Yakima ski racks on factory crossbars

[rickl]

Wondering if anyone has experience with this. I have Yakima Lift Ticket 4 ski racks that I want to put on my 2014 T4R that came with factory crossbars. The Yakima site says to use universal mighty mounts, but they get lots of poor reviews.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[crackiswack]

These would probably work as well, haven't confirmed but the shape matches the factory style bars CLOSEOUT SALE Yakima Mighty Mounts (Horizontal) Clamps for Converting Factory Racks to Multi-sport Car Racks

 

[rickl]

Thanks, but these are horizontals, and ski racks require verticals. Also, I have these for my bike rack and it doesn't fit the T4R bars (did fit my old Outback bars, though).

 

[alexb]

I have some yakima rack accessories I got from a friend including a few ski mounts that I used over spring break traveling to CO. I don't have the factory cross bars, so I purchased the yakima rail grab mounts with 48" crossbars to attach stuff to. It works great IMO. I used it to carry snowboards for 12hours from OK to CO with no problems and have used it to carry my bike to the lake 3hrs. This is what I got.

Yakima Racks & Carriers

 

[rickl]

Thanks. Definitely would have been the way to go if it hadn't come with the crossbars. Might still be best.

 

[jfon]

We've got two Yakima ski racks, one with the Mighty Mounts and one that uses the old-fashioned clips to wrap around the cross bar. They no longer make the clips, except for their round multi-use crossbars, having come up with the MM's as the all-purpose crossbar mount.

This is a shame because the MM's are a pain in the tush compared to the old clips. It takes far more time to put the rack on with the MM's... instead of hand-tightening one bolt at each of the four mount points you have to tighten three allen bolts at each (one blindly), with the mount sliding back and forth until secure. The only advantage of the MM's is they can be used on pretty much any crossbar, but are an expensive and awkward way to do so. It was better when you just had to buy an extra set of cheap clips when you got new car.

When used on our 2013 4R rack, the bolts holding the MM's are too long for the low profile crossbars. The bolts would drive into the roof to tighten them properly. Sooo... you also have to buy the bloody Yakima crossbars and their rack mounts for a bunch more money. BTW, our JX35 rack works without the extra crossbars, but our old clips fit it fine.

I don't know what Thule or someone else offers. I went the expensive bandaid route because we already had the Yakima rack and I wasn't smart enough to shop around, but in retrospect it would have been cheaper and far less annoying to toss it and buy someone else's system. A better way must exist; the Yakima method is awful. Good luck, and let me know how it turns out.

 

[rickl]

jfon,

Thanks for the detailed reply. I was kind of wondering about the MM bolt length from the pictures. Ugh. Probably will end up selling the Yakima racks and getting something that really works properly on the factory bars (not sure what that will be, haven't done the research yet).

 

[WODWorldWide]

Don't know if it's already been stated but the Fat Cat and Big Powderhound fit perfectly on the bars like they were designed for them specifically. Not sure on the Lift Ticket ones.

 

[Bad_Influence]

i have the yakima fatcat 6 that i have used for 3 seasons now. They are the best ones around that i have seen and/or used. The are low profile and they secure very nicely. The only downfall i have with them is if you put a snowboard on upside down the bindings get pressed in a little from the roof. Not a big deal really.

 

[Cheers!]

There is a 20% yakima for everyone right now... meaning REI, Amazon etc...

The deal seems to be the Amazon one:
$191 for 4 grab rails + 2x 58" cross bars... the std size recommended by yakima is 48" for 5th gen 4runners

Amazon.com : RailGrab Kit (58" Bars + 4 Towers) : Automotive Ski Racks : Automotive

 

[rickl]

WOD and Bad,

I'm guessing your racks are using the Universal Mighty Mounts (it's not the racks but the mounts between the cross bars and the racks that are my issues). I take it, then, that the Universals have worked fine for you.

 

[Canon_Bob]

I just got the universal mounts so I can mount my hi-lift on the factory rack (using a Slee hi-lift mount on the Yakima universals). They work fine. On the other side I have a Malone kayak saddle that also fits the factory rack perfectly, so I'm good-to-go.

 

[rickl]

Thanks