Outback owners... Rack options?

[epatt250]

Is there a clear cut, no brainer choice when it comes to doing a roof rack? Thule? Yakima? Which one? Do they both cost the same?

My Outback like all Outbacks has the factory rack. I know I need some sort of towers that connect onto the factory bars then I buy crossbars for it.

I just want the cheapest effective way to do it.

Should I order the stuff online or buy local? I would prefer to support the people that support us but I also dont like to get raped on stuff. Coming from the sport of off road motorcycling this is often the case with local bike stealerships.

[Roger]

check your PM and check at OOO.

[Richard]

I have a 2002 Subaru Forester. I bought the Thule rack and it has been good. No regrets

But, when we brought 4 canoes back from MN, we had to outfit with 2x4s to allow two large canoes to ride side by side. Then more 2x4s to stack two more on top of them.

You will see a lot of laughing and warnings . . . but 2x4s worked then and I have used them a few times since when I needed to carry two or more boats.

Paint them black and write Thule on them. Cool!

[okieboater]

Hey Richard,

Used to use 2 by 4's just like you did on my 73 Ford Econoline Van to carry 4 Grumman 17 footers all the time.

We just used extra tie downs and it required a nice step ladder to load or unload the canoes.

In those days vans had rain gutters so the old style clamp on racks worked well.

[Richard]

Dave, I just went to look see if I could retrofit with 2x4s. Not sure about the Outback but a 2002 Forester was designed for them. Time to get out the paint. I may try grey instead of black. Thule is black so I will have to label them McBars

[RandyJ]

I have an '05 Outback w/ Lowrider towers and Yak stackers. Have 2 sets of bars, not by design, but from prior rack set-ups for different vehicles. So if I need to haul 2 full-size OCs I'd swap out bars. Otherwise, I don't like the extra hang-over of the long bars. Short bars leave enuff room for 4-5 K1s. Get the wind deflector. Makes a huge difference.

I believe in supporting your local retailer, but in this case I bought my Lowriders slightly used from eBay.

SubaRULES!

[okieboater]

Well gents, in the old days we used the heavy duty towers that clamped to the gutters.

You could either put a pipe or bolt the tower to a 2 by 4 sized to fit the vehicle.

I used a pipe or a metal bar for cross pieces depending on the load.

I remember a few of the guys purchased very nice oak 2 by 4, rounded off the edges and put a beautiful stain on the oak.

Man, those setups looked nice. If memory correct, Wayne out of Ft Smith had the deluxe oak 2 by 4 setup and even had the custom up rights built into the 2 by 4. Very sharp looking, much better than the metal poles etc you see now from Yakama and Thule.

But now adays, I don't think cars have the old style open rain gutters, so it is all some sort of plastic dealie built into the roof.