Another rack question

[lbaker]

When I was at the rec school someone told me about an economical way to extend my rack out to the side to allow me to load my canoe from the side of my Toyota Matrix instead of the back. Since I had neck surgery, this idea sounds like a good one, since I usually rest the boat on head/shoulders to rack it. I have Yakima round crossbars, and I know Yakima makes an extender, but whoever I spoke to had a good cheaper idea....Just can't remember who or what they said??? OK, I know it was only a couple of months ago, but I have an old brain Anyone done something similar to their rack???
Thanks in advance,
Leigh

[okieboater]

I have the Yakima extender and it works great.

I also had a bit of pipe that just fit inside my yakima round bars. Not as cool as the factory version but lots cheaper.

[Zach]

I've done it on the cheap, and a few friends have as well with good results.
Just get the size of pipe to fit just inside. Get one long enough to give you a fair amount inside while extended. Get end caps that screw onto the threaded ends.

Use one of these on each to hold them in.
http://www.pivotpins.com/catalog/WireLk.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For each extension you drill one hole in your yakima bar and two holes in the inside new pipe. One hole for when the end cap is flush with the yakima bar and one hole for when it is extended. Pretty cheap and doesn't look too bad (maybe even a little industrial chique).