Rack Question

[texasvx]

I was wanting to put a rack on the VX. I don't have any of the towers or anything on the VX now. Just the standard rails that come on it. I have looked at many of the mods. of you guys VXs. I've seen the Thule and Yakima website as well. My question.....What do I need? What will fit???
Do I need the towers? What all do I need to have a complete rack basket??

Any help would to appreciated.....

[nfpgasmask]

As far as I know, Yakima made a custom rack specifically for the VehiCROSS, which is no longer in production, making VX Yakima bars EXTREMELY hard to get. Once you have them however, you can put just about any Yakima or Thule basket or rack up there with the right mounts.

Some of the guys on here have also fabbed up custom devices for mounting stuff.

Good luck,

Bart

I was wanting to put a rack on the VX. I don't have any of the towers or anything on the VX now. Just the standard rails that come on it. I have looked at many of the mods. of you guys VXs. I've seen the Thule and Yakima website as well. My question.....What do I need? What will fit???
Do I need the towers? What all do I need to have a complete rack basket??

Any help would to appreciated.....

[kpaske]

Bart is 100% correct. The hard part will be getting the towers and winged crossbars. Once you have those, there are numerous options for baskets, storage containers, bike racks, etc. from the aftermarket.

For the towers and crossbars, you could search online for wrecked VXes or wait until someone puts some up for sale here (very rare). I don't recall if anyone was actually successful in fabbing up their own towers and bars, but I imagine there are a lot of potential customers if someone mass produced them...

[jgalt]

Like you, I just had the side rails, but just recently installed the Yakima Lowrider towers and 48" rails. Looks GREAT (sleek, low profile) and EASY install ('bout 30 minutes). All other accessories (snowboard / ski, basket, bike, covered carrier) available as well. Let me know if you need part numbers, I'll see if I can come up with anything.

Best,

[texasvx]

That would be great if you could give me the part numbers and whatever else. It would minimize my search. Thanks

[Ldub]

Also, check Zeus's write up in the "how to" section (lower R. side-bar)

[jgalt]

Sorry, couldn't find my part numbers, but here's a link to the towers; the Yak Lowrider is the lowest tower I've found.

http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=144

Buy a set of four towers. The towers are very easy to install and fit right in the stock placements on our factory rails. Simply pop off the four covers on the factor rails and hand tighten the towers into position. You'll notice that the "hook" on the towers fits right into the rail indents. Very sweet.

You'll also need two Yak cross bars. 48" is the shortest Yak makes and don't overhang the VX too badly (the standard Yak cross bars are round vs the oval cross-bars that came with the factory rack). You could trim these down (shorten) with a hacksaw if you wanted, but I think they look OK.

I'd also recommend you pick-up a Yak SKS four-lock set and put a lock on each tower. Around here, if your rack isn't locked on, its gone. Maybe a six or eight-lock set if you plan on adding accessories (I needed two more; one each for the ski carriers on each cross-bar).

Finally, take a 10-minute drive on any bumpy street road and then re-tighten the towers by hand; you'd be amazed at how much more you can tighten them (I got two full turns).

Best,

[nfpgasmask]

SO all this time, people have been trying to find a stock VX rack to haul stuff, and these Yakima towers fit our rails with no modifications?

Can you post photos?

Thanks,

Bart

Sorry, couldn't find my part numbers, but here's a link to the towers; the Lowrider is the lowest tower I've found.

http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=144

Buy a set of four towers

You'll also need two cross bars; 48" is the shortest they make and don't overhang the VX too badly (these are round vs the oval cross-bars that came with the factory rack). You could trim these down with a hacksaw if you wanted, but I think they look OK.

I'd also recommend you pick-up an SKS four lock set and put a lock on each tower. Around here, if your rack isn't locked on, its gone.

Best,

[jgalt]

SO all this time, people have been trying to find a stock VX rack to haul stuff, and these Yakima towers fit our rails with no modifications?

Yep.

Can you post photos?

I'll try - I've never posted a photo on the board before. If not, you all can just PM me your e-mail addresses and I'll attach a copy.

[biju]

Yeah I'm a little skeptical, but proof is in the pudding... photos please.

Is this a 'new' yakima tower? I ask because before last Zu I went to my local rack store (RackAttack) and they almost laughed me out of the store after trying to plead with them to help me find something suitable. (And they specialize in Yakima).

Are the towers you have a solid/tight/secure fit? Or are they loose?

Again, can't wait to see pictures.

-biju.

[jgalt]

Well I took some pics, but the light is low and its snowing like the bejesus.

I do believe these towers are fairly new (< 1 year?).

They fit tight; no slop.

Is there a "how to" on posting pics? Do you need them posted on a server first?

[Ldub]

Top bar, gallery, gallery links, upload photos, browse, select, upload.

[biju]

This would be breaking news for us all if it's true...!

I mean, last year before Zu - this was me searching/scouring the web for a rack that would fit:



I eventually found an OEM rack from a yard, but you get the point.... Finding a substitute for the OEM rack has eluded us all (sans a few modsters out there)...

-biju.

[Ldub]

LMAO Beej...

I'm lovin' the way the last eyeball whips around before final seperation.

[nfpgasmask]

Well, there is probably still no comparison to the stock rack, from a "looks" point of view, but if there is another option available that works just as well, than this is golden. I'm happy I found a stock rack, but yeah, if this is a solution, I'm sure a lot of folks on here will be very, very happy...

Bart