General Cycling Discussion - Yakima or Thule roof rack?

Hi all,

I have a 1999 Volvo V70 wagon with a raised rail roof rack but no cross bars. I don't want to fork out a ton for the Volvo cross bars. As I'm not too familiar with Thule and Yakima, I need to know which would be a better bet for both function and value. Another other brands? Thanks!

Shimano or Campy?
Double or Triple?

They're both great brands, making quality gear. Deciding between them really comes down to personal preference. You may find that Thule makes a slightly better/more integrated mechanism for Volvos - they seem to have some neat systems for Swedish (and other Euro) cars.

Yakima round bars are generally better than the Thule square bars on cars with radically curved rooflines (the square bars don't sit flat in this instance, making it harder to cleanly attach accessories), but you won't have this concern at all with an Ovlov.

Yakima, awesome customer service. Much better than Thule after having to deal with both.

Saris.

Yakima Low-Rider towers fit the Volvo rails beautifully. (I have an XC70.)

I would recommend a hitch rack. I find they are much easier to deal with. after a long ride I hated lifting my bike to the top of a car.

But if you are set on a roof rack either one gets great review on http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/bike_rack/ This is a great site to compare products

Low-Rider Towers on my VW Jetta Wagon TDi and it looks awesome. Just buy enough locks at the beginnning so you have the same key for everything. I bought the eight lock set and now only have two left over after putting my two racks on and locking each one of the towers.

I would recommend a hitch rack. I find they are much easier to deal with. after a long ride I hated lifting my bike to the top of a car.

But if you are set on a roof rack either one gets great review on http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/bike_rack/ This is a great site to compare products
The problem with a hitch rack is that I don't have a hitch and it would cost me a fair amount just to get a decent hitch. Since the roof rails are there and basically going unused, I'd rather go that way. Besides, I don't need to transport my bikes enough for the "lifting" to be a big issue.

The problem with a hitch rack is that I don't have a hitch and it would cost me a fair amount just to get a decent hitch. Since the roof rails are there and basically going unused, I'd rather go that way. Besides, I don't need to transport my bikes enough for the "lifting" to be a big issue.


I was in the same situation as you. My car had the rails. When I looked into a hitch rack the cost was comparable. A hitch cost me just under $200 dollars. My sportworks Mod hitch rack with one bike tray cost just under $200.

So total cost for me was under $400.

By the time I got the crossbars, the locks and eveything I needed to mount it to the roof, the cost was $300+

So I decided to go with the hitch rack. Yes I spent more but not alot more and I got what suited my needs better.

Nice thing about roof racks is versatility. If you're a multisport kinda person then a rack system is a must.

Thule. i bet the "factory" bars for Volvo are Thule. don't you want to keep your car all-Swedish?

seriously, it is the Campy/Shimano arguement. both systems work and work well. i know Thule bike trays are compatible on Yakima bars, and Yakima trays (except for the Steelhead) are compatible with Thule. i've got Thule (have had the same feet and cross-bars for over a decade), and have been totally satisfied. but the folks i know with Yakima don't have any complaints either. they like Yakima because i't a US company, too.

and i've never had any customer service issues with Thule - but i don't know anybody who's had them with Yakima.