From the category archives:

Base Car Rack Systems

ORS Adds Super Sale Clearance Section to Website

by rackdawg on February 2, 2012

ORS Racks Direct has just announced the release of an all-new Super Sale Closeouts and Clearance area on the website. As a division of ORS Direct, it benefits from having access to a broad range of additional categories besides car racks, truck racks and gear carrier accessories. Also sold through its partner websites are other outdoor equipment, clothing and apparel such as cross country skis, backcountry-telemark skis, boots, bindings, poles, snowshoes, Chariot baby joggers-baby strollers, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags and much more. Now, after several months of engineering and development, the company is now able to feature a large inventory of discounted products across all partner website platforms. For further information please visit the pressreleases below…

http://www.prleap.com/pr/185034/

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9154994.htm

247pressrelease Super Sale at ORS Racks Direct

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Advice on Attaching Cargo Carrier to Infiniti EX35

by Rack Magic Woman on January 27, 2012

Q: Do I understand I need the foot pack and the square rails to attach one of your cargo carriers to my Infiniti EX35?  Can you also give me your best fit for my car – 3 moderate sized pieces of luggage.

A:  Does your Infiniti have factory raised side rails or a naked roof? And just to clarify, are you looking for a luggage box or a cargo basket?

Q:  I have the raised roof rails and I would like an aero luggage box.

A: The Thule Altantis 1600 ought to have enough room for three suitcases with a bit to spare. Dimensions: 74″(L) x 36″(W) x 16.3″(H). We have plenty of other shapes and sizes available.

And yes, you do need to get some kind of crossbars between those roof rails to  use a box. Take a look at the Thule 450R system – the new aerodynamic crossbar shape is quieter than square bars.

Q: I have the factory crossbars (packed away) but they are fixed at 19″ spacing, hence the interest in the Thule system.  I assume the Thule system will elevate the box to clear the factory spoiler.

A: You will get a few inches of elevation with the 450R. To be sure about spoiler clearance, you may need to do some measurements, but the mounting hardware on the boxes allows for some fore/aft adjustment to prevent hatch interference.

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by Rack Magic Woman on January 26, 2012

Q:  I currently drive a 2011 Honda Fit Sport.  On the 2007 Nissan Sentra, which I no longer own, I bought online a Fit Kit. I already have the bars, etc. I just needed a Kit to match with the bars, intended for 2011 Honda Fit. The following link, http://www.orsracksdirect.com/thule-racks-2180-fitkit-honda-fit-roof-rack.html, is what I found, thus I ordered them originally.

I am confused with the 2 Fit Kits you mentioned below, each having their respective systems. If the above link is no longer valid, suggest to update it accordingly to redirect to the appropriate model, system applicable to date.

Pardon me asking, why would there be 2 Fit Kits of different systems? What is the correct item for my 2011 Honda Fit Sport?

In closing, please ship out the vehicle specific rack systems with the fit guides developed by our vendors for approved an tested fits applicable for my 2011 Honda Fit Sport.

A: The link to the 2180 fit kit you found which stated it is for the Honda Fit is for the Honda Fit model years 2007–2008. Your Honda Fit, being a 2011, requires a different fit kit.

The reason there are two different fit kits is because Thule made two different rack systems for the Honda Fit. Please review the following links and let us know which is the system that matches what you had on your 2007 Nissan Sentra. The Thule 400XT Aero Foot Pack or the Thule 480 Traverse Foot Pack.

Once you have confirmed this then we can make sure you get the correct fit kit for the system you currently have that you want to now put on your Honda Fit.

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Rack Set Up for 2010 GMC Canyon 4 door Crew Cab

by Rack Magic Woman on December 27, 2011

Q: I would like the dual kayak system as shown in the  picture below for my 2010 GMC Canyon 4 Door Crew Cab. Can you please provide a required material list?

traverse-half-pack-tacomaA: Here is what you will need for this set up on your 2010 GMC Canyon 4 door crew cab:

Thule 480 Traverse Half Pack Rack (includes 480 Traverse half foot pack, single LB58 load bar & 1461 fit kit) – This will be the single bar that will mount to the top of your truck cab.

Thule 997 GoalPost T-Bar Hitch Rack – This is the rear bar that will attach to your receiver hitch.

Thule 883 Glide & Set Kayak Rack x 2 – These are the kayak saddles and tie downs.

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Loose Thule Track Towers?

by Rack Magic Woman on December 12, 2011

Q: I purchased a Thule rack system little over 2 years ago and I noticed that the Thule Tracker II feet I have are very loose on the pin. Is this normal? It seems to be getting worse, too. At first it was just one set about a year ago, now the other 2 are just as wobbly. They seem very loose on the  pins and rock forward and backward very easily, even though they are locked on. Shouldn’t they fit snug and tight?? I am concerned they will come loose and I will lose my rack AND my gear!Is there anything you can do for this?

