Front Runner Rails Compatible with Yakima Landing Pads & Control Towers?

[SmoothLC]

Got a request from a Mudder for some additional pics of the rack.

Here's some poser shots . . .

 

[SmoothLC]

Couple more . . .

 

[SmoothLC]

Made some recent changes - shortened the round Yakima bars to minimize wind resistance. I also looked at a number of fairing / wind deflector options and eventually went with the largest Yakima fairing (50"). Since this size rested on the rails and made some noise, they were notched slightly using a Dremel.

Overall, the rack is great. Have a few more items I need to get for some of the trips we have planned for this summer and fall, but so far no complaints!

 

[Equipt]

Great work with the wind fairing. I have been thinking of doing the same thing on my full size rack. Does it work well?

Thanks,

 

[GranolaJoe]

Looks great. Thanks for posting those. Love the fairing idea.

Can you attach Thule or Yakima stuff directly to this rack? Like a box, bike rack, or ski rack. After thinking about my needs in a rack, direct attachment is my #1 priority.

 

[SmoothLC]

Great work with the wind fairing. I have been thinking of doing the same thing on my full size rack. Does it work well?

Thanks,

Yeah, I'd have to say it definitely cuts down on the noise. IIRC Paul, you've got the 2.2 FR, so you may want to also check out Dan's (Spressomon) fabbed up fairing. His rig has got more coverage from the windshield on up.

 

[SmoothLC]

Looks great. Thanks for posting those. Love the fairing idea.

Can you attach Thule or Yakima stuff directly to this rack? Like a box, bike rack, or ski rack. After thinking about my needs in a rack, direct attachment is my #1 priority.

Hey Granola,

Check out the Front Runner rack accessories on Equipt (Paul's site). Also, refer to his earlier post in this thread.

I was hoping that by now Front Runner would have come out with some attachments for both/either Thule or Yakima. But it looks like no such luck.

One reason I went with this rack though is b/c of the large number of standard off-road and "recreational" attachments (e.g. bike mount, ski mount, etc.). Most of our outdoor "glamping" trips are in the spring/summer/fall timeframe so when we go off-road I can throw on the bike mounts up top and carry mountain bikes along with other stuff. In the winter, the slimline comes off and control towers go on and I can put the ski/snowboard stuff up top. Lastly, I can always put on the bike hitch mount when I take the road bikes (usually when we stay on pavement).

So the flexibility of the rack itself is great.

But, like you said, I'd prefer to leave the rack on all the time and attach the SprocketRocket or the FatCat as needed. This would help minimize $$, which is always a good thing in my book.

 

[GranolaJoe]

Okay, I'm slow. But are you saying you can attach your Yak stuff directly or are you saying that you can attach the FR attachments easily?

Obviously, I do not want to buy new attachments.

 

[SmoothLC]

Sorry for the confusing post:

• You CAN attach Yakima accessories, but you 1) have to remove the Front Runner rack, and 2) install the Yakima control towers to the Front Runner rails. So in essence, you'd only be using the rails from the Front Runner system and everything else would be Yakima; e.g. control towers, bars, + attachments.

• You CANNOT attach Yakima accessories direct to the Front Runner rack itself.