From the category archives:

Mazda Racks

2003 Mazda Tribute Factory Rack Mount Kayak Racks

by Rack James on September 2, 2010

Sunny shot of a 2003 Mazda Tribute kayak rack for factory racks using the Malone Stax Pro kayak stacker with Malone MPG167 foam blocks.

Sunny shot of a 2003 Mazda Tribute kayak rack for factory racks using the Malone Stax Pro kayak stacker with Malone MPG167 foam blocks/straps.

This 2003 Mazda Tribute kayak rack uses the Malone Stax Pro-MPG111MD with the MPG167 Block Kit and Straps to easily carry two kayaks on top of the ‘03 Mazda Tribute’s factory crossbars.

Installation page for 2003 Mazda Tribute kayak racks.

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2007 Mazda 3 Roof Kayak Rack System

by Rack James on August 12, 2010

Bird's eye view of a Mazda 3 roof rack system for two kayaks using the Inno IN-SU base rack with K303 Fit Hooks and an Inno INA 262 wind noise deflector fairing.  Transporting two kayaks is the Thule 830 "The Stacker" kayak rack.

Bird's eye view of a Mazda 3 roof rack system for two kayaks using the Inno IN-SU base rack with K303 Fit Hooks and an Inno INA 262 wind noise deflector fairing. Transporting two kayaks is the Thule 830 "The Stacker" kayak rack.

From up above, we can see a Mazda 3 Kayak rack for two kayaks using the Inno racks IN-SU base system for naked roofs with the Inno K303 Fit Hooks and the INA 262 wind fairing.  The Thule 830 Stacker kayak stacker is shown doing it’s thing.  The Inno IN-SU base rack comes with locks and keys and the Thule 830 “The Stacker” kayak rack comes with load straps and tie downs for two kayaks. 

Visit the 2007 Mazda 3 Kayak Rack installation page here.

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Thule 460R Rapid Podium roof rack

Using the Thule 3069 Podium Fit Kit, along with the Thule 460R Rapid Podium Foot Pack and pair of Thule Rapid Aero load bars, to install the Thule 460R Rapid Podium car rack system to a 2006 Mazda 3 5-door hatchback, this video delivers a good demonstration and explanation on how to mount a roofrack to a car, van or pickup truck cab roof that has factory installed fixed attachment points. Many modern vehicles have fixed point attachments located on the roof top. These points allow for the installation of an aftermarket multi-purpose base rack system. The Thule Racks 460R Rapid Podium system delivers a superb, clean and premium integrated look when installed. There are many different styles and types of fixed point attachments on the various vehicle makes and models, hence Thule Racks offers many different Podium Fit Kits to fit these specific configurations (the video uses the 3069 Fit Kit on the Mazda 3 as an example).

Thule 460R Rapid Podium video

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Thule 460 Podium roof rack system

An excellent demonstration video and review of the Thule 460 Podium roof rack system, intended for use on vehicles with fixed rack attachment points on the car or pickup truck rooftop. Many vehicles rolling off the factory lines today include these fixed point attachments on the roof top, allowing for an aftermarket roof rack to mount to these points to achieve a nice integrated and clean look. The leading system currently is the Thule 460 Podium complete system, which includes a 460 Podium Foot Pack, set of Podium Fit Kit brackets and a pair of Thule square load bars. There are many different Podium Fit Kit brackets available for use on all the differing styles of fixed point attachments found on different vehicles. In this video the Thule 3069 Podium Fit Kit is used on a 2006 Mazda 3 5-door hatchback. With the base rack installed, you can then mount any gear carriers to the load bars to carry all your gear.

 Thule 460 Podium video

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Photo of the all-new RockyMounts TieRod bike rack used as a Mazda Protege 5 bike roof rack that mounts directly to the Mazda Protege5 factory rack crossbars.

Photo of the all-new RockyMounts TieRod bike rack used as a Mazda Protege 5 bike roof rack that mounts directly to the Mazda Protege5 factory rack crossbars.

Improving on the popular universal mounting, factory rack compatible RockyMounts Noose bike rack, the RockyMounts Bike Rack Company has recently released the super stylish, sexy and easier-than-ever to use RockyMounts TieRod bike rack for mounting to factory racks. The picture above shows two TieRods mounted to the Mazda Protege 5 factory rack crossbars. Each TieRod can also use 2 Rocky Mounts Locks to both lock the bike to the TieRod and the carrier itself to the roof rack. The models shown in the picture above are the classic black color, but you also have the choice of all kids of flavorful colors with the RockyMount TieRod bike racks.

