Which roof rack to buy?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Eric Mendelson, Aug 27, 2017.

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  1. Eric Mendelson

    Eric Mendelson Junior Member

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    We’d like to buy a new roof rack for our 2016 Prius. We’re looking at Thule’s and Yakima’s racks, both of which are on sale this week at REI, while also wondering about the one from Toyota. A bike mechanic at our local REI also installs these Thule & Yakima racks on cars for people nervous about putting them on for the first time themselves (I’m not). He recommends Yakima’s rack system now, saying Yakima revised them last year to fit better and more precisely, with more level crossbars, on Priuses with their more domed roof shape. Anybody have any experience of this newer Yakima roof rack system? Or of Thule on their Gen 4 Priuses? Aaaaand: how does the Toyota-branded rack set-up (which looks less expensive) compare? Any difference in traveling noise? Thanks, Eric
     
    #1 Eric Mendelson, Aug 27, 2017
  2. flic

    flic Junior Member

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    I used Thule 754 foots, the prius gen4 adapters 1824 with wingbars and 532 bikeracks.

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    #2 flic, Aug 28, 2017
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  3. flic

    flic Junior Member

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    Here three pictures:[​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

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    #3 flic, Aug 28, 2017
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  4. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    My vote still goes with hitch mount rack. Way easier to load and unload...and no damage. Curt 1.25" receiver and 1UP USA Single Quick Rack with a Quick Rack Add On. Even installed the trailer harness for lights...which have been used pulling trailers. ;)
    [​IMG]
     
    #4 frodoz737, Aug 28, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2017
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  5. flic

    flic Junior Member

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    In order to install the hitchrack (for gen4) needs to be installed the adapter by a car center. While the roof rack is easy.

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    #5 flic, Aug 28, 2017
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  6. Eric Mendelson

    Eric Mendelson Junior Member

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    Thanks for your thoughts, folks, but my question actually has nothing to do with bikes, which we can comfortably carry inside our hatchbacked Prius. I may have confused some of you by my reference to a bike mechanic: at REI, these just happen to be the guys who mount roof racks for customers who need help--whatever the purpose of those racks. (We mean to carry a big double kayak and at other times a cargo box up there.) My question is about what experience any of you have had of the fit to a Gen 4 Prius's dome-ish roof of any of the three brands of rack mounts I mentioned. - Eric
     
    #6 Eric Mendelson, Aug 28, 2017
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  7. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Apologies Eric as I did see your request as bike purposed.
     
    #7 frodoz737, Aug 29, 2017
  8. Eric Mendelson

    Eric Mendelson Junior Member

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    No problem, frodoz! We tend to read quickly these days, and more troublesomely, write too quickly . . . and it's probably natural to fill in what writers meant, not just what they wrote. Nothing lost here at all, apart from some minutes' effort. I find that the older habits of reading a second or third time are mostly gone, and people are used to sending out messages without double-checking what they've written first--and we're used to reading those. Much more troubling in other situations!
     
    #8 Eric Mendelson, Aug 29, 2017
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  9. Eric Mendelson

    Eric Mendelson Junior Member

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    IMG_4733.JPG
    FYI: We bought our roof rack and a cargo box. We opted for a Yakima rack on sale at REI. The primary reason we went with Yakimas is that the company reportedly revised their racks for better fit on each Gen of Priuses, with clear, specific directions in applying their added adjustments. The main adjustment that sold us is the angle you can add to the crossbars held by their Baseline support towers: you can see in my photo that these crossbars are leveled on Priuses, previously a challenge, given our car roofs’ unusual slopes. In all fairness, I’m not sure just how valuable this bar leveling is, but we liked that these wing-shaped aerodynamic crossbars lie level. By all reviews and reports, both Thule’s and Yakima’s products are excellent: sure better than the cheap rack I used to use pre-Prius. And both brands offer crossbars in a few different shapes and metals, all of which can safely carry either brands’ cargo boxes. Lifetime warrantied, too. I didn’t feel confident of Toyota’s offered alternative, although I didn’t get to inspect them. Now we can carry our boat, our skis, or some of our piles of camping stuff up top! - Eric
     
    #9 Eric Mendelson, Sep 4, 2017
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  10. ChuckJackson

    ChuckJackson New Member

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    I know this is an old post, but what length bars did you get? Looking at the same system myself.
     
    #10 ChuckJackson, Apr 8, 2018
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  11. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    Can't comment on the other brands, but I've used Thule successfully on a number of vehicles, including the Prius Gen4 and never had any problems.
     
    #11 The Professor, Apr 9, 2018
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  12. ChuckJackson

    ChuckJackson New Member

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    I had SportRack ones on a gen 2, but I'm looking to upgrade. Leaning towards Yakima at the moment.
     
    #12 ChuckJackson, Apr 9, 2018
  13. Millerca2

    Millerca2 Junior Member

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    I have the oem Toyota ones and they work great. I like the fit and while they were pretty noisy, with the fairing, it’s not bad at all. Mpg impact maybe 1-2 mpg.
     
    #13 Millerca2, Apr 19, 2018
  14. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    I bought a Thule Ascent 1500 for my 2008 Prius. Now I have a 2018 Prius 4. It works fine on that as well.

    IMG_6220 id.jpg
     
    #14 ice9, Jun 13, 2019
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  15. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    I have Thule too. Work fine. I have the cheap square steel bars though. They make a slight whistling noise at high speeds. Cured it by wrapping a spiral of paracord around the bars.
     
    #15 The Professor, Jun 14, 2019
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  16. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    I read other posts regarding wind noise from the racks. I have the design with the elliptical/airfoil profile mounts and haven't noticed any wind noise. However, I imagine the real concern is not so much wind noise, but rather increased wind resistance and it's effect on mpg.
     
    #16 ice9, Jun 14, 2019
  17. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    I had the square bars on and didn't notice a drop in mpg.

    The roof box, luggage, 2 kids, and my wife... That took off maybe 4 or 5.
     
    #17 The Professor, Jun 14, 2019
  18. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    I noticed a slight drop in mpg for my old Prius (with carrier) - maybe 5 mpg, highway; no change, city. I haven't had time to compare mpg's for my 2018 Prius yet, but I am pretty sure it has roughly the same characteristics - it effects mpg at speeds over 50 mph.
     
    #18 ice9, Jun 14, 2019
  19. Data Soong

    Data Soong Junior Member

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    My 2019 Prime came with the Toyota OEM crossbars (these appear to be compatible with all 2016-2019 Prii). I didn't notice any noise, but it was a new car and I didn't know it without them. They seem solid and I like that there aren't "wings" sticking out passed the mounts. The OEM bars do have one advantage that third party racks don't unless they've incorporated the feature recently. They have pins on the crossbar mounts that fit into holes above the windows, so there are no positioning issues. They go where they belong and they stay there.
     
    #19 Data Soong, Sep 18, 2019
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  20. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    Plus supports that fit the body's/roof's lines.

    [​IMG]
     
    #20 Mambo Dave, Sep 18, 2019
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