Q: I am trying to find my options on roof racks. Two questions:

(1) Trying to figure out if the Yakima RailGrab kit actually will fit on to the factory rail on my 2008 Buick Enclave CXL. Yakima site says yes. But some Internet postings disagree. Have you had experience with this vehicle?

(2) If I do go ahead with the Yakima setup, I have a pair of Thule Ski Racks, is there an adapter which would allow me to use the Thule Ski Racks on Yakima Round Cross Bars?

A: Yes the Yakima Railgrab is listed as fitting the ’08 Enclave using the small claws that are included.  I have no personal experience with this vehicle, but here is the fit guide limits and bar size:

And most Thule racks that are made after say 2003 will fit to Yakima bars, if older then you may need to try and source a discontinued Thule adapter called the FM1.

ORS Direct, parent company of ORS Racks Direct, has just announced they have launched their Google+ business page. Customers, anyone involved in outdoor recreation and sport and vehicle transport systems for their gear and equipment can now visit the Google+ page for ORS Racks Direct to join and follow the page, staying current and up-to-date with all company information, promotions and events in the outdoor industry, as well as the car rack and truck rack industries. Furthermore, in conjunction with going live on Google+, the company announced they are currently offering an exclusive promotion for anyone joining and following the ORS Racks Direct Google+ business page with an exclusive coupon offering additional discounts at the e-commerce web site. The company intends to update the Google+ page regularly with information about the latest car rack and truck rack product offerings, installation photos, product reviews, rack videos and more. ORS Direct added that they have also launched Google+ pages for other web properties including ORS Snowsnoes Direct and ORS Cross Country Skis Direct, websites specializing in the winter outdoor gear industry.

Picture of the Green Mountain National Forest, the boundless backyard for the neighboring Rikert Nordic Skis and Snowshoes Activity Center in Middlebury, Vermont.

A new feature for Car Rack Advice, beginning with this article post, is to call attention to specific outdoor recreational destinations throughout the United States and Canada. We aim to bring attention to places offering worthwhile memorable experiences; places you would want to load up your car rack and hit the highway with alpine and cross country skis, snowboards, snowshoes, SUP’s, surfboards, bikes, kayak and canoe, camping equipment and more. Destinations for you to use your outdoor gear with maximum enjoyment. First on our list is a place we are personally extremely fond of because it is located in the great state of Vermont, where we are located. We’d like to call attention to Middlebury, Vermont and its plethora of winter outdoor recreational options. A prominant factor in the region’s offerings is Middlebury College, as they offer an array of winter activities for their students, however they feel it is also important to allow the general public to take advantage of these opportunities as well. The Rikert Cross Country Skis and Snowshoes Activity Center is very popular and offers nordic skiing and snowshoeing for all ages and abilities. It also acts as the gateway to entering and exploring the Green Mountain National Forest on snowshoes or telemark-backcountry skis. Alpine skiing, telemark skiing and snowshoeing is also available for the entire family at the college’s Middlebury Snow Bowl. In town there is ice skating, snow sledding, and of course a huge selection of choices for shopping and eating. Hockey also plays a large role with Middlebury, and the college has a long history of wins. Check out the Cross Country Skis & Snowshoes Directory for Middlebury, Vermont, which list further information and details for the options listed here, as well as additional listings of winter recreational events, news and destinations in the Middlebury, Vermont region.

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.

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.

Picture of the Malone Racks MPG333 Trac Rac 3" Adapter Fit Kit for attaching most Malone gear carriers to TracRac truck rack crossbars.

Malone Auto Racks now offers the Malone MPG333 Trac Rac 3″ Adapter Fit Kit that allows virtually all Malone gear carriers, including their canoe racks, kayak racks, surfboard carriers and stand-up paddleboard carriers to attach quickly to the cross bars on TracRac truck racks.  The Malone MPG333 TracRac crossbars adapter kit works with the MPG112MD Big Foot Pro, MPG106MD AutoLoader, MPG114MD DownLoader, MPG118MD J-Loader, MPG116MD J-Pro, MPG117MD J-Pro2, MPG113MD SeaWing-Stinger Combo, MPG107MD SeaWing, MPG110MD Saddle Up Pro, MPG111MD Stax Pro and the MPG115MD Stax Pro 2  kayak rack. Other possible newer Malone gear carriers may also work with the MPG 333 Fit Kit.

2011 Subaru Outback Yakima roof rack upgrade using Yakima Landing Pad 12s with Yakima Control Towers and Yakima 58" crossbars.

This 2011 Subaru Outback Yakima upgrade rack system is using the new Yakima Landing Pad 12 to allow for installation of Yakima Control Towers and 58″ bars.  This solution provides 30″ of crossbar spread which is adequate for carrying longer loads such as canoes, kayaks, and SUPs. 

More info for 2011 Yakima Control Towers and Landing Pad 12 on 2011 Subaru Outback Wagon.

Nice shot of a 2006 Ford F150 SuperCab pickup truckbed mounted crossbar system with cargo box using the Inno RT101 truckbed stays with Inno Loadbars and a Yakima SkyBox 16 cargo box.

Here is a great way to carry gear and luggage in a safe, lockable, and waterproof cargo box while saving all your truckbed space.  This 2006 Ford F150 SuperCab truckbed mounted cargo box system is using the Inno RT101 truckbed stays and the Yakima SkyBox 16 cargo box. 

Complete installation details for 2006 Ford F150 truckbed mounted crossbar system with cargo box.

Image of 2007 Toyota Tacoma truck bed crossbar system with cargo basket using the Inno RT102 Truck Stays for c-channel track system with Inno B165 65" Load Bars. Any cargo basket or cargo box can be mounted to the load bars.

This 2007 Toyota Tacoma truck bed crossbar system allows for maximum use of storage space in the bed of a truck.  Using Inno RT102 Truck Stays which integrate into the bed mounted track system and with Inno B165 65″ Load Bars, a cargo basket (as shown here), or cargo box can be mounted for additional storag of your gear.

Install page and complete details for 2007 Toyota Tacoma truck bed rack and cargo basket system.

Q:  We have a 2008 Ford Taurus sedan, and will be taking a trip –two hockey bags will take up most of the in the trunk – need to be able to fit 2-3 suitcases worth of additional “stuff” in a roof bag any suggestions? I can’t seem to find the Thule rack that will fit our car.

A: The Thule 480R Roof Rack and Thule 480 Roof rack will both work with your 2008 Ford Taurus sedan.  The difference between the two is that the Thule 480R is simply just a more upscale looking ( brushed aluminum, aero shaped crossbar) version of the 480.  The Thule 867 Tahoe bag is a good recommendation for your suitcases as it has max capacity and weather-proofing.