08 Yakima Install

No, that isn't normal. Of course, using Q5 clips aren't either. All clips should be Q124.

Somewhere you've encountered an error for parts needed... the same problem another owner came across.

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What John said.

And then some pretty pictures if you get bored:
Prius Racks

 

Yakima is ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL screwed up. The book says q5 front 124 back but the clip sheet for the 124 only has prius 04-06. The q5 has NO prius at all in the clipsheet paperwork. Measurements are ALL wrong in all documents! Website states wrong parts. Not 1 single thing was correct about these parts.

I spent 4 hours in a parking lot try to make it fit and finally returned it. Never again!

 

Q124s on both the front and the back worked for me, using the measurements off the Q124 fit sheet. When I emailed Yakima they insisted the Q5 is a better fit for the front, but I couldn't get the Q5s to fit at all.

The front and rear rubbery pads should snug right down in to that little groove on the roof - I think what you're describing sounds right.

Ooops, just noticed the original post is several weeks old. You've probably got it figured out by now.

 

Nevertheless, it could help someone who searches the messages in the future. I used the Yakima-recommended Q5 (front) and Q124 (rear) combination. I now wish I had just installed all Q124s. I heard that Yakima changed to Q5s in the front because customers were having difficulty getting the measurements just so. The Q5 clips sit completely outside the groove in the roof; the Q124s seem more secure: half inside the groove and half outside. Having said this, however, I should also admit that I've never experienced any problem with the Q5 clips.

 

I just installed a Yakima rack on my 2008 Prius and used the Q124 clips all around. Everything seems to fit properly. I did have to loosen the cross bar to allow the Q-tower pads to fit flat on the roof and in the groves. I have not had the opportunity to put my two yaks on top to try them out yet. I am also using the 48" bar because the rack I have, I traded a neighbor a bike for it and that is what he had. I am hoping the 48" will work for my set up. I have two "J" style carriers and when I test fitted them it appeared to have ample room for both yaks. Will post after my first outing, just as soon as the all the rain stops in the D.C. Metro and southern Maryland area.

 

I just bought a complete Yakima roof rack system but have not set it up yet. Now I am wondering if THULE may have a better fit. Anyone know if that is the case?

 

OK I just found out that the 124's are not working on the front according to Yakima. They reascended the 124's on the front because the front rack was ripping loose under load and wind. Numerous racks came off on the freeway causing untold damage. There is a thread here about this happening to one member. Yakimas answer was to install the q5 front bracket. Its larger but does not fit correctly in my opinion. The 124's dont fit correctly either.

I would stay away from yakima if it were me. There docs and info is all wrong as well.

 

Whoa, scary. I found two threads on this site that mention problems:

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-main-forum/37441-thule-vs-yakima-2.html
http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/29324-yakima-roof-rack-q-tower-problem.html

The first one said his rack seemed loose. Mine seems rock solid. When I asked Yakima about this issue in March they said:

"We updated the fit for the Prius last year to use the Q5 and the Q124 Clips. The new fit is a bit easier to install the rack onto the car. Either way will work on the car."

 

Thanks for the reply. My past experience with Yakima racks is that the clips have to be positioned in the door frame where they fit and contact the best when tightened regardless of the bar spread. I have the current Q5 & Q124 and will play with the adjustments and take a test trip. I miss having a sun roof as I could see what was going on up there.

 

The docs are not "wrong"--just different, depending on when they were printed (pre- or post-change to Q5 in front). I've used my Yakima rack for several thousand miles at 70mph with a large "Skybox Pro" without any hint of movement in any of the four clips (Q5 in front; Q124 in rear). The Q124s are less forgiving of an installer's poor measurement: an error of just a quarter inch or so can cause a large portion of the rubber pad to lose contact with the roof surface. That loss of friction could lead to some nasty results.

I think it most important to "stay away" from installing the rack incorrectly.

 

I just installed my Yakima rack using the Q5 clips in front and Q124 in back. I have two Raptor Bike mounts and a SkyBox 12 on 58 inch crossbars. I made a freeway trip (without bikes) with no problems. The Q5 instructions did not include measurements for the 08 Prius. I called the Yakima Help Line and got the following specs for Q5 front and Q124 back: M1 42 1/2" , M2 10" , M3 40" and M4 30". So far it has worked for me.