Road trip, rack failure, 75 miles @40mph....

[INDY GS]

That is how my weekend expidition played out. Saturday morning I loaded the Yakima rack up with two kayaks, strapped them down, took a test drive and then came back and loaded the rest of my gear.

I was to head up to Michigan to do some camping, drinking and biking. Things were going great. I took off, hit the local coffee shop got my mornin' joe, then hit the road. I was about an hour into the drive, when i decided to make sure the boats were secure to the roof and that nothing had loosened up. Things were just fine. Straps tight, towers semed secure and the rear mount bike rack was just fine.

10 minutes later was where the shit hit the fan. I was wheeling along at, oh about 60mph in a 55 zone, and what appears as a convoy of semis is heading the opposite direction on the 2 lane road. I feel a strong gust of wind hear a wobble from the roof, and look through the sunroof. The kayaks have lifted up.

I quickly analyze the situation, I need to stop, but slowly so the boats don't careen off the roof. So I throw the hazzards on, check the mirrors, and start the slow down process. Just as I come to a halt I realize the boats are going to come off, I turn into the shoulder at a sharp angle so the boats can fall to the side.

They slip forward still attached to the front rack, crunch, scrape, SHIT. Traffic. Gotta get this mess out of the road. So I grab the rack with two boats on it and pull it all into the ditch. After about 1 hour of lashing and creativity. I had to finish the drive at 40 mph, but finally made it and had a great weekend. Only got one day of boating in, and a couple of good rides in.

I went to the shop today where I got the rack and we are now working with Yakima to see if they will cover the damage to the car, kayaks and rack. Hopefully they resolve the situation. My insurance already told me they will cover it if Yakima does'nt.

Anyway Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend.

[Below Zero]

Luckily the situation wasn't much worse. Glad everything is cool.

[INDY GS]

Yeah it could have been really shitty, This is the second close call I have had with various racks. Both situations resolved themselves quickly and in my favor. Fortunately I was able to control how they slid off and saved them from completly thrashing my ride.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Let me guess, it was the type of rack that attaches to the factory rack? If so, these are deadly with boats on the roof. I watched (6) 40+ lb. creek boats come flying off a buddies Outback ripping the entire factory rack off the roof. They stayed airborne for 3 or 4 seconds before landing in the median of some interstate in WV/Tenn. I they had gone through the windshield...certain death.

[INDY GS]

Actually no, they were the Q-towers. I drive the sedan, which does not have a factory rack.

[boobookitty]

I had a crappy rack experience this weekend too. Yakima King Cobra owners--buy some locktight. Every friggin' screw on the damn rack came loose every time we'd drive for more than 20min--especially if it was a dirt road. We almost lost PowHo's bike once cuz it actually bounced out of the rack. Ya, if it wasn't for the King Cobra's cable lock, it would have been sitting with him in the front seat. I'm pissed too cuz that incident put the first dent in the new Subie. ARG.

[bossass]

I've seen a thule hitch mount with four bikes fold down unintendedly at highway speed. A pin pops out and it folds down for rear gate access and somehow the pin popped out. Only the rearmost bike sustained damage and I think it was just a shredded tire.

Other than that, I've had my Thule raingutter towers on my truck for 2 plus years and 40k miles, offroad plenty--two Baja trips, and I've never even tightened them. I shake them once in a while, but no problems thus far, and they are pretty old. I don't carry anything too heavy I guess, but on occasion my box will have 6 pairs of skis and when I move it has more like 10. Other than that only the occasional bike tray (but I got a Hitching Post for free, so I use that mostly) and surfboards.

[Superstar Punani]

Huh-huh...you said "Rack"

[CS]

I had a crappy rack experience this weekend too. Yakima King Cobra owners--buy some locktight. Every friggin' screw on the damn rack came loose every time we'd drive for more than 20min--especially if it was a dirt road. We almost lost PowHo's bike once cuz it actually bounced out of the rack. Ya, if it wasn't for the King Cobra's cable lock, it would have been sitting with him in the front seat. I'm pissed too cuz that incident put the first dent in the new Subie. ARG.

I've had the King Cobra's for over a year on my Suby and have never, ever had the bolts come loose and I've carted the bikes from California to Utah a bunch of times. Kinda strange yours came loose. If you are having problems with the red locker up front coming loose, just make sure to pull down on the wheel as you tighten it and really tighten it up good. Should never come loose after that.

