrying them behind your vehicle using a hitch mounted bicycle rack may be the most convenient method of all for the frequent rider. However, each method has its advantages, and many factors will affect your decision, so we've written this introduction to hitch mounted bicycle carriers to help you decide if a hitch mounted bicycle rack is right for you

Receiver Hitch Mounted Bicycle Carriers

If you have a standard size hitch receiver on your vehicle (either 2" or 1 1/4"), or you plan to have one installed, then a hitch mounted bike rack should work wonders for you. If you have an rear mounted spare tire or recessed hitch receiver, you may want to consider Allen's Deluxe 4 Bike Hitch Rack for 2" Receivers with Spare Tire, as it has a longer tongue than most other hitch racks. If a hitch rack doesn't fit your vehicle, it's not recommended to use aftermarket hitch extenders or adapters; this often voids the manufacturer's warranty. Most bike racks are available in 2" or 1 1/4" sizes, many newer racks will fit both right out of the box, and the Yakima 2410 1-1/4" Receiver Hitch Rack Adapter can be used with most 2" Yakima hitch racks, so this shouldn't be a problem, anyway
Now take a moment to consider your bicycles. If you have small children's bikes, these will probably have to travel inside the vehicle. Tandem bikes will need to be carried on Roof Rack Mounted Bike Racks , as they will stick out too far from the vehicle to be transported safely on a hitch rack. Just about any other type of bicycle should be no problem for either a mast style or tray style hitch rack.

Mast Style Racks vs. Tray Style Racks

The standard mast style hitch mounted bike rack is a versatile and cost-effective way to bring your bikes with you. These racks hold your bikes by strapping the top frame tube into cradles on the rack's "arms". If your bikes don't have top frame tubes (like on traditional men's bikes) you'll need bike frame adapters for them. Some tray style receiver mounted bicycle racks also clamp onto the bike's frame, but others grip only the tires, accommodating any frame style and completely eliminating contact with your bicycle's frame. Most hitch mount bike racks can be tilted away from the vehicle for access to your trunk or hatchback. Softride's mast style racks even allow you to do this while the bikes are still on the rack, while Thule and Yakima take this concept to the next level with their swing-away racks. Racks like the Thule 964 Revolver 4 Bike Swing Away Hitch Mounted Bicycle Rack, the Yakima 2422 SwingDaddy 4 Bike 2" Receiver Hitch Mounted Bicycle Rack, and the Yakima 2403 FullSwing 4 Bike 2" Receiver Hitch Mounted Bicycle Rack allow you swing your hitch rack out to the side of your vehicle with up to four bikes still loaded on the rack!

We do hope this introduction to hitch receiver mounted bicycle carriers has given you an idea of the many options available to you to carry your bikes. Be sure to come back again later for more info on other ways to carry your bicycles, or pick up the phone and give us a call at 1-800-272-5362. As always, our staff will be glad to discuss the options available to you.

Introduction To Roof Mounted Bicycle Racks

2009-02-02T15:01:00.019-05:00

When choosing a bicycle carrier for your vehicle, the first thing you'll want to decide on will probably be whether you want to carry your bicycles up on your roof, behind your vehicle using a hitch or strap mounted rack, or in the bed of your pickup truck. Each of these ways have their advantages, and many factors will affect your decision, so we've written this introduction to roof mounted bicycle carriers to help you decide if a roof mounted bicycle rack is right for you

Roof Mounted Bicycle Carriers

   You've probably seen lots of roof mounted bike trays on the road. If you already have a roof rack with crossbars (bars which run left to right) on your vehicle, this is almost certainly an option for you. We'll go over some of the more technical aspects below, but first, ask yourself if putting your bicycles on the roof is the way you want carry your bikes. It can be more convenient than a rear mounted bicycle rack, you won't have to strap the rack down or tighten it into your hitch receiver, and there won't be a big rack getting between you and your hatchback (or trunk.) If you own a pickup truck, putting your bikes on the roof keeps your bed free to carry all your other gear. If you have a tandem bicycle, roof mounted racks are really your only option. However, if you don't want to lift your heavy bike up onto your roof, your roof is too high to reach easily, or you're worried about overhead clearance (bicycle on roof + low tree limb or parking garage = really bad day), then maybe you'd prefer a rear mounted bicycle rack. Also, many smaller children's bikes don't work well with any style of bicycle rack. Otherwise, the following guidelines for using roof mounted bicycle racks should give you a good idea of what to expect from roof mounted bike racks.

Can I Carry Bikes On My Roof?
    If you have a roof rack with crossbars, chances are the answer is yes. There are a few roof racks that we don't recommend using bicycle trays with, mainly racks with very short (less than 18 inches) or very long (more that 46 inches) crossbar spreads. The crossbar spread is the distance between the center of one crossbar to the center of the other. Please bear in mind that the 18-46" bar spread is just a guideline. Some bike trays work fine a few inches outside this range. Split trays like the Yakima 2065 Boa Bicycle Carrier for Car Roof Racks are limited by the length of your bicycle itself, because the bike is attached at the bars, instead of sitting in a long bike tray.

    After crossbar spread, you'll need to consider your roof rack's cargo capacity. Can it hold the weight of all your bikes? Is there enough space fit all your bikes? If you have a Thule or Yakima roof rack, weight capacity shouldn't be a problem. These racks almost never have a weight rating under 100 pounds, so you should be fine with at least 2 or 3 bicycles. Some factory racks do have lower weight ratings, so when in doubt check your owner's manual first. Whether or not you have enough space to carry your bikes is a little more complicated, depending on what else you want to carry on your roof rack at the same time. If you are only carrying bicycles, and you alternate the direction of the bikes so that their handlebars don't interfere with one another, you can usually carry at least three bicycles on top of even the smallest factory roof racks. If you're also carrying a cargo box or kayak, you may only be able to put 1 or 2 bikes on your roof rack at the same time (unless you have a Thule or Yakima car roof rack with longer bars.) Another factor that will determine how many bicycles you can carry at once will be whether you choose fork mount bike trays or trays that grab the bicycle's tires or frame. Fork mount trays use somewhat less bar space on your roof rack than other trays, though factory crossbars won't always accept fork mount trays without special adapters (which take up more bar space.)
    Now that you've determined how many bikes you'll be carrying on your roof rack, you'll want to choose your bike trays. Many people like the security and stability that a fork mount bicycle tray offers. By removing the front wheel and clamping down on the front fork with an adjustable skewer, your tray gets the most rugged grip possible on your bicycle. This also eliminates all contact with your bicycle's frame, as the rear tire is strapped into place. Most fork mount trays can be locked, as well, giving you complete locking security for your bike. You can even get wheel carriers for your roof rack, so you don't have to give up valuable cargo space inside to stow your front wheels. Fork adapters will now allow you to carry bicycles non-standard forks on fork mount trays, too. If you have a tandem bicycle, fork mount trays are really the only way to go. The Yakima 2071 SideWinder Tandem Bike Carrier for Car Roof Racks and the Thule 558p Tandem Bicycle - Bike Carrier for Roof Racks both feature a swiveling fork mount. This allows you to attach the front fork to the bike tray while the rear wheel is resting on the ground. Then you can lift the back of the bike up and swing it into the tray with ease.

