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June, 2025

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Roof rack help

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Slush
Posts: 1916 - Karma: 12,961
So my parents said for my birthday they would get me a roof mounting system for my car. The thing is, I know nothing about these things, so I need your help!

I'm looking for a solid roof rack that can hold like 4 pairs of skis, and that's isnt a clam that's going to destroy my gas mileage. Also, if it could be like taken off and converted to a bike rack kinda thing that would be really ideal.

I'm looking in the 400$ price range, since I don't want to make my parents spend a lot of money, but if there is something perfect in the 500$ price range then I'd definately help pay
10 years ago
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DayMan
Posts: 4707 - Karma: 8,804
Thule makes good shit
10 years ago
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theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,634
Yakima and Thule are the two ive owner. Thule is a way better product IMO. I have the blade crossbar thing, supppsed to be quiet, its not Ive come to the conclusion none of them are quiet.

With those rack systems you but the crossbars and towers then you can get all the mounts, ski rack or bike rack. Once you take it on and off, the racks, it gets pretty easy. The crossbars and towers stay on.

Get a Thule.
10 years ago
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Slush
Posts: 1916 - Karma: 12,961
theBearJewYakima and Thule are the two ive owner. Thule is a way better product IMO. I have the blade crossbar thing, supppsed to be quiet, its not Ive come to the conclusion none of them are quiet.

With those rack systems you but the crossbars and towers then you can get all the mounts, ski rack or bike rack. Once you take it on and off, the racks, it gets pretty easy. The crossbars and towers stay on.

Get a Thule.


Oh, ok. That's cool. So wait they are noisy? Like how noisy...

just curious
10 years ago
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theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,634
SlushOh, ok. That's cool. So wait they are noisy? Like how noisy...

just curious


So thule makes the aeroblade which they claim is quiet, you hear it. I have a sunroof so i dont know if that makes a difference. They dont make a fairing (wind deflector) for those bars. When I had my Yakima it was so annoying, I bought a fairing for that and it made a huge difference.

If youre on a budget, get the squarebars from Thule and a front fairing. That will reduce the sound.

Bottom line on sound, youll get used to it. Its not that bad.
10 years ago
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ABskier
Posts: 136 - Karma: 56
what car do you have?

90% of the time, thule fits better than yakima.

But 80% of the time, both will fit really well, and you should just choose the rack to match the box/ski rack you want.
10 years ago
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cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
SlushOh, ok. That's cool. So wait they are noisy? Like how noisy...

just curious


it's not terrible. i've gone from no fairing to fairing and left it at no fairing when i reinstalled on my latest car. i think it takes a bigger hit in gas mileage with fairing though. i've only run no fairing/bike rack, fairing/bike rack, and fairing/ski rack combos. so never tried a no fairing ski rack combo, which i imagine to be noisier, but somewhere in between on the mileage.

i use an older thule with the square bars

you can always buy a fairing later if the noise bothers you.
10 years ago
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Slush
Posts: 1916 - Karma: 12,961
Jesus these things are expensive. is there anyway to get them cheaper? I was looking at racks and stuff and the Thule square bars ALONE, just the bars, are 100 bucks...
10 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9256 - Karma: 40,938
SlushJesus these things are expensive. is there anyway to get them cheaper? I was looking at racks and stuff and the Thule square bars ALONE, just the bars, are 100 bucks...


I bought cheap Chinese shit off eBay and have had 0 problems. I think I spent like $150 total for bars and a rack.
10 years ago
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theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,634
SlushJesus these things are expensive. is there anyway to get them cheaper? I was looking at racks and stuff and the Thule square bars ALONE, just the bars, are 100 bucks...


I bought my first set off craigslist for 125 total. Bars towers and bike carrier.
10 years ago
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Stadtski
Posts: 972 - Karma: 3,349
theBearJewsupppsed to be quiet

I have a thule and I cannot hear mine at all.... it may be your sunroof? or its put on wrong... but I can't hear mine at all and I have never heard my friends when riding in their cars. I mean maybe we are the 3 odd cases, but I dont think so.
10 years ago
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theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,634
Rosa_ParkI have a thule and I cannot hear mine at all.... it may be your sunroof? or its put on wrong... but I can't hear mine at all and I have never heard my friends when riding in their cars. I mean maybe we are the 3 odd cases, but I dont think so.



I thought I may have installed it wrong. It sounds like its coming from a specific tower. Maybe I will try to reinstall it.
10 years ago
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crotchvent
Posts: 1527 - Karma: 2,185
Rosa_ParkI have a thule and I cannot hear mine at all.... it may be your sunroof? or its put on wrong... but I can't hear mine at all and I have never heard my friends when riding in their cars. I mean maybe we are the 3 odd cases, but I dont think so.


From my experiences sunroofs do make a slight difference but nothing huge.

theBearJewI thought I may have installed it wrong. It sounds like its coming from a specific tower. Maybe I will try to reinstall it.


This could be your problem especially if the towers are pushing your weather stripping away causing air to be let in.
10 years ago
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Stadtski
Posts: 972 - Karma: 3,349
theBearJewMaybe I will try to reinstall it.


I would definitely try. It can't hurt
10 years ago
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