thule/Yakima roof racks

[laughoutlloyd8]

Anyone have a setup? I would like to see how it would look like if decide to install racks on my car

[bluetroll]

i'd love to have one to throw my boards in... but it costs so much for the setup with a box.

[sickyute]

i'd use one for my bike ... but not permanently ... but only if it doesn't damage the paint.

[DumbasSi]

Like this...


Not my car, but you get the idea.

I plan on getting one for my bike. I won't be using it everday, so with a nice coat of wax and some 3M under the pads/feet, scratching shouldn't be a problem.

[laughoutlloyd8]

Are these universal rack system known to scratch the top of the car's roof? This would be my first rack set I will purchase. I use to drive a SUV and all I had to do was purchase the racks

[exbauer]

no, they do not scratch the roof if you are careful and clean where the rack mounts to the car. i have had a thule rack on all my cars and there are not scratches.

[wing_gundam]

why not go for a hidden hitch? I think its more subtle and that won't scratch the paint.

[exbauer]

the hitch option is good if you are just going to use it for bikes. with a thule/yakima you can use it for ski, bikes, kayaks, etc... just depends on how you plan on using it.

[evilsliderboy]

This guy is missing the rack extender on his rack.

[Mabuz]

I have one on my FG2...I'll get some good pics up some day, but I have it off for winter thus far.

It unfortunately did scratch the paint a very tiny bit, but the scratches were tiny and easily came out with some polishing compound. My solution was to get a roll of that rubber drawer/cabinet liner stuff from Lowe's/Home Depot, and cut it to fit under each of the feet and under each of the L shaped brackets that clamp inside of your door frame. Since I started using these, no scratches!

Note: You only need the extension part if you're going to be carrying kayaks or a cargo box. I only use it for bikes, and was told that the ski/snowboard rack will also work without it as well since I'm going to get that part some day.

[guptuck2002]

Hey guys,

I just got done putting my snowboard Yamika rack system on my 08 SI coupe the other day. It took a tough 6 1/2 hours. Instillation would only take about 2-3 if the instructions were accurate.

Long story short there are these things called Q clips that are the only thing actually gripping onto your car, or rather door frame. They are supposed to be custom fit to your car, and there were a set of these available for 8th civic coupes so I said, if they are custom fit, how could I go wrong? Well along with these fitted clips come precise measurments of various things including length between support towers, exact placement along doors, etc. Well I got everything set up and measured these out better than I could have imagined and no matter how closesly I followed directions, the darn Q clips would slip of the from with ease.

Without exxageration, it took my 3 hours of taking the racks off, adjusting the measurements, and reinstalling until I found somthing that worked. It was rather absurd and if anyone is going to go with Yakima feel free to contace me to get measurements that work.

Now that its all installed i love this thing to death. Here are some pics. Sorry it was dark when I finished :)


Qclips are the black things that go above the door frame







Feel free to ask anything

[Mabuz]

^^^Good point on the measurements being a pain in the ass. I completely forgot how long it took me to finally get everything set up correctly so that the rack would clamp down nice and snug. I bitterly remember going through the same process now...PITA to get set up right, but once it is it's great.

Edit: For a slightly cleaner look, once I was 100% sure everything was fitting and I wouldn't have to make any more adjustments, I removed the rack and hack sawed the extra length off of the cross bars. Mine only stick out about 1.5" past each Q tower and it looks a lot smoother...for a bike rack. Just make sure your hack saw blade is sharp or it will take forever.

[hialeahzbg]

i just told my girl the other night i wanted one

[Shreaded]

guptuck: you werent lyin bro when you said it was a pain to get the measurements. not only that, but the q clips do not show where the placement is or anything. the rack measurements themselves are way off.

[laughoutlloyd8]

you should get a stretch kit for it