Thule 422XT Xsporter Pick-Up Truck Rack

The pick-up truck is fantastic for lugging around almost any type of gear you need to transport. But how do you safely carry a kayak or a canoe on a truck without having it point straight up? While there are racks that will fit over the truck’s cab on many models, a better way to carry big loads is using a bed rack — like the Thule 422XT Xsporter.

The 422XT Xsporter is a heavy-duty aluminum, multi-purpose bed-mounted rack that can handle anything from watercraft to drywall. It is similar to Thule’s 375 or 376 pick-up truck racks, except for one key detail: its crossbar has an adjustable height.

A Toyota Tundra Crew Cab with the 422XT in the "down" position

Having a crossbar with an adjustable height means you don’t have to worry about low parking garages when the rack is not in use even if you have accessories on it. It has four different height positions that lock into place using a key. And while it is a great rack for carrying your aluminum fishing boat, it is also designed to be a professional grade ladder and building materials rack with a carrying capacity of up to 450 lbs. on most of the trucks it fits.

Most Thule accessories will fit on the Xsporter rack, either directly on to it or via their “XAdapt” kits (ranging from $15-25). The Dodge Dakota shown below has a Thule Glide and Set kayak rack attachment with the XAdapt3 adaptor kit. The Glide and Set has a soft, felt-coated saddle on the back bar for ease of loading the boat, and a “grippy” rubber saddle at the front to grip the boat.

The Dodge Dakota with the 422XT outfitted with the Thule 883 Glide and Set

 This customer needed to carry a kayak, a canoe, and a ladder (obviously not all at the same time!) on his pick-up. Notice the ”Load Stops” on the driver’s side of the rack — these can be used for canoes, ladders, lumber, or whatever; one set of Load Stops comes included with the 422xt. Whatever your needs, this rack can handle it without stress. And for the not-so-long loads, simply load up in the “down” position, and keep your bed free to fill up with other stuff:

 

Toyota Tundra Crew Cab ready for work or play.

To see if the 422XT will work with your truck, or if you have any other questions, give us a call at 416-424-1201 or email toronto@rackattack.com

Rylan

How to Fit More in Your MINI

Who doesn’t love the Mini Cooper? It is sharp, sleek, and, in a pinch, as mean as it wants to be. Yes, it is “compact”, but there’s always a way to grab some more space for your vacation out of the city — without resorting to renting a van. The best way to increase your cargo capacity is by adding a roof rack and box.

Boosting cargo capacity with style

To put a cargo box on the roof, you first need a set of crossbars strong enough to handle the weight of the box plus whatever you want to put in it. The above picture shows a Thule 400xtr system (at 110 lbs. weight capacity) with a Thule Atlantis 1600 roof box (weighing 42 lbs.)  — giving you about 70 lbs. worth of gear for you to stow.

Rack Attack sells a number of boxes that would fit the Mini, but you want to make sure that they are short enough to not come in contact with the antenna for a nice fit.  

 

A close fit!

We recommend the Thule Atlantis 1600xt box, which is 74″ long. Any longer, and it wouldn’t be such a perfect fit; you would have to either bend or remove your antenna. As an added bonus, this box will fit pretty much all of today’s downhill skis (180cm maximum), or even a couple of sets of golf clubs.

 

Style + utility

To complete the system pictured above, you would need:

• 400xtr foot pack
• RB47 Load Bars
• Fit Kit 2145
• 4-pack of locks
• Atlantis 1600xt black

If you have any questions about this or any other installation, please feel free to give us a call at 416-424-1201

Rylan

2009 Toyota Matrix custom installation

 

 

A while ago, a customer came in with the 2009 model of the Toyota Matrix. If you have a newer Matrix, you probably know that the pre-existing mounting points for a factory roof rack would place the crossbars towards the back of the vehicle – an often very inconvenient place for a roof rack.

While there are roof rack options that will clip around the vehicle’s door frames from both Yakima (the Q-Tower system) and Thule (the 400xt/400xtr system) and these are fine, a third option would be the custom application.

