From the category archives:

Base Car Rack Systems

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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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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This Ford Focus rooftop cargo box could use a proper base rack system, such as the Thule 480 Traverse system with Fit Kit 1565 or the Yakima Q Tower base system with Q102 Q-Clips.

This Ford Focus rooftop cargo box could use a proper base rack system, such as the Thule 480 Traverse system with Fit Kit 1565 or the Yakima Q Tower base system with Q102 Q-Clips.

I had to get a shot of this Rack King cruising down the highway because no one would’ve believed me. I got the shot then I slowed down and let him get a few miles ahead, which I assumed would be a safe enough distance. With a set of foam canoe blocks, a pair of Yakima crossbars, and a pair heavy duty straps running through the interior of the car, this Ford Focus luggage box system is held together with a homemade base rack system and a prayer. If all goes well, it just might not fail at 65 mph. However, just to be safe and prevent a potential catastrophic rack disaster, I would strongly recommend investing in a proper base rack, such as the Thule 480 Traverse base rack with Fit Kit 1565 or the Yakima Q-Tower System with Q102 Q-Clips. As far as the luggage box mounted to this “base rack system” it is doing the job, but in case you’d like to view a wider range of options, there are a lot of rooftop cargo boxes available to choose from in various shapes and capacities.

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Great shot of a Honda fit kayak rack with roller system using the Yakima Q-Tower base rack with Q99 Q-Clips and the Yakima Showboat kayak roller system.

Great shot of a Honda fit kayak rack with roller system using the Yakima Q-Tower base rack with Q99 Q-Clips and the Yakima Showboat kayak/canoe roller system.

Here is a shiny red Honda Fit kayak rack system with an extension roller for easier loading and unloading using the Yakima Q-Tower base rack system with Q99 Q-Clips and the Yakima Showboat kayak roller with what I assume (I didn’t have my tape measure on me!) are 58″ extension bars, but could possibly be 66″ bars. If you have a Fit, you can measure and decide which bars will allow for enough extension so that the roller overhangs the bumper and feel free to let us know which size worked for you. Thanks!

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Q: Can you suggest a rack that will work with my 2010 Chevy Silverado Extended Cab Pickup Truck?

A:  For a rack for your 2010 Silverado Extended Cab, here are a couple of rack options:

For a rack that attaches into the bed of the truck you could consider the Thule 422xt.  Or, if you wanted a rack over the cab of the truck, check out the Thule 480 Traverse Complete System.

Onto either of these racks you could attach a Thule kayak rack.  The Thule Hullavator is by far the easiest solution for loading a kayak, or the 883 Glide and Set is a nice solution that is less expensive.

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Great shot of a Toyota Tacoma hitch bike rack and roof top kayak rack system using...

Great shot of a Toyota Tacoma hitch bike rack and roof top kayak rack system using the Yakima SwingDaddy hitch mount bike rack. The rooftop rack system consists of a set of Yakima 42" tracks, the Yakima Control Tower System with Landing Pads #1, two sets of Yakima Mako kayak saddles, and the Yakima BoatLoader kayak lift accessory.

Here is a nicely racked up rig that I recently spotted on my way to somewhere.  This Toyota Tacoma hitch bike rack and roof kayak rack system is using the Yakima SwingDaddy hitch bike rack mounted to the 2″ receiver and is ready to carry up to four bikes.

On the roof, a set of Yakima 42″ tracks has been installed and is supporting the Yakima Control Tower system which uses two sets of Landing Pads #1 to connect to the tracks. 

For transporting kayaks, two sets of Yakima Mako saddles are attached to the Yakima crossbars, and the Yakima BoatLoader kayak lift assist accessory, which integrates into one of the crossbars, is ready and waiting to help with the job of loading and unloading the kayaks.

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Yakima Whispbar Roof Racks Now Available

by rackdawg on July 18, 2011

Picture of the Yakima Whispbar Flush Bar roof rack system, now available from select Yakima Racks dealers across the United States and Canada.

Picture of the Yakima Whispbar Flush Bar roof rack system, now available from select Yakima Racks dealers across the United States and Canada.

Picture of the Yakima Whispbar Rail Bar roof rack system, now available from select Yakima Racks dealers across the United States and Canada.

Picture of the Yakima Whispbar Rail Bar roof rack system, now available from select Yakima Racks dealers across the United States and Canada.

