Yakima Mega Warrior
- Thread starter mpho
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Here you go...Mega Warrior with Extension, Boa Bike Mounts and Wheel Forks...
Mine sits on the two oval factory loadbars. I am considering ordering a third to support the middle but it is quite strong with two. I had it loaded with 3 bikes, a large duffel (40#), 3 camp chairs and 2 bundles of firewood with no problems.
Wind noise is nominal as long as the sunroof is closed but the fairing clatters a bit when the sunroof is open.
Wind noise is nominal as long as the sunroof is closed but the fairing clatters a bit when the sunroof is open.
Hi Mtnracer,
I too am thinking about putting a megawarrior on my 100 and attach it to my factory oval crossbars. Since the factory crossbars bow/curve up in the center and that I assume that the bottom of the megawarrior is flat, when the megawarrior sits and attaches to the top of the factory crossbars, the attachment points are not far from the center of the crossbars, I'm I correct? If so, have you had any issues/concerns with weight loaded on the sides of the megawarrior where it's not being supported underheath with the crossbars due to the crossbars curvature? I'm trying to decided if I need to order the Yakima rail attachement and their flat crossbars or if I can save money and get away with just using the factory ones without concern.
Thanks!
I too am thinking about putting a megawarrior on my 100 and attach it to my factory oval crossbars. Since the factory crossbars bow/curve up in the center and that I assume that the bottom of the megawarrior is flat, when the megawarrior sits and attaches to the top of the factory crossbars, the attachment points are not far from the center of the crossbars, I'm I correct? If so, have you had any issues/concerns with weight loaded on the sides of the megawarrior where it's not being supported underheath with the crossbars due to the crossbars curvature? I'm trying to decided if I need to order the Yakima rail attachement and their flat crossbars or if I can save money and get away with just using the factory ones without concern.
Thanks!
No issues with side to side loading. Even with the slight curvature, the supports are far enough apart not to cause a problem. Save your money or use it to get all the cool upgrades: Light Mounting Bracket, Shovel Bracket, Hi Lift Jack Bracket, Basket Extension...
Thanks MtnRacer!
RogerCruiser, those 285s look nice on your truck.
RogerCruiser, those 285s look nice on your truck.
Had a mega warrior on the factory crossbars, but decided to add some Yak crossbars for real support.
It all depends on what you will be loading up there.
The ARB rear bumps is looking nice RogerCruiser! Would you recommend it?
It all depends on what you will be loading up there.
The ARB rear bumps is looking nice RogerCruiser! Would you recommend it?
FullyLitLED
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same question regarding the arb and how much additional height does the yakima add?
Adding additional cross pieces is one thing, but aren't the OEM rails still only rated for 150lbs max? I have already had the OEM cross pieces give way and replaced them with Yakima bars, which are very stout, but I am now very leery about the OEM rails.
Jonathan
Jonathan
You had the OEM crossbars give way or the side rails? What did you have up there when this happened?
I drove my LC cross country loaded with Yakima Mega Warrior with extension, 3 bicycles, a large duffel bag, 3 camp chairs and some other small crap without any problems...and that was with 2 cross bars.
I'd like this rack more if Yakima had an option for replacing the factory rack. My factory cross-bars do seem rather flimsy, but with the Yak bars installed there's really no use for them (I like to think they might add a little to the lateral stability of the factory rack).
The cross bars bent down. I had a cooler and water for a camping trip. We have 6 people in our family, so when we "pack up" for camping, we REALLY pack up!
The combination of a loaded cooler and about 14 gallons of water bent the OEM cross bars. We did have sleeping bags and a tent, along with some dry food too, but I think it was the water and cooler that did it in. For some silly reason, I don't think my backpacking sleeping bag did much to contribute. Guessing at the total weight we were probably about 175lbs on top. Yes, yes, I know the weight limit is stated to be 150, but I didn't think it would give way that easily.
Jonathan
Good ?? on the rating of the side rails... I think the side rails arr much more solid than the crossbars, so the rating must be for the lower rated factory crossbars.
All the flex disappears with either a yak or thule cross bar.
My Autohome Airtop is less than 150 lbs.
In Asia, we load up cruisers up top with serious loads... Rails look the same.
AO load bars might be a worthwhile upgrade to the factory rails. Stand up there if you want.
The mega warrior on top of the Yak crossbars is solid. I use this config for max carrying capacity.
All the flex disappears with either a yak or thule cross bar.
My Autohome Airtop is less than 150 lbs.
In Asia, we load up cruisers up top with serious loads... Rails look the same.
AO load bars might be a worthwhile upgrade to the factory rails. Stand up there if you want.
The mega warrior on top of the Yak crossbars is solid. I use this config for max carrying capacity.