    If you'd rather not bother removing the front wheel, there are plenty of roof rack mounted bike racks which grip the front tire or frame. Some of these trays are compatible with factory installed roof racks right out of the box, most others can be mounted to factory bars with special adapters. The simplest models of these trays grab the bike's downtube and use ratcheting straps to hold both wheels in place. Others clamp around the front tire, eliminating any contact with your bicycle's frame (this is a big bonus if you've got a light, aluminum frame bike!) and protecting its finish. Whether gripping the frame or front tire, these trays can be adjusted to fit almost any size or style bicycle. Also, many models, like the Thule 598 Criterium Upright Bicycle - Bike Carrier for Roof Racks feature attachment hardware that is all accessible at vehicle roof height, eliminating the need to get on tip-toe just to get your bicycle on or off your vehicle. These trays also offer full locking security, most requiring only a single lock to secure both the bike and the tray.

    We hope that this introduction to roof mounted bike carriers has helped give you some ideas about how you'd like to carry your bikes. Check back later for information on other ways to carry your bikes, or pick up the phone and give us a call at 1-800-272-5362. Our friendly staff would be happy to take a few minutes and discuss all of the available options with you.

Thule Base Roof Racks For Vehicles With Pre-Drilled Fix Points

2009-01-30T14:48:00.010-05:00

Many vehicles today are equipped with factory installed roof rack "fix points." These pre-installed mounting points make it much easier for "factory racks" to be installed on a vehicle's roofline, providing a very stable mounting base with a sleek look. But sometimes factory crossbars aren't long enough to hold all your gear. Sometimes they can't take the weight of two kayaks at the same time. And sometimes the price of the "factory rack option" for your vehicle (if there even IS one) gives you a case of sticker shock! For times like these, Thule designed the new Podium Foot rack. Thule's Podium Foot racks allow you take full advantage of your factory installed fixpoints, combining your vehicle's sleek, solid roofline with the highly versatile, durable roof racks you've come to expect from Thule.

Installation Instructions/Tips

Installing the Thule 460 and 460R Podium racks isn't really that difficult of an installation. The Thule 460 Podium Fixpoint Foot Pack is used with the Thule rectangular bars. The Thule 460R Podium Rapid Aero Foot Pack is used with the Thule aluminum oval shaped bars. The way Thule designed these racks to be mounted is by using preexisting drilled installation points on your vehicles roofline. This is Thule’s new style of mounting roof racks to “newer” vehicles. Older vehicles do not have these “pre-drilled Fixpoints” on their rooftops, although they’re a few exceptions. When mounting the Thule 460 / 460R base rack to your vehicle start off by sliding the towers onto the crossbars and install the crossbar end caps. Installing the end caps will prevent the towers from sliding off the crossbars. Not all vehicles with pre-drilled fixpoints have the same style roofline, so Thule has designed multiple Podium Fit Kits to allow their 460 / 460R Foot Packs to fit a variety of different vehicles. You'll need to check your Podium Fit Kit for specific installation instructions for your vehicle, but installation generally consists of threading 1 or 2 specialized bolts to each fix point, and then attaching mounting plates to those bolts. Your unique Thule Podium Fit Kit will connect to the 460 / 460R foot with two M6 x 16mm hex bolts (included with foot pack). Attach the Thule Podium Fit Kit to your vehicle loosely and center the load bars. (If you're using Thule's "square" bars, you can have them off-center. Just make sure to leave at least an inch of bar on the outside of each foot for maximum stability.) The best way to make sure your bars are centered is to measure how much bar sticks out from the end of the foot and to slide the bar over until those measurements are equal. Finally, tighten the two M6 x 16mm hex bolts connecting the fit kit to each Podium Foot. You should alternate between the two hex bolts on each tower every turn or so. This will tighten the Podium Fit Kit to the foot and simultaneously lock the crossbar in place. Take care to match the supplied rubber spacers, mounting plates, etc. to the fix point specified in your Fit Kit instructions, because many vehicles require different parts for the front and rear bars (or even the left and right sides of the vehicle.) Nearly all such parts are numbered, and those that aren't numbered are well described (with pictures) in the instructions, so your installation should be a breeze. The last step is to place the covers over each foot, keeping them in place with either the included non-locking plugs or Thule Lock Cores. We do recommend the use of Lock Cores with Thule's Podium Feet, as we have found the non-locking plugs hold the Podium Foot Covers in place poorly on some vehicles. Plus, installing Thule Lock Cores in your roof rack is an easy way to safeguard your investment.

Test The Installation

    Push up on the end of bar to test the installation. Also, grab the bar near the towers and pull back and forth. If the tower or crossbar slides, check tower for tightness and re-tighten.

    The Thule 460c Complete Podium Fixpoint Foot Rack is the answer to attaching a sport rack to a vehicle which has pre-installed mounting points. The 460c Complete Rack includes 4 components: 4 of the 460 Podium Foot Pack Towers, 1 Pair of Thule Crossbars, 4 Crossbar End Caps, and Thule Podium Fit Kit. The height of the Thule 460 tower when mounted on your rooftop is about 4” to the top portion of the Thule crossbar. The Thule 460c sits on a rubber pad, which rests on the roof of your vehicle and is designed exclusively for use with the Thule Square Load Bars. When Thule's Podium Fit Kit attaches the Thule Podium Foot to you roofline it tightens the Load Bars to the Podium Feet at the same time. We always ship Thule's recommended load bar length unless otherwise specified. Lock cores (sold separately) are highly recommended.