A: They do tend to loosen a bit over time. Are they loose with the bar on them? If so you probably need to tighten the bolt that applies pressure to the bar itself, that should stop some of the wobble. I have never seen or heard of one releasing. They are meant to have some degree of adjustability to them. As long as you cannot pull them off without engaging the release button you should be fine.

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Thule 599 Big Mouth for 2010 Mercedes Benz GLK 350?

by Rack Magic Woman on December 6, 2011

Q: I own a Mercedes Benz GLK 350 2010 with factory crossbars and would like to install a Thule 599 big mouth rack. Will the bike rack fit on my factory crossbars?
A: The online fit guides don’t showing a version of your car with factory crossbars, just side rails (you should be able to use the Thule 599 if the crossbars are present) – so I checked with Thule and sure enough they said there is a OEM bar option that you probably have and you can use the Thule 599 Big Mouth with your 2010 Mercedes Benz GLK 350. If you didn’t have the optional crossbars, you could have gone with a Thule 450 or 450r system as a base rack and then add accessories for four seasons.

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Roof Rack for 2011 Nissan Rogue S?

by Rack Magic Woman on December 1, 2011

Q:  Is there a recommended roof rack system, a fixed rack system,  for a 2011 nissan rogue s  with naked roof?

A:  Yes, we do have a roof rack system for your 2011 Nissan Rogue. I would recommend either of the two options below. The only difference is the bar style. The second one is a more modern design and might better suit your vehicle and your style if you are into that.

 Thule 480 Traverse Roof Rack System, (includes 480 Travers foot pack, LB58 load bars and 1587 fit kit).

Thule 480R Rapid Traverse Roof Rack, (includes 480R Travers foot pack, ARB53AeroBlade bars and 1587 fit kit).

 But then I noticed that you mentioned “fixed system”. Do you mean you want to permanently drill into the roof of your vehicle and do a permanent rack system? If that is the case then you have a couple of other options noted below.

 Thule 460 Podium Roof Rack System, (includes 460 Podium foot pack, LB58 load bars and TK14 attachment points). With this system, the four attachment points are fixed in place. Here are the installation instructions for this system.

Thule 460R Rapid Podium Car Rack, (includes 460 Podium foot pack, LB58 load bars and TK14 attachment points). Same system as above with the AeroBlade bars.

 Another option is to mount a set of Thule TP54 54″ Tracks and then one of the two above mentioned 460(R) systems (but instead of the TK14 you will get the TK1). This option is a little more versatile since it allows you to slide and adjust the distance between cross bars from front to back. Here are the installation instructions for this system.

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Carry Skis on 2010 Ford Flex with Vista Roof

by Rack Magic Woman on November 16, 2011

Q:  I have a 2010 Ford Flex with a Vista roof.  Want to carry skis .  Not sure if I want a Thule “bin” style carrier, or an actual ski clamp. Nothing on the car right now, but appears to have channels to fit something.  Have read various website forums, where Ford does not recommend putting anything on a Vista roof (huge sunroof)….but everybody does it. Would love some direction.

A: First you will need a base rack system. Thule lists their 480 Traverse Roof Rack System (includes 480 Traverse foot pack, LB58 load bars and 1518 fit kit) as compatible with your 2010 Ford Flex with dual sunroofs (assuming this is the same as the Vista roof). As for whether to go with a cargo box (bin?) or a ski rack, that is personal preference, but here are some things to consider: Obviously the ski rack is going to be much cheaper than a cargo box. On the order of $300+.

If you want a classic ski rack, our best value at the moment is the Thule 91725 Universal Flat Top ski rack for $117.95.

However, the cargo box will hold more skis and other gear and will keep your gear safe from the elements, including road salt. And you can use it all year round for other gear such as fishing rods, camping gear, etc, etc. They install in a matter of just a couple of minutes so you can easily remove it when you don’t want it on the car.

I have a 2005 Toyota Matrix with an Thule Atlantis 1200 on it.

2005 Toyota Matrix with Yakima 1200 Roof Box

2005 Toyota Matrix with Thule Atlantis 1200 Roof Box

Very useful and looks great.

You can also read a similar Q&A regarding this very same circumstance here.

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Looking for a kayak rack for my 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan

by Rack Magic Woman on October 27, 2011

Q: I’m looking for a kayak rack for my 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan (Wolfsburg edition). I have the two bars on top of my roof but I don’t have cross ties (racks) to hold the kayak. The car has a panoramic sunroof (large) and an antenna on the roof in the back in the middle. Can you recommend a kayak rack for this car? I’d prefer to spend $100 or less for the cross bars/tie off.

