Show Us Your Rack!

I have the yakima whispbars installed. I also have a skybox but don't need it installed till I go out of town. I will try to get a pic when its on the car.

 

The whispbar looks so much better in your photo than the Yakima stock photos. I was thinking of simply transferring the tower bars, flaring and copperheads I had left over from the RSX, buy some new Q Towers for the Prius and save some $$$. But I might need to reconsider!

 

I've actually had round bars with the fairing back in the day on my 92 civic hatchback. The noise level on the whispbars are very minimal compared to the round bars on the Civic. Very happy with this setup so far. Although I haven't had a chance to drive it with the Skybox mounted so that might be a different story.

 

You have the Whispbar S16 through system right, not the T16? I think I'm going to invest in a completely new Yakima roof rack system to lug around our two new Trek bikes, surf boards and snowboards for winter. Any recommendation on bike mounts? I'm eyeing the Frontloader. Total investment equates to a Prius PLUS ground effects kit or new sets of 17" rims but I have more use with a roof rack than a body kit or rims for now .

Edit: funny I had a 93 civic hb before the RSX myself.

 

Yes I have the S16 through system. I don't lug around bikes so I can't recommend anything in that department. Yea I had a whole slew of imports, then I got older, got married, and had a kid. Priority tends to change. Now I'm just trying to be practical. I do have the occasional itch to soup up the Prius though

 

Lol we all go through that phase. Hence why I got the Prius myself: mpg and practicality. Thanks for your input on the S16!

 

I couldn't find a 2" receiver for my 2008 Prius. Coastal Tech used to sell one, but their site shows out of stock and talking to them, they do not expect to sell it again. Torklift central offered to make one, through cutting the 1.25" hitch off and welding a 2" hitch on.

I opted to go w/ the 1 1/4" since my current hitch rack, Yakima Bighorn 4, can be bought with a piece to fit either 1 1/4" or 2" receivers. I just had to buy the 1 1/4" piece and my rack was instantly converted to fit a 1 1/4" rack. It still comes with the Yakima locking bolt, so there is absolutely no play or wobble. The key comes down to whether or not the 1 1/4" receiver you buy has a stopper in it. Some put in a stopper to prevent it from being overloaded and in this case the Yakima won't work because the locking bolt won't line up. I bought the hitch from Uhaul and have had no issues.

So far, the most I've put on there is 2 bikes, but don't see any reason i couldn't do all four.

 

Curt hitch and a Yakima Double Down 5. Yes, 5 bikes but I've only had 3 on, 2 downhill bikes and my all mountain Santa Cruz Blur LT2. The rack has an adapter to fit a 2 inch so I can put it on my truck as well.

 

I was originally going to try a 5 bike carrier but, my research seemed to indicate that 5 bikes would completely overload the Class I capability of a Prius Hitch ( not because of weakness in the hitch but, because of the weak hitch mounting points on the prius and the extra tork added by mounting bikes far out on the stinger arms).
I retreated from my 5 bike dreams and, instead went with the Thule Helium 3 bike carrier as it is only 26 pounds and can safely accomodate just 105lbs of bikes (3x35lb bikes) or, 2 bikes on a class 1 hitch. So, I would love to hear some regular updates about how you are faring if you ever start hauling 5 bikes and what the total load/ weight was? (including bikes and carrier). So keep us posted if you are brave enough to mount 5 bikes cause if you get away with it, I certainly would like to. FYI, when I was researching the Thule Apex 5 bike rack (42Lbs), they said in the instructions that you should never mount more than 2 bikes on a class I hitch (says that on the Thule helium intructions too). Now, I know they are being ultra conservative since they don't wanna get sued since they are putting it in writting but, I'm just saying what the experts are saying. Good Luck with your testing and keep us posted. Thanks!

 

Finally got to use the Skybox from Yakima this weekend. It worked out great! Going from northern Ca to Coos Bay in Oregon. Milage was still great from 40-45 MPG with a packed car and cargo box

 

Looks like everyone gets older/married/has kids..lol I got rid of my FP powered 1998 talon awd 450 to the wheels!!! Anyone else with a rear rack feel like the mileage isnt too good. My 29er sticks out from both ends and i think its causing drag.

 

Setup for legally carrying bikes out the back (in Europe and here).

 

Not sure if anyone is interested, but Amazon is having a promotion on Thule racks -- where you get 12% off if you buy more than one qualifying product, and then an additional 10% off price in cart. The coupon code is RACKDEAL.

When I tried the code, it only applied the 12% off, but not the additional 10%. So I did a chat with customer service, who told me to just order, and they'd make the adjustment on their side afterward.

All told, I got the Aeroblade 53" bars, the Traverse 480R feet and the 1566 fit kit for ~307+tax. I was eyeing the same setup at REI yesterday, and it came out to 425 before taxes.

 

my other storage rack.

 

Jimmy, do you get any wind noise around the towers/clips? I'm leaning toward a Whispbar rack and likely picking up a Skybox 12, too. How's the wind noise w/ the Skybox 16?

 

Surprisingly the noise if very very minimal....even with the skybox mounted. I used the have the round yakima bars on my Civic back in the day and the noise level on those were horrible. I was very please with these particular type of racks.