BMW M3 Thule Roof Rack (460R) With Ski Carrier (Fat Cat 4) and Fairing

The BMW M3 is a meticulous machine which allows the owner to reach their destination in more than a timely fashion; however, upon arrival the poor owner is forced to walk around at a snails pace. In-order to break this dilemma, our customer decided to bring his bikes and skis with him. Unfortunately, the compact sport sedan did not agree with having skis or bikes jammed into its trunk. The ultimate solution for this predicament was to attach a roof rack with the appropriate accessories to carry bikes and skis.

The Thule 460R Podium Aero Fixpoint Foot is a perfect match for the BMW as it utilizes the manufactures pre-existing roof mounts. Simply put, it attaches the same way as the OEM factory rack would. However, the biggest advantage to the 460R roof rack system is the bar itself. This rapid aero bar is composed of aluminum (which does not rust) and is extremely aerodynamic. The rapid aero bar is also shorter than the standard load bar that Thule offers so it does not stick out past the vehicle further than necessary.

BMW M3 Thule Roof Rack

Our customer decided to purchase the Fat Cat 4, made by Yakima, which carries up to 4 pairs of skis or 2 boards. The Yakima Fat Cat series is the widest ski carrier on the market and as skis are becoming wider (as are some people nowadays) it truly accentuates the saying “the bigger the better”. The Fat Cat 4 also allows our customer to attach 2 bike trays beside it, which he will be adding once summer rolls around again. He had also purchased a fairing, which deflects the wind up and around the bar rack, eliminating most noise (if not all). All in all, the Thule 460R rapid aero rack system is a great fit and a sleek rack for an even sleeker car.

BMW M3 Ski Rack

Well Equipped Audi A3 2008 – Thule 400 XTR, Flat Top 4, Sidearm 594

The owner of an Audi A3 approached us at Rack Attack wanting a solution for carrying their outdoor lifestyle along with them. After some consultation we determined that roof mounted ski and bike carriers would fit the bill nicely.

To start off with we chose the Thule 400 XTR rapid aero base rack system. This provides a strong foundation for accessories while keeping the factory appearance of the vehicle intact. The aerodynamics of the rapid aero bars in conjunction with a thule 872XT factory fairing mitigates  unwanted wind howl.

Audi A3 2008 Thule Ski and bike roof rack

Keeping things consistent the Thule side arm upright bike carrier was the rack of choice. The side arm is not only aesthetically a good match for the rapid aero base rack but is also Thule’s feature bike carrier. This lockable carrier provides a fast and easy way to carry just about any bike, regardless of wheel size or frame type.

Audi A3 Ski and bike Thule rack

To cater to the winter needs of our customer the Thule flat top 4 was the best fit. This carrier has a capacity to carry 4 pairs of ski’s or 2 snowboards. The Flat Top 4 also offers universal mounts and easy access with a glove friendly button.

The Thule 400XTR base rack system, Side Arm 594 and the Flat Top 4 make for a professionally finished look that keeps this A3 looking clean and consistent.

Thule K Summit Tire Chains – Getting A Grip On Winter

As winter approaches, vehicles are having their snow-tires installed for hopefully another epic winter in wonderland. Winter 08/09 Vancouver accumulated mass amounts of the white fluffy stuff also known as snow. Streets were waist deep, no plows in sight, and cars stuck left right and center. This brings me to the selected few that were able to enjoy a warm and controlled drive to work or an escape to the local resort to shred the rad. You may ask yourself, how can I be prepared for this winter? Well, there are two simple answers.
1) Have your vehicle installed with snow tires.
2) Keep your all season tires on and purchase some kick ass snow chains (Thule K-Summit) for the best control on the streets, highways, and roads.

Audi A3 with The Thule K-Summits

The Thule K-Summit snow chains are hands down the easiest and simplest to install to your tires. There is no need to be on your hands and knees freezing your little fingers off trying to put on chains. What the Thule K-Summits have that no other snow chains have; the ability to attach the chains to the front of the wheel and not the back. The Thule K-Summit simply attaches to the lug nut of the wheel-well and thats all there is too it. As you speed your way down the street, the Thule K-Summit will tighten around the wheel, so there is no need of further adjustments. The Thule K-Summit is the perfect way to attack this winter for ultimate control without freezing your ass off.

To see which K-Summits are right for you and your tires please visit:

www.rackattack.com

www.thuleracks.com/snowchains/default.asp

Increasing the Versatility of a 2007 BMW X5 with a Hitch and Roof Rack

A few days ago I received a call from customer who wanted to equip his X5 to carry almost everything imaginable – baby strollers, golf clubs, snowboards, and a few mountain bikes.

After going over his options we decided on a cargo box and a hitch mounted bike rack. After ordering in the hitch he came in and we got to work.
We set him up with a Yakima Swingdaddy so he could carry up to 4 bikes. This is a fantastic option considering all of the other cargo he wanted to carry – the Swingdaddy swings away from the vehicle for the ultimate in accessibility.

