Roof rack systems

Audi system: blow it off in favor of a rack by a company that makes
racks for a living.

Yakima vs Thule: both are good. However, Yakima is more popular
by about 10 to 1 ratio. Why? The steelhead mounts are great and very
easy to operate. If you've ever used a mediocre rack, you know how
frustrating the mounts can be.

Thule used to use rectangular crossbeams with them oriented
incorrectly, which led to a bowed crossbar as soon as weight
was placed upon it.

The 10 to 1 ratio is just my observation at cycling events. It
is not intended to be a scientific poll.

http://www.yakima.com/products/dynamic/8...
http://www.yakima.com/products/dynamic/8...

I just currently bought a Thule 757 (the only roof rack besides Audi that is compatable with a TT quattro. The system unfortunately does not work very well. The clip system on Thule bars (for TT's) interferes with the window threshold, leaving this big ole' gap in your car. I worked on it for hours to get it right, got it to a small(er) hole but there is still wind seeping in, and I also live in Seattle for can anyone say rain? The clip system just doesn't work with the TT. Not only that, but the rectangular bars create massive wind turbulence, so instead of your drive being fun and sporty its loud and annoying. I know that the audi racks are now more compatable, and if its Audi specific, id suggest spending the extra cash for a well made, made to fit system.

I use a Yakima system on my A4, I also use one on my 100S. The fit on both
cars is excellent. They have even survived a few excursions into the garage
with a bike on the roof w/o damage (car and bike not so lucky). I often put
three bikes up and do not hesitate to travel at 75 to 85 mph loaded up. With
the road bike 100 plus is no issue. (Be sure to cover the headset or you'll
blow the grease out of the bearings) I did add a wind deflector to keep the
noise down. I also put skis on the roof in the winter and have occasionally
stuck a canoe on the roof. The problem here is that neither the A4 nor the
100 have any good tie down locations for the bow and stern so an improv.
will be required.
As far a Yaki Vs. Thule is concerned, my impression is that they are both
good, but once you pick, you often to stay with that companies parts. It's
only in recent years that some of the components have become
interchangeable. Personally I prefer the Yaki and have noted that after my
friends (that own Thule) put a bike up they will often remark about how
much they like the Yaki "stuff'. That said, there are a few peeves to pass
on. The Q tower clips come with cheesy plastic adhesive covers that peel off
immediately often taking the base paint with them and the new style wheel
strap are reversed from the old style and are really cantankerous. The
action is backwards and the molded "teeth" are mold mismatched and will get
chewed up if they are over-tightened even a tiny bit. These are all issues
that the "old" design does not have. However, Yaki's service department is
really good and they will replace parts you have issues with. I would not
consider tha Audi set becuse let's face it, Audi is not one of the top roof
system makers, Yaki an Thule are.
Good luck.

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...
All three are excellent systems and the price difference is not a big
factor.
I went with Audi roof rack because it was the cheapest solution as well as
bicycle holders fit perfectly Thule bars. I purchased Audi roof rack system
2 months before delivery of my '03 A4 and use on my old car with Thule
bars without any problems. I survived attempt to park my A4 with bike on
the roof in a garage, no damages to my car or bike, the only thing I had to
replace were plastic stripes ($25 CAN) which were broken. The only
problem I have with Audi roof rack system is the fact they don't sell wind
noise deflectors (fairings??; [sp]). I tried one from Thule and was able to
fit it properly but the final effect wasn't satisfactory for me, I could not
justified $129 CAN expense and decided to return to the store. I like
very much Yakima wind deflectors but they don't fit Audi roof racks.
Some people consider the compatibility issue, if you like to move your
roof rack system to another car they say your better bet will be Yakima
or Thule. From my experience I can say that such a transition is not chip,
2 years ago I paid $276 CAN for Thule 4 new towers just to move it to
another car. A new Audi roof rack system (without bike holders) cost me
$299 CAN.

