Re: [Paddlewise] Roof Racks

> After having a Yakima rack on my 96 Integra I don't ever want a non-
> factory rack on a vehicle again.  With the rack off you permanently see
> where the rack sat on the roof (I've heard it referred to as Yak
> tracks, so I'm not alone with this problem).  Not extremely obvious but
> if you look you see a light shadow from the rubber pads on the rack
> feet.  Plus where the rack clamps down to the door frame has worn
> through the paint.  I'm just glad I live in a salt free environment
> (Kansas)

I have noticed those shadows from the rubber pad on the roof, when removed
Thule rack for winter (didn't do this again next winter - not really
necessary).  Must be due to fading and loss of lustre of the paint on the
rest of the roof (sun exposure + dust scrathes).  It's really very light
effect, hard to notice.
As to the doors - sounds familiar to me.  I'm using Thule pads  that are
clamped without screws around the top part of the door opening (there are
similar ones from Yakima too).  They have to be tightened as much as
possible, battery-operated tools won't do the job (good manual tools will).
My clamp did wear out the paint slightly on the inner door surface, and this
was eliminated after I had centered and tightened the clamps properly.
There must be clearance between the clamp and the metal frame on the car
body, i.e. edge of the roof.  It should be pressed only against the rubber
door sealer, and immersed deeply into this rubber, otherwise it will touch
the paint on the inner door surface.  It is also posssible that my Thule
"fit kit", i.e. brackets for my particular car model fits door contour
better than the one from Yakima for your particular car model, or you've
happened to get some bad quality batch of brackets.  Like I said, I had to
thorougly tighten those brackets to eliminate their contact with the inner
door surface.

Those factory-mounted rails, like guys already said, are of unknown quality,
can be worse than Thule or Yakima clamps. I've read on the Guillemot forum
that some of them need reinforcing - additional screws through the roof.
Car makers don't think about us kayakers when putting those rails on the
roof.
Alex.
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