Bike Car Rack Parts Review

For those of you who enjoy getting out and having some adventure, outdoor sports are great. Perhaps you like to mountain bike or kayak. Or you may really enjoy hitting some wild waves on your surfboard at the local beach. If you do participate in these sorts of outdoor activities then of course you need a way to get your gear to your destination. Roof racks are a great solution for your outdoor equipment needs. When you start to put together your roof rack, you may want to think of some accessories to go with it.

What It’s For

The main idea when you transport your outdoor gear is to make sure it is secure and that it’s protected from scrapes and scratches. Pads and straps are great for this purpose. Roof rack straps, such as a Yakima strap, are sold in sets and provide a way to secure your load to the roof rack bar. You can secure your surfboards, kayak, or sailboard. Straps are usually about 16 feet long and can be cut down to length if desired. They contain a quick and easy buckle system that allows the straps to be taken off or installed in no time. Pads offer additional protection to your outdoor equipment. For example, if you lay your surfboard directly onto the roof rack bars, they can slide around easily and get scratched or damaged. Using pads eliminates this problem because the pads offer support and protection as they cover the roof rack bars. Most pads like Thule pads contain a no-slip surface that keeps your equipment in place.

Roof rack bars are an essential part of the complete roof rack system. They are what hold the outdoor equipment up and off your roof. They support the weight of your surfboard, kayak, or bikes. Bars only may be sold separately. For example, if you buy foot pads and towers, then the roof rack bars don’t come with bars. Roof rack bars are sold in sets of two and they fit each manufactures specific products. Since roof rack bars are part of a complete system, make sure the product you buy matches all your other parts. Locks are another important accessory item for roof rack systems; a Yakima bike lock could help protect your bikes. They basically perform the function of locking your gear in place on the roof rack so nobody can just come along and steal your equipment.

Major Manufacturers

Yakima, FCS, Thule.

Pricing

Prices on roof rack accessories can range from about $25 for pads or straps to about $100 for some lock sets.