Comments on: Yakima Universal Forklift Bike Tray: What Took So Long?

By: Mongoose

Mongoose — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:25:02 +0000

Oh yeah, that will definitely do that every time. Get yourself a shimmy to unlock your car door or just get a magnetic key box and attach it under your frame under your car. If not, just some place that is metal, out of site, and can be reached fairly easily. You know Jeff, weather seal is in-expensive and is easy to replace and put on. Save you from a water fall of water. The Yakima clips are not even supposed to touch your weather seal around the door. Anyways, try that and see what happens bro. I see some drier days coming your way.

By: trek7k

trek7k — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:11:15 +0000

Yeah Mongoose, my weather stripping around the door is probably leaking from something else - this just started in the last year or two. Could have been the times I locked the keys inside and had to jimmy the lock with a coat hanger

By: Mongoose

Mongoose — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:14:30 +0000

I do not understand the removing the Q-Towers & clips when not using the rack??? I do not recall ever hearing this from Yakima, and I have been using Yakima for a long time. Jeff, if your leaking where your clips are at, then something is not mounted correctly or you have the wrong mounting gear. I have never heard of leaking unless something was incorrect or mounted incorrectly. I have a good friend that owns an outdoor shop locally and he has been mounting these racks for years, and he has said the same thing to me. Anyways, I would have those clips checked Jeff to see if they are mounted correctly for your vehicle.

BTW, those Rocky Mounts are pretty good and are universal.

By: maddslacker

maddslacker — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:19:38 +0000

“Everything about the Universal Forklift is aerodynamic, buttoned down, and smooth - from the fork clamp action to the plastic pieces that cover every nut and bolt.”

So Yakima is catching up to Thule? ;D

Seriously though, I have a Volvo with factory rails and I looked at both the Yakima and Thule selections and I was able to get a much better fit with the Thule ones. Perhaps that’s related tot he fact that “Volvo” racks at the dealer happen to also be made by Thule…

On your type of car, if you like fork mounts (I can’t stand them and use an upright mount) you should also check out Rocky Mounts. They’re reasonably priced and will attach firmly to just about anything.

By: trek7k

trek7k — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:17:09 +0000

@Xerien - Yakima recommends you remove the Q towers & clips when you’re not using the rack? Ooops - I haven’t removed mine in 10 years! Of course that could explain why I get water leaking in my driver’s side door whenever it rains… Try driving in the rain while you’re leaning on the center console to avoid the waterfall

By: Xerien

Xerien — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:04:49 +0000

I’ve got to say, I love the bike-side of Yakima’s racks, but where the metal hits the meat, I have a couple complaints. That is, the carriers have been great for us. Secure, flexible, robust. But the mounts to the vehicle. Not so much.
1st, I had a hitch mount fail right at the receiver. Drug 3 bikes for several miles. Cost more than a few bucks.
2nd. Picked up a grand worth of roof rack system. 3 Cobra’s, crossbars and towers. Though I have zero compaints about the cobra trays and crossbars, the Q towers were junk. The bushings in the clamp system and the plastic that the lockbar seats against wore out during the initial fitting. A half dozen cycles on the hinge really shouldn’t wear it out… Especially since they recommend you remove it when not transporting to save wear on the vehicle gaskets.
I might have a different opinion of the Yakima roof system if I’d started with a factory mount point, since the trays seem very solid, but the current years Q towers are junk, and because of that I can’t really evaluate the rest of the system.
Bottom line, the weak link that I can see is the current Q system. The rest looks pretty solid but who knows.

By: Mongoose

Mongoose — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:57:03 +0000

Oh yeah, Yakima is coming along by leaps and bounds. I used to have my Yakima bike carriers attached to my factory racks on my Toyota Sienna and now on my Olds station wagon, but now I incorporated a Yakima roof rack so I could mount up to four bikes on the roof bypassing the factory racks that can only hold 115 lbs tops. Now I can get 200 lbs if needed, and still have use of my factory racks for other things or adventures.

One way or another that is great to hear that Yakima is stepping up their game, with making more universal trays for bikes riding on the roof with out adding a whole new rack system. Kudos to Yakima!