shurik74

Hola amigos...

Ski season almost here in Northern CA, want to buy roof ski / snowboard rack for my 2011 TL. Does anyone have one and happy with it, please share brand model...

Thanks in advance

jangkai

I've had my Yakima rack for 3 years now and it does the job very well.

shurik74

Thanks... Model #?

blazalan

iTrader: (1)

love my yakima racks, but havent bought the new "feet" to use with my TL.

shurik74

Going towards this style / model

http://www.cargogear.com/OneItemInfo...num=THACTL11AR

Zelaya

iTrader: (1)

I'd love to see any real photos and see how will look like.

Phantom0981

Hi All,

New to the forums and I am unable to post pictures so I linked to a photo I shared through Dropbox of my Acura TL with a Thule roof rack. Sorry about the iPhone picture but it should give you an idea of what it will look like on your car. I took this awhile ago and don't currently have the roof rack on due to winter approaching or I would take some better pictures. If anyone would like more pictures of the roof rack on, I can put it back on tomorrow and take a couple of quick pictures.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ye4ot7mz6wmafay/P1000378.jpg

Below is the model information of the roof rack I purchased:

*Thule 1519 Fit Kit for 480 Traverse and 480R Traverse Foot Pack
*Thule 596 Lock Cylinders for Car Racks (6-Pack)
*Thule Rapid Traverse Foot Pack (Set of 4)
*Thule RB53 Rapid Aero Aluminum Roof Rack Load Bars (53-Inch, Set of 2)

Hope this helps with your decision! If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to answer them if I can.

mjb2

Phantom - any comment on real world use of the rack? Easy to install/remove? Did it mar the finish at all?

Thanks!

shurik74

Phantom0981

Does paint get scratches where hooks attached?

Edward'TLS

Thule roof rack is a high quality system, but cost $$$.

I had used it in all my previous cars. Basically you only need to buy the correct fit kit for your particular car, and then reuse everything else from one car to another.

Phantom0981

mjb2: As you can see, I mainly use the roof rack to do road biking as the TL's trunk can't fit a bike. I have loved it so far. The roof rack is very easy to install and remove. I would say that it takes about 5-10 minutes to take off and a little bit longer to install (15-20 minutes). The nice thing is the feet for the roof rack have the tool that tightens the rack to the car built in, all you really need is a measuring tape. It does cause a little wind noise when driving but that is what you would expect with a roof rack. As far as marring the finish, I am pretty picky about my cars and I haven't noticed any damage caused by the roof rack. I have noticed that water can seep between the feet and paint when it rains so I try to take the roof rack off every other week so the water doesn't have time to mar the finish during the hot summer months.

shurik74: No, the paint does not get scratched. I'm sure that the clamps are metal but they are covered by a rubber type of coating so that they don't scratch the paint. I've taken it on and off more times than I can count and they have never scratched the paint. When putting it on, you just have to be patient and don't hurry (I learned that the hard way).

Edward'TLS: I agree. The Thule roof rack system is very good but it is quite expensive. I bought mine from Amazon and saved quite a bit of money doing it that way. Also, like you said, the feet / clamps that go under the towers come off and are designed for each car. This makes it nice that you can replace only this part and the rack can transfer to a new car when the time comes. Plus, the feet only cost about $60-$70 which is a lot better than buying another $$$ roof rack.

All: As I mentioned above, because the tools to install / remove the roof rack are "built in" and the stay in the roof rack even when installed, I would recommend buying the locks that Thule sales as it would be easy for someone to take it off and drive away with it. I'll try and get some pictures of the roof rack itself to show you what I am talking about tonight to give you all a better idea.

Hopefully I answered everyones question. If I didn't, or you want more information / pictures let me know and I'll see what I can do.

JMAL

Yakima racks in my 2011, hope this helps. Its very easy to put on with 2 people.

i have 2 bike racks on the ends to keep it all tied together so it is even easier to put on.

I have a 4 board carrier in the middle. Also have the faring

https://picasaweb.google.com/1081749...eat=directlink

shurik74

Finally I bought them! Been trying to find cheaper solution but decided to spend $$$ buy one time. Good thing is that I can re-use them with other models, just will need to buy new hooks.

Looks great, I like is so far. Going to attach ski rack as well with better pictures soon

Bought them here: http://www.cargogear.com/OneItemInfo...num=THACTL11AR

Zelaya

iTrader: (1)

Can you take a pic from far away with your bike mounted. Gracias.

shurik74

I'm not planning to install bike rack, this is mostly for ski/snowboard rack... For bikes I use hitch bike rack on my Odyssey. Personally don't like bikes mounted on the sedan's roof ;-)

Edward'TLS

The Thule looks very nice and modern.

By the way, are you getting snow tires too ?

shurik74

I'm looking for some kind of cheap deal rims w/winter tires but honestly, no need. On my previous TLs I had to put chains 3 times out of total 18 ski season trips to Lake Tahoe.