[INDY GS]

Several years ago 2 buddies and I were heading out to Coloroado to do some biking, skiing, Hiking and climbing. I borrowed a hitch mount bike rack from my uncle. At 3 in the morning one of my buddies was driving and we wake to hear... Shit, shit the bikes, we look out the back window as they skipped down I70 at 75mph. The sparks were spectacular.

We ended up stashing the bikes in a bush in the median, and making a trek back to a truck stop to try to get parts to fix the rack. The bolt that held it to the reciever sheered off. We ended up using 50ft of rope and a U lock to attach the bikes. When we arrived in Boulder, we dropped the bikes at a friends house, then went to red Rocks for a festival concert. Upon returning I saw that Performance Bike Shop was located there on Arapahoe, They were the makers of the rack.

We tool the bikes in and they inspected the whole setup, situation. Ends up that there was a recall on the very bolt that broke. And they failed to notify my Uncle, the owner of the rack. They replaced my bike, which was a POS, because the steer tube was bent, tires shredded and handlebar broken. My buddies frames were OK, but many parts had to be replaced.

Needless to say Performance stepped up to the plate and fixed all of the problems at absolutly no cost, gave me a nice Specialized Rockhopper and even let me pay a bit to upgrade.

I hope Yakima does right by this situation too. All I ask is to get my car fixed and any replacement parts for the rack.

And SuPu, do you really have to distort every thread with your sexist agenda?

[Grange]

When I was a kid we bought a ski rack for our blazer from the manufacturer. We loaded up the rack with our skis and headed to Winter Park for a week. About a hour or so into the trip the racks locks fail and we see my brothers new K2's a bouncing down the highway. My parents were pissed, but my brother was the most distraught. I myself laughed under my breath because I was sick of the crap he gave me for having brand new skis.

In the end I believe the manufacuturer reimbursed my parents for the skis and replaced the rack.

[altagirl]

I've had the King Cobra's for over a year on my Suby and have never, ever had the bolts come loose and I've carted the bikes from California to Utah a bunch of times. Kinda strange yours came loose. If you are having problems with the red locker up front coming loose, just make sure to pull down on the wheel as you tighten it and really tighten it up good. Should never come loose after that.

We put a lockwasher on the red knob for the rack that holds Mr.AG's DH bike - it was loosening a little on long shuttles up rutted gravel roads. But other than that, pulling down on the front wheel to get it tight has always worked. And even if they come a little loose, it's never been loose enough to let them move around. Did the strap holding the rear tire come loose too? Or was it the bolts holding the rack to the bars?

I did have my anklebiter rack come loose on me and the bike flopped over (being held to the roof by the straps around the wheels.) That sucked. REI told me it was my fault for not using lock cores - that if I just closed it and didn't lock it, they can come open. Which I think is bullshit - if that was how it was designed they should sell the damn things with lock cores... but anyway - I bought a lock core for when I need to use that rack. The King Cobras have been a lot more dependable and stable and are the best system we've used.

[Plakespear]

Let me guess, it was the type of rack that attaches to the factory rack? If so, these are deadly with boats on the roof. I watched (6) 40+ lb. creek boats come flying off a buddies Outback ripping the entire factory rack off the roof. They stayed airborne for 3 or 4 seconds before landing in the median of some interstate in WV/Tenn. I they had gone through the windshield...certain death.

Hmmm- 6 x 40+lbs = 240+ lbs. I sell quite a few Thule accesories at the shop I work in, and the factory racks usually have a weight limit (set by the manufacturers, not Thule) and I don't think I have ever seen one with a limit over 200 lbs. I'd say that 6 boaus on an Outback is overloading it.

[yogachik]

4 Memorial weekends ago exactly, my roofrack broke on the hinge side, sending the snowboard and skis onto the 395 at 70mph (between Mammoth and Bishop). I watched the board narrowly miss the car behind me, and bounce across the highway. They only covered the cost of the racks by replacing them.

[funkendrenchman]

I had a crappy rack experience this weekend too. Yakima King Cobra owners--buy some locktight. Every friggin' screw on the damn rack came loose every time we'd drive for more than 20min--especially if it was a dirt road. We almost lost PowHo's bike once cuz it actually bounced out of the rack. Ya, if it wasn't for the King Cobra's cable lock, it would have been sitting with him in the front seat. I'm pissed too cuz that incident put the first dent in the new Subie. ARG.

