| norcalchuck |
| I just took delivery of an '03 base model and purchased the Acura base carrier rack which I was oging to install. I've used Yakima racks in the past and liked the ablity to lock the rack to the roof. It appears to me that the factory rack does not lock, e.g, someone could simply unscrw/unbolt the rack and make off with everything. The factory rack did not come with any installation instructions. Any thoughts on this appreciated. |
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| AcuraMDX2002 |
I never thought about that! I guess someone could make off with my bumper, too....
I really don't think anyone is going to disassemble the entire base rack and take it off your X -- it's several pieces, and without all of them it's quite useless. |
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| mgmdx |
quote:
Originally posted by AcuraMDX2002
I never thought about that! I guess someone could make off with my bumper, too....
I really don't think anyone is going to disassemble the entire base rack and take it off your X -- it's several pieces, and without all of them it's quite useless.
AcuraMDX2002,
I do not think norcalchuck is worried about the roof rack itself being stolen, rather, he is concerned that someone might steal the cargo he is carrying (bikes, skis, etc.) by unbolting the roof rack.
While this is always a possibility and the Yakima roof rack with the locking towers does provide higher security in that respect, the bottom line is that if someone really wants to steal your cargo off the roof rack they will find a way to do it. It would probably be much faster for the thief to cut thru the roof rack with a saw, than to take the time to unbolt it.
norcalchuck,
In my opinion, if you plan on actually using your roof rack to carry a variety of loads, Yakima rack provides a fully functional and flexible solution for the MDX that is a much better alternative than the OEM Acura rack. If, on the other hand, you are installing the rack primarily for looks and do not plan on using it very often, than the OEM roof rack will probably work for you. |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by norcalchuck
I just took delivery of an '03 base model and purchased the Acura base carrier rack which I was oging to install. I've used Yakima racks in the past and liked the ablity to lock the rack to the roof. It appears to me that the factory rack does not lock, e.g, someone could simply unscrw/unbolt the rack and make off with everything. The factory rack did not come with any installation instructions. Any thoughts on this appreciated.
You can download the instructions from Tim at: http://webp5.t3link.com/hondacurawo...structions/mdx/
Good Luck! |
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| norcalchuck |
| Actually the reason it is an issue is for example, with skiing. Four sets of new skiis can be very attractive to a thief as you are looing at perhaps $3,000 worth of equipment. I have always had a locking ski rack system to deter such theft, especially if the car is parked overnight outside. The Yakima system uses locks in in the mounts so that the ski rack cannot be removed (and of course ski rack attachment itself is locked). I am not concerned with the nominal value of the rack, but its contents. I suppose thre is a bit of deterrence with the Acura rack since the bolts to the roof torx bolts. I've read the threads re use of Yakima towers and need to see if the current versions solved some of the problems other noted with those Yakima towers. |
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| mgmdx |
quote:
Originally posted by norcalchuck
... I've read the threads re use of Yakima towers and need to see if the current versions solved some of the problems other noted with those Yakima towers.
norcalchuck,
Which specific problems with the Yakima towers are you referring to? I am not aware of any past or current problems with this setup. |
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| norcalchuck |
| My recollection was that there were issues as to the placement of the Yakima towers putting the cross bar too far forward and over the moonroof. I am going to take a look at the new Yakima catalog and hardware and check it out. I know that Yakima makes clamps that will enable use of their "buttondown" ski rack attachment to be used with the Acura rack crossbars. |
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| mgmdx |
You are referring to Yakima's Q-tower solution for the MDX. This, of course, is not a very good option. It has numerous deficiencies (discussed in several previous threads) that eliminate the roof rack's flexibility and decrease its usefulness.
Several better options are available to create a flexible and fully functional Yakima roof rack solution for your MDX. Some of these that have been utilized by acuramdx.org members are as follows:
mgmdx - http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...=&threadid=3459
TheyCallMeBruce - http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...ght=Tracks+roof
TypeMDX - http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...ght=Tracks+roof
There is plenty of information including detailed instructions and pictures in the above threads. This is the only way to go if you need a truly functional and flexible roof rack system for your MDX. |
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