Just announced by Yakima Racks is the launch of an entire new product line called Whispbar Roof Racks, a premium, up-scale line of complete multi-purpose base rack systems that features the quietest and sleekest cross bars in the industry. Though collaboration with Rolls Royce engineering laboraties and extensive wind tunnel testing, the aerofoil shaped cross bars produce no wind noise, whistling or humming that is a common headache with other roof rack models from competitors. There’s no need to spend extra money for a rack fairing to try and eliminate nose beacuse there’s no noise in the first place! Whisper quiet is how Yakima Racks describes them. The Whispbar Racks model options include the Whispbar Flush Bar system, Whispbar Through Bar system, Whispbar HD Bar system and the Whispbar Rail Bar system. All but the Rail Bar (which attaches directly to any factory side rails directly) use the patented SmartFoot in combination with any of several different Base Fitting Kits for a universal, compatible fit no matter what type of roof mounting style a specific vehicle requires. The result is a very cost effective solution when you need to transfer the car rack over to another vehicle. All you need to buy is a new Whispbar Fit Kit. Also, locks are included free with the roof racks.

PRWeb: New Yakima Racks Product Line Called Whispbar Roof Racks Now Available

PRLeap: Whispbar Racks, From the Yakima Rack Company, Released to Select Dealers

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Image of the various Whispbar Roof Racks Base Fitting Kit Clips. Fit Kits are for use with patented universal Whispbar SmartFoot & Cross Bars on vehicles with bare roofs, factory installed fixed-points, side rails, roof tracks, raingutters and more. Whispbar Racks is owned by the Yakima Rack Company.

Image of the various Whispbar Roof Racks Base Fitting Kit Clips. Fit Kits are for use with patented universal Whispbar SmartFoot & Cross Bars on vehicles with bare roofs, factory installed fixed-points, side rails, roof tracks, raingutters and more. Whispbar Racks is owned by the Yakima Rack Company.

An important aspect of the Yakima owned Whispar roof rack systems is the modular component design that allows for a cost-effective way to transfer the same roof rack over to a new vehicle. In most cases all that is needed is a different set of Whispbar Fit Kit attachments that connect to the base of the patented universal SmartFoot on any of the Whispbar Racks general-purpose base rack systems (Flush Bar, Through Bar, HD Bar etc.). Using the correct specific Whispbar Base Fitting Kit with the SmartFoot will allow the system to mount to a vehicle with a roof mounting requirement that the specific Fit Kit is designed for, such as automobiles with completely bare roofs, factory installed fixed-points, factory side rails, roof tracks, raingutters, even custom permanent roof rack mount applications. There are many different models of Whispbar Fit Kits available to match virtually all specific vehicle year, make and models. Please note that the Rail Bar factory side rails car rack does not require Fit Kit attachments. It will transfer directly over to another vehicle with factory side rails.

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Picture of the Whispbar Rail Bar roof rack system, the Whispar Racks product offering from Yakima (Yakima Racks owns Whispbar) for mounting to cars and pickup trucks with factory side rails.

Picture of the Whispbar Rail Bar roof rack system, the Whispar Racks product offering from Yakima (Yakima Racks owns Whispbar) for mounting to cars and pickup trucks with factory side rails.

Now available at select Yakima Racks dealers in Canada and the United States is the latest product offering in the Whispbar Racks general-purpose base rack systems line-up, the Whispbar Rail Bar roof rack for factory side rails. Yakima owns Whispbar, the high-end, premium styled roof racks for all types of vehicle roof mount applications. The Rail Bar model shares many of the same features as the Whisbar Through Bar, Flush Bar and HD Bar models such as the aerofoil shaped cross bars that effectively reduce wind drag to such a minimum that no rack whistling, humming or other noises are heard from the roof rack when driving down the highway. Better fuel economy is also achieved in comparison to all other leading manufacturers with similar products for factory side rails. Most other roof racks have a tendency to produce some noise, and many owners are forced to spend extra money to buy a wind fairing to try and eliminate the noise, whistling or humming. But with Whispar roof racks this isn’t necessary. They are whisper quiet by design! The Rail Bar also includes Yakima locks and keys to lock the roofrack to the vehicle and prevent anyone from stealing it. Most roof mount gear carriers, whether from Whispbar, Yakima, Thule, Inno, SportRack, Malone, RockyMounts etc., will attach directly to the cross bars with no additional adapters necessary. Where the Rail Bar differs from the ThroughBar, FlushBar and HD Bar systems is the SmartFoot attaches directly to the side rails without the need for a Base Fit Kit. Thus the Rail Bar system costs less than the other options.

Learn about Whispbar Racks | View all Whispbar Roof Racks

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Picture of the Whispbar Racks HD Bar combination sport-work rack, the ideal choice for any professional applications, commercial work use as well as playing and having fun. Whispbar is owned by the Yakima Rack Company.

Picture of the Whispbar Racks HD Bar combination sport-work rack, the ideal choice for any professional applications, commercial work use as well as playing and having fun. Whispbar is owned by the Yakima Rack Company.

