Need input on non-permanent roof rack (Thule, Yakima, etc.)

[Doppel]

I have a couple of sedans without roof racks and putting on permanent rails is out of the question. Thule, Yakima, maybe another one or two have these tower type systems that clip onto the side of the car. One can then put on bike carriers, roof-top containers or bags, etc.

Visiting both of the brands' sites it seems that to use these systems on two different cars most of the parts (the tower, for example, plus the cross-bars) can be swapped between either one but that a car-specific fit kit is purchased. Is that true?

1) Which brand has the system lending itself best to quick install? This is something I wouldn't keep on except when I need it
2) Am I more or less guaranteed to scratch my paint with these setups, where the towers sit on the car?

Anything else?

Oh, and no I'm not buying a truck. And I already have a hitch that's busy carrying bikes.

 

[NutBucket]

They're all pretty much the same. Also, look for used. Prices are much better.

That said, you may see some scratches but I never really noticed it being a huge problem before.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Fit can vary from car to car. I bought a Thule rack for my car but found that the clamps didn't fit right and I couldn't close my doors without the top edge of the door hitting the clamp, I even had the guys at my local bike shop try to help me fit it and we couldn't get it to fit without hitting. I did like the Thule bike trays though so I kept the tray and bought a Yakima rack.

 

[zoiks]

Make sure that you get clips that still have the rubber coating on them otherwise you're bound to scratch your car. Both Yakima and Thule systems are similar in quality although the components are not compatible (not interchangeable). Both take about the same amount of time to put together for set up. I've owned both so I know.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Make sure that you get clips that still have the rubber coating on them otherwise you're bound to scratch your car. Both Yakima and Thule systems are similar in quality although the components are not compatible (not interchangeable). Both take about the same amount of time to put together for set up. I've owned both so I know.

That's not entirely true. I have a Thule bike tray and Thule surfboard racks and they work fine on my Yakima rack.

 

[Zorba]

I have a Yakima setup on my Legacy. I have two upright bike racks and a kayak stacker. I can (tightly) get two bikes and two kayaks on the rack at once. I went with Yakima over Thule because of the round bars, the rectangular bars will deflect slightly more than the round ones. The rack took a little while to setup the first go round, but from then it is very quick to remove/reinstall. I take it off in the winter and if I go on a long trip, takes about 30 seconds to remove and maybe a minute to put it back on.

One word of caution, although it is true that the only car specific pieces are the pads, if you want to move it between two cars the distance between the towers may be different. For example, I have a 99 and 06 Legacy, the 99 uses different pads on the back, but the span between the towers are slightly different. I would stay that it would take around 10 minutes to adjust the towers for a new car.

In three years, I have no scratches on the paint, just be sure to clean the area before placing the towers. My window seals are made out of a rubber material, I will get small flat spots on those, but they slowly go away over a week or so.

Make sure that you get clips that still have the rubber coating on them otherwise you're bound to scratch your car. Both Yakima and Thule systems are similar in quality although the components are not compatible (not interchangeable). Both take about the same amount of time to put together for set up. I've owned both so I know.

Most of the accessories come with the clips needed to go on either type of bars.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Other things being equal I think the Yakima design is slightly better, mostly because the round bars provide more of an ability to adjust the towers to the contour of the car's roof. I have had many cars with roof racks and if you leave the rack on full-time you will likely get some scratches and/or corrosion under the mounting clips eventually, but certainly nothing catastrophic.

I definitely prefer cars (like BMWs and Mercs) that have dedicated mounting points built into the roof - this allows you to screw a rack directly into the roof so it is securely mounted without actually making contact with the paint.

 

[Doppel]

Thanks, guys/gals!

the round bars provide more of an ability to adjust the towers to the contour of the car's roof.

I've thought about this. Is it fair to say that JulesMaximus' experience about various other products working on the Yakima is relatively typical? I assume the racks themselves are not interchangeable (the car-specific parts), but if a lot of Thule containers would work on the Yakima that would be a bonus.

Is it worth looking into invisible stickers like the clear bra type films people use on the front of their cars and place these underneath the contact points, maybe scuffed up to assist in grip?

 

[kami333]

Other things being equal I think the Yakima design is slightly better, mostly because the round bars provide more of an ability to adjust the towers to the contour of the car's roof.

I thought that when I originally got my Thule set up (price was too good to pass up and I needed something in a week) but I haven't run into any problems. The racks been on 6 different cars from 3 manufacturers over the last 9 years.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Thanks, guys/gals!I've thought about this. Is it fair to say that JulesMaximus' experience about various other products working on the Yakima is relatively typical? I assume the racks themselves are not interchangeable (the car-specific parts), but if a lot of Thule containers would work on the Yakima that would be a bonus.

Is it worth looking into invisible stickers like the clear bra type films people use on the front of their cars and place these underneath the contact points, maybe scuffed up to assist in grip?

I would check with the manufacturer of the specific product you are looking to buy. I've used three different Thule bike trays with my Yakima rack including a really old Thule bike tray.

 

[Vetterin]

Top racks (whatever the make) plus bike carries can get pretty expensive. If all you need is a means to carry a bike just get a trunk mount bike rack, otherwise the choice is yours.

 

[herm0016]

i have a rhino rack from our friends down under and it is built very well. I belive it is better than thule or yakama and also cheaper.

check out realtruck.com

I have the aero on my truck and i have put over 200lbs on it, one of the most solid systems i have seen. also works with all the major brands of add ons.

 

[KMc]

I've sold both brands in the past and I can say they are both good products. For the foot design, unfortunately one car may have a better fit with one brand, but have the opposite be true for a different model car.

For me personally, I have roof rails on my car so I have a Yakima rack system but use non-Yakima bike trays.

rackattack.com is a good online retailer for both systems.

 

[JulesMaximus]

One thing to keep in mind is that a roof rack will affect your gas mileage, especially freeway mileage. Stick a bike up there and you can expect city mileage on the freeway. Plus you get a little more noise from the air rushing past your bike and the rack itself.

 

[Doppel]

Already, per first post, using my hitch for a bike rack

Need to price out the yakima vs thule next!

 

[Zorba]

One thing to keep in mind is that a roof rack will affect your gas mileage, especially freeway mileage. Stick a bike up there and you can expect city mileage on the freeway. Plus you get a little more noise from the air rushing past your bike and the rack itself.

I really haven't notice any appreciable mileage difference having the empty rack up there. There is some extra noise, but the more top kits you put on it the quieter it becomes (I think the more crap you have, the less vortex shedding off the crossbars). Just crossbars with no fairing can be pretty loud on the highway, and really bad with a strong cross wind.

As for the interchangeability of components, they will say something like this: "Mounts equally well to round or square crossbars." Every Yakima and Thule component I have looked out can be used on the others racks without buying anything extra. We you have to sometimes get adapters is when you want to put them on car OEM crossbars.

 

[zoiks]

That's not entirely true. I have a Thule bike tray and Thule surfboard racks and they work fine on my Yakima rack.

I see. I had the square bar racks on my thule and round ones on my Yakima. The kayak holders that I had on my thule would never fit my yakima bars. There might be some accessories that may be compatible but not all.