I use the Yakima on my rear hatch. Pics at the link below if any interest. I
modified the clasping part of the tower (shortened it 3/4") and use locks on
them and the fork mount so everything's secure and attached. They'll have to
steal the van to get the bikes.
Bob Stevens

http://groups.msn.com/BobsPhotoShare

----- Original Message -----
From: "VWNut Hawk" <vwnut@HAWKCOMPUTING.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: Camper Roof rack questions..

> I use the yakima towers and round bars on 3 of my Vanagon's.
> Wow they are great.  I always worry that someone will rip them off.
> I didn't spend for the locks.
> I haul canoes, boards etc.  Very strong!
>
> >>> Bill Marshall <Willolyn99@AOL.COM> 6/24/2003 9:14:00 AM >>>
> Sam said:
> ""I think the round rack bar is more heavily built and will bend less
> easily
> than the square Thule.""
>
> I agree.  I used to sell roof racks, long ago, and I've seen lots of
> bent
> cross bars, but never on a Yakima.  Also, because of the round bars,
> bike racks
> and other things always line up correctly.  With square bars, if you
> have any
> curve in your roof, or your bars are not in the same plane, you will
> have to
> bend or loosen everything to make things fit.  With the round bars, you
> just
> rotate the bars to align everything.  (this actually does make
> sense...planes vs.
> tangents)
>
> I also saw photos of a roll-over accident in which the Yakima rack was
> the
> only thing that survived intact.  The Yakima rack system is stronger
> than your
> raingutters.
>
> Bill Marshall
> 85 GL Tiico "Pandora's Box"
> Aurora, IL
>