Friday, December 31, 2010
Considering Factory Installed Roof Rack? Consider This First...
Upon first consideration it would seem to be a good idea to have the
auto dealer equip your new vehicle with the factory roof rack cross
bars. It could be convenient to have the cross bars installed while
the service department is doing their "make ready". Also, the cost of
the bars could possibly be negotiated into the price or rolled into
the financing. I may also be comforting to know that the bars from
the vehicle manufacture are engineered to work specifically with the
vehicle. All these benefits might be a good thing for some. Here are some other points to consider. The fact that the cross bars
are engineered to work specifically with the vehicle means that it is
very unlikely that you'll ever be able to use the cross bars on
another vehicle. Major aftermarket brands like Yakima and Thule
design their roof rack systems for mass customization so that a
minimum number of parts work with the maximum number of vehicles. In
most cases, an aftermarket roof rack can be converted to another
vehicle with just a change of some relatively inexpensive vehicle
specific fit kit. You get the benefits of a system engineered
specifically for the vehicle plus the versatility to transfer most
components to another vehicle when the time comes. This fit
versatility also gives you the ability to sell used equipment to a
broader group of buyers. So, your buying a roof rack which must mean you plan to put something
on it. Check with your dealer, you'll find that they'll likely offer
one or two bike carriers, a kayak carrier, a ski carrier, possibly a
cargo box and most items are usually special ordered. Yakima and
Thule each offer at least six bike carriers, seven kayak carriers,
five ski carriers, fifteen cargo boxes, plus lots of unique products
that people find very useful once they've had experience transporting
gear on the vehicle. All these products can be found throughout an
enormous dealer network. If a part gets worn or damaged, you'll find
Yakima and Thule dealers throughout the US and many countries
worldwide. A situations that seem to come up over and over again when working
with factory installed cross bars. We have lots of people asking to
install a wind fairing to help reduce noise, improve the air flow, or
just because they like the looks of a fairing but, unfortunately,
factory bars don't accept aftermarket fairings from Yakima or Thule
and apparently, fairings are not available though the dealers. Many
find the fixed width of the factory cross bars limits their load
options. Yakima and Thule's standard load bars are sold in multiple
lengths and can be cut down to custom lengths to accommodate all your
gear perfectly. As far as having the roof rack cost rolled in to the auto financing,
we've had new car buyers come into our store to get a quote for a rack
and later come back with a check from the dealer to pay for it. Just
ask the dealer's finance manager about this option, the more they
finance the more they make in interest, which is a big part of the
dealer's revenue. Now, we're trying to put another nail in the coffin
here but instead of trying to get factory cross bars negotiated in to
your new car deal, save that play to have the dealer throw in a nice
subwoofer so you have some thumping tunes on your next road trip. RackOutfitters.com, Get With It
auto dealer equip your new vehicle with the factory roof rack cross
bars. It could be convenient to have the cross bars installed while
the service department is doing their "make ready". Also, the cost of
the bars could possibly be negotiated into the price or rolled into
the financing. I may also be comforting to know that the bars from
the vehicle manufacture are engineered to work specifically with the
vehicle. All these benefits might be a good thing for some. Here are some other points to consider. The fact that the cross bars
are engineered to work specifically with the vehicle means that it is
very unlikely that you'll ever be able to use the cross bars on
another vehicle. Major aftermarket brands like Yakima and Thule
design their roof rack systems for mass customization so that a
minimum number of parts work with the maximum number of vehicles. In
most cases, an aftermarket roof rack can be converted to another
vehicle with just a change of some relatively inexpensive vehicle
specific fit kit. You get the benefits of a system engineered
specifically for the vehicle plus the versatility to transfer most
components to another vehicle when the time comes. This fit
versatility also gives you the ability to sell used equipment to a
broader group of buyers. So, your buying a roof rack which must mean you plan to put something
on it. Check with your dealer, you'll find that they'll likely offer
one or two bike carriers, a kayak carrier, a ski carrier, possibly a
cargo box and most items are usually special ordered. Yakima and
Thule each offer at least six bike carriers, seven kayak carriers,
five ski carriers, fifteen cargo boxes, plus lots of unique products
that people find very useful once they've had experience transporting
gear on the vehicle. All these products can be found throughout an
enormous dealer network. If a part gets worn or damaged, you'll find
Yakima and Thule dealers throughout the US and many countries
worldwide. A situations that seem to come up over and over again when working
with factory installed cross bars. We have lots of people asking to
install a wind fairing to help reduce noise, improve the air flow, or
just because they like the looks of a fairing but, unfortunately,
factory bars don't accept aftermarket fairings from Yakima or Thule
and apparently, fairings are not available though the dealers. Many
find the fixed width of the factory cross bars limits their load
options. Yakima and Thule's standard load bars are sold in multiple
lengths and can be cut down to custom lengths to accommodate all your
gear perfectly. As far as having the roof rack cost rolled in to the auto financing,
we've had new car buyers come into our store to get a quote for a rack
and later come back with a check from the dealer to pay for it. Just
ask the dealer's finance manager about this option, the more they
finance the more they make in interest, which is a big part of the
dealer's revenue. Now, we're trying to put another nail in the coffin
here but instead of trying to get factory cross bars negotiated in to
your new car deal, save that play to have the dealer throw in a nice
subwoofer so you have some thumping tunes on your next road trip. RackOutfitters.com, Get With It
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Thule's 2011 Product Catalog is Now Available!