    The Thule 460rc Complete Rapid Podium Rapid Aero Foot Rack is the answer to attaching a sport rack to a vehicle which has pre-installed mounting points. The 460rc Complete Rack includes 4 components: 4 of the 460r Rapid Podium Foot Pack Towers, 1 Pair of Thule Aluminum Crossbars, 4 Rapid Crossbar End Caps, and a Thule Fit Kit for Podium Foot Packs. The height of the Thule 460r tower when mounted on your rooftop is about 4” to the top portion of the Thule crossbar. The Thule 460rc sits on a rubber pad, which rests on the roof of your vehicle and is designed exclusively for use with the Thule Aluminum Load Bars. When Thule's Podium Fit Kit attaches the Thule Rapid Podium Foot to you roofline it tightens the Load Bars to the Thule Rapid Podium Feet at the same time. Thule's Rapid Bars require very precise fits, so we always ship Thule's recommended bar length unless you specify otherwise. Lock cores (sold separately) are highly recommended for use with Thule's Rapid Podium Feet.

Yakima Base Roof Racks For Vehicles With Factory Installed Raised Rails

2009-01-30T10:40:00.010-05:00

As factory installed racks with raised railings have become more common the last few years, so have the load carriers that work with them. If your raised rails come with crossbars, you can get roof rack mounted bicycle racks, ski carriers, even cargo boxes that will fit on your crossbars. But if your raised rails don't come with crossbars, or you're disappointed with your factory crossbar's wimpy weight rating, think about investing in a Yakima LowRider rack. With a maximum load capacity of 165 pounds (on most vehicles), getting where you're going with all the gear you need will never be a problem again!

Installation Instructions/Tips

The Yakima y0118c LowRider Raised Railing Mounted Rack attaches to vehicles with factory raised rails. These may be the easiest towers on the planet to install and remove. Simply slide the towers onto the Yakima crossbars and flip up the tightening lever on each tower and rotate counterclockwise to open up the LowRider's jaws. Then install the bar end caps to keep the towers from sliding off of the bar. Now set the bar on top of your vehicle, with each tower sitting on top of the raised rail. Finally, after evenly distributing the crossbars through the towers, twist the tightening lever clockwise until you feel firm resistance. This will tighten the Yakima 0118 Low Rider Towers and crossbars at the same time to your factory raised rails. The Yakima LowRider clamps side to side for nice snug fit to your factory raised rails. The LowRider system fits a broad range of factory installed raised rails including smaller European rails and oversized SUV rails.

Yakima also provides the Yakima 0136 Low Rider Max Railing Mounted Roof Rack, which is specifically designed to fit vehicles with odd shaped raised rails. A specified Yakima Low Rider Max Claw Kit allows for a snug custom fit on specific factory installed rails. There are 3 different Yakima Claw Kits, check out the Yakima Fit Guide to see which one your vehicle needs. The Yakima LowRider Max towers install the same way as the Yakima LowRider towers, except for the additional of the Yakima Claw Kit, which replaces the more generic clamp with one specially made to work with your harder-to-fit raised rails.

Test The Installation

    Push up on the end of bar to test the installation. Also, grab the bar near the towers and pull back and forth. If the tower slides or crossbar can rotate, check tower for tightness and re-tighten.

    The Yakima Low Rider Complete Railing Mounted Car Roof Rack includes three components: 4 of the LowRider Towers, 1 Pair of Yakima Crossbars, and 4 End Caps. The height of the Yakima LowRider towers when mounted on your raised rail is about 3” from the top of your raised rail to the top portion of the Yakima LowRider Tower. Unless otherwise specified, Yakima’s recommended crossbar length will be provided. For full locking security, we recommend the Yakima 7204 4 Pack SKS Lock Cores (sold separately.)

    The Yakima 0136c Low Rider Max Complete Railing Mounted Car Roof Rack includes four components: 4 of the Yakima LowRider Max Towers, 1 Pair of Yakima Crossbars, 4 End Caps, and Yakima Claw Kit 1, 2, or 3. The height of the Yakima LowRider Max towers when mounted on your raised rail is about 3” from the top of your raised rail to the top portion of the Yakima LowRider Max Tower. For full locking security, we recommend Yakima Lock Cores (sold separately.) Unless otherwise specified, Yakima’s recommended crossbar length will be provided.

Thule Base Roof Racks For Vehicles With Factory Raised Rails

2009-01-30T10:22:00.007-05:00

Raised rails have become more and more common over the last few years. While they provide great places to strap things down (cargo bags, for instance), many of these racks don't come with crossbars. A lot of the crossbars that do come with these raised rails systems have a fairly low weight carrying capacity, or the racks are simply not long enough to allow carrying several items at once. If you'd like to know how easy it would be to gain the advantages of a full integrated Thule roof rack on top of your raised rails, then keep reading. With an installation that takes only a few short minutes, and the versatility of a rack that will fit nearly any vehicle that has raised rails, it's hard to go wrong with the Thule Crossroad system.

