OEM Roof Rack - Strong Enough to Support Bike Rails?

JesseCRXJesseCRX Council Member
in General Civic Wagon Discussion
I used to have a Yakima rack on my wagon but I took it off once I found the missing pieces to my OEM rack.

I wanted to know if the OEM rack is strong enough to support 2 bikes if I get the right attachments to work with the OEM crossbars. I plan on buying 2 forkmount attachments either from Yakima or Thule.

Honda has some bike rails but they are not fork-mount style. I wanna keep the bikes as kinda low on the roof if possible.

If anyone is running this setup or knows if the anchors on the OEM roof rack are strong enough please chime in.

Thanks!

Comments

  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    The anchors are strong enough. I've had 4 bikes on ours with the same style hardware. The crossbars should be fine, but I have no direct experience with that. My concern would be with the plastic end pieces.
  • JesseCRXJesseCRX Council Member
    bam-bam wrote:
    The anchors are strong enough. I've had 4 bikes on ours with the same style hardware. The crossbars should be fine, but I have no direct experience with that. My concern would be with the plastic end pieces.

    Do you have any pics of the setup you were running with the OEM rack?
    How's the family doin? Jay says HI!
  • JesseCRXJesseCRX Council Member
    Ok, I was wondering if there is anyone on here using Yakima Landing Pads on the usdm base rails??

    I was at my local sports shop and saw the landing pads but there are so damn many to choose from. And when I look in the catalog to match the pads our wagons call for Q-Towers. I showed the salesman my setup and said I should definitely be able to use landing pads/control towers but I would have to match landing pads for my setup.

    So on that note, is there another OEM Honda that has the same kind of roofrack setup as the wagon(usdm)?
  • oilspotoilspot Wagonist
    JesseCRX wrote:
    Ok, I was wondering if there is anyone on here using Yakima Landing Pads on the usdm base rails??
    I pulled the usdm base rails off my wagon and put on the ford aerostar ones (if i remember, they're the same cross section, just way longer.
    If my memory is right then you should be able to just add the yakima control towers, and landing pads (type 1) and be able to go from there.



    or......

    Do the aerostar rail swap. Run the wagon rack most of the time. Leave the landing pads float in there so you can bolt in your yakima stuff when you want. This assuming you wanna roll with the oem look most of the time.
  • oilspotoilspot Wagonist
    I snapped a quick pic of the rail so you can compare it to oem.

    436.jpg
  • JesseCRXJesseCRX Council Member
    Great info!
    So in theory I should be able to run Type 1 landing pads on my OEM rails?

    What year Aerostar?

    Your setup is EXACTLY what I am wanting to do....to have the ability to throw on my yakima stuff for my bikes as needed without dealing with those damn clamping q towers.
  • oilspotoilspot Wagonist
    JesseCRX wrote:
    So in theory I should be able to run Type 1 landing pads on my OEM rails?

    What year Aerostar?
    Yes! But I'd measure your rails and measure some aerostar ones to double check if your planning to use existing rails. I'd hate to send you in the wrong direction

    What year.... ? I just spotted some turd Aerostar from across the scrapyard, climbed up and it is was just what I was lookin for. I bet they're the same all years. Rails were a little too long, had to trim them to size. Keep the hardware, it'll be 1/4" 20, that's what was in my usdm rack also. Then go to harbor freight and buy one of these to add the extra nut insert things in the roof (oh my it does 1/4" 20 :D ). (remember not to drill through your headliner!)
    http://www.harborfreight.com/45-piece-t ... -1210.html

    Rack on my car is solid as a rock!
  • JesseCRXJesseCRX Council Member
    Couldn't I just cut the Aerostar rails to the same length as my OEM ones? Or am I thinkin this over incorrectly lol! :lol:

    I don't wanna put more holes in my roof if I don't have too...because I am a clutz!
  • oilspotoilspot Wagonist
    I'm thinking the usdm rails may have the same dimensions, other than length, as the aerostar ones. That's what i was saying you should double check.
  • JesseCRXJesseCRX Council Member
    I have an extra roof rack. Gonna take it to the junkyard and see if they match. Thanks for the info, Oilspot! You been great!
  • bikewrenchbikewrench Wagonist
    I'd suggest getting the thule tracker II tower and TK1 kit. Much better than the control tower.

    I have a set of railrider towers, the ones that oilspot posted, with the bases and bars if you're interested.
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