I have had this for about 3 months, and it is in like new condition. Thanks. It uses cradles and straps and cushions your snow gears for added protection. Thule and Yakima are the Pepsi and Coke of the rack world. I agree with the rubber washers… the bolt head goes right down through them if you get them too tight. YAKIMA, Outdoorsman 300 Truck Bed Rack System for Hauling Ladders and Lumber, Compact 4.4 out of 5 stars 26 $239.00 $ 239 . Tim A [OP] Well-Known Member. Believe it or not, one of the most common causes of kayak damage is not by using them but by transporting them. This great rack adds serious space to your pickup — no drilling necessary. Thule T2 Pro is $294.18 more expensive than an average car bike rack ($155.77). Take a look at the racks that kayak manufacturers have custom built! I ended up drlling a hole in the bars for each, and used a self tapping screw to prevent them from rolling. Designed for compact trucks, the Outdoorsman 300 clamps onto your truck bed rails without any drilling, making it easy to install. I am having a hard time deciding between the two. After all, most searches boil down to these two brands. Even harder for cars that are not big enough to carry skis. Simply put the cradles into place and strap them down. These locks guarantee the security of your skis and snowboards. That’s right, loading them with your skis. Then after you have them as tight as you can get them, and put the kayak on, you can’t tighten them any more since the phillips head which is now under the kayak turns when you tighten the knurled knob which is on the bottom. Yakima Outdoorsman 300 Ladder Rack with 58" CrossBars for Compact Trucks - Y01136-Y00409 Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars ( 12 Customer Reviews ) Order: Relevance Newest Rating - High to Low Rating - Low to High Keep your truck bed free of cargo and still haul a full load with the Outdoorsman 300. The Tram package includes with it a Thule One-Key lock core on each hinged arm. Perhaps they are better these days? Post Reply. Chose it because it fits the factory rack on my Subaru Forester, and seemed like a good deal at $80. These materials should be durable enough to withstand any weather conditions. The Thule setup, without having to buy new rollers/cradles is about $630. Trucks are neat in that you can have an aluminum rack tig welded for about what you’d pay for these toy racks. They seem to have thought of everything their customers may need. It leaves you from the burden of having your rearview blocked by hitch racks. Yakima Outdoorsman 300 Towers - Pair. Make sure to loosen up the bottom clamp a little for the skis to easily slide into it. But, if this is your first time to hear these names, read on. I prefer the Yakima racksPersonally, I prefer the Yakima racks. With all the brands out in the market, we narrowed it down to the two of the finest names, Thule and Yakima. However, there are also those that can be mounted separately. They are the giants in rack industry and the ski racks they have come up with really lives up to every skier’s needs. This adds aesthetics while keeping it durable and corrosion-resistant. Considering the Yakima® Outdoorsman 300™?For about $100 more the Thule 422XT - Xsporter offers 150 pounds extra load capacity, five position height adjustablity, fits both compact and full sized trucks, fits Toyota Tacoma and Tundra bed track systems with XK adapter, rust free 6000 series aluminum construction, die-cast aluminum load stops, four Thule … How easy it is to get things stored and moved plays a huge role in being able to consume less time loading and unloading. With different preferences on how to mount it, Yakima lets you do it either the T-Slot method and clamp style. Not a lot of brands in the rack industry offer a selection as wide as Thule’s. In order to discern the best fit for your vehicle you will want to input your vehicle’s information into a fit guide.Both Yakima and Thule supply fit guides to detail what will fit on you… Thule SnowPack is fitted with Thule’s One-Key System. One good feature about this carrier is that you can raise it up to about two and a half inches up to accommodate skis with tall bindings. I have narrowed my rack decision for my 97 Nissan pickup down to the Yakima Outdoorsman 300 Compact or the Thule Xsporter Compact. These push-buttons are easy to use even with your gloves on. It also causes whistling at certain driving speeds. Go for a rack that mounts up easily. It can hold up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards. No judgment is better than that, that has been personally experienced. Like Thule, Yakima FatCat EVO raises its arm up, so you can slide in your winter gears. I Endorse Thule Because I Own Yakimas"Eeny-meeny-miney-moe…", Just don’t try to mix and match !I have been a yakama owner for years, (saddles, gunwhale brackets, bike holders, and ski racks) Thule SnowPack Ski and Snowboard Carrier (Item TH7326), Yakima FatCat EVO 6 Ski and Snowboard Carrier (Item Y03096), round, square, aero, elliptical, and most factory crossbars, square, aero, elliptical, and most factory crossbars. For