The Rack Attack Blog

With winter here, and ski hills opening up across the country, it’s time to make sure you can get your gear on your car, safely to hill. The concept of the roof-top ski rack hasn’t changed much in the last decade. Once the clamp style racks came on the scene, they have remained the gold-standard. In fact, the basic design of the roof top ski rack really hadn’t changed at all over the years. This year in 2017 we’re seeing a push towards universal mounting hardware, and e...more

If you’ve ever shopped for a bike rack one of the first things you’ll notice is their price. In some cases the rack to carry your bike can cost more than the bike itself: what gives? Ever since we started selling racks in the early 1990’s we’ve struggled with this very question. Our business is selling racks, and the less a quality rack costs, the more of them we can sell. If we could find a great bike rack to sell for $100, it would be the first thing you see when you h...more

If you like to ski or snowboard one of the biggest hassles is always going to be getting your gear to the mountain. To do this you need to find the best ski rack for your car. Fortunately, ski racks are mostly straight forward. There are really only a few options, so it’s not going to take you long to find yourself the perfect rack. To use any of the following you will need a roof rack, cross bars, on your vehicle. If you don’t have a roof rack you have two options: Get a roof ...more

The Mazda 3 is one of the most popular cars in the world, especially for people who like to use their cars to get out on an adventure. Since Mazda3 owners are often the type to head out cycling, kayaking, camping, skiing, or any other activity outside, we’re constantly asked for advice on the best way to carry your gear on one. Below you will find all the answers you need to get the best possible roof rack on to your Mazda. What is the Best Base Roof Rack for a Mazda3? There are a lot o...more

What’s better, a Thule or Yakima roof rack? This question is asked by just about every single customer who walks through our doors, and one we’re happy to answer for you. When considering what type of rack to buy, there are a number of variables you need to consider. That being said, in all but the most extreme cases both options will suit your needs. without issue. Of all the variables you need to consider, the fit on your vehicle is paramount. The Fit The vast majority of veh...more

For one reason or another, losing the key to your roof rack is a common problem for our customers. Luckily, getting a new key is a relatively easy process. Thule and Yakima both use ‘lock cores’ for all of their racks. These lock cores are made by a third party and bought in bulk by the rack companies, who then sell them to Rack Attack, who in turn hands them over to you. To ensure the security of your rack both Yakima and Thule have a large number of lock cores and corresponding ke...more

What is a Yakima Q-Tower System, how does it work, how do I install it, and what else is required?When you first dive into the world of roof racks, things can seem a little confusing. But by the end of this short article you will be a roof-rack expert, armed with everything you need to know to start carrying stuff on your roof. What does a Yakima Q-Tower Pack Include?The most simple answer is that it includes just the Q-Towers. The Basics of a Roof RackA base roof rack system (for cars with a re...more

Kayaking is a favorite escape for many, but before you can put your boat in the water you need to get it to the beach, to do that you need to figure out the best kayak rack that fits on your vehicle. As you will see in this article, kayak racks come in a few various designs, but choosing one isn’t all that difficult, if you know what questions to ask. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before you can put a kayak rack on your car you will need a basic roof rack to mount the kayak ...more

Thule 300R Rapid Rain Gutter Low Foot Pack Review Today we received the brand new Thule 300R Rapid Rain Gutter Low Foot Pack! This system is Thule’s newest line, aimed at utilizing the versatile rain gutters on many popular SUV-style vehicles. I installed this kit today on my 1998 Jeep Cherokee! For this application, I paired the 300R foot pack with ARB53B Aeroblades in Black. This gave a low-profile, subtle sleekness to my roofline, while still offering over 4 feet of loading space capa...more

Just a few days ago we reviewed the Thule Vertex fold-down style bike racks, and while the Thule Vertex Swing is similar, it has one important difference: it swings away to give you access to the rear of your vehicle with the bikes on. Thule’s brand new upgraded Vertex Swing is a great economical option for the consumer looking for an easy way to carry their bikes, with the added benefit of being able to access their rear hatch. I personally love the fact that the installation process i...more