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roofrackfail7_16_2023 [2023/07/26 14:23] preavley |
roofrackfail7_16_2023 [2025/08/26 17:58] (current) pstureavley |
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| ====== More Roof Rack Problems ====== | ====== More Roof Rack Problems ====== | ||
| - | **Paul Reavley** July 16, 2023 #34171 | + | **Paul Reavley** July 16, 2023 #34171 |
| We had another serious issue with the roof rack on our Prius on our way back from the Gorge. | We had another serious issue with the roof rack on our Prius on our way back from the Gorge. | ||
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| <WRAP indent> | <WRAP indent> | ||
| - | Wilson has had no problems so far with his new setup, but on our drive back from the Gorge Champs last Sunday we started to lose our rack again. As we approached Marysville I thought I noticed the bows of our boats start to bob up and down more than previously. I pulled over on the shoulder and got out to look at the rack. All of the roof mounts seemed to be in place and secure. I tugged hard on the rack in various places and could discover no play (mistake here on my part). We resumed driving on I5 – now Denise agreed that the boat noses are bouncing more and we were driving slower. Before we decide to pull over again, (only a couple of minutes after our first stop) the left front roof mount drops completely off of our Prius. Quick pullover. As far as I can tell the lost mount caused no wrecks, but the traffic is way too heavy to retrieve it safely. With the 2 Goodboy racks the overall setup was still quite rigid. I jam an OC seat under the side where the mount is now missing, add a bunch of straps to hold everything in place and we drive 1 – 2 miles on the shoulder to the next exit in Marysville. Fortunately Wilson is about 20 minutes behind us driving Kevin’s trailer which has space for more boats. So we take our boats off of our rack, put them on some grass, then completely remove and disassemble what remains of our rack. (To get the Gboys off of our cross bars I borrowed a crescent wrench from someone else parked in the AutoZone parking lot where we have stopped). | + | Wilson has had no problems so far with his new setup, but on our drive back from the Gorge Champs last Sunday we started to lose our rack again. As we approached Marysville I thought I noticed the bows of our boats start to bob up and down more than previously. I pulled over on the shoulder and got out to look at the rack. All of the roof mounts seemed to be in place and secure. I tugged hard on the rack in various places and could discover no play (mistake here on my part). We resumed driving on I5 – now Denise agreed that the boat noses are bouncing more and we were driving slower. Before we decide to pull over again, (only a couple of minutes after our first stop) the left front roof mount drops completely off of our Prius. Quick pullover. As far as I can tell the lost mount caused no wrecks, but the traffic is way too heavy to retrieve it safely. With the 2 Goodboy racks the overall setup was still quite rigid (and we had a strap over everything and through the back doors as insurance). I jam an OC seat under the side where the mount is now missing, add a bunch of straps to hold everything in place and we drive 1 – 2 miles on the shoulder to the next exit in Marysville. Fortunately Wilson is about 20 minutes behind us driving Kevin’s trailer which has space for more boats. So we take our boats off of our rack, put them on some grass, then completely remove and disassemble what remains of our rack. (To get the Gboys off of our cross bars I borrowed a crescent wrench from someone else parked in the AutoZone parking lot where we have stopped). |
| {{:equipment:roof_rack:paul1.jpg?direct&500x375|paul1.jpg}} | {{:equipment:roof_rack:paul1.jpg?direct&500x375|paul1.jpg}} | ||
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| </WRAP> | </WRAP> | ||
| - | **Dan Mayhew** Jul 23 #34172 | + | **Dan Mayhew** Jul 23 #34172 |
| - | I know many stories of boats flying off cars at low speeds. Can't imagine the danger at high speed. So glad no people were injured, and that your boats made it back safely. \\ | + | I know many stories of boats flying off cars at low speeds. Can't imagine the danger at high speed. So glad no people were injured, and that your boats made it back safely.\\ |
| \\ | \\ | ||
| - | **Paul Reavley **Jul 23 #34173 \\ | + | **Paul Reavley **Jul 23 #34173\\ |
| Yes we were very fortunate. | Yes we were very fortunate. | ||
| - | **Duncan Howat **Jul 23 #34174 | + | **Duncan Howat **Jul 23 #34174 |
| - | Not to disparage the pious (//Ed read "Prius"//), but seeing how the boats are probably worth more than the car, or soon will be, I'd just bolt right through the roof, and go older school on the Yakima. Bomb proof. The liability of losing boats on I-5 would probably burn through your excess layer of your insurance. It would mine. | + | Not to disparage the pious (//Ed read "Prius"//), but seeing how the boats are probably worth more than the car, or soon will be, I'd just bolt right through the roof, and go older school on the Yakima. Bomb proof. The liability of losing boats on I-5 would probably burn through your excess layer of your insurance. It would mine. |
| - | **Paul Reavley **Jul 23 #34175 \\ | + | **Paul Reavley **Jul 23 #34175\\ |
| Yes - bolts through the roof with reinforcement is definitely being considered. Replacing the 2005 Prius is also being piously discussed.\\ | Yes - bolts through the roof with reinforcement is definitely being considered. Replacing the 2005 Prius is also being piously discussed.\\ | ||
| \\ | \\ | ||
| - | **Dan Mayhew** Jul 23 #34176 \\ | + | **Dan Mayhew** Jul 23 #34176\\ |
| If you want to be one of the cool kids, get an Element. | If you want to be one of the cool kids, get an Element. | ||
| - | **samtaylorpdx@gmail.com **Jul 23 #34177 | + | **samtaylorpdx@gmail.com **Jul 23 #34177 |
| Paul; | Paul; | ||
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| Sam | Sam | ||
| - | **gsouthstone **Jul 24 #34181 | + | **gsouthstone **Jul 24 #34181 |
| - | I second what Duncan recommended. My racks are bolted to the roof of my "boat rack on wheels" green Honda wagon. Tim N. can tell you about how quiet his car got after his rack with 4 boats went airborne. I myself, when not using a full truck lumber rack or equivalent, never travel at freeway speeds without tying down both the bow and stern of each boat that probably did cost more than anything I drive. Very "old school". | + | I second what Duncan recommended. My racks are bolted to the roof of my "boat rack on wheels" green Honda wagon. Tim N. can tell you about how quiet his car got after his rack with 4 boats went airborne. I myself, when not using a full truck lumber rack or equivalent, never travel at freeway speeds without tying down both the bow and stern of each boat that probably did cost more than anything I drive. Very "old school". |
| - | G\\ | + | G |
| + | |||
| + | (//Update from Paul Reavley 2025: We are still driving the Prius. We switched from our Yakima rack to a Thule rack which seems to have a better design for fitting into the Prius door opening completely and sitting securely on top in the grooves that run along each side of the car roof above the door openings. Also the Thule tightening system employs only one easily accessible tightening screw for each mount - which we check regularly but have not noticed any significant play developing in them. We are still fans of Yakima racks, but in the specific instance of racks for cars that have no side rails or at least in the case of the Prius - Thule seems to have a better design.//) \\ | ||
| </WRAP> | </WRAP> | ||
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