A: Your best bet is the Thule 450 CrossRoads ($228.85 a bit more than $100 but well worth it) system and once you have these bars spanning across the vehicle you can use any type of kayak rack. The type of kayak rack you select is somewhat dependent on the kayak type/material you buy. Super wide kayaks may be best in a J cradle like the 835xtr, or if getting an expensive fiberglass boat then consider the 883 Glide and Set.

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Q: I’m looking to install a Yakima rack on a 4 door 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Here’s question 1. What is the maximum weight load that I can put on the racks? At the most I would be carrying two Kayaks and 2 mountain bikes at the same time. Question(s) 2. I get the impression from looking at your site info that there are two approaches to installing a Yakima rack. One uses a track which is mounted to the fiberglass top to which the towers are mounted on. The other seems to use landing pads which get mounted directly to the roof. Assuming this is true, it seems the track approach provides more flexibility since you can move the towers to adjust the distance between the bars. In comparison using the landing pads mean once you select the position, you cannot change it. Is this true? And lastly, without seeing more detail of the CapNut hardware, I’m not sure how this works (e.g., how big are the holes and how many do you have to drill?, how big are the bolts?, how are they tightened?). Can you provide a little more description? Once I drill holes in the fiberglass roof, I won’t be able to undrill them and want to be sure they will be secure relative to mechanical loading, be H20 proof, and if necessary, replaceable. Should I worry about cracking or splitting emanating from the holes?

A: Unfortunately this is a difficult vehicle to install a rack upon to provide a lot of weight capacity. And in fact, Yakima does not give any indication of weight limits to I cannot give you any maximum load level. Yakima has two suggested options, first is using the 1A Raingutter System but to only mount on the rear door gutter for 24’ of bar spread. Second, is to permanent mount with LP6 and a Control Tower System but even here they say to not mount on the removable t-top portion up front.

Here are the notes for the permanent install from Yakima:

Notes
405. Weight and load limits must be determined by the customer. Load limitations can vary depending on placement of Landing Pads and strength of material being attached to. Landing Pad 7 has a maximum weight rating up to 100lbs.
406. Do not install Landing Pads on the removable panel over the doors. Only install over the rear portion of the hardtop.
409. A factory installed luggage carrier will prohibit the installation of this application.
411. Landing Pads 6 and 7 are a permanent installation. Be sure to look at the CrossBar Spread Table to determine the correct distance between brackets for your loads.
412. A sunroof or moonroof will prohibit the installation of this application.
415. Fairing length may vary depending on location of Landing Pad installation. Measure the distance between your Yakima towers to determine an appropriate length.

There is a third viable options using tracks but please note Yakima provides no recommendations for use of a track, but we sell this option all day long for mounting into fiberglass truck caps. With tracks you need to drill 5 holes per track, they do provide silicon sealant and I’m not sure how to measure the hole but the bolt is about the thickness of a number 2 pencil, and maybe a inch and half long. I would overseal to prevent leakage, and to date have not heard of any roof cracking (one truck caps which they are used on a lot) or leakage or replacement issues, but since these are mechanical devices in a fiberglass roof then all are possibilites and none can be ruled out. I personally have drilled into my own truck cap back in 2004 with a Yakima track and have no issues but I would always worry somewhat about cracking or splitting emanating from the holes. I’ve inspected my cap every few years and see no signs of failure. Whether a Jeep top is of the same level of constructions I cannot answer.

Now Thule (a competing brand) offers a bit more leniency with weight ratings, in fact they say you can carry up to 165lbs, this is using their 300 Raingutter System with at least 58” bars.

So given your situation and what you want to carry, I say go Thule (at least you have their sanctioned fit) and avoid the drilling issues!

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Image of 2011 Honda CRV  roof rack setup comprised of Thule 460R Rapid Podium with 3042 Fit Kit and AeroBlade bars.

Image of 2011 Honda CRV roof rack setup comprised of Thule 460R Rapid Podium with 3042 Fit Kit and AeroBlade bars. This Ski Rack for 2011 Honda CR-V is the Thule 92725 Universal Flat Top Ski & Snowboard Carrier.

A fantastic roof rack setup for a 2011 Honda CR-V, this Thule 460R Rapid podium roof rack includes the Thule 460R Podium Foot Pack, Thule 3042 Podium Fit Kit and a set of Thule AeroBlade ARB47 bars.   This rack system attaches to the roof of the CR-V via the 4 fixed rack attachment points on the roof of the 2011 Honda CR-V. The 92725 Thule Universal Flat Top snowboard and ski carrier nicely compliments this setup. It can hold as many as 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards or a mixture of the two.

More details on 2011 Honda CR-V roof rack for fixed attachment points…

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Image of 2012 Mazda 5 roof rack with Whispbar Through Bar rack system & Yakima Sky Box 18 cargo box

Image of 2012 Mazda 5 roof rack with Whispbar Through Bar rack system & Yakima Sky Box 18 cargo box

This 2012 Mazda 5 roof rack system features the Whispbar Through Bar car rack complete system  which includes two S16 Through Bars, 4 SmartFoot Towers and K500 Fit Kit.  It is installed by mounting to the fixed rack attachment points on the 2012 Mazda 5 rooftop. The  8007181 Yakima Sky Box 18 cargo box attaches directly to the Whispbar base rack cross bars and the  back door of Mazda 5 can still open all the way without hitting the back of the SkyBox 18).