simply carrying bikes, I don't have a preference. Refer to the table below to get a brief overview of Thule and Yakima … Yakima HitchSki Snowboard contests with their 2-positioned upper arms and adjustable lower arms that can accommodate any skis and snowboards. Fabrication should consider the elimination of rattles and whistles as you drive at any speed. Their experiences are first hand and will tell you whether the product is worth your every cent. Not in mine, since…They are on the top of a pick up truck, and I want to slide the yaks on from the back. Make sure you are aware that they can be swapped out to make all your Thule products keyed alike. You can design the rack to accomodate accessories from factory systems. Wind drag greatly affects your fuel usage. JackL. Thule SnowPack Ski and Snowboard Carrier installs with its SpeedLink universal mounting system. Thule and Yakima both took advantage of the technology improving locking systems, so there is a lot to watch out for from these two. Thule Tram Ski and Snowboard Carrier (Item TH9033), Yakima HitchSki Snowboard and Ski Carrier (Item Y02418), Thule hitch-mounted bike racks and Thule spare tire bike racks, Yakima hitch mounted, dual arm style carriers (mostly those that are 4 and 5 bike models), for 2″ hitches: 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards Simply add it to your current dual-arm, hitch-mounted bike rack. Ski Racks are great investments if you are the kind who takes to the mountain and enjoys snowy adventures. These releases the arms in an upward motion, so you’d be able to lie down your ski or snowboard and tuck them in safely. This design prevents anyone from stealing it. The low-profile Thule Edge system offers a sleek, integrated design, while the Thule Evo system maximizes the … Having your ski racks on top of your vehicle makes it feel more like it is one with the car. Anyone with experience with these two products please provide some input to help me decide. While the bottom clamps are loosened up, slide your skis or snowboards in and then clam it shit. Its vertical spring system can contain thick snowboards. Thule Xsporter Pro Multi-Height Aluminum Truck Rack 500XT $ 799.95 ... Yakima Outdoorsman 300 Fullsize 8001137 $ 209.00 Yakima Outdoorsman 300 Fullsize 8001137. You have a lot to choose from with their extensive models. Constantly aiming at staying one step ahead, and working closely together with the car industry, Thule introduces a new generation of roof rack systems: Thule Edge and Thule Evo. The only problem with them is that they completely prevent the brackets from being tightend down. I don’t recall putting cars down, or making any references to trucks being manly. A Big plus in my view. Been hauling stuff for many years. This is an awesome bed rack system that can be used with or without a range of accessories to carry anything under the sun. I took it out of the box in the store and it's super-solid and heavy duty. Easy as 1, 2, 3. Rack shops that carry both brands will know which works best on your car. Thule vs Yakima: Finding the Right Ski Rack, for 2″ hitches: 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards, Working like a clip, Thule has an oversized push-button at the edge of each arm. After checking out the head to head comparisons of 4 of Thule and Yakima’s ski racks, we proceed with what you need to look for in getting your gear to help you with your skis hauling. Deciding which ski rack to get for your next winter trip needs you to make a thorough assessment of all the information you get from each brand. Meanwhile, Yakima HitchSki Snowboard installs as a bike would to your bike rack. They are bulky, long and just simply can’t be made to fit into small spaces. Either way, having your ski rack attached to the hitch helps you reduce concerns about wind drags. Its smart vertical spring system provides the carrier with a low profile which in turn improves aerodynamics. Carry skis and snowboards with larger bindings. This spring system has an ultra-soft rubber that helps fasten skis and snowboards in place. Their ski and snowboard mounts get you and all your gears to the mountains with ease and comfort. The keyholes in the carrier’s arms, as well as the SpeedLink mounting assembly, are keyed alike, so there’s only one key needed. It should match your vehicle. Either way, two main factors to consider are price and configuration. It is also nice to have a ski rack that complements your vehicle’s style, so you might as well consider its aesthetic features. The next generation of roof racks. The Outdoorsman clamps to the truck bed and provides a heavy-duty support that handles up to 300 pounds. Check the materials the ski rack is built with and base your decision from there. Locking systems are essential, so you can enjoy taking that 15-minute break from a long drive at the nearest gas station. They include rubber washers instead of lock washers, and then when you try and tighten the the phillips head bolts down, the washers have so much play that they work they way over the head of the bolt. 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