How To: Custom Installed Yakima Rack

[jsavage]

See my latest custom rack installation at:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...4#post28246914

1) You'll Need to Purchase:
- Q Towers
- Q Clips (clip number: Q7)
- Crossbars
- Fairing (44") Optional

2) Wash and wax your roof!

3) Follow the initial directions of this link in order to remove the roof striping:
Clicky Here

4) Once the striping is removed you'll see the following riveted connection points


5) Now you must cut and bend the Q7 clips to fit into these connection point. I used a dremel to cut and two heavy duty plyers for the bending. Cut first, then bend. Also...DO NOT BEND BACK if you think you have bent them too much. Bend only in one direction and if you bent it too far, go spend the 20 bucks for a new set of Q clips and try again. The bend should be around 100 degrees. See the following for a good idea of the cutting and bending needed.



6) Do a temp install of the rack and mark on the crossbars about 3cm past where they stick out of the q tower. Cut the crossbars with a hack saw or pipe cutters (easier). This is purely aesthetic...if you want the bars to hang off the ends, then keep 'em long.



7) When you are adjusting the preload on the Q tower cams realize that the rack will pull to the side that is tighter...so use the flathead screws as a way to center the rack on top of the car. Once the rack is installed you must reinstall the roof striping. The trick here is to open both Q Tower cams and feed the striping through the gaps in the Q towers....hard to explain, but easier to understand once you have it in your hands. Take your time reinstalling the striping because it does take a bit more effort with the Q towers now in the way, but you should be able to get a good install.


Final Product:


Impressions:
I love my car with a rack...simply because it is that much more versatile. Not more jamming surfboards and bikes in places they shouldn't be. This rack install versus the configuration reccomended by yakima, thule, and RINNO I believe looks cleaner (no clips hanging down to the window trim) and is probably a bit more secure (due to the fact you are cliping to a structural component rather than an aesthetic component). You also don't have to worry about damaging the window trim. One big minus is that the rack does sit a couple inches higher than if you installed it the way yakima, etc. reccomends. To me, it is worth the added height for the added protection.

Lemme know if there are any questions....

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[JPX]

That's a great write up. I used to have a Yakima Q tower set up on my Legacy. It always drove me crazy how close those clips were to the window glass edges.

[WRXSIG]

as an owner of a Yakima rack...i would MUCH rather have mine done YOUR WAY! Everytime I close my door i felt like the window was going to break...there was just about 0 clearence for the window and the clips to clear eachother.....Ill definetly print this out and do it.

[jsavage]

Originally Posted by WRXSIG

as an owner of a Yakima rack...i would MUCH rather have mine done YOUR WAY! Everytime I close my door i felt like the window was going to break...there was just about 0 clearence for the window and the clips to clear eachother.....Ill definetly print this out and do it.

all you need is new clips...

[Striker13]

Wow! This way of installing the rack is wayyyyyyyy better. I'm going to do this on Wednesday for sure!!!!! You can even get the JDM rainvisors around the windows now I'm so excited!!!! Thank you!

[spongejosh]

2 questions:

is there any flexing or bending of the roof now that the load towers are on the inside of the gutters (on the weak fart of the roof)?

can it be uninstalled and installed again without removing the stripping?

looks really nice.
josh

[jsavage]

Originally Posted by spongejosh

2 questions:

is there any flexing or bending of the roof now that the load towers are on the inside of the gutters (on the weak fart of the roof)?

can it be uninstalled and installed again without removing the stripping?

looks really nice.
josh

No flexing or bending. Towards the center of the roof is very flexy...but near the edges it is stiff. The towers should be mounted right on the outter edge of the roof.

I highly doubt you could install and reinstall it without removing the stripping...and you'd also amost definetly damage the stripping by trying.
This method is definetly more directed to those who don't take their racks on and off every week or so. Although the stripping is easy to install/uninstall once you get the hang of it.

[spongejosh]

cool thanks.

[SUBYDOODIE]

ok we need some more shots.. maybe side shots? and how much would you charge to cut and bend some Q clips for me? thanks haha

[ashumo]

nice idea. thule does this style for the evo. looks clean.

where you been catching waves at? what kinda boards you have?

