HeavyDluxe Posted July 27, 2015 Posted July 27, 2015 Posting here because I trust all you all to give good, meaningful feedback if you can. Bought a 2012 Corolla to replace my old beater... Love the car, but the only downside is it didn't come with roof racks. I have a Wilderness Systems Ride 115 that I car topped on my old car. Would prefer not to beat up the roof on this one if I can. A Thule rack kit is at least $400, which is more than I want to spend. Does anyone have any meaningful experience with other aftermarket roof rack vendors (Rhino, Sportrack, etc) and could offer me any advice re: how to save a buck if I can? Thanks. Quote
Longo Posted July 27, 2015 Posted July 27, 2015 I have a Yakima. It's a little less than the Thule. Quote
timcauliffe Posted July 27, 2015 Posted July 27, 2015 I have a 2011 Mazda 3 Hatchback with aftermarket $20 roof-racks on top. I have been hauling a 8ft bass raider style boat on the roof, strapped down through the handles and around the front/back door dividers for close to 2 years now with no issues. Only downfall is the "wind noise" from these being so hollow, but I saved myself a couple hundred bucks. Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted July 27, 2015 Super User Posted July 27, 2015 I have factory side rails, but I got cross bars from 'foryar' on e bay and they've been great at a fraction the cost of thule. Alternatively, I bought thule kayak slide/saddle kit and I'm very happy that I did. Well made, the straps are all included and very easy to use -- and all four pieces of the racks go on and come off in about 2 minutes. Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted July 27, 2015 Super User Posted July 27, 2015 A quality rack will give you peace of mind on the set up and ability to hold your expensive gear safely. Racks are one area I don't skimp and yakima and both thule are great choices. I have also heard good things about the malone rack systems as well but i have never personally used them. Quote
Dogmatic Posted July 27, 2015 Posted July 27, 2015 I use Thule, Yakima, and an aftermarket no name off of eBay, they all work well. If you want a brand name, but don't want to shell out the dough, Craigslist is a good place to find racks at a discount. Quote
ClackerBuzz Posted July 27, 2015 Posted July 27, 2015 $300-400 is nothing compared to an auto body shop bill for fixing all the bumps, dinks and scratches I have on my car from cheap racks (in all fairness I live in the city so both my bumpers are destroyed from people's bad parallel parking so my roof was the least of my concern). I finally settled on a used Yakima but my buddy got a nice aftermarket rack for $100 from Walmart Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 27, 2015 Super User Posted July 27, 2015 When I needed a rack, I bought a Thule. It was never an issue. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.