X5 with Thule Atlantis 1800 and Yakima Swingdaddy

For the cargo box we decided on a Thule Atlantis 1800 due to an ample 18 cubic feet of cargo space which can be accessed from either side of the vehicle thanks to its dual side opening feature. To attach the box we opted for a Yakima Roof Rack including Yakima LowRider towers that clamp to the factory railing to support 58″ Cross Bars, providing a foundation for the cargo box and many other accessories the customer may choose in the future.

After adding a Thule Atlantis 1800 and a Yakima Swingdaddy this X5 is ready for anything!

2007 Toyota Prius – Yakima Roof Rack

Yakima Base Roof Rack

Today, I had a customer curious in an alternative to a standard base roof rack system. He was concerned most with a long-term option and a professional looking appearance. We decided on landing pads as they are a more permanent solution and provide a clean look. This Yakima Roof Rack System, including Control Towers, Landing Pads, and 48″ Cross Bars, installed on a Toyota Prius. This versatile rack option allows you to add accessories to carry anything from bike racks, to kayaks, to a cargo box.

In-Store Installation

You can attach up to 3 Yakima King Cobra roof bike racks to this system so the whole family can go mountain biking. Come ski season, you can carry up to 4 snowboards or 6 pairs of skis with the Yakima FatCat 6.

Chevy Optra 5dr 2006

We recently put a roof rack on a Chevy Optra 5dr hatchback. Currently nobody makes a clip on rack system for this vehicle so the only two options were a fixed point rack that mounts at set points on the roof or a track system that allows you to move the bars anywhere along the roof. We prefer the track system as it looks better when the rack is removed and it spreads the load better across the roof. The track length was 36″ and is long enough for the rack to hold Kayak’s or a cargo box.

Chevy Optra 5dr Thule Track

Thule’s 430 Tracker 2 foot pack was chosen as a rack to go into the tracks as it matched the customer’s current rack accessories. Yakima’s control towers would also have worked well.

We guarantee all installs for as long as you have the vehicle.

Chevy Optra 5dr Thule 430 system

2008 Smart Car Roof Rack

Today we had to do a great install on the Smart Car, the customer wanted to carry a bike and kayak and also have some extra room for cargo. We have done a number of different types of racks for this vehicle as there are few roof combination’s. This Smart Car had the glass roof so we had to use a hybrid of Yakima’s Control Towers and Q-Towers in order to spread the bars as far apart as possible to handle the longer loads.

Smart Car roof rack

The Q-Towers are able to grab hold of the door jamb’s at the front and the Control Towers mount directly to the roof using landing pads. The whole system can be removed except for the landing pads.

Obviously this car is not designed to take heavy loads on the roof so this was a non warrantied fit and we recommended the customer not carry and bike/kayak and cargo all at once but used them individually and kept his speed below 70km/hr.

Smart Car Yakima roof rack

We used the Yakima Copperhead bike rack with locks, the Thule Set-to-Go Kayak saddles and Thule Sidekick box. We chose the box due to it being so small and light. The whole thing looked great and the customer was thrilled he could still go kayaking in such a small eco-friendly car.

Smart Car with Thule Sidekick

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Today I installed a 36″ track on a BMW 5 series. The customer wanted to be able to carry his cargo box in the winter and also some Yakima HighRollers in Summer. A track is an excellent roof rack option on any car.

Thule tracker II foot pack on BMW 5 Series

The track is very unobtrusive on top the car when the bars are taken off, but the bars can easily be reinstalled at any time. With the track I installed a the Thule 430 tracker kit and load bars.

Thule Track on a BMW 5 series

2007 Mini Cooper, Thule 400xt Rack & Yakima High Rollers

Thule 400xt

Today we had a customer come into the store with a 2007 Mini Cooper S.  he was looking for a couple bike racks so he could carry his bikes up to the local mountains to get some riding in.  He decided to go the Thule 400xt rack, because it had a greater weight restriction then the Yakima Q- Tower rack,  and being that he had to heavy down hill bikes.

Yakima High Rollers

Since the bikes that he was wanting to get up to the mountains were heavy downhill bikes, and he didn’t want to have to take the tires off to put the bikes on the racks, we recommended the Yakima High Rollers. The upgraded version of the Yakima King Cobra, the difference being the Quick release feature, and the look of the new wheel tray.

Mini Cooper S

1996 VW Jetta Gls, Yakima Q-Towers and Fatcat 4

Yakima Q-Towers

We had a customer come into the store this morning with a 1996 VW Jetta Gls.  She wanted to get a roof rack system installed and a ski/ snowboard attachment.  She mentioned the  Yakima Q-tower system, instead of the Thule 444 specialty rack, because she was more interested in the Yakima Fat cat 4 ski/ snowboard attachment, than the Thule Flat Top 4, because the Yakima Fatcat 4 had a lower sleeker, more aerodynamic look to it then the Thule.  Also if she was more interested in keeping to all the same  brand  so she could go with the Yakima Sks One Key system.

Yakima Fatcat 4

Once we installed everything on her car, we realized there was something missing.  So we mentioned the Yakima 38″ Fairing.  We told her that it would cut back on wind noise that would be funneled through the rack system on the top of her car, and that it would give the rack a really nice look to it.

Yakima 38" Fairing