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Someone explain how a fucking roof rack works?

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eastAR5
Posts: 15084 - Karma: 730
my car doesnt have any kind of built-in mounting stuff on the top like some SUVs... I wana buy the Thule 726 flat-top  rack but i cant figure out everything I need to get to have it ready 2 mount. Starting to piss me off... no clear explanation online. is there just clamps that hook to the side of the roof, or do I need to buy a whole nother bar system and then mount the thule on that? Btw its a 99 jetta gls if that helps, I just want to order everything online at once and not deal with all this bullshit "add seperate clamps and this and ahtat
Oct 12 2007 7:16PM
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Triple_Strum
Posts: 6384 - Karma: 953
Yes, most recent model thules and yakimas require separate "feet" and mounting bars to put the actual six clamp rack on.  That stuff is confusing to me as well
Oct 12 2007 7:26PM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
geeeez it clamps down where your door seals with the car at the top nooooob. go to a ski shop or rei or some shit and they can find which exact part you need for your model/year car.
Oct 12 2007 7:26PM
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eastAR5
Posts: 15084 - Karma: 730

ha so your saying if i buy  just the Thule rack which is like $110 ebay, all I need is to go to a store and get the right clamps? it can sit right  on top of the flat roof?

Oct 12 2007 7:29PM
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GatoGordo
Posts: 1496 - Karma: 10
There is this sick thing through Thule where you can answer a bunch of these queations, and get half off. Look for it somewhere on the site, and you save a bunch for new stuff. You need feet, and i think something else, but maybe not. Go to a ski shop that sells them, and ask exactly what you need.
Oct 12 2007 7:32PM
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NWFlow
Posts: 1557 - Karma: 61
It depends...i don't know for thule.  For yakima, you need q-towers to which the "feet" are attached.  I assume Thule has something similar.  If you buy off the internet, you'll want to make sure that the style is current, or else you won't be able to buy the correct feet.  Check to see if Thule has a fit list online or go to a store that sells them and ask to see the fit list.  Those usually tell you exactly what you need.

There is no bigger pain in the ass than roof racks. 
Oct 12 2007 7:34PM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
you need the feet/towers/whatever they're called (4 of them) that clamp to the edge of your roof in the door opening, the bars the go across, then whatever attachment you want to go on it like a ski rack, bike rack, whatever.
Oct 12 2007 7:54PM
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Huckasorass
Posts: 1737 - Karma: 80
Go on Thule and figure out what foot pack you need, find the foot pack # for sale on ebay, find the associated bars for sale on ebay, you should get a fairing so it doesn't whistle like hell (get the old fairing, the new one is gay) Then get your ski attachments you want.
There you go, all on ebay, of course you may luck out and find someone selling everything you need... on ebay
Oct 12 2007 8:28PM
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 5977 - Karma: 3,544
pretty much. the only problem is the feet/towers cost a butt load too.

i know yakima has a really good interactive site that lets you name your car and figure out everything you need
Oct 12 2007 9:37PM
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