Rack suggestion...

[swr]

I don't want to start a flame war... but would like some feedback on racks and crossbars.

For now, I am just going for crossbars and sport specific mounts... I need to mount two bikes, a canoe, and the occasional kayak and what not... so a full roof rack isn't the best fit.

My debate is Yakima vs Thule vs OEM Land Rover.

My initial reaction is to throw the OEM ones out the door as they limit my fit options down the road and are overpriced.

So it comes down to Yakima round, Thule square, or Thule's new aero oval bars...

Right now I am leaning towards Yakima. The new Thule aluminum aero bars are nice... but the silver color doesn't match the rest of my rover and I like the idea of having more anchor points outside the width of the towers.

In the past I have heard there were some fit problems with the third party racks... but they both seem to have LR3 specific bases now... anybody have any first/second hand experience?

Thanks in advance.
-sean

 

[geoaustin]

oh dear, you just started one.... jk

thinking about an expedition rack for mine and would appreciate thoughts

 

[swr]

oh dear, you just started one.... jk

thinking about an expedition rack for mine and would appreciate thoughts

I thought about one too. But realized for my needs (bikes, boats, etc) a more modular system would be better... plus if I need a basket Thule/Yakima make some nice ones. Sure they aren't as bulletproof as the full on Hannibal/Land Rover/etc ones... but they get the job done, can be taken off easily, and I can add them down the road.

One thing if you do an expedition rack... you haven't cut yourself off from using cross bar type racks. I have seen several pictures/posts of people that mounted Thule/Yakima crossbars to their expedition racks. So you can have the best of both worlds in a sense. Just keep in mind your boat/bike is then ANOTHER 6-8 inches above your head vs being on the factory roof rails.

Also, I would lean away from the OEM/Land Rover rack as I have heard a lot of people complain of the wind noise in generates making the sun roof unusable over 15mph and seen quite a number of them for sale on the cheap. So look at some of the third party ones.

A final note... that just bit a friend of mine in the a$$... keep in mind that whatever you do will only make an already tall LR3 even taller... and meanwhile your garage door will stay the same height. In short... make sure you can park the rover with the rack on there.

 

[broiler]

I'm new here, sorry. . .

I have a Yakima box that I want to use with my LR3. Currently there are no crossbars. Do I have to get the LR crossbars, or do other manufacturers make crossbars that fit onto the rails? I had assumed that only the LR crossbars would fit into the rails, but perhaps my assumption is wrong? I realize that Racks and Boxes can come from a variety of sources.

 

[toddjb122]

broiler - all I can tell you is that I just bought a Yakima box and if fits the LR rails nicely. (these are the black oval rails which I am told are made by Thule).

 

[broiler]

Just to clarify my nomenclature (although it may be wrong) :

"rails" - come attached to the roof from the factory, run from front to back

"crossbars" - have to be bought as an option and attach to the "rails" and run perpendicular to the rails. These are what things clamp to typically.

So my question above is, do you have to get the "crossbars" from LR or do other vendors (Thule, Yakima, etc.) sell them too?

 

[bobby]

urbanoffroad is the one that i am looking at.. simple and custom fit.

 

[swr]

Thule and Yakima both make crossbar kits that will fit the LR3.

So there are at least four options.

1. The LR OEM crossbars
2. Yakima pads (they adapt the system to the LR3 rails), towers (pad to cross bar), and cross bars (these are round bars)
3. Thule's standard pads, towers, and cross bars. (square bars)
4. Thule's new raid aero pads, towers, and cross bars (new silver oval shaped bar)

If you go to Thule/Yakimas website or a vendor like http://rackattack.com there are fit guides.
* Yakima guide - http://www.yakima.com/Consumer/Step1.aspx
* Thule guide - http://www.thuleracks.com/fg_vehicle.asp


I was trying to get feedback from people on their experiences with the Thule vs Yakima kits.

 

[goinsurfin]

As for feedback about Thule and Yakima racks:

I've used Yakima products for 15 years now. I've used all of their tower systems based on roof requirements for the cars I've owned and have used most of the accessories too. I have no issues with the brand. Their 3 year warranty is great. I've had the bike mounts fail on me and without questions, sent me the new parts. The Yakima system is very easy to use.

As for Thule, I have an evolution 1600 box. I preferred its sleek design over the Yakima 1/2 oval-type designs along with its ability to open on both sides. The boxes can also be custom painted if desired.

Soon, I'll add the Yakima control towers and 66" round cross bars to my LR3 which mount directly to the existing rails. With that, I'll have my bikes, boards, and box on top.

I plan on adding a Hannibal roof tent in the future which will mount directly to the Yakima crossbars. I think I'll need the hannibal rack too.

Overall, I highly recommend the Yakima system but you will not go wrong with Thule either.

I hope this helps.

 

[nwoods]

I don't think you can go wrong with either Yakima or Thule. They are both good products. I think it's better to look down the road at what you are going to be mounting to the rack, and make sure you like the offered components to accomplish that future need.

For me, I had a Mitsu Montero that fit the Thule 2100 roof box, so I got the Thule system. Since then, I bought a Nissan Armada (kids got bigger!) and needed the Yakima 21 Cu.Ft. Skybox because it fit the Armada whereas the Thule box didn't. (Armada has longer span between load bar mounting points). The Thule square load bars still worked with the Yakima Skybox, so lucky me.

It also works with my Hannibal roof rack on the LR3. It has held some pretty serious weight through all sorts of wind conditions and off road gyrations. I think the feet clamps are a bit better for the Yakima, so I swapped the metal base plate clamps from my Thule to Yakima, but I still have the Thule pylons and load bars. I have an excellent shop nearby called Rack-n-Road (www.racknroad.com) that I've worked with on all this.

Here are photos: