How long is my warranty? Top
While we stands behind every product we sell, the specific warranties vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Check with a sales associate in our store, or you can email us for the warranty on specific products.

Why is it so expensive, racks used to be $100. Top
Since cars with rain gutters are going the way of the Dodo bird, rack manufacturers are no longer able to make 1 rack to fit all vehicles. Racks must be made to fit on vehicles with different shaped rooflines, doorframes and doors. Non-rain gutter racks have "towers" that work on almost all vehicles, but have vehicle specific "clips" that work on just 1 vehicle. With hundreds of different types of vehicles on the market, there are hundreds of different types of "clips". With the increased complexity of racks comes the increased price. However, the most expensive part of a roof rack is its accessories (bike, ski, cargo) therefore, even if you have to buy a completely new base rack, the accessories will always be usable on your next rack.

What if I don't have rain gutters? Top
Most modern cars are made without rain gutters. So, the majority of the roof rack options are for cars without rain gutters.

When I buy a new vehicle, do I have to buy a new rack? Top
Roof racks will work on about 98% of the vehicles on the market however, there are specific types of racks for specific types of vehicles. Here is a general guideline to help you determine what rack will work with your vehicle.

• Vehicles with rain gutters. There are fewer and fewer of these vehicles made these days. A rain gutter mounted rack will work on just about all vehicles with rain gutters. You may have to change the length of the load bars you are using depending on the width of your vehicle, but more than likely, you can take the rack off 1 vehicle and put it on another.
• Gutterless vehicles. This type of vehicle has what is called aero doors, that is, the doors curve to meet the roofline. These vehicles have an "internal" rain gutter (the rain gutter is inside the doorframe instead of on top of the roof). The rack for this type of vehicle consists of a couple parts; the "tower" (sits on the edge of the roofline) and the "clip" (attaches to the internal rain gutter and holds the rack on). The towers are generic and made to work on different types of vehicle, whereas the clips are made to fit on specific vehicles. This special fit is required because of the different roofline and doorframe shapes each vehicle has. The only vehicles that will share the same clips are cousin vehicles such as the Dodge Stratus and the Plymouth Breeze. However, just like in math there are always exceptions to rules. And the exception to this rule is that a few manufacturer's make vehicles that use a clip that is fairly straight instead of curved, so they share the same "bladed" clip.
• Vehicles with factory roof racks. Most SUV's and some wagons have roof racks available as an option from the manufacturer. However, the majority of these roof racks are designed strictly for looks and not for function. In order to make the roof rack a true multi-purpose rack, you will need to convert your rack into a multi-sport rack by using a Yakima or Thule conversion such as a RailRider or Tracker. If you plan on purchasing a vehicle with a similar factory rack, chances are the conversion will work on your new rack.

Are racks lockable? Top
All base racks and a majority of the rack accessories are lockable by using optional locks (locks are included with some racks). Keep in mind that locks are just a deterrent.

Will a roof rack make my doors leak? Top
When properly installed, the rack will not cause leaking on 99% of the vehicles on the market. However, there is about 1% of vehicles that may have minor leaking at the doors. On these vehicles, we recommend removing the rack when not in use. Check with a sales associate in a store, or you can email us for fit information on your specific vehicle.

Will Thule components work on Yakima (and vise versa)? Top
Both Thule and Yakima make adapters that will allow most of their product to work on the other brand. Check with a sales associate in a store, or you can Ask the Pros online for information about specific products.

Which is better, roof or hitch racks? Top
Each of these options has advantages. Roof mounted racks work on a majority of the vehicles on the market. However, on taller vehicles such as SUV's, it may be difficult to load and unload bulky or heavy items. Roof racks can be used as multi-use racks to carry canoes, kayaks, lumber, luggage or other types of loads (check the specific weight limit for your vehicle before carrying heavy loads on the roof). Receiver hitch racks will work on most vehicles on the market, even most sports cars. Some vehicles come with hitches already installed. You need to check to ensure that a receiver hitch can be installed on your vehicle before deciding on buying a rack. Check with a sales associate in a store, or you can email us for a fit on your vehicle. A receiver hitch rack allows you to carry your bikes, skis, or luggage out of the wind current, which makes your drive a little quieter. Also, it is easier to load and unload your gear. The load you can carry will vary depending on the receiver hitch you have.

Will a cargo box attach to my factory rack? Top
Cargo boxes will attach to most factory roof racks. However, since most factory roof racks are designed to be cosmetic and not for load carrying, we recommend that you add a load carrying rack such as Yakima or Thule to your factory roof rack to make it stronger and safer. Check with a sales associate in a store, or you can email us for a fit on your vehicles factory rack.

Do I need additional hardware to mount the box onto my factory roof rack? Top
No. Most cargo boxes come complete with quick release hardware to mount a cargo box to a factory roof rack.

Will a roof rack scratch my car? Top
When properly installed to a clean roof, a rack will not scratch or cause any type of damage to your vehicle.

What do I do if my rack is making a lot of noise? Top
There are several options to quiet your rack. They include the use of a fairing, Windjammer, crossbar pads or adjustment of the cross bar position. Check with a sales associate in a store, or you can email us for options on your specific vehicle.

How much weight will a Thule or Yakima rack carry? Top
The majority of racks will be able to carry 165lbs when mounted over the doors. However, there are some vehicles that have a lower weight capacity. Check with a sales associate in a store, or you can email us for the specific weight limits on your vehicle. If you have a factory roof rack on your vehicle, the weight limit will be based on the manufacturer's specifications. Check your owner's manual for specific limitations.

Will my Y-frame bike fit on a rack? Top
Y-frame bikes can be carried on roof racks as well as receiver hitch racks. Check with a sales associate in a store, or you can email us for the different options available for both roof and receiver hitch racks.

Do I need Tools to install my rack? Top
Most racks don't require tools. If tools are required, they may be included with most racks.

Do I need to drill holes to attach my rack? Top
Unless you are mounting a custom track system, there is no drilling required.

Will the rack or bikes wobble? Top
There will be some flexing of the bikes on a roof rack. This is a good thing. Imagine an airplane wing flexing up and down while flying. The wing is designed to do this so it can absorb shock. A bike rack is the same way. Bikes will flex from side to side to absorb shock while driving on rough roads. Racks, however, will not and should not flex on your roof. Receiver hitch racks should not have any wobbling. There are accessories available to make the receiver hitch rack and bikes not wobble. Check with a sales associate in a store, or you can email us for specific options.

Why can't I put 4 bikes on my class 1 hitch, it can hold 200lbs. Top
The further away from the vehicle the bikes get, the more downward torque is generated at the hitch. So, a rack with 4-bikes totaling about 135lbs puts approximately 427.5 lbs. of torque on the hitch, which is over the maximum tongue weight for that hitch.

Can't I put my bikes on my factory rack? Top
The maximum amount of weight you can carry on your factory rack will depend on your vehicle. All weights are based on manufacturer's specifications. Most factory roof racks are designed for looks, not for carrying bikes. However, some factory roof racks will allow you to carry up to 2-bikes on the factory roof rack. We recommend that you add a load carrying rack such as Yakima or Thule to your factory roof rack to make it safer, stronger and give it increased load capacity. Check with a sales associate in a store, or you can email us for a fit on your specific vehicle.

How fast can I get my order? Top
Orders place on-line or with mail order normally ship within 24-48 hours (orders are shipped Monday through Friday). UPS ground service is the standard shipping method, however, overnight and 2nd day shipping is also available at an additional cost. (Product on back order or out of stock will take longer)