the official post your roof rack setup

[kayaker10]

Yakima

[djomlas]

after a 3 day snowboarding trip (yakima).

[-PTK-]

Thule 480R, KIT 1417, RB47, 872XT
RockyMounts Euro PitchForks

[dreaminga3]

I've used the same size Thule cargo box, but the previous generation. I love having the box; I use it instead of ski or snowboard mounts. Just pop the box open, toss in up to three boards and the boots, and off you go in weatherproof comfort for your gear. If you don't want the bulky box, they make a narrower one that'll still fit two boards.

I'm using Yakima Q-towers with the clips for the A3, and I think the crossbars are 48". No problem with clearance on OpenSky. I'd like to have the fairing, but I don't use the rack enough to justify it. The old-school Q-towers and round bars are definitely noisier than the newer stuff.

I've got two Yakima Copperhead bike mounts, and of course the Thule cargo carrier. I can get both the Thule and one bike mount on the 48" crossbars, but you can't open the box unless you take off the bike rack. I had to drill some additional mounting holes in the Thule in order to move it forward enough to clear my factory hatch spoiler. Also, the Thule mounts are designed for square bars or factory crossbars, but you can use it on the round Yakima bars if you make sure to use the half-width mount holes and shove the box all the way back before you tighten it down.


As for the more aerodynamic cargo box, I don't have any experience, but like one of the other posters, the non-aero box knocks my highway gas mileage down from 29 mpg to around 24 mpg at 65 mph.

[jericks2]

Here's my setup.

Thule Podium Foot Pack, Inno crossbars, and Inno Rail Slider ski/snowboard carrier. Need to get a fairing for it but when the boards are on it's actually pretty quiet.

[Appa]

Here's my setup.

Thule Podium Foot Pack, Inno crossbars, and Inno Rail Slider ski/snowboard carrier. Need to get a fairing for it but when the boards are on it's actually pretty quiet.

Can you tell me the part number for the feet?
Is it #460 with #4014, or something else?

You have the setup I want. I already have the cross bars and stuff on my Avant. I just need the feet for the A3.

Is it easy (quick) to take off / put on the feet?

Thanks.

[jericks2]

Yep, 460 Podium Foot Pack and 4014 Fit Kit. The fit kit doesn't use the holes in the roof rails but it's pretty nice because it gives you more flexibility as to where you mount the rack. I can easily install/uninstall the whole thing in less than 10 min by myself. Each "foot" has two allen screws that tighten/loosen the jaws of the fit kit.

[Appa]

Sweet.
Thanks for the confirmation.

[asal]

Just wondering if Yakima/Thule have towers/crossbars that hook up to the factory aluminum side rails? Looking for that flush OEM look, but being able to use the fairings w/out issue (since someone mentioned that the OEM bars are too fat.

side rails:

[Maitre Absolut]

Looking for that flush OEM look, but being able to use the fairings w/out issue (since someone mentioned that the OEM bars are too fat.

on the 1st page there are 2 A3's with OEM bars and thule fairing but they haven't posted how they installed them

[asal]

Just wondering if Yakima/Thule have towers/crossbars that hook up to the factory aluminum side rails? Looking for that flush OEM look, but being able to use the fairings w/out issue (since someone mentioned that the OEM bars are too fat.

Replying to my own question, it looks like the Whispbars have a fit kit (at least for the Q5) that attach to the factory roof rails.

See pdf at rackattack: http://www.rackattack.com/product-pa...structions.pdf

anyone got pics of this setup on an A3?

[asal]

on the 1st page there are 2 A3's with OEM bars and thule fairing but they haven't posted how they installed them

the quick grips dont quite make it around the OEM bars, but hold it tight on the sides

ya i saw that but no details. I also have a Yakima 16s skybox so I'm wondering about the clamps gripping that, but I guess the spacing issue wouldn't change no matter if I went OEM or aftermarket, or if the thickness of the bars matters at all at that point.

[jericks2]

Just wondering if Yakima/Thule have towers/crossbars that hook up to the factory aluminum side rails? Looking for that flush OEM look, but being able to use the fairings w/out issue (since someone mentioned that the OEM bars are too fat.

Literally right above your post is a conversation between me and Appa about my setup on factory rails... part numbers are mentioned.

P.S. you can trim the bars to get a more flush look.

[asal]

Literally right above your post is a conversation between me and Appa about my setup on factory rails... part numbers are mentioned.

P.S. you can trim the bars to get a more flush look.

lol, thanks jericks, sometimes i can't see the forest for the trees

I was just looking at the inno ones, they're not quite as svelte looking as the whispbar, but much more attractive in price. i was reading the thread about 2012 crossbars/whispbars and now i might be scared off because of the sunroof incompatibility (i also have open sky)

If price was equal and i could use my sunroof I'd be ok paying extra for the whispbar; but if the inno doesn't have that issue, i'd go function over form on this one.

[jericks2]

Inno does not make any "feet" that will work on the factory side rails which is why I went with Thule (and I think the Thule foot packs look better too). However, Inno and Thule use the same size standard square crossbar... so I bought the crossbars and ski/snowboard attachment through Inno to save a few bucks.

All done the base rack (feet and crossbars) cost about $250 as compared to $400-500 for whispbar Although, the whispbar does look sexier.