Now available at select Yakima Racks dealers thoughout the United States and Canada is the all-new Whispbar HD Bar roof rack system, the ultimate multi-purpose base rack system for anyone seeking to combine work applications with sport and having fun. Whispbar Racks is owned by Yakima, and the product line is a premium high-end option for those seeking the ultimate blend of aesthetics, universal ease of use, durability and whisper quiet cross bars that produce no noise, whistling, humming etc. The cross bars also effectively reduce wind drag and deliver better fuel economy than any other roof rack options on the market today. The Whispbar HD Bar system uses the same SmartFoot engineering as other Whispar rack models. The Smart Foot is a proprietary Yakima innovation that allows the SmartFoot to combine with any number of different Base Fit Kit options to mount to any vehicle rooftop style. Whether you need a roof rack that mounts to a completely naked rooftop, factory side rails (both flush and raised types), fixed-points, roof tracks, raingutters or even a custom permanent rack mounting application, the Whispbar HD Bar SmartFoot and appropriate Base Fit Kit will do the job. The HD Bar roof rack differs from the other Whispbar options (FlushBar, ThroughBar and Rail Bar) because the cross bars are more heavy duty and can handle up to 220 lbs of weight while the crossbars on the Flush Bar, Through Bar and RailBar models hold up to 165 lbs of weight. The HD Bars also have a uni strut T-slot running the length of them to allow for attaching many different work rack accessories such as tie-downs, load stops, ladder holders and ladder rollers, ratcheting cargo buckles, pipe and conduit holders and more. The HD Bars also have integrated tie-down points to secure any gear load. Also has rubber stripping running down the bars to protect the gear load and the crossbars themselves. Also serves to prevent the load from shifting laterally when in transit. 

Learn about Whispbar Racks

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This 2010 Toyota Tacoma truck cap cargo rack and bike rack system is using the Yakima 1A Raingutter rack system and a Yakima SkyBox Pro 12 cargo/luggage box and a Rocky Mounts Pitchfork bike rack.

This 2010 Toyota Tacoma truck cap cargo rack and bike rack system is using the Yakima 1A Raingutter rack system and a Yakima SkyBox Pro 12 cargo/luggage box and a Rocky Mounts Pitchfork bike rack.

Even with a truck, you can always use more gear storage space. In the case of the owner of this nicely racked up Tacoma, he is moving to Montana and ran out of room, so he just simply needs more space. Now thanks to a cargo box, he doesn’t have to leave anything behind with a “Free” sign on it. This 2010 Toyota Tacoma truck cargo rack and bike rack is using the Yakima 1A Raingutter Complete roof system to work with the raingutters on his Leer cap. Attached to the crossbars is a Yakima SkyBox Pro 12 roof cargo box and a RockyMounts Pitchfork bike rack. He even has room left over on his crossbars for a rooftop kayak carrier.

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Whispbar ThroughBar Roof Rack by Yakima Racks

by rackdawg on July 9, 2011

Image of the Yakima Racks owned 80050701 Whispbar ThroughBar roof rack system that universally fits all styles of vehicles including pickup truck, van and car rooftops with bare naked roofs, rain gutters, factory side rails, fixed-points, roof tracks and more.

Image of the Yakima Racks owned 80050701 Whispbar ThroughBar roof rack system that universally fits all styles of vehicles including pickup truck, van and car rooftops with bare naked roofs, rain gutters, factory side rails, fixed-points, roof tracks and more.

Already reviewed and discussed in a previous post, the Whispbar FlushBar roof rack system has a closely related cousin called the Whispbar ThroughBar roof rack system. It includes the same core features as the Flush Bar model, including universal Whispbar SmartFoot technology that combines with any of the different Base Fit Kits for mounting to automobiles with all styles of rooftop configurations such as totally bare roof tops, factory side rails (both raised and flush side rail styles), fixed-points (also called fixed rack attachment points), roof tracks and more. Even serves as the ideal choice for applications that require mounting a custom, permanent roof rack. Where the Whispbar Through Bar car rack differs from the the Flush Bar model is that on the Though Bar model the cross bars are longer than on the Flush Bar version and extend further out beyond each SmartFoot. This provides more crossbar space for those users that need additional crossbar space to attach multiple gear carriers for transporting lots of gear and equipment. The design of the Whispbar cross bars are the same on the ThroughBar as on the FlushBar, totally whisper quiet and do not create any roof rack noise, whistling or humming that is commonly found on other manufacturers’ roof rack systems. Includes locks and keys. Besides Whispbar gear carriers, the Through Bar roof rack universally accepts virtually all roof mount gear carriers from other makers such as Thule, Inno, SportRack, RockyMounts, Malone and more.

learn more about Whispbar Racks

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