New guy w/ Q:Yakima Loadwarrior on P5?

[MPVariant]

Hi All. I've been searching through old threads on this site for the past couple of months since purchasing my "new" p5 in December. There is a ton of great information on here so thanks everyone for sharing.

The warm weather and recent threads about bike racks and fairings got me searching for a setup for my p5. Since I had the full Yakima rack including two steelhead fork mounts on my previous car, I wanted a way to use at least the fork mounts on the factory rack. After pricing fork mounts by RockyMount (at $85/each + $14 lock cores), I realized that I could spend just a little more (w/ REI's discount) and get Yakima's Loadwarrior which would allow me to use my old fork mounts and ski attachments.

Has anyone put the Loadwarrior on their p5, and if so, any pics? Will this fit? Since the bike rails will be attached to the cross bar on the loadwarrior, they will be higher up which would increase the wind resistance and noise; however, this may also allow the rail to clear the spoiler on the hatch. I'm not sure how this would disrupt the look of the car. With the cargo basket, I can put my front tires up there instead of inside. It also solves the fairing issue since it comes attached with a fairing.

I would prefer to use the factory rack because I did not like having the Yakima Q-towers sitting on the paint.

All opinions are appreciated.

Thanks!

BTW, for those in the DC metro area, I'm the one in a '02 red p5 with a poorly paint matched front bumper and right front quarter panel.

 

[sylvanlights]

Yep it's been done ... check this out - http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108388&highlight=spotted+woods

-=D

 

[sylvanlights]

Sorry, I was in a rush when I responded earlier ... I can give you a true response now.

The link posted above is actually a picture of MY car. I drive an '02 Protege5 without a factory rack. The rack you see is a custom-installed Yakima system with 54" tracks and Control Towers. This is a great system to use, but demands dropping the headliner and permanently installing the tracks to the roof (read: drilling). This system allowed me to increase to weight rating of my rack dramatically - as you can see in the picture, I frequently drive long distances and load 200lb+ on my car. This also allows a larger distance between my front and rear cross-bars (approx. 48") which makes hauling large loads (like the 17' touring kayak in the picture) much safer, and more secure.

You asked about using a Loadwarrior on a Protege5 ...

This picture shows the Loadwarrior with the 18" extension. This nearly covers the entire roof ... from about 4" back from the windshield, and JUST clears the hatch when it opens. I think the factory rack would be too small to accomodate the Loadwarrior AND extension. However ... the basic Loadwarrior would fit just fine ... BUT ... consider the load that you are introducing here ... the Loadwarrior weighs 25lbs. Add to this the weight of the bike racks - about 15lb, and then the weight of your bikes ... you are quite easily exceeding 100lbs not to mention all of the other gear you are going to be tempted to throw into the basket. Be very careful with weight ratings, they are there for a reason. The factory rack is NOT designed to carry excessively heavy loads!

And don't forget to consider wind-loads. This sounds silly, I know ... but when you have two bikes up there - a good 8 inches by the time you have them on top of the Loadwarrior - you have a considerable amount of wind-load. Now drive at 65 miles/hour for any length of time ... that is a lot of stress on the factory rack. The wind will push back on the bikes, which will attempt to lift the forks up, which will lift up on the Loadwarrior, and finally pry up on the factory load-bar. Be very careful here ... make sure the factory rack can take it.

I have very little experience with the factory rack. I've seen it a few times, but that's about it. I think the factory weight rating is a little over 100lb (it should say somewhere on the rack). Just be sure that whatever you do is safe and secure. Unsafe loads can become people-seeking and property-destroying missiles at highway speeds!

-=D

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

The factory rack says it's good to 75kg. I think that is 165lbs. I regularly haul 2 12' kayaks that weigh 60lbs or so each & have had no problems. The kayak racks are thule hullaports & probably weigh about 20lbs total for both sets. They attach to factory rack. The one I use for bikes on top connects to the factory racks. I trimmed the trays 1.5" so hatch doesn't hit & they are good price. This is link: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=1470&subcategory_ID=4410 Also have xport xcess cargo box that attaches to the factory racks. This link is to different brand but same box & price: http://www.a1-autoracks.com/sportrack-a25300-travel-cargo-box.html Also have saris bones rack to hang bikes on back if carrying other stuff on top. Happy hauling.

 

[MPVariant]

Wow! This is what I had in mind for my car, including the blue color. I want to be able to haul two bikes plus camping equipment and maybe a kayak someday when I learn how (whitewater). BTW, great job with the custom install system; since I'm wary of putting more holes into the car, I'll probably stick with the factory system.

You make a good point about wind resistance as the loadwarrior and bikes would create alot of drag. Even though the factory rack is able to hold up to 165lbs, would the wind load that you were describing be distributed unevenly so that a greater force is being applied to the front crossbar as the fork is being pushed up? Also, does the factory weight rating then apply as well to sheer force since wind resistance is applied parallel instead of downward on the bars? As I'm thinking about this, this reminds me that I should check that the factory rack is secured properly since I don't know if the previous owner made adjustsments to it. You right that with the loadwarrior, the bikes would sit a good distance from the top of the car.

I see that you use a bike rack off the back as well. I thought about it, but I'm wary about leaving the bikes secured this way when I'm away from my car. From friends, they also mention that the bikes move around a little when driving. If I don't get the loadwarrior, then I'll pick up two of those suggested rails (Xport or Rockymounts) and sell my Yakima system.

Thanks to both of you for the detailed responses and links!!!

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Yeah, I don't really like the way the rack on back moves a bit or that you have to be careful with the straps going over the rear wing on top when attaching it pulling down on the wing some. I only use it if other stuff on top or if 3 or 4 people & bikes are being hauled. I mostly went with what I did to use the rack that was already there & the cost allowed me to have more options for less money. Don't get me wrong, I like the other stuff & fully believe them to be better & more versatile overall, just don't want to drill on the car & them being cost prohibitive with so many irons in so many fires. I do have somewhat of a budget to try to adhere to with house,cars,twins starting college & all that goes with that...............

 

[sylvanlights]

I actually installed a 2" hitch receiver on the rear of the car. This allows me to use the Yakima Full-Swing hitch rack. I simply needed space for bikes when I had 2 kayaks or a canoe up top. The Full-Swing is great because it actually swings out of the way so I can still access the hatch. It's an amazingly stable rack with very little bike movement - yes, still more than a fork mount.

I am definitely a mulit-sport kinda' guy ... I need to be able to haul a lot of different things, and a custom rack was the best way for me to go after considereing all other options. I have not regretted it at all - but I realize it's not an option for everyone.

Glad you found the info useful! Have fun out there!

-=D

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

I actually installed a 2" hitch receiver on the rear of the car. This allows me to use the Yakima Full-Swing hitch rack. I simply needed space for bikes when I had 2 kayaks or a canoe up top. The Full-Swing is great because it actually swings out of the way so I can still access the hatch. It's an amazingly stable rack with very little bike movement - yes, still more than a fork mount.

I am definitely a mulit-sport kinda' guy ... I need to be able to haul a lot of different things, and a custom rack was the best way for me to go after considereing all other options. I have not regretted it at all - but I realize it's not an option for everyone.

Glad you found the info useful! Have fun out there!

-=D

Same here on the multisport. I have one of those old kind of receiver racks I used on my truck only it was so old that it doesn't swing & it bolts in the trailer ball hole of the bumper. Doesn't get used much anymore. That was when there was a snugtop camper on it. Fun is what it's all about.