More 2012 Mazda 5 Whispbar Roof Rack info…

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Image of Thule 480 Traverse car rack with 487 Traverse SRA Short Roof Adapter Kit for 2010 Honda Accord 2-door.

Image of Thule 480 Traverse car rack with 487 Traverse SRA Short Roof Adapter Kit for 2010 Honda Accord 2-door.

This 2010 Honda Accord 2 Door Roof Rack is composed of the 480 Thule Traverse rack system paired with the Thule Traverse SRA (487) short roof adapter kit.  This is the ideal roof carrier set up for the 2 Door accord short roof line. They complete system includes Thule 1559 Fit Kit ( the correct fit kit for 2010 Honda Accord) and LB58 Thule Load bars.

More details on roof rack for 2010 Honda Accord short roof…

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Image of a very racked up Chevy Suburban roof and hitch mount bike rack system using the Thule 450 Crossroad base rack system with 5 Thule 599XTR bike racks and the Thule 916XTR T2 hitch bike rack with the Thule 918XTR T2 2 bike add-on.

Image of a very racked up Chevy Suburban roof and hitch mount bike rack system using the Thule 450 Crossroad base rack system with 5 Thule 594XT Sidearm bike racks and the Thule 916XTR T2 hitch bike rack with the Thule 918XTR T2 2 bike add-on.

There’s a lot going on with this rack star’s ridiculously racked up rig. This Chevy Suburban roof bike rack system and rear mount hitch bike rack system is using the Thule 450 Crossroad base rack mounted to the factory side rails with 5 Thule 594XT SideArm upright style bike racks. Mounted to the 2″ receiver hitch are the Thule 916XTR T2 platform style hitch mounted bike rack with the Thule 918XTR T2 2-bike add-on. If my math is correct, this rig can hold 9 bikes! And in addition, there is a ladder attached using the Thule 503 Load Stops.

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Here’s a really solid overview of the Thule 460R Rapid Podium roof rack system, featuring the ultra-sleek and whisper-silent Thule AeroBlade crossbars. The informational video includes an installation of the complete car rack system on  rooftop fixed-points for a premium factory rack looking 2011 Honda CR-V roof rack crossbars multi-purpose system. With the system installed you can then connect any roof mount gearcarrier attachments to the AeroBlade load bars. The components used in the 2011 Honda CRV car rack install are the Thule 460R Rapid Podium Foot Pack, Thule 3042 Podium Fit Kit and pair of Thule ARB47 AeroBlade load bars. The 460R Rapid Podium system is Thule Racks most versatile roof rack solution, as it is often used for other configurations such as mounting to flush side rails, roof tracks and certain custom, permanent rack applications. There are many Podium Fit Kits available, each designed for a specific application and particular vehicle year/make/model.

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2009-volvo-xc70-roof-rack-whispbar-through-bar-927

Image of 2009 Volvo XC70 Roof Rack with Whispbar Through Bars and K32 Fit Kit.

This  Volvo XC70 Car Rack features  the Whispbar Through Bar car rack system.  It  is made up of  two S17 Through Bars,  four SmartFoot Towers and a  K328 Fit Kit.  It is attached to the factory rails of the 2009 XC70. These Whispbar Rack load bars can be used with almost any roof mount gear carrier.

For more info on Whispbar Through Bars for a 2009 Volvo  XC70…

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2008 Volvo XC70 Roof Rack with Thule AeroBlade Load Bars

by Rack Princess on September 27, 2011

Image of Thule 450R AeroBlade Roof Rack for 2008 Volvo XC70

Image of Thule 450R AeroBlade Rapid CrossRoad Roof Rack for 2008 Volvo XC70

This 2008 Volvo XC70 Roof Rack features  Thule AeroBlade load bars used with the 450R Thule Rapid CrossRoad Roof Rack. This complete car rack system comes with a pair of 53″ length Thule ARB53 AeroBlade load bars and the system attaches directly to the factory side rails of the  2008 Volvo XC70.  Also includes 4 pack of locks.

For more photos and complete info on  Thule AeroBlade Roof Rack for a 2008 Volvo XC70.