Installation Instructions/Tips

The 450 and 450R Crossroad Raised Railing Foot Pack system attaches to vehicles with factory installed raised side rails. The Thule 450 Crossroad Railing Foot Pack is used with Thule rectangular crossbars. The Thule 450R Rapid Crossroad Railing Foot Pack is used with Thule's oval shaped aluminum crossbars. When combined with Thule crossbars, the Thule 450 / 450R Crossroad will turn your factory raised side rails into a versatile multipurpose rack system. Both versions of the Crossroad feature integrated rubber lining on the tower and a rubber-coated stainless steel attachment strap which provide maximum strength and a nice, custom molded fit around your factory side rails. The Thule 450 / 450R Crossroad tower end cap design has an integrated Allen tool built right in, which allows for easy installation and removal. Once you have everything out of the box, simply slide the towers onto each crossbar. The end of the tower with the adjustment bolt in the center should be facing out. If you cannot slide the towers onto the crossbar, use the tower end cap/Allen tool to loosen the adjustment bolts slightly. Now install the bar end caps on either end of the bar to prevent the towers from slipping off. After deciding on the placement of your front crossbar simply set the bar onto your vehicle's raised rails in the desired position. Now line up the arrow on either side of each tower with the center of the raised rail, run the rubber-coated steel strap underneath the raised rail and clip the end of the strap into the slot on the tower under the adjustment bolt. Make sure that the strap is clear of any of the raised railing's supports. Next, slide the crossbar as necessary to get the bar placed evenly between the towers. Now tighten the adjustment bolt on each tower until you start to feel resistance. Now slide the tower end cap/Allen tool into the tower (insert the Allen tool just below the adjustment bolt.) If you cannot get the end cap to "snap" into place, loosen the adjustment bolt a little and try again.

Test The Installation

    Push up on the end of bar to test the installation. Also, grab the bar near the towers and pull back and forth. If the tower or crossbar slides, check tower for tightness and re-tighten.

    The Thule 450c Crossroad Complete Railing Rack includes 3 components: 4 of the Thule 450 Crossroad Towers, 1 Pair of Thule Crossbars, and 4 End Caps. The height of the Thule 450 tower when mounted on your raised rail is about 2 ½” from the top of your raised rail to the top portion of the Thule crossbar. In most cases Thule's recommended load bar length will be provided unless otherwise specified. Thule Lock Cores are sold separately.

    The Thule 450rc Crossroad Complete Railing Rack includes 3 components: 4 of the 450R Rapid Aero Crossroad Towers, 1 Pair of Thule Rapid Aero Aluminum Crossbars, and 4 End Caps. The height of the Thule 450R Rapid Aero tower when mounted on your raised rail is about 2 ½” from the top of your raised rail to the top portion of the Thule crossbar. In most cases Thule's recommended load bar length will be provided unless otherwise specified. Thule 544 Lock Cores, 4 Pack are recommended and are sold separately.

Yakima Base Roof Racks For Vehicles With Factory Tracks/Racks

2009-01-29T17:29:00.008-05:00

If your vehicle has factory installed tracks or fixed mounting points, Yakima has the perfect roof racks for you. With crossbars that are easy to install, easy to move, and even easier to remove when you're not hauling your gear, Yakima's Control Tower rack is one of the most flexible racks you''l ever find.

Installation Instructions/Tips

The Yakima 0214c Control Tower Complete Rack for Factory installed Roof Tracks attaches to vehicles with factory installed tracks or fixed mounting points. Not all vehicles have the same style tracks, which is why Yakima has designed 11 different Landings Pads so that the Yakima Control Towers fit multiple vehicles.

Before installing the Yakima Control Towers you must mount the Yakima Landing Pad Base Plates for Control Towers first. The installation difficulty depends on which Yakima Landing Pad your vehicle requires. Most Yakima Landing Pads are bolted to square nuts which are slid into you roof-top tracks, or bolted directly into your vehicle's fixed mount points. The only two that require drilling are Yakima Landing Pads 6 and 7. Yakima Landing Pad 6 bolts to any surface with underside access, like fiberglass camper shells. Yakima Landing Pad 7 fastens to a metal roof when underside access is denied. After you get the Landing Pads mounted to your vehicle, take all four Yakima Control Towers out of the box, and pry the front plastic covers forward. Once the plastic covers have been released, use the Allen wrench provided by Yakima to loosen the Allen bolt on the right side. Only loosen the bolt enough so that the wedge inside will allow the crossbar to slide through the towers. When you slide the towers onto the crossbars put the Yakima end caps onto the ends of the bars. This prevents the towers from sliding off of the crossbars. Next, with the Control Towers' covers still open, lower the towers onto the Yakima Landing Pads. If the covers are not open then the towers will not sit on the Landing Pads properly. You want to make sure that the Yakima Landing Pads line up with the Landing Pad on the other side of the vehicle. To make sure of this close the plastic covers until you hear both sides “snap.” If everything sits flush and all four covers close without a problem you have successfully mounted the Landing Pads. If not, you will have to adjust the Yakima Landing Pads accordingly. Now re-open the plastic covers and fully tighten the Allen bolt on the right side of each tower while pushing down on the top of the tower. This will prevent the Yakima crossbar from sliding inside the towers.

Test The Installation

At each tower, push up on the end of the bar to test the installation. Also, grab the bar near the tower and pull back and forth. If the tower slides or crossbar can rotate, check the tower for tightness and re-tighten as necessary.

The Yakima y0214c Control Tower Complete Rack System includes 4 components: 4 Control Towers, 2 Pairs of Landing Pads, 1 Pair of Yakima Crossbars, and 4 End Caps. The height of the Yakima Control Towers when mounted to the Landing Pads sits about 4” high. In most cases Yakima’s recommended load bar length will be provided unless otherwise specified. Yakima Lock Cores are sold separately.

Thule Base Roof Racks For Vehicles With Factory Tracks/Racks

2009-01-27T17:47:00.011-05:00

If your vehicle has factory installed tracks on the roof Thule has a great base rack for you! With the ability to put your racks just where you want them, roof racks don't get much more versatile than this. You can also remove these racks with the push of a button when you won't be using them for awhile.

Installation Instructions/Tips

The Thule 430 and 430r Rapid Tracker II Track Mounted Foot Pack system attaches to vehicles with factory installed track systems, and to certain vehicles with fixed mounting points. The Thule 430 Tracker II Foot Pack is used with the Thule rectangular crossbars. The Thule 430R Rapid Tracker II Foot Pack is used with the Thule aluminum oval shaped crossbars. Not all vehicles have the same style tracks, which is why Thule has designed 13 different Tracker Kits that will allow the 430 / 430R Foot Packs to fit many different vehicles.

