Best Vehicle Sports Rack Parts & Accessories in 2022

Last update: January 3, 2023

Thule 534 Accessory Strap Kit Review:


My car's back has a Thule 3 bike rack, but one of the tie-down straps has broken (after about 5 years of use). Because the product's image resembled my straps exactly, I ordered it. The straps that were ordered did not match those on my rack perfectly. Funny thing is, the picture of the straps that came with the packaging is not a photograph of the straps that go with it; it is a picture of my straps. I had purposefully held off ordering these straps after seeing them elsewhere since I was concerned they might not work well with my rack. I was therefore originally somewhat irritated. Compared to the original straps, these straps are a little bit thicker and substantially stiffer. With a little elbow grease, they do fit onto the pegs, and after using them for the first time, I was convinced. Despite utilizing two straps at both tie down locations, my bike has occasionally sprung out of one of the cradles when I was traveling on the freeway at pretty high speeds (bike still held but swaying a good bit and requiring a stop to adjust). I think this is because the original straps, even though there are two of them at each tie-down location, are flexible enough that, with enough force, they may pop the bike out of one of the cradles. This no longer occurs with these new straps. I put the other three new straps on the rack after the first use since I was so happy with the product's performance. I'm currently ordering another set to replace the remaining original straps.



yakima - SKS Lock Cores Car Rack System Components Review:


Yakima SKS lock cores for bars with Yakima SKS hardware. Perfect fit, of course. I value the control key that was provided.These locks are very fragile, according to various concerns I've seen. Allow me to give you some context: I have a set of Yak bars that I acquired from a car in a junkyard. Although the bars were locked to the junker, I was still able to remove them without damaging the Yakima towers (the roof rails on the junker, however, were not as fortunate). When I got the bars home, I changed the cores with a set I had ordered from Amazon by drilling out the old ones. Therefore, even if the bars are locked, they can be removed. To do it, the car's roof rack must be disassembled or destroyed, although it is possible. But how many criminals actually want to create that much commotion and noise for so long? A thief won't want to buy damaged bars, even if you use a claw hammer to smash the tower lock straight and remove the bar.Getting 4 lock cores and locking both sides of each bar is the ideal scenario. That would make stealing the bars very difficult. Put a lock on each side of the roof if you decide to stick with one core per bar; for instance, lock the front bar on the left side of the roof and the rear bar on the right side of the roof. A thief will have to take twice as long to get the bars off as a result.



DAKINE Tailgate Surf Pad Review:


This product has clearly been thoroughly thought out. My 2016 Tacoma's tail gate is simple to attach the pad to, the microfleece on the bottom should protect my truck, and the buckles prevented the pad from slipping while I was using it. The strap's buckle is made of sturdy metal and features a pad on the bottom to protect the boards while in use.To make the strap fit through the buckle properly, though, you must be careful how you do it. Is it really that difficult to include a brief image on the label to help the user get started? Try again if something doesn't seem correct.



Cam Buckle Tie Down Straps | Lashing Straps for Kayaks, Canoes and Roof-Mounted Cargo | All Climate Use, Fast & Easy to Use | Titan Auto 800LB Limit Made of Zinc Alloy & High Tenacity Polyester Review:


arrived on schedule, so I'll assume they'll perform as promised. Bright orange will stand out against the bright green ones I bought, just what I intended to do to fasten the rear end of my kayak gear and make myself highly visible to oncoming traffic. The question is, will they last for the entire year and into 2020? Should they not, you will be informed.



Thule Snug Tite Lock Review:


If you own a bike hitch carrier, you are aware that the accompanying pin is insufficient. If you have the proper rachet size, you are aware that your rack can be taken in a matter of minutes. I bought this so I could avoid the inconvenience of removing my bike rack for longer visits to the grocery store and other errands. Although this lock is pricey, it offers me the assurance that a criminal won't see it and choose a less secure rack to steal. I think it's worthwhile.



Yakima Q-Clips for Yakima Q Towers Review:


I previously owned Yakima SST racks, but I've since purchased the new Q-towers to accommodate my 2006 Altima. Because the area where the clips hold the automobile was tilted at first, I had some concerns about the fit. I was impressed by the clamps' grip after making the appropriate modifications. They wouldn't move at all no matter how hard I pulled on the rack or even the clips themselves. Even with the Yakima-supplied tape on the clip, the edge of the clip can still chip the paint in the painted section of the door jam where it rests, therefore I do advise adding some clear 3M protective tape for additional chip protection (paint seems thin in this area).



SportRack Alternative Bike Adapter Review:


For our SUV, we bought a bike rack, however most racks need a horizontal support bar to mount quickly. Simply conduct a search for pictures of adult bicycles to learn what it means. the middle horizontal bar between the handlebars and the bike seat. Some women's bikes and unquestionably children's bikes feature a diagonal bar that is incompatible with a rack, necessitating the purchase of an adapter bar.I tested this one because Thule and Yakima also sell bike adapters, but they cost more than $50. NOT the Thule adaptor at all.It works. The Thule and Yakima adapters appear to be better manufactured when compared to this one, but not by enough to justify spending the extra money. one notable distinction You may precisely control the length of your bar by using the telescoping extension mechanism found on the Thule and Yakima tube adapters. This has two pre-drilled holes, and to lock it in place, a chrome nub pulls out. There are just two lengths available (or maybe three, I forgot). The price differential for the name brand adapters can be justified by that.a general advice This WILL NOT work on a 16" or smaller child's bike, and is actually only good for mounting a 20" child's bike or larger (together with Thule and Yakima). I did. The bar does not become sufficiently narrow. Most individuals manage to attach the smaller bike to the rack in strange locations in some way. Our daughter's 20" bike did fit the bar at the least size I could construct it.



Yakima - EndCaps, Replacement End Caps for Yakima Roof Rack Review:


Two of my end caps either broke off or were taken, but this replacement is great. They have so far covered many hundred miles in the rain and snow without falling off. Now appears much nicer than the hollow metal tube (I don't understand why they don't make the end cap permanently affixed). But certainly, advise



Onefeng Sports Lockable Tie Down Strap with 3 Stainless Steel Cables - 2 Pack Review:


In order to prevent our Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) from straying and to keep them securely fastened to my roof racks when traveling, I utilize locking straps. In the past, I've used the popular brand of these products, KanuLocks. While I liked them, the plastic cover on the locks kept breaking, and while the company was kind enough to send me new ones, after it happened too often and then when I unintentionally lost my key on a wilderness paddling trip and discovered the hard way how easy it was to cut through them, I thought maybe I'd try something else. Here come these dudes. I'm incredibly satisfied with the KanuLocks because they are much less expensive, less clunky, have a better lock with a genuine key instead of some tiny child's suitcase key, and have three strands of metal wire instead of just two. Time will tell, I think, but we have already used them on our first trip. We used them to secure our boards to a tree so we wouldn't have to carry them from the lake the following day. We couldn't believe the difference in feel. I believe I have a superior set of straps for a lot less money. When you are in the woods without Internet connectivity, they are a little difficult to figure out, but once I got the strap through the lock the right way (not brain science; I'm just a little challenged occasionally), everything went smoothly. As an alternative to the more expensive ones you will find, definitely recommend. They probably won't discourage a determined or experienced thief with bolt cutters, but they're ideal for keeping your gear secure and protected on your car while you rush into a shop, motel, or restaurant, or when camping, or while you travel to the beach or lake to check the surf or wind conditions.