The Rack Attack Blog

One of the most common questions we get at Rack Attack is “what is the best bike rack for my car?” Luckily for you, finding this answer is relatively easy. Bike racks are easier to choose because they are more application specific than many other types of racks. Basically you only need to know a few pieces of basic information to find the perfect rack for your needs: Where do you want to carry them: on the back of the car, or on the roof? How many bikes do you need to carry? Wh...more

If you like to ski or snowboard, you may think one of the biggest hassles is getting your gear to the mountain. Luckily, we can help you find the best ski or snowboard rack for your car! Fortunately, ski racks are mostly straightforward once you have a roof rack in place. Of course we can help you get a roof rack for your vehicle, too! Once you have Thule, Yakima, factory or third party cross bars, you’re ready to add a ski rack. Either you get a flat clamp style rack (good for...more

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 and safely to the hill. The concept of the roof top ski rack hasn’t changed much in the last decade, but the racks have gotten progressively easier to use and more versatile. This year in 2018 we’re seeing an emphasis on universal mounting hardware and ease-of-access. Below is a dicussion of this year's best ski racks. For more on this topic, make sure y...more

Looking for a way to get your skis and boards up the mountain but don't have a roof rack? Do you have a trailer hitch and a Thule/Yakima hitch mounted bike rack? If you answered yes and yes to both of those questions, we have a solution for you. For years Thule and Yakima have had a Hitch Mounted Ski carrier that straps onto their bike racks. Turning your bike rack in an all season carrier. If you have a class 1 trailer hitch you can carry 2 Boards or 4 Skis with either brand's carrier. If you h...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

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