2003 Pro5 roof rack questions

[i12drivemyMP5]

Thanks for helping out a noob...

I have the strips that run back to front (or front to back, I suppose...) but not the crossbars or the crossbar feet.

Sounds like the Yakima aftermarket might be the way to go, but it seems silly to not use the factory rails that are already installed. No sillier than the dealer saying he can't sell me the parts, though.

It is silly to spend the coin on yakimas when you CAN get Thule hullaports that attach to the factory racks for kayaks & xport bike racks that do the same & the xport cargo box all together for the same as basic aftermarket setup without any of the options. The factory racks are good for 75kg/165lbs. If that dealer can't sell you factory racks then I doubt he could do anything else beneficial for your car much less would I let them try. That's just super lame. As everything else as far as what you do with your car it boils down to a matter of preference & budget. I think the factory ones look much better than aftermarket & less people would be apt to thieving them as well but again that's just my opinion of it. Oh, you want numbers, OK......135.00 for 2 hullaports, 135.00 for 2 bike xport & the xport cargo box was 110.00 = 380.00. I think when comparing awhile back that the basic setup for all of yakimas' individual pieces - Qtowers, bars, fairing, clamps, clips etc. was about 400.00 wasn't it?

 

[poemtoself]

(i'm obviously a n00b, but i'm doin my best)

i've read up on tons of roof rack question threads as to be sure not to start a useless one of my own and piss you all off, but i'm just really confused.

i went to a store today that deals yakima and thule racks, and he said for me to get all of the equip i need and have it installed, i would be leaving with a 450 dollar hole burned in my pocket. how the **** is that possible>!?!

currently on my 02p5 i have the plastic "rails" that run from front to back. i've never investigated any other p5 with ski racks (my own fault) to see what type of setup they have, but the one this store showed me was that my only option was to get the clamp-on feet that clip above my door frame. then i buy the rails that go across my car, THEN i buy the ski/bike/snowboard racks to attach to that. am i missing something? how did that add up to 450??

i've looked at mazdastuff.com and i'm just confused. can i still buy a factory rack that attaches to the pieces i already have on my car, and then just buy a ski rack to attach to THOSE crossbars? sorry for the long post. i'm sure most of you have answered/seen this question a thousand times. any more clarificational information would be appreciated, though. thanks guys!

 

[mogi]

Here's my stock rack setup:
http://www.floptical.net/photos/details.php?g=pr5&page=0&image=3

If you have those same plastic strips that go front to back, then yes you can pick up a set of crossbars from someone on here probably. If you don't have the plastic strips (meaning you have filler strips that are pretty much flush with the roof), then you'll need some way of mounting crossbars, be it swapping your fillers for someone with the full roof rack setup that wants to get rid of it.

Go look at your car and see if the strips you have that run front to back have plastic caps covering up the mount points where the crossbars would go. The seam of where to look is visible on that image.

If you can get the stock crossbars, then all you would need are the ski rack brackets ($30) and the ski rack ($100) from mazdastuff.

 

[poemtoself]

Here's my stock rack setup:
http://www.floptical.net/photos/details.php?g=pr5&page=0&image=3

If you have those same plastic strips that go front to back, then yes you can pick up a set of crossbars from someone on here probably. If you don't have the plastic strips (meaning you have filler strips that are pretty much flush with the roof), then you'll need some way of mounting crossbars, be it swapping your fillers for someone with the full roof rack setup that wants to get rid of it.

Go look at your car and see if the strips you have that run front to back have plastic caps covering up the mount points where the crossbars would go. The seam of where to look is visible on that image.

I do have the plastic strips, not the filler strips. I have taken off those plastic cap pieces where it appears to look like*(from your picture) I could attach the factory roof rack system. I'm assuming I would be able to attach a crossbar onto the strips after removing those plastic caps that make the strips flush all the way down.

I figured I would have to buy 2 sets of brackets, but I guess I was wrong. 130 dollars if FAR cheaper than the 450! Ha! Thanks man!

 

[mogi]

No problem, check the for sale section on the forums here for people selling the crossbars. A lot of people have them laying around, so you could even post in the wanted section.

 

[amsgator]

will the 02 rack fit the 03 model? they are essentially the same so it should still fit right?

 

[~JoJo~]

i am sure someone on ebay are selling.

 

[Poseur]

It's old, but if you're interested in going with a yakima setup I kinda broke mine down awhile back. It was the first thing I put on my car. Literally drove it home from the dealer and then went straight to the shop and grabbed my towers and crossbars. http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82968&highlight=yakima

Superior to factory racks for sheer adaptability, load capacity (both weight and size) and ability to move between cars (my bars and towers are now 10 yrs old) yes they're not cheap, but they're built well and it's one of those things that for some people isn't even an option. it's just what belongs on a car.