[KamiKaziBoarder]

Out of Curiousity. Have any idea what Clips would work with the Thule rack?

[MorallyBass]

Great thread!

[jsavage]

Originally Posted by SUBYDOODIE

ok we need some more shots.. maybe side shots? and how much would you charge to cut and bend some Q clips for me? thanks haha

yeah...just not the best shots. Believe me, you can do the cutting and bending yourself. It is very easy and takes about 5 minutes a corner.

[PARANOID56]

yea, i would be worried about bending the room with a large weight on there. i know i the outer part is stronger, but like you, i also hate the way it latches.

[jsavage]

Originally Posted by ashumo

nice idea. thule does this style for the evo. looks clean.

where you been catching waves at? what kinda boards you have?

I usually surf at Seaside Oregon's point, Neah bay, and the straights in WA. This weekend I was a little adventurous and made it over to British Columbia. I lucked out...head high and one of the longest waves I have ever ridden (I would say 8-12 manuevers). Here is a crappy vid of a not so great surfer on a smaller than average set wave....it also only represents about 30% of the entire wave (I was shooting from in my car cause my arse was frozen after being in the water from 6:15 am - pitch black and cold!). In the PAC NW you have gotta really know a spot to be able to judge when it will get good..even the beach breaks are fickle due to our large tide swings. So to be able to go to a new spot and hit it good is rare, needless to say I was stoked. The driving along the coast is incredible too....minus the insanely slow speed limits, but at 6am I wasn't too worried. Not to highjack my own thread, but I have a hard time avoiding a surfing related question.

Video

[jsavage]

Originally Posted by KamiKaziBoarder

Out of Curiousity. Have any idea what Clips would work with the Thule rack?

Something similar to the yakima Q7...?
Sorry, I have always been a yakima guy...best bet is to go to a dealer that has both yakima and thule, and find one similar. There is really no need for exact dimensions here...the one important thing is to get a shorter clip so you don't max out the adjustment on the tower.

[volkl23]

Looks great! Thanks for writing this great DIY!

[DumbUglyDragon]

Sticky please!

[jsavage]

bump = sticky

[SUBYDOODIE]

what ever happened to Q78? i thought those were needed?

[jsavage]

Originally Posted by SUBYDOODIE

what ever happened to Q78? i thought those were needed?

not sure if you fully understand. The Q78 clip is the clip that is reccomended by yakima....it's longer so the rack can hook into the window frame. Using the modified Q7 clips instead (which are very short) allow you to hook into the subaru factory riveted roof mounts (see pics). When buying the clips don't say you need yakima clips for you WRX, simply say you need the Q7's. Still loving the rack....surf was excellent today, stoked and going again tomorrow.

[hikeeba]

Fantastic Mod! Very clean look! Excellent write-up! Hmmm... Now I'm thinking of doing the same thing with my wagon... Maybe...

Nifty little spoiler thingie you got there, too. Nice looking car!

[Philgire]

That mod looks great. I have had yakima racks for previous cars, but didn't like the way the standard clips fit by the windows. I found this rack system from a dealership in England. It is very nice and comes with the locks and keys. The bars are the same as Thule bars so any accessories, Yakima or Thule can fit. http://www.cheammotors.co.uk/products.php?productId=135

[jsavage]

Originally Posted by hikeeba

Fantastic Mod! Very clean look! Excellent write-up! Hmmm... Now I'm thinking of doing the same thing with my wagon... Maybe...

Nifty little spoiler thingie you got there, too. Nice looking car!

If I had a wagon I would just use the factory racks. They look great and now with everyone accomidating stock racks for accessories like bike/surf/ski racks, there is no reason to go yakima, etc. IMO

[jsavage]

Originally Posted by Philgire

That mod looks great. I have had yakima racks for previous cars, but didn't like the way the standard clips fit by the windows. I found this rack system from a dealership in England. It is very nice and comes with the locks and keys. The bars are the same as Thule bars so any accessories, Yakima or Thule can fit. http://www.cheammotors.co.uk/products.php?productId=135

Yeah...I looked into this option, but the rack sits sooooo high on the car. And no farring would fit it sitting so high. Two pretty big draw-backs for me. Oh and the fact that it has to be ordered from the other side of the pond.