RAY'S MONTERO SITE
MY MONTERO MODIFICATIONS
Yakima Roof Rack System
THE RATINGS
Function
Install
Fit n Finish
Overall
Reason for Purchase
Well, after a season of Biking, the Snow Ski bug bit me and I realized that while the rear rack was fine for summer, but I also needed a rack for my Ski's and Snow Board. I wanted to be able to carry 4 people, our gear and ski's without any problems. I already had a Thule Roof Rack on my Jetta and had heard that Yakima's abilities were also comparable.
Wanting to do my own personal test between the two, I decided to get a Yakima rack for the montero's roof.
Fit
Yakima recommends using the 60" wide bars and a 1A Hi Rise rack foot to attach to the 1990 Montero. Just so you know... their standard height gutter rack works just fine also, plus it looks a whole lot better. The 60" wide bars are just perfect for the Montero.
Attachments
I got the rack with a 6 ski wide ski/snow board carrier, a basket ("basket case"), and their wind fairing. One of the things I like about the round bars is that it does allow you to turn the ski carrier to produce less wind resistance.
Long Term Update
After more than 2 years of use, I'm quite satisfied with my purchase and would recommend it to anyone looking for a roof rack. I especially like the ability to turn attachments to maximize aerodynamic efficiency.
Yakima -vs- Thule
Both Yakima & Thule Racks are excellent products. While Yakima does not have fit kits for as many vehicles as Thule, the number of options and the quality of construction is certainly equal.
For most buyers the choice between Yakima and Thule will be a difficult one. My suggestion... flip a coin and go for it.
Hits since created on 10, June 2000