Yakima rack help???

“I just got a yakima rack that is about 2 or 3 years old and I'm having a hard time figuring out hope to fit the Q towers and poles together.

Any help out there?”

“I don't have Q towers, but remember having a devil of a time putting the racks on the car the first time. Left them in the same configuration for 10+ years.

If the Q towers are anything like my brackets, there's a nut on the inside, lower end of the bracket--near where the bracket meets the roof. It's between the outer and inner parts of the bracket. That nut affects the positioning of the clamp to the vehicle and the clamp position to the poles, as I recall. Ya gotta play with them to get the adjustment right. Also they might be rusted, so a little lubricant might help.

Hope this helps.

Best”

“Those things are a major b--ch to put on. When I bought mine, the guy at the kayak shop installed them for me. He was super meticulous, and it took him over an hour and a half. It seems like it should be such a simple thing, but I don't think I could have done it by myself.”

“Crap, I just called yakima and they said that the one I have fits cars that are for 1997 and before. Not good.”

“Ugh. What new parts will you need to make them fit? Bummer about the bad news, good luck man.”

“I need q towers and q clips. i think I will sell this one and get another one.”

“went smooth and without a hitch. I guess I'm a genious.”

“We've had the same Yakima racks for over a decade. Our experience.

Two sides.

One: the lack of more "universal/generic" applications for their racks. And sometimes confusing mapping of racks to vehicles. When we bought our most recent car, REI had to call Yakima and then go into the parking lot to examine and measure our car. Also, find it takes some work to counter the affects of weather.

Two: Great racks, with lots of flexibility (when you get past "one".) Fairly durable.”

“fairly durable? And you've had them more than a decade? So modest, you are.. :-)”

“I have had my Yakima rack for 7 years. I have a rocket box, gunwale brackets and the buttondown 6. I would have gotten the bike rack attachments, but I have a different rack that attaches to the hitch mount. I can't say enough good things about my Yakima rack. One thing...buy extra end caps. If you take your rack on and off the vehicle or use different size bars for different applications, you'll need them. They don't just pop off and are mostly destroyed once you take them off. Good thing is that REI carries them for $5 for a set of 4.”

“I just got a set of Q towers and clips for my Rav4 and also a pair of clips for our Sienna and find them a cinch to put on and take off. But, of course I don't remove the bars from the Q towers. More versatile than the factory racks and less expensive to boot!

Cranking down those cam locks did require a cheater to tighten the cam.

Of course I was advised by the one and only Stikmon who also has a RAV4. Thanks Stikmon good fit!”

“yeah, i got to get rid of these and get me the q0towers and I'll be set”

“THULE”

“mozark...good choice...I don't use any front/rear strapping...I only use the top mount...(that sounds kind of sexual, don't it?....no inuendo intended). Don't take the straps through the car doors...if it rains, the water will just leach into the vehicle and drip, drip drip.

Mozark...4th july weekend...is my next long river weekend...gonna try the Buffalo again. And, I'll be on the 11 Points on the weekend of June 21/22. I;ll call ya.”

“Stikmon,

Could I twist your arm to float a section of the Buffalo this weekend? Owl and I are considering a trip.

Moz”