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

Thule 971 Helium – Hitch Mount 3 Bike Rack

Lighter than air? Not quite but pretty close. The ultra-light Thule 971 Helium is nearly half the weight of all traditional hitch mount bike carriers which means easy handling, installation, and removal. The Thule Helium brings a unique new look to the hitch line-up with aluminum construction, a new post design, and all new cradle arms.

Thule 971 Helium - Hitch Mount Bike Rack

Installation could not be easier; the Thule 971 Helium requires no tools at all. Insert the carrier in to your vehicle’s 1 1/4″ or 2″ receiver and tighten the lockable receiver knob. This also means that you will no longer be required to climb under your vehicle to remove this bike rack. The receiver lock knob is brand new technology that secures the rack to the vehicle, using the Thule SKS (Same Key System) locks meaning that you can match this up to any other lockable Thule accessories you might already own. The Thule 971 Helium accommodates both a 2″ and 1 1/4″ receiver by including a hitch adapter.

Thule 971 Helium - Folds Down

The Helium’s Hitch Switch lever tilts the carrier away from the vehicle, giving you full access to your trunk, hatch, or tailgate. This hanging hitch rack will carry up to three bikes at a time on its secure T3 Cradles that provide maximum bike stability and frame protection. Thule sweetened the deal even more by including Thule 955 No-Sway Cages which attach to a lower point of contact on your bicycle preventing bike-to-bike contact. Also included is an integrated locking cable that neatly tucks away in to one of the cradle arms.

Thule 971 Helium - Arms Fold Down

Note that in order to mount this particular carrier your vehicle must have either a 2″ or 1 1/4″ hitch receiver installed. To verify that this rack will fit your vehicle, use the Thule Rack Finder.

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

2007 Honda Fit Rack

Yesterday I had a customer come to the store with a 2007 Honda Fit.  He was a carpenter who wanted to work out of his car rather than pay the bills for a gas guzzling truck as a second vehicle. He also enjoyed camping, biking and wanted kayaking to remain an option.

60" Yakima track on Honda Fit

I installed a 60″ track on the roof of the fit. This track runs the full length of the car giving the user optimum versatility. Yakima control towers, 48″ load bars, and landing pads were set up in the track as a base for a SkyBox 18 cargo box. This box gave the customer enough space for his work gear and recreation gear. The track also gave him the option to widen the distance between the bars and carry any length of kayak in the future.

Yakima Track and SkyBox on Honda Fit

To carry the family’s bikes, he decided to go with a trailer hitch. The hitch bike bike rack he chose was the new Thule Helium 3 bike carrier. The helium made sense as an investment  in a higher quality rack with lightweight aluminum construction. This lessened the overall load on the hitch as well as ensured the bike rack would last for a long time. The helium also comes with a cable lock for the bikes, another lock to the vehicle, and no sway cage cradles to secure the bikes. Taking these options into account on the price, the choice was easy.

Helium and Hitch on Honda Fit

The customer left with his Honda Fit fully racked and ready for work and play.

Helium SkyBox and Yakima track on Honda Fit

2004 Toyota Matrix Side rails rack

Today we had a customer come in who wanted a custom rails installed on their 04 Matrix. They were looking for something just for style and looks but these rails will also double as a functional system to add a Thule or Yakima rack onto. We special ordered a brand called Perrycraft, they sell a number of different styles of raised rail racks.

Rasied rails on a Toyota Matrix 2004

You can get the raised rails in either silver or black and in any length. The rack was a perfect fit and complemented the vehicle. We can install this type of rack on any car and the install takes roughly an hour to do. Please come in or call any rack attack for more information.

Toyota Matrix 2004 with rails

New Yakima Railgrab roof rack

Yakima have just released the new RailGrab roof rack towers which will replace their old line of raised rail racks. The Lowrider, Lowrider Max and EZ Rider have all been discontinued and the new towers have the same capabilities as all three combined! We just installed the first set on a new 2009 Jeep Patriot, they looked great and were really easy to install.

Yakima Railgrab Towers

You can add Yakima’s SKS lock cores to the towers to enable them to lock down to the factory raised rails for security. The weight limit of the rack will be based on that of the factory raised rails, so check your manual to find out. Yakima has a full lifetime warranty and is built to last. This will make a great addition to the line of rack we stock and i think they will be very popular.

2009 Jeep Patriot with Yakima RailGrab Towers

2007 Toyota Matrix, and whatta Rack System!

I helped a young family rack their 2007 Toyota Matrix for many long travels back and fourth to the interior of BC from Vancouver. Like many people who need rack, they were about to have a baby, had a large dog and needed more space. The couple was undecided on what cargo box they wanted  but settled on the new Boxter from Thule; an excellent high quality 18cu. foot box.

The box matched the color of the car perfectly latched to the Thule 400xt roof bars.

The couple already had a trailer hitch on the car, but needed a bike rack. They were interested in the new Thule helium. The Helium is the first of its kind as a super light weight aluminum bike rack. The helium is a great choice for  for anyone who values ease of use and long lasting design. The aluminum not only makes the rack extremely light weight, but also ensures rust will never be a problem.

The car looked great.