[dreaminga3]

By the way, I assume everybody here knows that it's a good idea to put a clear film (like clear bra) on the paint areas where the feet and clamps go, right?

[Maitre Absolut]

By the way, I assume everybody here knows that it's a good idea to put a clear film (like clear bra) on the paint areas where the feet and clamps go, right?

i bought this kit and installed it a few weeks ago.

http://www.lamin-x.com/Roof-Rack-Pai...ion-p/rr-8.htm

Simple plug and play took me 20 minutes. highly recommend

[asal]

Inno does not make any "feet" that will work on the factory side rails which is why I went with Thule (and I think the Thule foot packs look better too). However, Inno and Thule use the same size standard square crossbar... so I bought the crossbars and ski/snowboard attachment through Inno to save a few bucks.

All done the base rack (feet and crossbars) cost about $250 as compared to $400-500 for whispbar Although, the whispbar does look sexier.

did you go w/the square bars over the aeroblade due to price only? The only thing i want to mount for now is a yakima skybox (and i do have a yakima fairing as well). I kinda like the look of the aeroblade.

[jericks2]

Partially, I also chose the square bars because I knew that there would be no issues mixing and matching attachments (old and new) from different manufacturers. I like flexibility

[dieselpete]

I opted to do this instead

http://www.flickr.com/photos/56946846@N03/6054401554/

Have Bike rack and can pull my small trailer.

Bonuses: NO wind noise, easier loading, No large increase in fuel cost.
Cons: maybe esthetics

[asal]

After much deliberation and gnashing of teeth, here's the setup I went with. From advice on this and other threads I went with the Thule 460 with 4014 fit kit, Inno 50" square bars, and bought some locks off of craigslist. No issues opening sunroof w/crossbars mounted (but no roof box)

here's the kit installed on my rails:


here's a yakima 16s skybox mounted during my ski/boarding trip to VT last weekend


i'm still debating on a fairing, because i think i'll be taking off the whole setup when i don't need to mount the cargo box for a trip. and the price of the fairings are a ripoff IMO.

[srbeards]

I updated my rack setup for the new race season so I can easily get 4 (event 5) bikes on the car.

I put on longer crossbars so I can put my Yakima SprocketRocket trays on the outside of the towers, then put two of the Yakima BOA setups on the inside. Added four wheel forks for the front wheels and it all works great. I can even open the sunroof with four bikes on top.

The BOAs are great. I actually didn't even install the rear part, I just tie a strap around the rear wheel to the crossbar. It keeps things looking a bit cleaner when the bikes are off.

Now I just need to figure out who to make my car stop feeling like a slug when it has four people, their gear and four bikes in it.

[krazyboi]

Thule fairing size... 38 or 44?

[neu318]

Thule fairing size... 38 or 44?

I have the 44" on mine

[krazyboi]

^^ cool. someone was selling/sold a 38" I think. I did pick up 2 carriers for $80/used though.

[neu318]

^^ cool. someone was selling/sold a 38" I think. I did pick up 2 carriers for $80/used though.

Good deal dude

[mattA3]

44. I might have a slightly used one for sale. Works on the Thule Rapid Aero bar.

[krazyboi]

44. I might have a slightly used one for sale. Works on the Thule Rapid Aero bar.

I have the OEM rack. May be interested. I'm assuming it's the newer version?

[asal]

^^ cool. someone was selling/sold a 38" I think. I did pick up 2 carriers for $80/used though.

Nice deal. I have a Yakima 38" fairing that I can't use since it's way too small for my MDX and it won't fit on my thule A3 setup. The 38in is what the websites say to use but I like the look of the 44

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

[empivw]

Here is my new Thule setup with the new Aerobars on my 2011

sunroof is fully functional.



I also had the local 3M clear bra installers put some 3m material under the feet for added protection for the paint.

[slowandlow]

Here is my new Thule setup with the new Aerobars on my 2011

sunroof is fully functional.



I also had the local 3M clear bra installers put some 3m material under the feet for added protection for the paint.

Can I have your shopping list? I'm just into an A3 and already looking @ racks. This seems to be the best solution and not losing open sky functionality.

[kgw]

I just found this '99 PreRunner in great condition

[empivw]

Can I have your shopping list? I'm just into an A3 and already looking @ racks. This seems to be the best solution and not losing open sky functionality.

Of course

Thule 480R rapid traverse foot pack
Thule aero blades
Thule kit 1417

Check this link out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0OD...e_gdata_player


This kit is for cars with bare roof

Here it is in use

Looking up thru sky roof

[aspw]

Empivw: how much clearance do you have between the towers and the opensky when it is opening? My barely scrape by the towers, with maybe less than 1mm clearance. It makes me have a heart attack when I tested it.


Slownlow: I have the same roof rack set up (minus the bike racks) as empivw if you want to see it.

Just a heads up: If you prefer the Thule Aeroblade load bars in black (instead of the matte silver), the only place that sells them is rackoutfitters.com.

[VWAddict]

^^ cool. someone was selling/sold a 38" I think. I did pick up 2 carriers for $80/used though.

... So it came through then? - Awesome!

I'm in the UK at the moment, got some spare keys for the barracudas cut. The key blank is available at UK locksmiths, so I got some spares while I was thinking of it.

If anyone needs spares, it might be cheap to buy a group order of blanks, then any US locksmith should be able to cut them to match the originals.