Rack Disaster and Repair: Yakima Tracks vs. OEM Tacks?

[AnnabelleT4R96]

I had Annabelle outfitted with Yakima towers and 72in crossbars, *Sniffle* …She was beautiful. A strong wind on the interstate caught the canoes and ripped the rail-rider towers out of my OEM tracks (I had the bow and stern tied to the bars instead of the tow hooks- lesson learned).

Yakima is replacing their equipment and being very helpful, but I have to decide whether to replace the mangled tracks with Toyota tracks or with their Yakima replacement tracks. A Toyota replacement would be simpler to install, but I would love to have longer tracks to set my crossbars further apart for longer boats. Does anyone have experience installing longer tracks over the predrilled holes? Could they run up past the sunroof? I have no experience with body work and will probably try to find a good shop around NE Atlanta (likely on Yakima’s dime).

Any experience or advice would be great.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Go with yakima tracks. You really need a longer distance between the bars for big boats.

 

[AnnabelleT4R96]

Longer tracks would definitively make for a more stable rack. Any experience with after market tracks?

 

[AnnabelleT4R96]

I got a reply from RackAttack.com:

"I wouldn't recommend removing your damaged factory tracks and trying to replace them with Yakima tracks. The bolt locations will be different and potentially lead to a leaky roof. If you want the Yakima tracks I'd determine a location on clean sheet metal and redrill the roof according to the mounting holes of the Yakima tracks. Make sure that the bolts lie outside the perimeter of the sunroof, even when opened; and you'll be just fine. If you want to keep the tracks in the factory location, definitely go with Toyota tracks."
Regards,
Rack Attack

 

[rajuncajun]

Proline #ES Roof Top Track Slats

I got these because I didn't have factory racks. The holes don't line up but I took the covers - in your case you can take the old racks - and mark the new tracks with the old holes and drill the tracks out. Then just screw into the existing mounting holes.

Works like a charm.
I've put a 22' extension ladder in high wind ratchet strapped to yakima roof racks and no probs.

 

[AnnabelleT4R96]

Awesome! Thanks for the tip. What length did you go for?

 

[crazydubman]

What about looking in to a full length rack like what Whitson Metalworks offers? Pricing is killer and he has a deal going on till the end of August. He can add additional items if needed too.

Would allow you to mount the canoes flat in the full length basket and strap them down front to back. I think for your setup just picking up a pack of harbor freight ratchet straps and using 3 or 4 of them hooked off the side tubes would be about perfect.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/120808-roof-rack-special-august.html

Just a thought. :hello:

 

[AnnabelleT4R96]

Thanks for responding dubman

Yakima sent me some free replacement tracks along with a 78in crossbar set up with freight/cam straps ( 78" = just wide enough for two canoes). I went with the longer 60in tracks, so I had a shop drill the extra holes and install them last weekend. I'll play with the new rack tomorrow!

 

[4R99JB]

My kayaks came with plastic handles and cord that loops through holes in either end of the kayak. I take these handles off and mount them under the hood so that only the nylon cord sticks out. This makes the PERFECT tie down for the front; I attach bungies with carabiner ends to the cord and to hole in kayak. The back is setup in a silimar manner.

Hope you can try something like this in the future avoid any additional problems. Good luck with the fix. X2 on drilling out the Yakama to fit existing mounting points. :tongue:

 

[Diagram14]

Ricord, aren't you sporting the Q62 setup? Where's your plug for those? I would imagine that, in addition to being able to mount your front bar virtually at the windshield, the strength would be far more substantial than any mounted track.

Then again I am just thinking out loud and my logic could be completely flawed.

 

[AnnabelleT4R96]

Thanks 4R99JB

Yeah, bow and stern tie-downs to the vehicle are essential and probably would have prevented my mishap. Any reason you tie under the hood instead of the tie points under the bumpers?