RMcQ

DoubleCross towers drive me crazy. It takes way to long to put rack on and off.

twist, twist, twist, twist, twist, twist, twist...at each of 4 corners. Plus they are heavy and flop around trying to scratch the car while you are working on the first end.

I was looking at the Saris Talon System. Seems pretty sweet:

<img src="http://www.sarisracks.com/racks/3-4fac-closinset.jpg">

<img src="http://www.sarisracks.com/racks/fac-footinset.jpg">

<i>Turning either handle moves the base foot in while the clamp finger closes on the factory rack to secure the talon."

Mount in minutes from one side of the vehicle
Accessories mount and move quickly by sliding into our unique top slot
Soft thermoplastic rubber towers don't screw up your raised factory rack
Aerodynamic design complements today's vehicles
Rack and accessories lock with one key
#905 is 50", and #906 is 59" (see the Saris fit guide for sizing info)
</i>

itacud

I only have experiance with their trunk bike carriers, for cars w/o racks, but they were considered best of breed.

HPH

...they make crossbars that fit allroads without towers or anything (even little ones like your pictures). And Yakima gadgets fit them, apparently, because the cross section matches one of the MightyMounts.

The hard part is that Rola doesn't seem to be retailed in the US (just Australia). But do a search here, and you'll find a phone number to the place that makes 'em, in California.

RMcQ

I actually emailed Rola last night trying to figure our how to buy their stuff. I'll have to search again to see if I can find that phone number.

HPH

...please post it.

I have precisely the same complaints about my Yak setup that you voiced -- and, besides, I think it sticks up too high. (If I wanted a tall car I'd buy an M-something.) So far, I haven't been motivated to change (the $$ and the hassle factor), but a working solution could be enticing.

RMcQ

I would probably just leave the cross bars on at all times providing a convenience that just isn't there with my Yakima.

For example, during the recent snowstorm I wanted to take my tobagan to the park up the street. It is only about 1/2 mile, but with snow so deep is was hard to walk. I wanted to just throw the tobagan on top on the car and go, but it would have taken me longer to put on the rack that it would have to drive there.

I ended up walking and even the dog got so tired that she started riding on the tobagan as I pulled.

<img src="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ryanjen1/allroad/winter2003/dog_on_tobagan.jpg">

newroader

a while back, if I remember he needed to order to rear bars due to the rack spread, but they supposedly fit almost flush with the roof rails,a nd are compatible with both thule and yak mounts, you might want to do a search or investigate. The rola racks are a nice option have gotten nicer over the last couple, I used to have a set of old rollas on my 2002, perfromance bike used to carry them, and might still, its been a while since I went rack shopping

AM

HPH

...who knows better than to get duped into pulling, I bet.

If I can get a set of Rolas (you've got me thinking about them, again), I'll put 'em on and leave 'em on, and use MightyMounts to attach whichever Yak thingie I need for a particular application.

My current Yak setup is 48" bars with ski racks and the big basket, permanently bolted on. So it's one big, heavy unit, and getting it on and off is a real struggle (aside from the turning and turning and turning business).

HPH

...from an old post, supposedly for the CA Rola factory: 562-776-8864.

itacud

The Rola bars would be faaar too narrow, and I don't trust their strength. The stock Yakima height isn't quite high enough for funky ski bindings, etc... hence, lifters are going on soon! We're also in the progress of changing from 48" bars to 58" bars. Need more carrying capacity. =)

Other than the time it takes to twist the lowrider towers on and off, I absolutely love the Yakima rack.