Before installing the Thule 430 / 430R Tracker II Foot Pack you must mount the Thule Tracker Kit first. The installation difficulty depends on which Thule Tracker Kit your vehicle requires. There are only two Thule Tracker Kits that require drilling, Thule Tracker Kit 13 and 14. Thule Tracker Kit 13 mounts to fiberglass surfaces, like truck camper shells, and Thule Tracker Kit 14 fastens to sheet metal roofs. Thule Tracker Kit 14 includes flare-nut hardware to eliminate headliner removal. The remaining Thule Tracker Kits are much easier to install. The Tracker Kit mounting instructions vary from vehicle to vehicle, but all instructions and tools you'll need are right in the box. For most Tracker Kits mounting involves bolting the Tracker Kit base to square nuts slid into your factory tracks, or bolting them into a metal bracket (included) bolted onto a fixed mount point.
After you get the Thule Tracker Kit mounted to your vehicle, take all four Thule 430 / 430R Tracker II Towers and slide them onto the Thule crossbars. If you’re unable to slide the towers onto the bars you might need to loosen the bolt located just above the gray button. To do this, push the gray button in and slide the black thumb tab down. This will expose the Allen bolt. Loosening this bolt will loosen the wedge that tightens the tower to the bar, which will allow the towers to slide onto the crossbars (If you are using Thule's 430R system with the aluminum bars, you'll be sliding the towers into the bars.) After sliding the towers onto the crossbars put the Thule end caps on the bars. This will prevent the towers from sliding off the crossbars. The next step would be to lower the towers onto the Tracker Kit base brackets. You want to make sure that all base brackets are lined up properly. You can check this by mounting the crossbars to the base brackets. If everything sits flush and all four towers snap into place without a problem you have successfully mounted the base brackets. If not, you will have to adjust the base brackets accordingly. At this point you should still be able to slide the crossbars through the towers. Keep the towers sitting on the base brackets and adjust the crossbars so that you’ve evenly distributed the crossbar on both sides. Once that's done, tighten the Allen bolt located above the gray button. This will prevent the crossbars from sliding through the towers. With the push of a button the towers and bars can be easily removed and reinstalled in seconds. The Thule Tracker Kits 1 - 12 for Tracker II Rack come with protective covers to place over the bases when the racks have been removed, which is why you can simply leave the Thule Tracker Kit mounted to your vehicle when the rack is not in use. We would recommend removing the rack when not in use for long periods, as this will help keep your rack in pristine condition.

Test The Installation

   Push up on the end of bar to test the installation. Also, grab the bar near the towers and pull back and forth. If the tower or crossbar slides, check tower for tightness and retighten.

    The Thule 430c Tracker II Track Mounted Complete Car Roof Rack includes 4 components: 4 of the Thule 430 Tracker II towers, 1 Pair of Thule Crossbars, Tracker Kit, and 4 End Caps. The height of the Thule 430 tower when mounted on the Tracker Kit sits about 4 ½” high. In most cases Thule's recommended load bar length will be provided unless otherwise specified. Thule Lock Cores are sold separately.

    The Thule 430rc Rapid Tracker II Complete Mounted Car Roof Rack includes 4 components: 4 of the 430 Rapid Aero Tracker II Towers, 1 Pair of Thule Aluminum Crossbars, Tracker Kit, and 4 End Caps. The height of the Thule 430 Rapid Aero tower when mounted on the Tracker Kit sits about 4 ½” high. In most cases Thule's recommended load bar length will be provided unless otherwise specified. Thule Lock Cores are sold separately.

Yakima Base Roof Racks For Vehicles With Rain Gutters

2009-01-27T15:34:00.029-05:00

Even though Yakima only produces two sizes of rain gutter towers (while Thule produces five), their rain gutter mounted racks will fit almost any vehicle with rain gutters. They even have you covered if you don't have rain gutters! If you can use a drill (or you know someone who can) you can mount artificial rain gutter plates on your truck, cap, or campershell.

Installation Instructions/Tips

Yakima only has 2 different complete rain gutter roof rack options: the Yakima 0101 1A Rain Gutter Towers, which fit standard rain gutter mounts; and the Yakima 0104 1A HiRise Rain Gutter Towers, which fit rain gutter applications that need more roof top clearance. Installing these two Rain Gutter racks is very similar and easily done. The Yakima Rain Gutter Towers come with clip spacers, which are used to help keep the towers vertical. Use the clip spacers if they fit with your application. Otherwise, they’re not needed. They also come with a rubber boot for the bottom portion of the towers. The rubber boot is used to create more friction. The rule on using the boot is “if the boot fits, wear it.” Otherwise, this component is not needed. When assembling the rack simply loosen the shear block bolts, which are located on the back portion of the tower. Once the bolt has been loosened slide the Yakima round bars through the shear block. To keep the towers from sliding off the crossbars install the crossbar end caps. Keep the shear block loose until you find where you want to mount the crossbar on your vehicle. Make sure that the towers rest on the inside of the rain gutter and the clips rest on the outside. After locating the mounting point, adjust the crossbar so that the bar is evenly distributed on both sides. It is also allowable to put the bars "off center," just make sure you have about one inch of bar minimum on the outside of each tower. Next, tighten the shear block bolts with the included wrench. This will prevent the crossbars from sliding through the towers. The last step would be to tighten the handwheels into the threaded holes in all four towers. (The handwheels are the four lock housings with the bolt built onto the backside.) When you tighten the handwheels this will tighten the clips to your rain gutter, which will secure the rack to you vehicle.

Test The Installation

Push up on the end of bar to test the installation. Also, grab the bar near the towers and pull back and forth. If the tower slides or crossbar can rotate, check tower for tightness and retighten.

    The Yakima 1A Complete Rain Gutter Mounted Roof Rack is specifically designed to fit vehicles with rain gutters or installed artificial rain gutters. This complete rack includes 3 components: 4 of the Yakima 0101 1A Rain Gutter Towers, 1 Pair of Yakima Round bars for Car Roof Racks, and 4 End Caps. The bottom of the Yakima round bar is 5.5” inches above the rain gutter. In most cases Yakima's recommended round bar length will be supplied unless otherwise specified. Yakima 7204 4 Pack SKS Lock Cores are sold separately.