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Awesome instructional video featuring the Thule 450R Rapid CrossRoad roof rack system assembled and installed on a 2008 Volvo XC70 with factory side rails. The components used in this complete all-purpose base rack system configuration are the Thule 450R Rapid CrossRoad Foot Pack and pair of Thule AeroBlade load bars (also, not included but highly recommended by the instructor in the movie is a pack of Thule locks to lock the rack to the vehicle). The AeroBlades are the most advanced cross rails (load bars, cross bars or whatever else they may be called) available on the market today. The silent design ensures a quiet environment free of any noise coming from the roofrack while driving down the highway. The 450R Rapid CrossRoad Foot Pack features super-strength steel straps (encased inside padded rubber) that wrap around any style, shape or size of side rails. Then simply use the hex wrench, that is integrated right into the inside of the end caps, to tighten each strap onto the side rail for a perfectly custom fit. Very easy to switch this system out and place on any other vehicle with side rails as well.

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This is a really good explanatory video of how to assemble and install the Whispbar Through Bar roof rack system on vehicles with factory side rails (in this case it is the Whispbar S18 Through Bar SmartFoot & Crossbars components combined with the Whispbar K328 Fit Kit mounted to factory side rails for a 2008 Volvo XC70 roof rack system). The true value of this demonstration movie is how selecting the Through Bar system, instead of the Whispbar Rail Bar system, you gain the flexibility of choosing longer cross bars — very handy for gear and equipment transport configurations that require attaching many gear carriers, hauling very wide gear loads etc. While the Whispbar Racks Rail Bar car rack system for factory side rails delivers a very clean, factory integrated look due to the cross bars ending flush with the side rails, you are restricted in using that specific length of crossbars on the particular vehicle year/make/model they are mounted to. This could present problems if there isn’t enough space on the crossbars for all the roof mount gear carriers you want to attach or when transporting a couple wide kayaks, canoe and so forth. That’s when going with the Through Bars is the better choice.

view all Whispbar Through Bar roof rack videos

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Whispbar Rail Bar Roof Rack Video

by rackdawg on September 24, 2011

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view Whispbar Rail Bar videos page

The Whispbar Racks Rail Bar roof rack system is designed specifically for mounting to vehicles with factory side rails. It differs from the other Whispbar multi-purpose base rack systems, such as the Through Bar, HD Bar and Flush Bar roofrack systems, because it does not require the additional use of a Whispbar Fit Kit to mount to the vehicle. Instead it connects directly to the side rails (hence, it does not cost as much as the other systems either). This Whispbar Rail Bar video provides a solid, in-depth look at the system and even includes an installation of the Whispbar S53 Rail Bar roof rack model on a 2008 Volvo XC90 that has factory side rails. The whisper-quiet aerodynamic cross bars prevent any rack noise (a common problem with other car racks). Also, no other set up results in such a seamless, factory integrated look. Sleek, polished and stunning looking. The crossbars are also universally designed to accept any roof mount gear carriers, regardless of manufacturer. Locks are included. Whispbar is a premium product division of Yakima Racks.

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How To Select the Longest Whispbar Racks Crossbars

by rackdawg on September 24, 2011

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Being able to choose longer crossbars is very nice for when you plan to mount several gear carriers or transport very wide gear loads etc. With the Whispbar Racks Through Bar and HD Bar systems you have the option to select longer crossbars than what are the default recommendation (usually the shortest allowable length). The process for determining what crossbar length options you have available for your specific automobile is easy. Just open up the Whispbar Fit Kit installation instructions that you need for your specific auto, and refer to the installation measurements chart. You will want the ’1′ and ’2′ measurements for your vehicle under the ‘X’ heading — ’1′ is the measurement of the front cross bar and ’2′ is the measurement of the rear cross bar. Then refer to the Whispbar Racks Though Bar & HD Bar Chart that specifies the crossbar dimension ranges for each specific Through Bar and HD Bar models. If both the ’1′ and ’2′ measurements fall within the crossbar dimension range for a specific model then you can use that Through Bar or HD Bar model and length crossbars. You will see that you can most often select a model that has longer crossbars than the model that was the default recommendation in the Yakima-Whispbar Online Fit Guide tool.

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view Whispbar Roof Rack Systems Comparison video

Just released is this excellent, in-depth comparison review and installation video by ORS Racks Direct, featuring the Whispbar Flush Bar roof rack system, Whispbar Through Bar roof rack system and Whispbar HD Bar roof rack system (the Whispbar Rail Bar option is featured in its own movie because it differs from these other systems due to its design that does not use the SmartFoot – Fit Kit technology). The video also provides a good step-by-step procedure for installing the Whispbar Flush Bar on a car with factory installed fixed rack attachment locations on the roof top (fixed-points). In this case the car is a Subaru Impreza. Also, for visual comparison, a single Whispbar Through Bar is attached to the roof in the front, while the single Flush Bar is on the back of the roof. This effectively allows the movie viewer to compare the looks of both systems on a cartop. Very helpful when trying to decide which product to go with. Also, at the end of the movie there is a great informational section detailing how to determine which length cross bars on the Through Bar and HD Bar systems will work on any specific vehicle model. Having the ability to choose longer cross bars than what are normally recommended is a great way to gain extra crossbar space when carrying lots of gear and equipment. Whispbar roof racks feature superior anti-noise generating technology, are ultra slim and low profile and stunning to set your eyes on.

