Yakima Mega Warrior

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Topmounter said:
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?
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Yes I was suprised too. Not sure of the exact increase in height, but wind resistance was noticeably increased. No, the landing pad control tower combo is not height adjustable.

My house is in a shambles due to re-modeling so I will post a picture of my current set up when I figure out where I put my camera.:doh:
 
After reading comments from everyone on the MegaWarrior, I felt confident about it and finally bought one. I'm going to try it out first on the existing Toyota crossbars to see if I need to upgrade to the Yakima ones based on how I intend to use them.

Now I have a stupid question. I need to move the factory crossbars to adjust to the proper spacing for installing the MegaWarrior basket. Do I just need to loosen the star-shaped knobs at the end of the crossbars to move them and then re-tighten once they're at the right position? I tried to loosen those knobs by hand and they seemed stuck and wouldn't turn. Before I try to use a pair of pliers on them I thought I check with all of you to make sure that there isn't some latch or other mechanisms keeping the knobs from turning that I need to undo before I force them with the pliers.

Thanks!
 
calskibum said:
After reading comments from everyone on the MegaWarrior, I felt confident about it and finally bought one. I'm going to try it out first on the existing Toyota crossbars to see if I need to upgrade to the Yakima ones based on how I intend to use them.

Now I have a stupid question. I need to move the factory crossbars to adjust to the proper spacing for installing the MegaWarrior basket. Do I just need to loosen the star-shaped knobs at the end of the crossbars to move them and then re-tighten once they're at the right position? I tried to loosen those knobs by hand and they seemed stuck and wouldn't turn. Before I try to use a pair of pliers on them I thought I check with all of you to make sure that there isn't some latch or other mechanisms keeping the knobs from turning that I need to undo before I force them with the pliers.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes, loosen the star-shaped knobs and make the adjustments. Use some pliers if needed and make sure they are good and tight when done.
 
Great thread guys,I was wondering if someone could post up a few pics.of the rack installed w/the yak.bars.I know they still have to attach to factory rack also.It seems like you would need 3 though,as the rack is long.I always like to have the round bars on to put on different Yakama stuff,like surf and ski racks.I also have the little yak. basket and it has been well used over the years.

I am looking for ideas to set up our 100,we are getting an 04 soon!!

Thanks,John
 
jsuthey said:
Anyone have a photo of the Mega without the ext. That might be a better set-up with 2-bars as I would prob.take it on and off as needed.
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I have the MW with extension and always install / remove the basket as needed. It takes about 5 minutes to install / remove once you have the crossbars in the right place and the brackets installed on the basket.

The first install, however, takes about an hour - and then you'll probably take everything apart because you will want to move the cross bars / brackets into a better position :doh:
 
Hi jsuthey,

Here are a couple of photos of my megawarior without the extension on the Yakima crossbars. Originally I was just going to mount it on the factory crossbars, but was a bit concerns about the factory crossbars flexing under heavy load in the basket. I may be over thinking this, but I thought since the factory crossbars are curved in its natural state, midway during their up and down flexing, the crossbars will be straight and parallel with the roof of the vehicle. I'm concerned that this straightening will push the siderails apart, and during bouncing, this repeated push and pull outward and inward will weaken the attachment points of the siderail to the roof, and possibly causing water leakage. I've dealt with water leakage from the windshield before and it was a pain to identify the source and do not want to go through it again.

One thing about wind noise. When I had the megawarrior on, there was very little wind noise. But when I took the megawarrior off but leaving the Yakima crossbars in place, the wind noise is quite loud. Right now I'm trying to decide to either put the megawarrior back on and suffer the reduced mpg, or to remove the yakima crossbars and then reinstall it when I need to have the basket put back on. Putting the basket on the crossbars is quick, but putting the crossbars on and making sure it's even on all sides is a pain.
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I just bought a MegaWarrior. It will come off and on during the year. I've got it mounted to my factory bars with Yak cross bars on Lowriders. However, it needs to be about 1" lower to clear my garage. Any ideas on a lower set up? Sounds like Yak Landing pads are a no-go...

Another rack (Eeziawn, FR, etc) isn't an option for me at this time.....
 
Phsycle - Below is a picture of a FR Wind Cheetah on my LC.

Another option could be to get either the FR or AO rails installed in place of the side rails and then add the control towers and Yakima bars.

I don't know if you can get just the rails, but it might lower it another inch or more vs. attaching the lowriders to the OEM side rails.

 
mpho said:
How about just mounting it on the factory cross bars...I did for a number of years...
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Thought about it, but I'd like to use the crossbars if possible for a more secure mounting.

SmoothLC said:
Phsycle - Below is a picture of a FR Wind Cheetah on my LC.

Another option could be to get either the FR or AO rails installed in place of the side rails and then add the control towers and Yakima bars.

I don't know if you can get just the rails, but it might lower it another inch or more vs. attaching the lowriders to the OEM side rails.
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Thanks. I'll look into it. I really like those tracks on your LC. I think I've seen you around the valley.
 
The factory crossbars are weak but you can fab up some better ones.

Or you can lose the factory rack and use the rhino-rack bars instead.
 
SmoothLC said:
Phsycle - Below is a picture of a FR Wind Cheetah on my LC.

Another option could be to get either the FR or AO rails installed in place of the side rails and then add the control towers and Yakima bars.

I don't know if you can get just the rails, but it might lower it another inch or more vs. attaching the lowriders to the OEM side rails.
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Hey, SmoothLC, can you measure the height of your Yakima bar up front? Maybe just before that first hump between the "A" and "K" on your Yakima fairing?

hoser said:
Or you can lose the factory rack and use the rhino-rack bars instead.
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Are you talking about these?

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/products_loadbars.htm

The only negative is my Yak attachments might not work on those bars. They look pretty beefy, though, and maybe slightly lower than my current set up. Anybody know the height on the bars?

...I hate my 7' garage door. Next house I build, #1 priority is 10' doors.
 
hoser said:
Yes, those.... or the aero version which is a little bit shorter.

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Those look like they just might be the ticket!

phsycle said:
Hey, SmoothLC, can you measure the height of your Yakima bar up front? Maybe just before that first hump between the "A" and "K" on your Yakima fairing? . . .
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Just measured - not as good as originally thought.

The top of the bar sits at 4 inches above the roof line in that spot.

If it helps, w/ 285/75s, 865 OMEs, and the rack fits well under our 7' garage and 7' parking garage at work.

...
 
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Thanks for the info. Looks like that set up has about 1/4-1/2" better clearance than my current set up. The Yak bars fit in the garage right now, but not with the Megawarrior on top.
 
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