...and I just installed one no more than 5 minutes ago on my WRX.

I know it has been good for a lot of people, so I'll just have to keep an eye on it. AG, how do I put a lock washer on when there is that piece at the end that keeps the red knob from falling off?

[altagirl]

...and I just installed one no more than 5 minutes ago on my WRX.

I know it has been good for a lot of people, so I'll just have to keep an eye on it. AG, how do I put a lock washer on when there is that piece at the end that keeps the red knob from falling off?

Good question - Mr.AG did it.

I wouldn't worry about it unless you're having problems. We have 4 of them and we only ever had loosening problems with the one that carrys Mr.AG's heaviest bike - and even then only on LONG off-road shuttles. I'd just make sure you're pulling the front tire forward as you're tightening it up and then check on it when you stop to see how it's doing. Then if you have a problem try the lockwasher trick. Our other 3 racks have never needed it - but they're "only" carrying 41lb bikes or less...

[Aich]

The laws of physics say, if you put two kayaks on a 'sedan'. you must tie a rope to the nose of the boat and attach it to the bumper, then do the same for the rear. The boats have too much leverage with short set racks.

[Core Shot]

The laws of physics say, if you put two kayaks on a 'sedan'. you must tie a rope to the nose of the boat and attach it to the bumper, then do the same for the rear. The boats have too much leverage with short set racks.

ding ding ding!!
we have a winner!
Particularly true when you realize how those Q towers clamp on with only a thin metal plate. Its not like a through-bolted factory rack.

Don't hold your breath expecting to have your car repaired by Yakima.

Secure front and rear of long loads to ends of vehicle for safe transport.
Failure to do so can result in property damage, personal injury, or death.

[boobookitty]

I've had the King Cobra's for over a year on my Suby and have never, ever had the bolts come loose and I've carted the bikes from California to Utah a bunch of times. Kinda strange yours came loose. If you are having problems with the red locker up front coming loose, just make sure to pull down on the wheel as you tighten it and really tighten it up good. Should never come loose after that.

Nope, more like the wingnuts underneath the front wheel mount are what's coming loose. And that makes the whole tray slide back, even thought the rear mounting knobby's tight. Might do a double-nut (haha) deal or locktite the hell out of them to see if that helps.

[Ripzalot]

this one time, at band camp.....i was driving to the beach for some windsurfing and lost my whole rack (yakima). there was a strong N wind at about 40-50mph, and as i popped over the top of the first big bridge at 50pmh the wind hit the underside of my boards and i watched in the rear view mirror as two windsurfers, rack and all, fly over the car behind me and land in the middle of the road. fortunately, very minor damage as they were well padded by my sail bags. the force straightened out the clips that hold the racks to the roof.

but the situation is similar - large voluminous objects and sudden increased apparent wind - not a good combo.

[PulverSchwein]

Heh, my rack is the type that sits on the bumper and straps go to front of trunk lid and also hook under bumper. Strapping loosened up on it once on the freeway heading for Kelowna. The bottom that should be on the bumper slid off and pivoted forward under the bumper. It hits the ground and catches grip, starting a very powerful reverse pivot that sent my cars ass end a foot into the air while doing 80 mph. A freaky feeling that was, instant adrenaline rush going WTF??? Car and rack took some damage but the bike was totally fine. A couple days later I broke my collarbone DH'ing in Kelowna, leaving me wishing it had tumbled into the coquihalla river.

[INDY GS]

ding ding ding!!
we have a winner!
Particularly true when you realize how those Q towers clamp on with only a thin metal plate. Its not like a through-bolted factory rack.

Don't hold your breath expecting to have your car repaired by Yakima.

Who said I didn't have the front end tied down? I did not have the back end tethered, but the front ends were tied down. Yakima is sending me the necessary paperwork. It appears that one of the cams failed on th front left tower, allowing the bar to slip, thereby allowing the thing to fail.

Fortunately, for me, I was not using a Yakima Kayak Rack, but had them strapped right to the round bars. Since this is the case, I was not required to have a front or back tether to be under warranty. Guess I was lucky on this one.

The only problem is I will most likely have to live with the damage for 4-5 weeks untill the case is resolved at Yakima.