 

Yakima Control Tower system on 2009 Toyota Matrix

This solution gives you an easy-on/easy-off crossbar set that can be installed where ever you would like it attached (for the most part). Its main advantage is that once it is affixed to the roof in the drilled-on positions, it pops off and on in seconds – with no re-measuring necessary. And with a bar spread tailored to your needs, be they kayaks, bikes, skis, or whatever, you get what becomes a personalized roof rack.

 

 

The Control Towers can even be installed around many vehicles’ sunroof

The system pictured on the above Matrix is the Yakima Control Tower system, which includes:

• Yakima Control Towers
• Yakima Landing Pad 7 (qty. 2)
• Yakima 48″ Cross Bars
• Yakima 4-Pack Locks

 

The finished product

 

If you have any questions or hesitations about this type of installation, or would like to inquire about us installing this for you (our installation rate on this type of rack is $90), please feel free to give us a call at 416-424-1201.

Rylan

1979 Corvette: Trailer Hitch and Bike Rack

 

It’s not too often that someone comes into our store with a Corvette. But 1979 Corvette owners need to carry their bikes too, eh?

 

This 1979 Chevrolet Corvette needs to haul bikes.

The only way to carry bikes on such a classic vehicle is to install a trailer hitch (if there is one available) and then install a platform-style hitch-mounted bike rack. The hitch was a fairly straightforward installation, and no modifications needed to be made to the car:

 

The hitch is barely noticeable under the license plate well.

This hitch is a Class 1—meaning it is weighted to 2000 lbs. Gross Towing Weight. In regards to bike racks, this translates into a carrying capacity of 2 bikes maximum. We recommended a platform style of hitch rack for this vehicle, and the customer decided on the SportRack 2EZ rack. The platform rack holds the bikes at a set height, rather than suspending them as do the dual-arm design (or other) style of bike racks. This is an advantage on any car smaller than an SUV, as the bikes’ clearance from the ground is increased. In addition, the platform style of racks will fit almost any frame of bike, a feature that traditional bike racks are lacking.  

 

The SportRack 2EZ ready for bikes.

So if you’re driving a Corvette (or any other vehicle) and need to carry some bikes, give us a call and we’ll see what we can do for you. We love a challenge!

Rylan

Team Rack Attack raises over $20,000 for cancer research

Team Rack Attack - Ride to Conquer Cancer-2009

On the weekend of June 13 and 14^th, Team Rack Attack participated in the The Ride to Conquer Cancer.  The Ride is a unique 2 day cycling event where participants each ride over 200 kilometres from Toronto to Niagara Falls.  This year over 3500 riders cycled the route and raised $14.5 million for cancer research at Princess Margaret Hospital, one of the top 5 cancer research hospitals in the world.

 

Together, the 7 members of Team Rack Attack raised over $20,000.00 for cancer research. The Ride was an amazing experience.  The weather was fantastic, especially on Sunday, and everyone had a great time.  All members of Team Rack Attack rode through the finish together to the cheers and applause of family, friends and the enthusiastic Ride Crew.

 

“We conquered the hills, we conquered over 200 km and more importantly, Team Rack Attack raised over $20,000.00 to help conquer cancer”, said Team Rack Attack member Craig Sandy.

 

“Our team was so enthusiastic we signed up for next year’s ride Saturday evening before we even completed this ride.  Next year we are aiming for a 200 mile journey instead of this year’s 200 km,” said Craig.

 

Funds raised by the Ride will deliver breakthrough research, exemplary teaching, and compassionate care at The Princess Margaret.

 

The funds raised by Team Rack Attack and the other riders will go towards high content clinical trials such as the world class tumor bank, an advanced molecular profiling laboratory, and a drug development program. The Princess Margaret will also be able to put funds to work for other programs like cancer stem cell, cancer metabolism and microenvironment, immunotherapy, lung cancer, and prostate cancer programs.

 

The goal of the Ride to Conquer Cancer is to conquer cancer in our lifetime.  The success of this year’s Ride puts us that much closer to realizing this worthwhile goal. 

