[Paddlewise] rolling Yakama bars

An update:
    I just can't get the Yakama bars not to rotate! I'm very frustrated. My
feelings have been soothed by excellent customer service by Yakama, though.
    I called Yakama last May and they sent new bars and screws. They did everything
to get help for me but eventually I got two new bars. I only replaced the back bar
because it was the worst offender and when I looked at the front bar the plastic
wasn't  too chewed up. I feared this wasn't going to work and wanted the back-up. I
had to put that second bar on the rack three weeks ago. It started rolling around
this past weekend.
    When I called in May I guessed that it was the towers so this time they said
that they would be sending new towers and bars and screws, the whole works, again.
Do you know they do this at NO CHARGE! Nada, no S&H, not a penny and they are
wonderful about it. I have dealt with two different men and they were both so
helpful and took me at my word that I knew what I was talking about, mostly <G>.
So, we are to phase 3 of Yakama bars and Hulley Rollers.
    BTW, Yakama does NOT recommend the self tapping screw for exactly the torque
reason. You could loose the whole assembly this way. There is the potential that
some factory racks may be so insecure that the twisting of the tower, with no give
at all, could deform or rip the thing right off the top of the car.
    The towel on the saddle idea just means you loose some of the security of the
saddles, so may be a question as well. In this case front and back ropes would be
essential to add if they aren't already there.

    Thanks for the help, though.

Joan

Sidney_Stone_at_amsinc.com wrote:

> I screwed a self tapping sheet metal screw through the tower and into the
> bar to avoid the bar rotating.  It helped a little.  I now try to lift the
> kayak up more before starting to push on the rollers, which seems to keep
> them from rotating.  Taking the kayak off the car I do not have any problem
> with rotation.  To further put this into perspective, I drive a jeep grand
> cherokee and I am 5'8"" tall, so I'm stretching some to put the kayak up on
> the car.  Additionally, I've been paddling a Valley Aquila which is 18+
> feet long and weighs 60 lbs (but I just got a Skerry SL).
>
> The one potential problem with screwing the tower and rod together it that
> any torque may force the tower off the car.  I had this happen one time,
> after which I modified my loading technique as described above.
>
> Having said all the above and now being into my second season with the
> Yakama system, I would but the Thule in the future as square bars do not
> rotate (at least easily).
>
> A friend at a kayak center suggested putting towels on the regular saddles
> to help the kayak slide onto the rack.  Haven't tried this, but it may make
> some sense.
>

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