Clear all "New" markers Turn on extra data

Thread View Frames View Board View

Forum: BoaterTalk
Date: Dec 19 2007, 20:48 GMT
From: Spud

	I have had my rack for awhile now.  The first time I put it together, everything started well.  By the time I had it on my car, I had stripped two of the footings while tightening them to the bar.  I was using the tool that Yakima sent with the footings.  Damn things stripped out anyway. I bought two more footings thinking I just wasn't careful enough.  I put those on and went on with life. The rack worked well on that car, but didn't see all that much use.  That car expired, so I moved the rack to the van.  When I tightened the footings to the bar, the plastic on the bar peeled away 3 different times.  I had to release the lock and rotate the bar until I locked it in without peeling the plastic off the bar.  Finally got it right.  Felt one of the footings starting to strip again when I tightened it.  It locked, so I just vowed to leave it alone because it was secure. Today I have my rack ready for the new car.  I start moving the footings around on the load bar to the desired length.  PIECE OF SHIT FOOTINGS STRIPPED AGAIN!  Two of them.  I turned the hex key to tighten them, and blam, metal shavings fall out and nothing locks.  You have to be fricken kidding me. I have gone through 4 footings the exact same way.  WTF?  I'm still using the tools provided by Yakima and these things strip anyway.  On top of that, on the two footings that didn't strip, the locking mechanism ripped the pastic on the load bar which resulted in the bar not being tight in the footing.  Wwen the plastic rips where the locking mechanism presses in to it, it allows for the load bar to be twisted while locked.  With just my hands, I could spin the footing around the bar while it was secure. I feel like I've been cheated out of a lot of money.  And no, I didn't contact the company yet, because frankly, even if they send me new parts for free, I don't feel comfortable that their racks are even safe.  If I can strip 4 different footings with my bare hands, how in the heck is this rack going to hold my boats on top of the car on the highway???   What a crock.   And, just to throw it in, the four new clips I need to secure the rack to the car are SIXTY DOLLARS.  They are machined and then painted pieces of metal that probably cost less then a dollar to make.  What a rip off.

Add Message

I had problems with Yakima racks on my car.  I took them back, and traded them for a Thule system. analogkid70 New

thule is bomber!! <NT> UABoater New

Thule rocks, Yakima went down hill in the early 90's when they sold out and went big, they use to be a small operation, ditchbitch New

now they are back separate.......about two years back they split from Watermark....b4 conf. bought Watermark... <NT> corgimas New

I have the same thule crossbars my Dad bought in 1990 something shutterbug New

Have had my Thule's on the Jeep for about 10 years now. <NT> cbk1 New

I've had cars fail before my Thule racks.  I love em and won't buy anything else. RUwet New

My Thule system is 11 years old, on it's third car/truck. jkodadek New

Square is good. I've got a set of 15+yr old Thule bars and feet that still do the job no prob. <NT> b6 New

Just wait until the bars start to rust out where the plastic/rubber coating is torn. <NT> hardboater New

I took the rubber protectors off the bottom of the footings and they had turned to mush.... Spud New

my last yakimas I would up drilling self-tapping screws to them so the clamps would hold tight <NT> ditchbitch New

I experienced the same thing stripping the threads.... pinkH2o New

Yakima stands behind their products SlipperyShoes New

No Problems? ab257 New

2 part epoxy /fibreglass cloth & stickers XXX_er New

It's true, they don't fail. But it's the little things. . . K1er New

they don't stay on all cars <NT> lifeofloon New

Fair enough, should have said they've stayed on my car.  nt K1er New

Damn ..I guess I better return your christmas gift then TheBroncoKid New

I thought they were great! boater_10 New

yakima sucks a big fat hairy... lifeofloon New

haven't had any problems with mine. I've had 'em on and off the car 3 or 4 times me New

Always thought Yakima made better stuff than Thule did Enzo New

it's the simple stuff that doesn't fail... tiskemanis New

I guess I got lucky with my Yakima Rack. I've been using the same one since August 2001 with no problems. <NT> slimerboy New

same here.  it's been on several different cars too. <NT> BLUEEZ New

Same Yakima racks since 1996 or so with no problems selmaraid New

I would say that Thule is consistently better all around than Yakima bankfull1 New

I've had highway rack failure with my Yakima .. riverhythm New

Gotta admit, have owned both and love the Thule.  Mine's 13 yrs old and FluidDruid New

I have had a Yakima for 4 years jsd2 New

If you're stripping threads, you're doing it wrong. tcookson New

When you insert the wrench given to you by the company, push it in until is stops, turn it, and strip the footing... Spud New

If you are ever in Chattanooga, swing by the store and I'll replace them for you...The secret is not to crank too hard, Brig New

I've owned 3 Yakima systems - newest bought in 1999 - very happy with them.  No problems except Paddleman New

I use treated 2 X 4s and U-bolts. <NT> Will_Carry New

Using Yakima since '95 w/ two encounters w/ garages & no problems mtnsport New

Add Message