Have a look at the new 2011 product catalog from Thule. Check out
some new products coming this early spring such as the new,
groundbreaking RaceWay Platform trunk rack. For paddleboarders Thule
has designed a paddleboard specific carrier called the SUP Taxi.
Surfers haven't been left out, the new Double-Decker is the ultimate
locking surfboard carrier, plus several new pads in different sizes
and even a tailgate pad for trucks. Enjoy.
ways to view the catalog; PDF or iPaper. http://basilicon.ipapercms.dk/Thule/ThuleNA/ThuleCatalog2011/ThuleCatalog2011...
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Mercedes-Benz Outfitted with Thule Roof Rack System
Here's a Mercedes-Benz sedan with a Thule Rapid Traverse roof rack, fairing and two Thule Echelon bike carriers. Did you know?....Thule manufactures 80% of their product line in the US.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Fifteen Thousand Mile Road Trip
Here are some beautiful photos taken by a recent customer who has us
outfit his Toyota Tundra's cap with a Yakima Control Tower roof rack
with a Yakima MegaWarrior. Thomas went on an epic 15,000 mile road
trip, here is his message to us highlighting his adventure: "Thought you might enjoy a few pics from my drive to Alaska and back.
I went to the grand canyon, turned north, and followed the Rockies all
the way to Fairbanks, Alaska and back to Austin, TX. The Roof Rack
held my gas cans the entire trip through VERY high winds in some spots
and many many long miles. Since you installed the rack in June, its
been 15,000 miles from the desert to the arctic in every type of
weather there is without an issue. You guys did a great job on the
install!
outfit his Toyota Tundra's cap with a Yakima Control Tower roof rack
with a Yakima MegaWarrior. Thomas went on an epic 15,000 mile road
trip, here is his message to us highlighting his adventure: "Thought you might enjoy a few pics from my drive to Alaska and back.
I went to the grand canyon, turned north, and followed the Rockies all
the way to Fairbanks, Alaska and back to Austin, TX. The Roof Rack
held my gas cans the entire trip through VERY high winds in some spots
and many many long miles. Since you installed the rack in June, its
been 15,000 miles from the desert to the arctic in every type of
weather there is without an issue. You guys did a great job on the
install!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Kia Soul Outfitted with Thule 480 Traverse Roof Rack
Here's a 2010 Kia Soul outfitted with a 480 Traverse Foot Pack, Thule LB50 Load Bars and the Thule Fit Kit 1524. Great fit, but, of course, it's a Thule! Did you know that each component of this rack is made in the US, except the fit kit, which is made in Thule's 50 year old engineering department in Sweden. What great team work.
Audi Q7 Outfitted with Thule Rapid Podium Roof Rack
Here's an Audi Q7 TDI with the top-of-the-line trim package including the Bang & Olufsen audio package BUT it wasn't complete without the Thule 460R Podium with the 4007 Fit Kit and RB47 Rapid Aero load bars. Next we installed two Thule 518 Echelon bike carriers. Did you know that Thule's US factory runs on 26% solar power?
Audi A3 Outfitted with Thule Rapid Traverse Roof Rack
Here's an 2011 Audi A3 with a Thule Traverse root rack which uses the 480R Foot Pack, the 1417 Fit Kit and the RB47 load bars. Did you know Thule employs over 650 US workers?
Volvo S40 Outfitted with Thule Roof Rack
Here's a Volvo S40 with a Thule Traverse roof rack which uses the Thule Kit1341 and 50 inch load bars. Did you know that 80% of Thule product are manufactured in the US?
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