Right now I'm going to Tahoe with summer tires, will see how SH-AWD will handle it

UA6

Yakima. Any local REI will have everything you need. Plus if you're a member they'll even let you return it after you use it.

shurik74

Came back from Tahoe, damn... felt like i'm in Montana state or something similar...

Here is another picture including ski racks attached

UA6

Damn. How did it handle in the snow?

shurik74

SH-AWD is great, loved it, again was happy with my choice... Summer tires handled good going uphill... but the problem was going downhill back home, icy road was covered with snow, I had one little spin out ABS/traction control did help

Well... someone might say "you must be crazy driving with summer tires" but I just did a test for myself since first time owner of AWD.

Edward'TLS

Honestly, summer tires and low-temp. don't mix, let alone with snow and ice.

The summer compound of the tires will start to harden up and loose adhesion at below 7 degC. As the temp drops further, these tires will harden to become completely unusable in freezing temp.

I'm currently skiing in Whistler. I've bought some Pilot Alpin PA4 snow tires specifically for these frequent ski trips.

SH-AWD + high-perf. snow tires are an awesome combination in the snow. About 50% of the roads are covered with either fresh or compact snow, and I have almost overtaken every vehicles on the long drive up the mountain roads with ease.

shurik74

Thanks for info !!!

I found a set of 17" rims from base model '09 TL for $200 and now looking for winter tires. What would be your suggestion price + performance?

Edward'TLS

It really depends on what you are looking for : high performance winter handling or maximum snow traction ?

I don't get much snow where I'm living, so 95% of my winter driving is on dry or wet roads. As a result, high performance snow tires, such as Dunlop M3 and Pilot Apin PA3/PA4, are among my top choices which place top priority on dry road handling during the winter time.

However, for maximum snow traction, studless ice & snow tires, such as Blizzak and Xi2/Xi3, are some of the top choices. But expect a significantly loss of dry winter road handling since they are optimized for ice/snow traction and not for handling performance.

farmdog

I just put on a set of Blizzaks on my FWD TL and the car was a beast in the 8" snow we just got last week.

sojue

are your summer tires the stock tires that come with the car?
I am thinking about going to Mammoth and wondering if my stock tires could handle the snow.

shurik74

Yea, stock 19" Micheline tires. They handled good on the way up but not good going down on complete white road.

ArthurL

iTrader: (4)

Yakima Whispbars! And the WB300 for the snowboard attachment!

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Arthur's is cool looking-it might fit a 4G.

UA6

Not bad. People usually have issues when they try to speed through the snow.

Edward'TLS

There is a reason for this.

AWD systems (SH-AWD included) only function when you are on the gas pedal. Once you let up the gas pedal or put on the brakes, AWD vehicles will behave exactly the same as ordinary 2WD ones.

In other words, AWD vehicles are only good in keeping the vehicles going in the snow. But when braking or not on the gas, they will brake and stop just like ordinary 2WD vehicles.

Thus, the SH-AWD TL will seem to perform well on snow when going uphill.

But when it comes to travel downhill on snow-covered roads, the SH-AWD is completely useless when brakes are used instead, with tire traction the only single factor in slowing the car down.

Only snow tires can offer the best traction on snow and ice covered roads.

shurik74

Thanks for info! This is what exactly I mentioned going downhill by watching car's computer "SH-AWD" screen and using breaks was sux. So, I just put my manual tranny in second gear, then traction became much better and barely used breaks.

techdavid

Hey Shurik, i have the same setup thule areoblade but with the 4 snowboards/6ski attachment. When I travel over 100km/hr (60mph) I get vibration, when I hit over 120km/hr it become really bad like the car going to fall apart, just wondering if you have the same issue. below 100km/hr is fine. do notice extra wind noise but not a big deal

shurik74

David... Got the same 4 snowboard or 6 ski attachment but I don't have the same vibration as you described "fall apart" at 100-120km/h, there is some of course which is not really bothering me.

techdavid

Hey Shurik74, Thanks for the reply
I went snowboarding yesterday day and I notice it was fine with the boards on. I further investigated and found that the ski rack area where the snowboard goes on, the rubber part doesn't squeeze tight enough when there nothing on there. With enough force you could actually move it alittle back and forth but that part there is nothing i can do to tighten. I am going to drop by a Rack Shop and confirm it is not normal and try to get warranty.

techdavid

Here are some photos, overall very happy. If I can resolve this issue of driving over 100km/hr vibration, it will be perfect

shurik74

Hey David...

On my ski attachment I mentioned the same thing, there are two clicks. First, is not all the way in and second is tight but you have to push it down harder.

Also, I was thinking to align my ski attachment by center but ended up moving toward drivers side for easy access

Happy new year

Igoruxa

Good thing about Thule roof rack, it is the same fit kit for 2009-2011 and 2012-up. Bad thing about aeroblades, that you can't put fairing (We manage to fit 2 skies and 2 snow board on shorter ski rack)

Mr Marco

Mdx