    Although we don't currently offer a complete Yakima 1A HiRise Rain Gutter Mounted Rack as a single item purchase, we do carry all the components necessary to rack your vehicle. For a complete rack you'll need the Yakima 0104 1A HI Rise Rain Gutter Towers (which includes all four towers and 4 Round Bar End Caps) and a pair of Yakima Round Bars. The bottom of the Yakima round bar is about 9” inches above the bottom of the Yakima HiRise Rain Gutter Tower. SKS Lock cores are recommended and are sold separately. If you're not sure what size crossbar you'll need, check your vehicle out in the Yakima Fit Guide, or call us toll-free at 1 800 272 5362. We'll be happy to discuss all the available options with you.

    If you already have Yakima's 1A Rain Gutter Towers, but find you need taller towers, we've got a great solution. You can convert your existing 1A Raingutter Towers into 1A HiRise Towers with the Yakima 1101 1A Hi Rise Spacers. These spacers attach to 1A Rain Gutter Towers to raise the overall height of the rack 3.5", providing additional roof clearance. Primarily used on rain gutter vehicles with domed rooflines or factory installed roof racks. Set includes 4 Hi Rise Spacers and all necessary hardware.

    The Yakima 8005 Bolt Top Loader Artificial Rain Gutter Brackets are designed to be bolted to the top of your fiberglass truck cap or sheet metal roof. They provide a stable platform for 1A Rain gutter Towers and are sold in pairs.

    The Yakima 8002 Side Loader artificial rain gutter brackets bolt to the side of your fiberglass pick up truck cap or metal roof, providing a stable platform for 1A Rain Gutter Towers. Side Loader brackets are sold in pairs.

    Yakima's 8001 Wide Body artificial rain gutter brackets bolt to the side of your fiberglass pick-up truck cap providing extra space for the inward lean of 1A Towers. Wide Body Artificial Rain Gutters are designed for 1A Rain Gutter Towers and are sold in pairs.

Thule Base Roof Racks For Vehicles With Rain Gutters

2009-01-27T12:22:00.024-05:00

Thule has 5 different complete rain gutter roof rack options, which helps find that perfect fit for your rain gutter application. Some vehicles require a specific rain gutter tower, so it never hurts to run your vehicle through the Thule Fit Guide to see what they recommend. Even if you don't see a rain gutter option listed for your vehicle, don't worry. Grab your drill and a set of Thule’s 542 Artifical Rain Gutters and you can mount these towers on almost any vehicle, truck cap, or camper shell.

Installation Instructions/Tips

Installing the 300, 369, 368, 387, and 953 are probably some of the easiest installs out of all Thule base roof racks. Simply slide the bar through the feet. You may need to pivot the top of the foot and pull out the lever located behind the tower to allow the bar to slide through. Open the car doors before attaching to the roof. Position the foot behind the car’s rain gutter. Attach the bracket around the rain gutter by feeding the bolt through the foot, bracket, and washer. Before you begin to tighten the locking knob, make sure the load bars are positioned evenly between the feet (unless you want the bars off center, in which case just make sure there's an inch of bar minimum on the outside of the tower.) When the bars are evenly distributed, tighten the locking knob until the rack can’t be moved.

Test The Installation

    Push up on the end of bar to test the installation. Also, grab the bar near the towers and pull back and forth. If the tower or crossbar slides, check tower for tightness and retighten.

    The Thule 300c Complete Rain Gutter Mounted Car Roof Rack may be Thule’s easiest rack to use. The Thule 300 Complete Rack includes 3 components: 4 of the Thule 300 Rain Gutter Feet, 1 Pair of Thule Load Bars, and 4 Thule ec1 Load Bar End Caps. The Thule 300 Rain Gutter Foot Pack attaches to vehicles with standard rain gutters. It also attaches to Thule’s 542 Artifical Rain Gutters (sold separately). The Thule 300 Foot Pack has 5" of load bar clearance from the rain gutter to the bottom of the load bar. We ship Thule's recommended load bar length unless otherwise specified. Thule Lock Cores are sold separately.

    The Thule 368c SAAB, Toyota, Complete Rain Gutter Rack is designed for older specific SAAB and Toyota vehicles that have rain gutters. The Thule 368 Complete Rack includes 3 components: 4 of the Thule 368 Toyota, SAAB Car Roof Rack feet, 1 Pair of Thule Load Bars, and 4 End Caps. The simplicity of this rack is very similar to the Thule 300 Rain Gutter Foot Pack. This style rain gutter rack is not suggested for use with Thule's Artifical Rain Gutters. The Thule 368 Foot Pack has 5" of load bar clearance from the rain gutter to the bottom of the load bar. In most cases Thule's recommended load bar length will be provided unless otherwise specified. Thule Lock Cores are sold separately.

    The Thule 369c Mercedes, BMW Complete Roof Rack is designed for older specific Toyota, Mercedes, and BMW vehicles that have rain gutters. The Thule 369 Complete Rack includes 3 components: 4 of the Thule Thule 369 Mercedes, BMW, Toyota Car Roof Rack feet, 1 Pair of Thule Load Bars, and 4 End Caps. The simplicity of this rack is very similar to the Thule 300 Rain Gutter Foot Pack. This style rain gutter rack is not suggested with the use of Thule 542 Artifical Rain Gutters. The Thule 369 Foot Pack has 5" of load bar clearance from the rain gutter to the bottom of the load bar. We can ship you Thule's recommended load bar length, or you can specify which size load bars you'd prefer. Thule Lock Cores are sold separately.

    The Thule 387c High Foot Complete Rain Gutter Rack is easy to use and provides needed height clearance. The Thule 387 Complete Rack includes 3 components: 4 of the Thule 387 High Rain Gutter feet, 1 Pair of Thule Load Bars, and 4 End Caps. The 387 Rain Gutter Foot Pack attaches to vehicles with standard rain gutters. It also, attaches to Thule’s 542 Artifical Rain Gutters (sold separately). The Thule 387 High Rain Gutter Foot Pack has 8" of load bar clearance from the rain gutter to the bottom of the load bar. In most cases Thule's recommended load bar length will be provided unless otherwise specified. Thule Lock Cores are sold separately.