Mazda Protege 5 factory rack mount bike racks details

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2006 Mazda RX8 Tandem Bike Rack Install

by rackdawg on March 14, 2010

Sweet customer install picture showcasing a 2006 Mazda RX-8 car rack tandem bike rack configuration using the Yakima Q Tower roof rack, with Q60 clips and 48 inch cross rails, as well as a Rocky Mounts tandem bike rack attached to the cross rails.

Sweet customer install picture showcasing a 2006 Mazda RX-8 car rack tandem bike rack configuration using the Yakima Q Tower roof rack, with Q60 clips and 48 inch cross rails, as well as a Rocky Mounts tandem bike rack attached to the cross rails.

A great example of how you can easily carry your tandem bike rack on a sports car stylishly! This ORS Racks Direct customer installation photo highlights a 2006 Mazda RX-8 roof rack and tandem bike rack setup. Components used include the Yakima Q Tower roof rack system, using the Yakima Q60 clips and 48″ length cross bars, and the Rocky Mounts R4 tandem bike rack mounted to the cross bars. Beautiful, reliable, racy and easy to use!

2006 Mazda RX8 roof rack tandem bike carrier install details

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Q: I have a 2006 Mazda 3 Hatchback with factory mounting points.  Yakima offers the Q Tower System and the Control Tower system as options for a base rack.  I’d prefer to use the Control Towers, but in order to use the factory mounting points, I’d need to remove the molding that fits in the channel running from front to back.  I’d rather not do this if possible.  Seems that molding is there for a reason.  Is there any solution?

A: We’ve run into this before and there is a solution.  All you need to do is drill a hole right through that molding big enough for the Yakima Landing Pad 11 mounting bolt to fit through.  To find out where to drill, just pull back the molding enough to peek underneath.  The mounting points are located over the front and rear doors and are easy to find.  Once you’ve located them, mark the drilling point on the molding with a marker.  To prevent drilling into the mounting point, we place the lip of an old Yakima Q-clip under the molding.  If you don’t have an old Q-clip lying around, you can use any thin, metal object.  The handle of a spoon would probably suffice.  Drill slowly into the molding until you are through.  It won’t take long.  Once the mounting points are exposed, you can proceed with installing the Landing Pad 11 and then the Control Towers.  When you are done, you’ll have a nice clean looking system and your molding pieces will be no worse for the wear.

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2006 Mazda 3 Rooftop Bike Rack System

by Rack James on October 1, 2009

Customer install photo of 2006 Mazda 3 roof bike rack system using factory mounting points with Yakima Landing Pad 11s and Yakima Control Tower System with Rocky Mounts Lariat SLX Bike Rack

Customer install photo of 2006 Mazda 3 roof bike rack system using factory mounting points with Yakima Landing Pad 11 and Yakima Control Tower System with Rocky Mounts Lariat SLX Bike Rack

Here is a nice shot of a Yakima Control Tower System using Yakima Landing Pad 11 mounted directly to the Mazda 3 factory mounting points for a clean, custom look.  If you take a close look, you’ll also notice the system is using a Yakima Wind Jammer to quiet the wind noise.  Mounted to the 48″ Yakima Roundbars, we have a Rocky Mounts Lariat SLX bike rack which is transporting a very sweet Salsa El Mariachi 29er.

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Thule 460 Podium Review by ‘Frank’

by rackdawg on September 19, 2009

Thule 460 Podium Foot Pack / 460 Podium car rack review by 'Frank'.

Thule 460 Podium Foot Pack / 460 Podium car rack review by 'Frank'. He is using the 460 Podium as a 2008 Mazda 3 roof rack.

This Thule Racks 460 Podium Foot Pack / Roof Rack Review is by ‘Frank’. He is using the Thule 460 Podium system as a 2008 Mazda 3 roof rack for carrying a roof box to hold camping equipment and snowboards.

Overall Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)

“This is an awesome, sturdy rack. It screws in the roof (mazda 3), and feels very strong. The only thing preventing me from giving 5 stars is the road noise, but that must be a normal thing with roof racks (except factory racks that are permanently mounted on the car). After the 1st installation, I can take this on and off in about 5 minutes, really nice. I highly recommend this rack.”

all Thule 460 Podium Foot Pack / Roof Rack Reviews

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