Discuss Detroit » Archives - Connections II » Car racks (Thule, Yakima, etc.) « Previous Next »
Top of pageBottom of page

Lakesuperior
Member
Username: Lakesuperior

Post Number: 160
Registered: 06-2005
Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 3:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was thinking about car racks for my kayak this morning. Then it occurred to me that a car rack might be appealing to thieves. I only have on-street parking (I live in Mid-town) and I would be pretty bummed if I got a new car rack and it disappeared off my car some night.

What do you guys think, am I being paranoid? Anyone had an unmolested car rack in the City for a respectable amount of time?
Top of pageBottom of page

Ndavies
Member
Username: Ndavies

Post Number: 2433
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 3:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Just take it off when you're not using it. Most install and remove pretty easily. You don't want to leave it on your car when not in use. Most add on racks will reduce the fuel mileage of your car.

The only time my snowboard rack is on my car is when there are snowboards in it.
Top of pageBottom of page

Lakesuperior
Member
Username: Lakesuperior

Post Number: 161
Registered: 06-2005
Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 4:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hmmm. Sweet. In my car rack-ignorance, I thought removal was complicated. I'll just take it off/put it back on then!
Top of pageBottom of page

Wash_man
Member
Username: Wash_man

Post Number: 333
Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 9:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Be sure it is attached correctly and securely. I travel up north nearly every weekend in the summer. I frequently see people on the side of the road trying to gather their belongings that came flying off the roof.
Top of pageBottom of page

Dabirch
Member
Username: Dabirch

Post Number: 2079
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Friday, February 09, 2007 - 5:17 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ask Susanarosa -- she is an expert on nice racks.
Top of pageBottom of page

Susanarosa
Member
Username: Susanarosa

Post Number: 1364
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Saturday, February 10, 2007 - 9:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jackass.
Top of pageBottom of page

Dabirch
Member
Username: Dabirch

Post Number: 2080
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Monday, February 12, 2007 - 11:00 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I miss you too.
Top of pageBottom of page

Rrl
Member
Username: Rrl

Post Number: 736
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 6:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I worked for a bike shop for about four years, so I don't want to sound like an expert but have enough knowledge to be dangerous.

I prefer the Yakima rack to the Thule for a couple reasons. First, the Yak has round cross-bars, the Thule rectangular tubing bars. The round bars are stronger and have less flex. Second, Yak has a greater menu of accessories. Price-wise Yak may be a tad more expensive, but I believe they are worth it. And (at least when I was working at the shop), their stuff was primarily made in the US; don't know if they've gone the China production route yet or not. In both systems everything comes pretty much ala carte, so depending on your accessories, you can expect to drop about 4 to 5-hundred clams.

I have a Merc Mountaineer w/ a factory roof rack. Got the Low-rider mounts to fit into the existing side rails. With lock-cores on the mounts, it's extremely difficult if not impossible to steal the mounts & bars. Bar mounted accessories are another story, but can similary be locked to the bars for security.

If you're driving a car w/o a factory roof rack, the Q-towers will lock into the rain-gutters of your rig, and can be similary locked. I personally have no experience how theft-free this is though.

Good luck!
Top of pageBottom of page

Toolbox
Member
Username: Toolbox

Post Number: 1033
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 3:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dabirch

Get it right:
AmyP has the rack.
Velma has the jugs
Susannarosa has the cans

Add Your Message Here
Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.