    The Thule 953c Super High Foot Complete Rain Gutter Rack is easy to use and provides substantially needed height clearance. The Thule 953 Complete Rack includes 3 components: 4 of the Thule 953 Super High Rain Gutter Feet, 1 Pair of Thule Load Bars, and 4 End Caps. The Thule 953 Super High Rain Gutter Foot Pack attaches to vehicles with standard rain gutters. It also attaches to Thule 542 Bolt-on Artificial Rain Gutters (sold separately). The Thule 953 Super High Rain Gutter Foot Pack has 11" of load bar clearance from the rain gutter to the bottom of the load bar. In most cases Thule's recommended load bar length will be provided unless otherwise specified. Thule Lock Cores are sold separately. Check out the Thule 953 Complete Rack and all of Thule's other great products at www.rackwarehouse.com.

Yakima’s Base Roof Rack For Gutterless Vehicles

2009-01-27T10:48:00.011-05:00

So you want a Yakima roof rack, but your vehicle doesn't have rain gutters. No factory installed mounting points, either. Are you out of luck? Not by a long shot! The Q Tower system for gutterless roofs is actually Yakima's most popular style of roof rack, and it fits a wide variety of vehicles. But don't just take our word for it, check out the Yakima Fit Guide and see for yourself!

Installation Instructions/Tips

Installing the Yakima 0124c Q Tower Complete Gutterless Car Roof Rack is one of Yakima’s more complex racks, consisting of Q Towers, load bars, and Q Clips. Although the difficulty level is dependent on your vehicle, most installations really are much simpler than you might expect. The best tip we can give you is to set up the front and rear crossbars completely before you attempt to mount the racks to your vehicle. First, remove the Yakima Q Tower cams completely from the towers. You do this by flipping the cam up and loosening the tension bolt in the middle of the cam. Then pull back the plastic Q Tower housing, this will allow access to the Allen bolt that will tighten the Yakima Q Towers to the crossbars. The Allen bolt will be located on the right side.. Then, using the included Allen wrench, loosen these bolts to allow the insertion of the load bars. After inserting the bar into the towers place them on a flat surface so that the Yakima Q Towers do not rotate on the crossbars when tightening. Otherwise, the Yakima Q Towers will not sit flat on your vehicle's rooftop. Measure out the distance between the Yakima Q Towers, which is specified in the Yakima Q Clip instructions, After accurately measuring the Yakima Q Tower distances and tightening the towers to the bars, assemble the Yakima Q Clips to the cams. This is accomplished by sliding the clips up into the cams (numbered side facing you), inserting the lock core housing from the back, and sliding the retaining clip down over the front of the lock housing. Once you have the clips attached to the cams, mount the protective stickers to the Q Clips. Then re-attach the cams to the towers, making sure to match the correct clips to the front and rear bars if your vehicle uses different clips front and back. The protective silicone pads that come with the Yakima Q Clips can be attached just before you’re about to mount the rack to your vehicle. The last step before mounting the crossbars to your vehicle would be to label the front and back crossbars with the provided stickers.
Mount the assembled crossbars to your vehicle’s rooftop by following the measurements given in the Yakima Q Clip instructions. The Yakima Q Clip instructions will give you the measurement from the windshield to the base of the front tower. When you have the correct distance measured out on both sides, pull the clips out and down around the edge of the door jamb and position the clips accordingly. Then tighten the tension bolt until the cam can be squeezed shut. If the tension bolt is over tightened the cam will not close. Make sure that you do not force the cam close. This can cause the cam to crack. When closing the cam you want the tension to be tight enough to hold the bar in place, but not so tight that you can’t close the cam. For the rear bar, the Yakima Q Clip instructions will give you the measurement from the middle of the front crossbar to the middle of the rear crossbar. Once you have that measured out, pull the clips around the edge of the door jamb, position the clips according to instructions, and close the cams. Most importantly make sure that all measurements are accurate.

Test The Installation

Push up on the end of bar to test the installation. Also, grab the bar near the towers and pull back and forth. If the tower slides or the crossbar can rotate, check the tower for tightness and re-tighten.

The Yakima 0124c Q Tower Complete Gutterless Car Roof Rack is Yakima’s answer to attaching a sport rack to a gutterless vehicle. This complete rack includes 4 components: 4 Yakima 0124 Q Towers for Vehicles without Rain Gutters or Factory Racks, 1 Pair of Yakima Crossbars, 4 Yakima 7026 Round bar End Caps, and 2 Pairs of Q Clips. The Yakima Q Towers sit on a protective silicone pad, which rests on the roof of your vehicle. Yakima Q Clips, which are designed specifically for each vehicle, fasten your Yakima Q Towers to your door jamb for a tight, custom fit. Yakima Q Clips come with a protective sticker that needs to be placed onto the Q Clips just before mounting the crossbars to your vehicle. This provides even more protection for your vehicle's finish. Yakima’s snap-down cam design allows the Q Tower to be easily fastened or removed from you vehicle's rooftop, so if you will be removing your roof rack when you're not using it, this is definitely the rack for you! The Yakima Q Towers sit about 5” high from your vehicle's roof top. We will supply you with Yakima's recommended bar length unless you specify otherwise. Yakima SKS Lock Cores are sold separately.

Thule’s Base Roof Racks For Gutterless Vehicles

2009-01-26T17:11:00.024-05:00

If you're looking for a Thule roof rack, and your vehicle's roof doesn't have rain gutters or factory installed mounting points, then Thule's Aero Foot system is just what you're looking for. If you're not sure that the Aero Foot system fits your vehicle, check out the Thule Fit Guide. Otherwise, read on for details on installing and using Thule's most popular roof rack.

