Best surfracks for a Prius?

I'd go with the SOFT racks or the gutterless system

LOOK Here: http://www.surfboardracks.com/

 

Check this thread: http://priuschat.com/new-Saris-roof-racks-...arm-t17908.html
and http://priuschat.com/Yakima-track-installation-t14943.html
and http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=15243&hl=roof+rack

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(teddy b @ Apr 12 2006, 04:49 PM) [snapback]238710[/snapback]</div>

(sorry, couldn't help myself)

 

I have the Yakima system and it's great. Comes with these gel pads that totally protect the paint job. It pops on and off easier than a softrack. And even with the boards on, it hasn't cut into my mileage too much.

It took awhile to get it adjusted just right when I first got it. But now that I've got it perfect, it's just awesome.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(teddy b @ Apr 12 2006, 03:49 PM) [snapback]238710[/snapback]</div>

Wow, I'm in EXACTLY the same boat! I am selling my Toyota 4Runner to get the metallic grey prius (next week), cause i'm a surfer and an environmentalist and just can stomach my own hypocrisy anymore. i joined the site looking for advice on surf racks (i too am a longboader)...it looks like the yakima softies are the best so far. I am a bit nervous about soft racks though, especially for long trips, as i have a friend whose board flew off her car on I-5...into the middle of the freeway and great mayhem.

Anyway, would like to hear any more feedback out there about the surf racks.

thanks!

Leila

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(teddy b @ Apr 13 2006, 02:35 PM) [snapback]239263[/snapback]</div>

Hey Now! Ba Ba Booey, Ba Ba Booey......

 

(heavy Mexican accent)
"surf rack....."
"we don't need no stinkin surf rack"...

 

Heck, I'm not even sure what "soft racks" are? Foam blocks that sit on the roof?

I've owned the Yakima and Saris (hard?) system for the Prius, and I chose the Saris as the one that fit my needs the best. Which one you choose will depend on many factors! It is much easier to spread out the Saris bars. Yakima recommends a pretty narrow bar spread, and that won't work with my Rocket Box. The Saris racks can go anywhere, and can be repositioned instantly. The Yakima would require quite a bit of fiddling to reposition them. Once set up, and if you only want to put them back in the same place each time - the Yakima system is fine. The Yakima should only be installed with two people, however. With the Saris, one-person installation is easier, and much less likely to scratch your paint.

Anyway, here's the page I made for the two racks:
http://www.darelldd.com/ev/prius_racks.htm

 

My 10'2" longboard fits in my prius with no problem if I put down the passenger seat. I have my passenger sit behind me.

 

does your 10 2 go out the window as well? i have a 9 0 and got soft racks....bad idea!

they seem very unstable. i drove from the oc to san diego and panicked that i was going to lose my board the whole time.

additionally soft racks mess with the door seal and its super loud all the time. moreover since the prinus in curved on the inside you have a big strap straight across the inside almost as low as your head.........

keep checking around.

 

DO NOT use a FCS soft rack. Even though my board is 6'8" and can fit inside the Prius with room to spare, I had some some other "people" with their "stuff" (family and luggage) who wanted to come along too. Being the finicky engineering type I am, I had to do a test with the soft rack and my board going down some empty local roads (back in FL, San Diego doesn't have empty roads). I also decided to stick my laptop in the passenger seat and tape my cheap webcam to the roof of the car so I could see the board as I was driving.

Anyways... as soon as I hit 30, the board was hovering 6" off the roof. I had the straps as tight as they would go, but the board was still loose. (And being 6'3" myself, my head was hitting the forward strap.)

Long story short, I managed to jam the board over everyones' head inside the car. (Ironically, when we got to the beach 2 hrs later, the waves seemed to be missing. <_< )

 

Let's go surfin' now
Everybody's learnin' how,
Come on a safari with me . . .
[attachmentid=12591]


So-o-o-o-o, is the Prius gonna become the new Woody?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Nov 24 2007, 05:29 AM) [snapback]543545[/snapback]</div>

I'm not sure about that. You can't put a hula doll on the dash because of the strange angle and the MFD.
Yes, I did try this when I worked at Disney. The top of the MFD was just begging for a Stitch hula doll, but good taste prevailed.
(BTW, the application of vinyl wood to the Prius, or any car, should be considered a crime against humanity.)

 

I'm thinking about some soft racks for a rare occasion if I need them bc I have passengers. Did the soft racks damage or dent or roof?