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Thule AeroBlade Load Bars Video Review

by rackdawg on September 22, 2011

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view Thule AeroBlade load bars video

Check out this nice and not-so-lengthy official Thule Racks introductory video review of the rad, new Thule AeroBlade load bars, the car rack industry’s most advanced roof rack crossbars that combine total whisper, quiet silence (translate that into a peaceful noise free ride while driving down the highway) and aerofoil shape, low-profile design that maximizes fuel economy. Of course most people will just go for the stunning good looks, they are so fast looking they look like they are ready for lift off! This introductory Thule AeroBlade load bars video review features footage taken of wind-tunnel testing and crash testing, as well as comparative analysis with other leading crossbars models from other car rack manufacturers such as Yakima, Whispbar, Atera and Mont Blanc. Check out this page for complete Thule AeroBlade bars information. They are available in four sizes, ARB43 43 inches length, ARB47 47 inches length, ARB53 53 inches length and ARB60 60 inches length.

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Picture of the awesome new Thule Racks 450R Rapid CrossRoad roof rack system that now includes the 100% whisper quiet Thule AeroBlade cross bars

Picture of the awesome new Thule Racks 450R Rapid CrossRoad roof rack system that now includes the 100% whisper quiet Thule AeroBlade cross bars

Just released to Thule Rack dealers in Canada and the United States is the red hot new Thule 450R Rapid CrossRoad roof rack AeroBlade load bars system that features the incredible, totally silent Thule AeroBlade load bars. The Thule 450R Rapid CrossRoad car rack system is designed for use on vehicles with factory installed raised side rails (the two bars that run parallel to each other from the front to back of the rooftop on the driver-side and passenger-side). It includes the following components: Thule 450R Rapid CrossRoad Foot Pack and pair of Thule Aero Blade cross bars. Best of all, the 4 lengths of AeroBlade load bars are exactly the same as the older model Rapid Aero load bars so they easily replace the Rapid Aero crossbars on any current Thule 450R Rapid CrossRoad roofrack system without having to also spend the extra money to also replace the 450R Foot Pack. The four Thule AeroBlade cross bar sizes are Thule AeroBlade ARB43 load bars at 43 inches in length, Thule AeroBlade ARB47 load bars at 47 inches in length, Thule AeroBlade ARB53 load bars at 53 inches in length and Thule AeroBlade ARB60 load bars at 60 inches in length. The AeroBlades generate no rack noise, humming or whistling for a totally peaceful and quiet ride while driving, making the AeroBlades superior to every other all-purpose base rack cross rails available.

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Picture of the stunning new Thule Racks 480R Rapid Traverse roof rack system that now includes the totally silent Thule AeroBlade load bars.

Picture of the stunning new Thule Racks 480R Rapid Traverse roof rack system that now includes the totally silent Thule AeroBlade load bars.

Now available at Thule Racks dealers throughout the United States and Canada is the all-new Thule 480R Rapid Traverse roof rack AeroBlade load bars system featuring the stunning, 100% silent Thule AeroBlade load bars. The Thule Racks 480R Rapid Traverse car rack system is designed for use on vehicles with totally bare rooftops (no factory rack, side rails, roof tracks or anything). It includes the following components: Thule 480R Rapid Traverse Foot Pack, set of Thule Traverse Fit Kit clips (specific to your particular car, van or pickup truck year / make / model) and pair of Thule AeroBlade load bars. Best of all, the four sizes of AeroBlades are exactly the same as the older model Rapid Aero load bars so they can conveniently replace the Rapid Aero bars on any current Thule 480 Rapid Traverse roof rack system without having to replace any of the other components. The four Thule AeroBlade cross bar sizes are Thule ARB43 AeroBlade load bars at 43 inches in length, Thule ARB47 AeroBlade load bars at 47 inches in length, Thule ARB53 AeroBlade load bars at 53 inches in length and Thule ARB60 AeroBlade load bars at 60 inches in length. Superior to all other multi-purpose base rack cross bars on the market today, the Aero Blade cross rails generate no rack noise, hum or whistling for a totally quiet ride when driving your car.

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Canoe Carrying Solution for 2003 Land Cruiser?

by Rack Magic Woman on September 19, 2011

Q:  I have a 2003 Land Cruiser without rain gutters but with the factory roof racks (the not-very-strong and stable kind).  What is my canoe carrying solution?