Team Rack Attack members Bill & Anna Wolfe and Craig Sandy at the half-way point

Team Rack Attack is looking forward to next year’s Ride.

2008 Buick Allure with THULE 400XTR and Hullavator

Recently, a customer came in with a 2008 Buick Allure and asked if we could fit the THULE Hullavator onto their car.  There were two systems that fit onto the Allure, the 400XT and the 400XTR by THULE.  Both systems clip around the door-frame of the car, but the XTR uses THULE Rapid Aero Bars rather than the black square bars used in the 400XT system.  The customer picked the 400XTR system for their vehicle because of the sleek look provided by the silver Rapid Aero Bars. 

THULE Rapid Aero Bars are a great upgrade from the regular black square bars.  Rapid Aero Bars are made from aluminum instead of steel, which provides protection from corrosion so your bars maintain their colour and finish.  Rapid Aero Bars are shaped differently than the THULE Black Square bars in order to decrease wind noise and improve fuel mileage. Certain THULE X-Adapt kits are required when mounting racks onto Rapid Aero Bars, however with the THULE Hullavator all parts necessary to assemble and mount the rack onto either Rapid Aero , Black Square bars , or Yakima Round Bars are included.

 

The Hullavator is THULE’s premium lift-assist kayak carrier.  The Hullavator features waist level loading/unloading at the side of the vehicle, versus overhead loading/unloading, for an easier, safer and less strenuous way to load and unload your kayak. Your kayak rests on padded cradles that adjust to fit both lake/river kayaks as well as longer and wider sea kayaks (36 inch maximum width).  The Hullavator is designed to lift up to 75lbs, or 90% of the kayak’s weight.  With eight points of contact for your kayak, the heavy-duty straps as well as the bow/stern tie downs, both included with the Hullavator, provide the most secure fit possible of all our kayak carrying solutions.

 

We thought that the Hullavator on THULE Rapid Aero Bars looked exceptional on the ’08 Allure, and that it deserved to be shared.

For a short tutorial and explination on the THULE Hullavator, click here.

2009 Lancer INNO Roof Rack with THULE Echelons and Fairing

The 2008-2009 Mitsubishi Lancer was a hard to fit vehicle, we eventually found a winning fit with an INNO advanced car rack. Its specialized K-clips work much like those found in the THULE fit kits and Yakima Q-Clips, and ensured a strong and secure fit for the car. With the base crossbar system on your vehicle you are given a huge amount versatility and variety in what you can transport. We have accessories that will allow you to carry bikes, cargo, canoes, kayaks, ladders, skis, snowboards and really anything else you can think of.

This customer was interested in carrying two bikes on their roof and we recommended the THULE Echelon fork-mounted bike carrier. The THULE Echelon is the premier fork-mounted bike carrier from THULE and is one of our best selling cycle solutions. Unlike most fork-mounts the Echelon is completely constructed with metal rather than plastic. This gives you the best possible hold on your bike offering the least amount of play and movement in your bike during transportation. Due to its all-metal head and locking capabilities it is also the safest way to protect your bike against theft. Finally, the twin cam-adjusting clamp is the easiest mechanism to tighten a bike rack to your bicycle and is easily done one handed. 

Fairings are a highly recommended product here at Rack Attack. They are made by both Yakima and THULE and are the most affective way to eliminate wind noise generated by a roof rack. They work by deflecting wind flow up and over the rack so that it doesn’t whistle through the bars. Anyone who is concerned with rack generated wind noise should invest in one of these devices as they do their job exceptionally well.

We were very pleased with this fit for the Lancer and thought that it deserved to be shared. Here at Rack Attack we do our very best to find fits for any vehicle you may have!

New Thule Roof Rack Fit for 2009 Mini Clubman

 

BMW’s Mini Line of cars is becoming an ever more popular vehicle on the streets of Toronto. Mini owners like so many others sometimes need extra carrying capacity especially on such a compact vehicle. Recently we had the chance to try out Thule’s new Fit Kit 2198 on a “Steam Whistle” Mini Clubman.