The main reason I purchased Audi roof rack was the fact my friend has
one on his '01 A4 and I had a chance to use this system last summer
going with him for bike rides every weekend. I think you can not go
wrong with any of these system, it is matter of personal preference
or taste.

jr

Sounds like people are either Audi or Yaki fans...I actually was leaning
towards Thule before this posting. From what I understand Thule fits
European cars better (they are made in Sweden) and Yaki fits Domestic cars
betterand in the end the system by Audi should fit the best. But the
Audi system has so many issues (no compatibility is the biggest, no fairing
the next). Besides none of my local dealers have a complete system in
stock...which may make for another issue if I'm traveling and something
breaks. Maybe no one carries replacement parts. Any Thule experts? Thanks
for all the input guys.

Nick
...

Well I've got Thule on roof bars , works fine, 1/2 the price Audi wanted.

Same here. I dunno about the "bowing under load" thingy - I've never
seen that, and we have put a hugely overloaded Thule carrier box right
in the middle of the load bars.

I've never had any hassle with the bike carrier bits, and find Thule
to stand up well to abuse.

It is easier to find a Yakima dealer, however. Thule stuff can be
purchased on the Web, FYI. I'd bet Yakima stuff too, but I haven't
looked.

HTH,

Spider

I Was the one that mentioned this 2 posts in, and Thule seems to have
it straightened out. I even called my local shop which carries both
Yakima and Thule.

(Spider) wrote in
<
I have been using Thule racks since the 80s, and haven't seen the load bar
issue either. In that time, I've acquired, 2 sets of load bars (different
lengths), gutter mount feet, the 400 Aero Pack feet, a Ford Thunderbird
(198X) fit kit, a Saturn (199X) fit kit, and ski holders. We also carry a
canoe directly on the load bars. I'm about to buy the rail mount feet for an
A4 Avant (2003). The price of moving the rack from 1 car to another depends
on the Feet, fit kit and bar length required. I started with short bars on
the Thunderbird using the Aero Pack feet and the required fit kit. Later we
added gutter mount feet to use the rack on a Jeep Cherokee with no other
changes. Moving from the Cherokee to a Wrangler required longer load bars,
but still the gutter feet. When the Saturn became the car, the short bars
worked, along with the Aero feet, and just a new fit kit. Now, on the A4
Avant, I need new feet again.

A Thule roof rack is basically 4 parts, load bar, foot, fit kit, and carry
accessory. The load bar varies by length depending on the width of your car.
If you use a longer bar, you tend to hit your head while getting in the car
(I tried the long bars on the Saturn first, ouch). The foot attaches the
load bar to the roof, and may require a fit kit, but not always, (the gutter
mount foot attaches directly to rain gutters). The accessory is the bike,
ski, whatever carrier you mount to the roof rack. For me the new foot will
cost $110. Also, there are some Thule racks that use a differnt load system
where the foot attaches inside the load bar, not an option on the sedan, but
available for the Avant. I would avoid this bar/foot combination since it
doesn't switch cars as easily.

This is the break down for an A4 sedan:
400 Aero Foot Pack $122
LB50 Load Bars $ 45
2114 Fit Kit $ 47
Total $214
Optional 872 Fairing $45
Grand Total $259

That's before you add the bike accessory, ranging in price from $70 classic,
to $375 tandem. All of these prices are from the Thule website, and I've
seen the rack parts at many bike shops along out outdoor stores, (EMS and REI
both carry the racks).

If you move it to another car that uses the 400 Aero feet, all you need is a
new fit kit, and they are all about $47.

I don't know how the Yakima parts break down. Since I already had the Thule
investment, it's been easier to stay with it, and it has worked well for me.

So I would recommend determining which rack you like better now, since you're
likely to have the parts for a long time. Also, I wouldn't go with the Audi
rack.

Matt

I'm pretty sure that the Audi system is a rebadged Thule with custom made
rather than universal fittings. The roof boxes Audi sell are Thule (and
badged Thule). Although I've only seen a picture of the Audi bike carrier it
looks identical to the Thule "Tour" one.

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