A: You can install a new base rack, which for your vehicle would be a base rack that would mount to your factory side rails and provide stronger and wider crossbars. You have a few options to consider and here are two good ones:

Thule 450 Crossroad System

Yakima Railgrab Kit

With either of these base racks systems in place, you can then install a canoe carrier to the crossbars,which comes with straps and tie-downs and will keep the canoe from sliding side to side

Thule 579xt Canoe Carrier

Yakima Gunwale brackets

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Thule AeroBlade Load Bars – ARB60 ARB53 ARB47 ARB43

by rackdawg on September 16, 2011

Image of the radical new ARB60 Thule AeroBlade load bars, the longest size crossbars (60 inches) in the new Thule Racks AeroBlade bars line up. Other sizes include the Thule ARB43 AeroBlade (43 inches), Thule ARB47 AeroBlade (47 inches), Thule ARB53 AeroBlade (53 inches).

Image of the radical new ARB60 Thule AeroBlade load bars, the longest size crossbars (60 inches) in the new Thule Racks AeroBlade bars line up. Other sizes include the Thule ARB43 AeroBlade (43 inches), Thule ARB47 AeroBlade (47 inches), Thule ARB53 AeroBlade (53 inches).

The Thule AeroBlade bars are Thule Racks winning entry into the realm of aerofoil shape crossbars that eliminate all roof rack wind noise, humming and whistling.

The Thule AeroBlade bars are Thule Racks winning entry into the realm of aerofoil shape crossbars that eliminate all roof rack wind noise, humming and whistling.

All Thule AeroBlade load bars fit the entire line-up of Thule Rapid Foot Pack roof rack systems, including 450R Rapid CrossRoad, 480R Rapid Traverse, 460R Rapid Podium, 400XTR Rapid Aero and 430R Rapid Tracker.

All Thule AeroBlade load bars fit the entire line-up of Thule Rapid Foot Pack roof rack systems, including 450R Rapid CrossRoad, 480R Rapid Traverse, 460R Rapid Podium, 400XTR Rapid Aero and 430R Rapid Tracker.

Not to be outdone by Yakima’s recent release of the Whispbar Racks series of  ‘whisper quiet’ roof rack systems using wind-tunnel tested aerofoil shape crossbars, Thule Racks has just thrown their hat in the ring with the launch of the awesome Thule AeroBlade load bars. Available in four different sizes – Thule ARB60 AeroBlade load bars (60″ size), Thule ARB53 AeroBlade load bars (53″ size), Thule ARB47 AeroBlade load bars (47″ size) and Thule ARB43 AeroBlade load bars (43″ size) – these sizes are exactly the same lengths as the Thule Rapid Aero load bars. There is a very good reason for this, as Thule thoughfully designed the AeroBlades to replace the Rapid Aeros (which have been retired from production) and work on all the same Thule Rapid Foot Pack roof rack systems that the Rapid Aero crossbars worked on – including the 480R Rapid Traverse Foot Pack, 460R Rapid Podium Foot Pack, 450R Rapid CrossRoad Foot Pack, 430R Rapid Tracker Foot Pack and 400XTR Rapid Aero Foot Pack. This makes it very easy and economical for those that currently own a car rack system using the Rapid Aero cross bars to upgrade to the vastly superior AeroBlade load bars, as all that is required is to buy a pair of Aero Blade bars. They attach right to the Rapid Foot Packs for a seamless transition over to the incredible benefits and features of the AeroBlades. The result of laborious, rigorous testing under all conditions and wind-tunnel analytics, the Thule AeroBlade load bars deliver a sleek, fast aerofoil shape that eliminates the possibility of roof rack noise, humming or whistling. Furthermore, the superior aerodynamics actually work to noticeably reduce fuel costs compared to all other crossbars available on the market today. Nor is there ever a need to spend additional money to buy a wind fairing accessory that is normally used to try and lessen noise that often occurs with all other cross bars (though a fairing will never eliminate noise entirely). With technological advancements that include WindDiffuser Technology, SwingBlade Technology, BoxBeam Technology SmartSlide Technology and more (check out this thorough page resource of Thule AeroBlade load bars details and information), it is becoming more and more difficult to find valid reasons to use regular crossbars such as square and round bars. Especially since over the long run, the more expensive aerodynamic AeroBlades will actually pay for themselves over the long haul.

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Whispbar Racks Featured Retailer Profile

by rackdawg on September 13, 2011

Image of the Whispbar Racks HD Bar roof rack system, one of the many Whispbar products available at ORS Racks Direct. Whispbar Racks recently featured this nationwide dealer with a Whispbar Featured Retailer Profile.
Image of the Whispbar Racks HD Bar roof rack system, one of the many Whispbar products available at ORS Racks Direct. Whispbar Racks recently featured this nationwide dealer with a Whispbar Featured Retailer Profile.

Whispbar Retailer Profile: ORS Racks Direct

In the digital “inter-scape” world of retail, the game is changing for the cargo management category! It’s no longer Pepsi vs. Coke in the same sense that it has been Yakima Racks vs. Thule Racks – Whispbar is here to set a different tone – essentially shaking things up; making it a different category. Whispbar is sleek, aero, and most of all quiet and consumers need to know that. Who is a retailer who is doing this very well? Enter, Catherine Ricklefs and David Ricklefs from ORS Racks Direct.

We recently had the opportunity to meet up with these two (husband and wife team) and find out what they are doing to make sure consumers hear the difference…no pun intended here…of Whispbar. I asked David and Catherine what it takes to step into the lead from a retailer’s perspective for getting a new product into the hands of the consumers it speaks to.

Dana (Whispbar Racks): David, we have been receiving a lot of buzz from your website blog and Twitter tweets through our social monitoring efforts and ORS has been LOUD!!! How are you keeping up? Running the business and keeping your employees happy – not to mention raising a newborn – congratulations by the way from us at Yakima, takes a serious time commitment. But seriously, how are you keeping the momentum rolling?

David Ricklefs (ORS): Dana, it’s simple really. It’s a tremendous amount of work on my behalf – really its manual labor – I am constantly monitoring the buzz that comes across all our social channels. I am really “listening” and responding as quickly as possible – that takes work and plenty of it.

Dana (Whispbar Racks): I can only imagine the time you spend on this, for we have a couple people at Yakima monitoring our social and its hard work. What drove you to attack the product introduction as you have through the social marketing aspect?

David Ricklefs (ORS): I knew what Whispbar was bringing to the table after you hosted your retailers in Portland back in April to unveil the product and the retail program to support it. I knew that I needed to be first in the digital game to capitalize on sales, so I took the “playbook” and ran with it. In your online partner line-up, ORS is really a small shop, but it has a big punch and I knew that I could capture a large audience if I could have a louder voice. I knew that by leveraging our website blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts I could not only communicate to our existing followers that we were bringing a new product – something that was game changing – no longer a Pepsi vs. Coke choice. Whispbar is more fuel efficient, quieter, and sleeker – sexier too! I needed to voice that and that’s exactly what I have been doing.

Dana (Whispbar Racks): That’s awesome David! Have you been receiving some positive upswing in demand for Whispbar in the past few months that it’s been in the market?

David Ricklefs (ORS): Yes, in fact, we have generated some tremendous interest in the products and are taking orders now. Our sales team is bought into the product and its benefits, so we are converting that “untapped” demand to sales through them.

Dana (Whispbar Racks): This is fantastic! We really appreciate your business and will find every opportunity we can to support you and the other online partners in the coming months and into 2012 – which will be a very exciting year for all!

visit the ORS Racks Direct selection of Whispbar Racks

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Killer example of roof rack excellence, this VW Eurovan roof track rack system and luggage carrier is using the Yakima Control Tower System with 2 sets of #1 Landing Pads mounted into a set of Yakima 60" roof tracks and the Thule 605 Ascent 1700 cargo box.

Killer example of roof rack excellence, this VW Eurovan roof track rack system and luggage carrier is using the Yakima Control Tower System with 2 sets of #1 Landing Pads mounted into a set of Yakima 60" roof tracks and the Thule 605 Ascent 1700 cargo box.

This is the kind of rack magic we love to see, especially under a bluebird sky. I wanted to praise the owners but I was worried that they may have been taking a snooze after a long day on the trails. This Volkswagen Eurovan permanent roof tracks rack system with cargo carrier is using  a set of Yakima 60″ roof tracks mounted to the pop top. The Yakima Control Tower system is installed into the tracks using two sets of #1 Landing Pads (LP1).  A Thule 605 Ascent 1700 cargo box is attached to the Yakima 66″ crossbars.

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Scion Xa Roof Rack System for 2 Kayaks

by Rack James on August 16, 2011

Nice image of a Scion Xa kayak rack system using the Yakima Q Tower base rack system with Q120 and Q7 Q-Clips. One kayak is being carried with the Yakima HullRaiser J-Style kayak rack and the other is using the combo of the Yakima Mako Saddles kayak saddles and the Yakima HullyRollers kayak rollers.

Nice image of a Scion Xa kayak rack system using the Yakima Q Tower base rack system with Q120 and Q7 Q-Clips. One kayak is being carried with the Yakima HullRaiser J-Style kayak rack and the other is using the combo of the Yakima Mako Saddles kayak saddles and the Yakima HullyRollers kayak rollers.

Here is a great example of how even a smaller car can carry the gear you need, even if it is two full size kayaks. This Scion Xa kayak rack system is using the Yakima Q Tower base rack system with the recommended 48″ crossbars and one set of Q120 Q Clips and one set of Q7 Q clips. One kayak is held in place with the Yakima HullRaiser kayak carrier which tilts it on its side in a J-style cradle. This allows for the other kayak to be carried flat using the Yakima Mako Saddle and Yakima HullyRoller kayak rollers combo.

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