 

Here is Thule's 400xt roof rack on Steam Whistle's new Mini Clubman

This Thule 400xt system with 2198 Fit kit, four-pack of locks, and 50” bars will accommodate a range of accessories from Bike Trays to Cargo Boxes. This creating the perfect solution for carrying extra luggage, skis, bikes and even boats on your Mini. Thule also fits other Mini models such as the Cooper.

 

The finished 400xt system has a 24" bar-spread, allowing the transportation of water-craft, cargo boxes, bikes, and skis.

The Thule pads really straddle the roof curves and the clips just push in under the stripping and above the window glass. This is a removable easy to install solution for any Mini owner with racking needs.

 

Here is a close-up of how the Clubman-specific clips and pads contour to the vehicle's unique shape.

A special thanks to Steam Whistle Brewery for purchasing our first Clubman Install on their little Green Mini!

Rack Attack has all your hitch and car rack needs here in the Greater Toronto Area come see us anytime!

 Jordan 

 

Yakima High Roller Fits Children’s Bikes

The Roof is a great way to carry anything from boats to boxes to almost anything, and bikes are certainly no exception. Here at Rack Attack we offer a wide range of rooftop bike carrying options. None are more exceptional than the Yakima High Roller roof bike rack. It is the most versatile and easy to use bike mount in the business, safely carrying almost any bike that you throw at it!

When considering roof top bike racks there are two routes that you can take: fork-mount or upright. The High Roller falls into the latter category. With an upright carrier there is no need to remove the front wheel making it the quickest and most convenient way to get your bike on the roof and you on the bike. The High Roller uses a set of arms to securely hold your front tire, which allows for optimum hold without any contact with your precious bike frame. The design of the High Roller will allow it to carry bikes with tire sizes from 20 inches all the way up to 29 inches. That means that it will carry everything from your massive downhill bike to your daughter’s first bicycle. It features a single easy to reach knob that controls retention, adjustment, and release making it super easy to use and adjust. It also comes with an integrated cable lock (lock core sold separately) so that you can feel secure with your bike on the roof.

 

Children’s bikes are often the most difficult to fit onto any bike rack due to their unpredictable frames. The best and most reliable way of carrying children’s bikes is with a carrier that will hold the wheel rather than the frame. Here at Rack Attack we sell a number of bike racks that function this way including the Yakima High Roller and the Thule Side Arm roof top carriers as well as the Yakima HoldUp and the Thule T2 hitch racks.

Nissan Rogue with T2 Thule Hitch Platform Rack

Hitch mounted bicycle racks are a very popular way of transporting bikes safely, securely, and with ease. Mounting from a hitch means that your bikes are at arm level so you don’t need to do any heavy lifting. The T2 is Thule’s premier platform rack and lets you load and unload your bikes in seconds.

Having a hitched installed is very easy and can be done on most vehicles from your big SUV’s right down to your family car. The T2 comes in models to fit both the 2” and the lighter 1 ¼” sized hitches so it will work on almost any vehicle. Hitches are generally bolted into pre-existing holes and do not usually require alterations to the car. This makes hitch mounts both easy and practical.

 The T2 from Thule is the most bike friendly of all Thule bike racks. It can hold almost any bike that you can dream of. Mountain, Road, Hybrid, Women’s, Children’s, Downhill – As long as it has at least 20″ tyres, it will take them all. It owes this to the unique way that it holds your bikes. The SecureHook arm holds the bike by grabbing the top of the front wheel. This feature allows for maximum security and stability while ensuring that your bike frame is free of contact. This is great for difficult to fit bikes and composite bike riders who don’t want anything touching their frame.

 

We really like the T2 here at Rack Attack because it is so versatile and easy to use. It will fold up vertically when your not transporting bikes and it will even fold down when your carrying them so you can access your trunk. This gives you the flexibility to take your bikes out on long trips and not worry about having to unload them every time you need something from the back! If you have a class III hitch you are not just limited to carrying 2 bikes either with the T2 platform rack. There is an additional 2-bike add-on that can be purchased so that you can carry 4 bikes behind your vehicle.