Installation Instructions/Tips:

Installing the Thule 400xtc Complete Aero Rack for Gutterless Car Roof or the Thule 400xtrc Rapid Aero Complete Rack can be one of Thule’s more difficult racks to install, but it's definitely manageable for the average Joe. It’s certainly not rocket science. The Thule 400xt Aero Foot Pack is used with Thule's rectangular steel crossbars. The Thule 400xtr Rapid Aero Foot Pack is used with Thule's oval-shaped aluminum crossbars. Because there are so many vehicles on the market with different style rooflines, Thule has designed many different Fit Kits to allow their Aero Foot Packs to fit a wide variety of vehicles. The most important tip we can give is to set up the front and rear bars completely before mounting the racks to your vehicle. The Thule 400xt / 400xtr both require pulling out the tensioning cam located on the rear of the tower. This will allow the load bars to be inserted into the towers (or onto the towers if using the Rapid Aero Bars.) If applicable, use a measuring tape to set the distance between the feet on the front and rear load bars as stated in the Thule Fit Kit instructions. Once the measurements have been accurately set, squeeze the tensioning cam until you hear the first “click.” This can be one of the most difficult parts of the installation. If you have a hard time squeezing the cams to the first click, mount one of the clips to the front part of the tower and pull up on the clip. Doing this should give you the leverage you’ll need to tighten the cam. Although, when tightening the cam this way make sure that the tower stays stationary. Otherwise, you will have to undo the cam and re-measure the distance between the towers. When both cams have clicked into position the towers should be locked in place. To make sure that the cams have been tightened properly, grab the towers and try to move them back and forth on the crossbar. If they don’t move you have successfully locked the towers in position. Next, slide the convex washers all the way onto the four adjustment bolts, making sure that the flat side faces the handle. Now attach the clips to the towers using the adjustment bolts, as show in your Fit Kit instructions. Read these instructions carefully, as some Fit Kits use different clips for the front and rear towers. You should only give the bolts about three full turns here, otherwise you may have loosen the bolts again later on. After you've installed the clips, press the protective rubber base into the bottom of each tower, again matching each tower to its base according to the Fit Kit Instructions. The last step before mounting the crossbars to your vehicle would be to label the front and back crossbars with the stickers provided by Thule. Now you're ready to mount the assembled crossbars to your vehicle. Following the measurements given in the Thule Fit Kit instructions, measure the specified distance from the windshield to the base of the front tower. When you have the correct distance measured out on both towers, pull the clips around the edge of the door jamb and position the clips accordingly. If you cannot pull the clips out and down to slip them over the edge, you can loosen the adjustment bolts slightly. Just be careful not to remove the bolt completely; it can be quite difficult to reattach the clip while the bar is on the vehicle, and if you drop the bolt on your vehicle it could scratch the finish. Once the clips are in place, tighten the adjustment knob until the tensioning cam is just about flush with the back portion of the tower. Usually you will hear the tensioning cam "click" when the proper tightness is achieved. For the rear bar, the Thule Fit Kit Instructions will want you to measure a certain distance from the middle of the front crossbar to the middle of the rear crossbar. Once you have that measured out, pull the clips around the edge of the door jamb and position the clips accordingly (you know the drill by now.) Most importantly make sure that all measurements are accurate. Again, tighten the adjustment knobs for the rear crossbar just like you did for the front. That's it!

Test The Installation:

Push up on the end of bar to test the installation. Also, grab the bar near the towers and pull back and forth. If the tower or crossbar slides, check tower for tightness and re-tighten. The Thule 400xtc Complete Aero Rack for Gutterless Car Roof is Thule's most popular answer to attaching a sport rack to a gutterless vehicle. This complete rack includes 4 components: 4 of the Thule 400xt Aero Feet, 1 Pair of Thule Load Bars, 4 End Caps and one Thule Fit Kit for 400, 400xt, 400xtr Aero Foot Packs (specific to your vehicle). Thule’s Fit Kits are coated with a protective material, which helps prevent any damage to your vehicle. The Thule Fit Kit design seems to grip some vehicles better than the Yakima Q Clips. The height of the Thule 400xt tower when mounted on your vehicle sits about 5” high. We will provide Thule's recommended load bar length for your vehicle unless you specify otherwise. Thule Lock Cores are sold separately. The link above will send you directly to the Thule 400xt Complete Rack at www.rackwarehouse.com.

If you'd prefer an aerodynamic sport rack, check out the Thule 400xtrc Rapid Aero Complete Rack. This complete rack includes 4 components: 4 of the Thule 400xtr Rapid Aero Feet, 1 Pair of Thule Rapid Aero Load Bars, 4 End Caps and Thule Fit Kit (specific to your vehicle). The height of the Thule 400xtr tower when mounted on your vehicle sits about 5” high, just like the the 400xt. Thule's recommended load bar length for your vehicle will be provided. Thule Lock Cores are sold separately.

Thule and Yakima Roof Racks - Getting Started

2009-01-26T11:30:00.021-05:00

Do you need a roof rack for your car, truck, or SUV, but you're not sure where to start? While there are a lot more options to choose from these days, finding the right rack for you isn't as difficult as you might think. If you've never had a roof rack before, our Automated Fit Guides are a good place to start. They make choosing the right rack quick and easy. The Thule Fit Guide and Yakima Fit Guide will show you all the base racks that fit your vehicle, as well as accessories that will let you carry just about anything. Best of all, Thule and Yakima only list racks in their Fit Guides that have been tested by professional engineers, so you know your new rack will fit like a glove.
Now that you know what racks will fit your vehicle, the hardest decision you'll have to make will be choosing between the two brands. This really is the hard part, because Thule and Yakima both have a history of quality products and customer satisfaction. They both feature Limited Lifetime Warranties, too. Most Thule and Yakima accessories are compatible with each other's car racks, so you won't be "locked in" to any one brand. Of course, if you already have Thule or Yakima products, sticking with that brand makes matching everything up just that much easier. Still not sure which system is right for you? Feel free to give us a call at 1 800 272 5362. We'll be happy to discuss rack options with you, to help make your choice of a Thule or Yakima rack as easy as possible.

Thule and Yakima Automotive Rack Products

2008-11-25T19:18:00.010-05:00

Thule and Yakima are the world leaders in transportation solutions for active families, professionals and outdoor enthusiasts wanting to transport their equipment by automobile safely, easily and in style. Thule and Yakima product portfolios include Car Racks, Bicycle Racks, Kayak and Canoe Racks, Ski and Snowboard Racks, Thule Luggage and Cargo Carriers, Yakima Luggage and Cargo Carriers, and numerous Thule Rack Accessories and Yakima Rack Accessories. The Rack Warehouse stocks the entire lines of sports-oriented Thule and Yakima Rack Products. Thule has taken vehicle racking a step further by recently tackling another aspect of the rack industry, Ladder and Construction Racks. The Rack Warehouse stocks the entire line of Thule Professional Grade Utility Truck Racks and Thule Professional Grade Utility Van Racks.