Requesting roof rack pics

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Hey Mike wonder if you are pushing the maximum weight rating of the original rack by adding the cargo and a couple of bikes......just wondering if it is impossible to keep an enlarged rack in a safe max weight requirement spec?

I never considered that... do you know what the max rating is?

It would appear that I've been wanting to push the limits of this vehicle in every - seemingly simple - thing I want to do. I do know that the Yakima system will likely not use the same attachment points as the 'Mazda rack' so maybe things will be a little different.

And although my Yakima Spacecase is huge we usually pack all of our light stuff in there - sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, thermarests, and watertoys. And 2 kids bikes don't weigh too much. So, I'd likely be ok, but still be good to know what the rating is.

 

[Kid Red]

160lbs is the max weight. Didn't you guys put that sticker on the rack!?!?

I'll ask again, did you guys use those clear strips under the rack's feet when mounting?

 

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Doesn't take much to put 160 pounds on the roof.

And KidRed - I haven't got a rack yet so I'm not sure about the clear strips.

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

Kid

I assume the clear strips are used to prevent any buffing of rack to roof paint surface. I had clear strips on my bug delector to protect the paint.

Mike

I remember even the old MPV was a 100 lbs rating and it was a beefy rack system.

 

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Update

Thanks to Salopenc72 for this update on the Yakima Q-Clips

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123637424

 

[X10James]

Just wanted to put in a good word for http://www.trademotion.com/ the company link that Miatafied posted earlier in this thread. I ordered the roof rack from them over the weekend and it arrived yesterday (tuesday). I went into the parts department of my local Mazda place and they weren't interested in negotiating the price at all, retail or walk. So I walked and ordered it for lots less and free shipping!

It only took a few minutes to install, though I wish there were a few more words in the instruction manual, trying to make it non-language specific means you have to stare at the diagrams a little longer But it seems quite solid and as far as my driving around last night in the tropical storm winds passing through here with Alberto, I could not tell that it made the wind noise much worse or affected handling any to have it up there.

Now I need to get a box or basket to put on top of it for the upcoming family vacation luggage and I can't decide. The basket you could certainly pack more into, but with a weight limit of 75kg you really shouldn't overload it too much. The hard boxes are better in the rain too and look more aerodynamic so I'll probably go that way but I'm still shopping around.

PS: I take back what I said about it making no more wind noise, they do. It's not horrible, but I will definitely take them off when i'm done choosing a box for them and only put them on when I need to carry something.

 

[airman_slacker]

has anyone considered the hitch containers? Here's some I found and I don't think it would be too bad (but then again, I've never bought or had extra cargo bins for my car).

http://www.prolineracks.com/hitch-mounted-cargo-carriers.html

 

[5-4-fighting]

This is my rail and rack set up

 

[MP5Alive]

This is my rail and rack set up

nice. you're in north america right? that doesn't look like the euro version. got more pics?

EDIT: found this