Roof racks and VT's!

27785 Views 49 Replies 25 Participants Last post by R-Spec 5spd, Apr 5, 2016

Boots Ylectric

Discussion Starter · Jan 2, 2013

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One of my Xmas presents was the Yakima Q Towers and clips, 58" roundbars, and the Yakima Big Powderhound ski/board rack. My fairing for it came in on Friday while I was already on my roadtrip, so I'll pick that up this week and slap it on. First off, the VT looks AWESOME with a roof rack. Totally a roof rack car.

I was really happy to save my interior from sliding boards in and out, and be able to carry more people and gear in the car. There are some downsides though. I usually average somewhere around 30mpg. With the rack and boards I was around 25mpg. It also whistled like crazy. I used Yakima's reccomended measurments for rack placement. I'm hoping that toying with positioning and adding the fairing I can get rid of the whistling and get a couple MPG's back, because I'd love to just leave the rack on full time. Anyone else running a rack and have any luck with any of these issues?

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Keith_Stone

· #21 · May 6, 2013

I personally do not have any use for a rack like that but I would say it does look good..

Reactions: 1

joutlaw

· #22 · May 10, 2013 (Edited by Moderator)

Man, that looks sharp! How much for the rack?

AZG23 said:
added the only pic I took this morning..

Reactions: 1

AZG23

· #23 · May 11, 2013

joutlaw said:
Man, that looks sharp! How much for the rack?

$730 otd...w 1 upright front loader bike mount and 6 locks..

VTDawg

· #24 · May 12, 2013

AZG23 said:
$730 otd...w 1 upright front loader bike mount and 6 locks..

Super nice rack!!! I am going for the aero from thule soon. And that is cheap. I am looking at about 1 grand with the upright bike holder. Do you race your bike? What kind of MTB do you have?

Never mind I just read it on another page!!! Super nice bike!!! Wish I had a 29er but I love the 26ers for the tight courses!!!
I'm rocking the advanced anthem from giant. Half carbon fiber with crank bro race wheels

Reactions: 1

mtbker36

· #25 · May 20, 2013

Hyperion said:
I looked into seasuckers, but I'm just so hesitant about suction cups holding my bike. I know they're well tested but I can't shake off the feeling that they'll just decide to come off while driving on the freeway..

Yeah....I agree. That's why I didn't get it. I got the Yakima!

genetic_phreek

· #26 · Jul 18, 2014

I can't seem to find an answer on this and i hope you are able to answer, do you have any issues with opening the hatch while the bike rack is on there? btw, car looks sick.

alexpkeaton529

· #27 · Jul 19, 2014 (Edited)

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Picked up the Yakima q towers with two front loaders. Definitely need to get a fairing.

Edit: Here are a few more photos

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alexpkeaton529

· #28 · Aug 6, 2014

so after two weeks of driving with just the bars the wind noise was unbearable. It gave me a headache on drives home from wok at highway speed as there was a pressure pocket right in the middle of the front bar (ie right next to your right ear). It sounded similar to blowing on a jug but more intense and little higher pitch.

I ended up springing for the 44" Yakima wind fairing and it fixed it up perfectly. I'll post photos when I have an opportunity. It sits a few inches back from the windshield given the yakima standard measurements and there is an inch or so of space on either side which isnt an issue.

Greywulf73

· #29 · Aug 6, 2014 (Edited)

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Here's my Bugsy bare, with just roof rack, with 2 stand-up racks, 2 stand-up racks and bikes and three racks and bikes, fully loaded on a camping trip with me kiddos.

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alexpkeaton529

· #30 · Aug 28, 2014

Quick update on the Yakimas. It appears there has been some slight shifting on one of my Q-clips (Driver side front) resulting in the supplied vinyl sticker sliding and some metal on metal contact between the door frame and the clip. Small chip (1mm) in the paint so I am going to visit the dealer over the weekend and see if they have a touchup pen in elite white. then I'll head to Home Depot and see if I can find a better buffer material. I might end up getting some white plastidip and going over the top of the door, then spraying the clips down with something else that will hold up well and maintain its tackiness.

I'm not too concerned about it though. its probably a result of leaving the bike racks on there for an excessive period. I still check the whole rack over everytime I get gas to look for shifting/loose clips, etc and haven't noticed anything until this slight chip. I can post photos when I have a chance this weekend.

Edit: off-topic: T-minus 35 days until I have an actual garage to keep the car! That will hopefully let me keep it cleaner for longer and help with storing the rack equipment when not in use.

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YesHaveSome

· #31 · Aug 28, 2014

I used some extra plastidip to coat the clips. The stickers they give you are pretty worthless for protecting the finish on your car.

Reactions: 1

Boots Ylectric

Discussion Starter · #32 · Sep 3, 2014

YesHaveSome said:
I used some extra plastidip to coat the clips. The stickers they give you are pretty worthless for protecting the finish on your car.

That's what I did. I plastidipped the heck out of the bottom half of them so that they are rubberized. Actually used the original dip kind of plasti-dip that's for dipping tool handles. That's how they should have come for the price IMO.

Reactions: 1

AZG23

· #33 · Sep 3, 2014

I'm gonna have to PD mine.. It scratches and has cut into the rubber door seal on the drivers side..

alexpkeaton529

· #34 · Sep 6, 2014

Another update: service techs apparently love the Yakima racks. I came out to my car after having it serviced to find five techs walking around the car pointing out parts of the rack. They asked me a couple questions and said it looked really good on the car.

izzmikyaheard

· #35 · Sep 12, 2014

any recommendation where to get the racks system for a good price?!?
whats the best brand and website?

pm me please

Hyperion

· #36 · Sep 12, 2014

Amazon has decent prices on Yakima/Thule. It definitely beats their actual website prices.

Reactions: 1

EGGROLL

· #37 · Sep 29, 2014

Anyone have a Thule MOAB on theirs? I'm thinking of buying one but I want to make sure I can still open my trunk with no issues.

Here's mine..

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Mjasinski

· #38 · Oct 17, 2014

Patrick, YOU DON'T WANT A MOAB!

letigre21

· #39 · Oct 21, 2014

So I'm thinking of picking up roof racks, strictly for looks. Yakima seems to be good.

alexpkeaton529

· #40 · Oct 22, 2014

letigre21 said:
So I'm thinking of picking up roof racks, strictly for looks. Yakima seems to be good.

Replied in the other thread. We should see about combining these threads.

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