I haven't had the bumper for too long, but so far, I love it. I use it to pull a 4,000 lb. toy hauler, I can step on it to reach the Yakima rack and I like the looks. Best of all, I got it for a good price here on Mud
I can't really compare it to any of the other ones out there, but so far I have to say that I recommend it
I have run the mega warrior in three different attachment configurations. First I attached it directly to the OEM cross rails. Very low profile, low wind resistance and worked well on the hiway. But offroad was a different story. Loaded with 2 five gal. gas cans, highlift jack and shovel, the rack moved up and down over washboard roads. The movement was visible to following vehicles. This caused the cross bar paint to fracture and flake off.
Next I went to Yakima low rider clamps and cross bars. The low riders attach directly to the OEM side rails. This raises the rack an inch or two higher, but wind resistance didn't seem to increase much. This was a much stronger attachment option, which eliminated the up and down motion of the rack offroad.
Planning to eventually install an AO rack, I first purchased just the tracks that attache to the roof. I removed the stock roof rack completely. After installing the tracks I purchased Yakima landing pads and control towers. This set up attaches directly to the tracks and is easy to attach and remove. No weight issuses with this set up. But the rack is raised up even further which caused noticable wind resistance and decreased gas milage.
The mega warrior is a very nice rack and it can be extended easily with the extension kit. The Higlift jack holder is well thought out and you can lock the jack to the rack. The shovel or axe holder is also excellent .
The drawback to me is the limited carrying ability of the stock OEM roof rails and crossbars. No fault of the mega warrior but something that must be considered.
I really didn't need all the room the mega warrior provided and with the Slee rear bumper I have another carrying place for the Highlift Jack. So I sold the mega warrior and purchased the smaller Basket Case. Very low profile, much lighter weight and it holds the extra gas cans.
Finally, IMO, if you like the mega warrior, get it but consider the low rider attachement option for off road.
Next I went to Yakima low rider clamps and cross bars. The low riders attach directly to the OEM side rails. This raises the rack an inch or two higher, but wind resistance didn't seem to increase much. This was a much stronger attachment option, which eliminated the up and down motion of the rack offroad.
Planning to eventually install an AO rack, I first purchased just the tracks that attache to the roof. I removed the stock roof rack completely. After installing the tracks I purchased Yakima landing pads and control towers. This set up attaches directly to the tracks and is easy to attach and remove. No weight issuses with this set up. But the rack is raised up even further which caused noticable wind resistance and decreased gas milage.
The mega warrior is a very nice rack and it can be extended easily with the extension kit. The Higlift jack holder is well thought out and you can lock the jack to the rack. The shovel or axe holder is also excellent .
The drawback to me is the limited carrying ability of the stock OEM roof rails and crossbars. No fault of the mega warrior but something that must be considered.
I really didn't need all the room the mega warrior provided and with the Slee rear bumper I have another carrying place for the Highlift Jack. So I sold the mega warrior and purchased the smaller Basket Case. Very low profile, much lighter weight and it holds the extra gas cans.
Finally, IMO, if you like the mega warrior, get it but consider the low rider attachement option for off road.
This is similar to what I currently have installed - Lowriders with Yak cross bars, a wind deflector, basketcase, and occasional Skybox 16. When camping we typically will load the Skybox and fold up one of the back seats for storage and then use the basketcase for water and cooler. This is what caused my OEM cross rails to buckle, similar to what 3rd was talking about. My '02 does not have the center attachment for the OEM rail to the truck, just the two ends, which also make me very leery of the overall weight.
I will be removing my OEM rack and replacing it as soon as I can afford the mod. With 6 people in our family and two dogs that sometime go with us, I usually NEED the extra on top just to get us there and back. We looked at the load warrior a lot. In fact, my wife wanted to buy it, but the OEM rails still keep me from moving forward on that one. I had not thought of replacing the rails and then using the Warrior and probably still would not because I would just plop on an ARB or a Front Runner instead. Have not decided since I have not looked too closely at the available options.
Yakima DOES make great stuff though. If they had something that fully replaced the OEM rack, I would probably use it since I have so much of their other stuff.
I will be removing my OEM rack and replacing it as soon as I can afford the mod. With 6 people in our family and two dogs that sometime go with us, I usually NEED the extra on top just to get us there and back. We looked at the load warrior a lot. In fact, my wife wanted to buy it, but the OEM rails still keep me from moving forward on that one. I had not thought of replacing the rails and then using the Warrior and probably still would not because I would just plop on an ARB or a Front Runner instead. Have not decided since I have not looked too closely at the available options.
Yakima DOES make great stuff though. If they had something that fully replaced the OEM rack, I would probably use it since I have so much of their other stuff.
I'm surprised that the distance between the Yak bars and roof is significantly higher with the landing pad / control tower combination and the low-riders over the factory rails.
Is the landing pad / control tower setup height adjustable?
