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It’s no secret that most vehicles do not have enough space to carry large items such as kayaks, bikes or snowboards. Roof racks are the solution to this problem as they let your car carry them on the top so that the passengers do not have to be squeezed in. 

The inventory at Burnaby Hitch offers a selection of quality roof racks along with vehicle accessories that can get you to your destinations. Having been in the business for over 30 years, we know

what exactly our customers need. We provide various equipment and services including RV towing, LINE-X spray on bedliners and more. You can always count on us for getting the job done right the first time.

What Is a Roof Rack and What Is It Comprised Of?

Basically, a roof rack is simply a set of bars attached on top of the vehicle. Some are designed for specific cargo types. The concept behind it is really simple, and it is mostly made of a few parts:

The mount – This is the component that will be attached to your vehicle. It will bear the weight of everything on the roof. It will be very particular to your car’s make, year and model. The type will change on the basis of the rack that is mounted.

The tower – This is the part that joins the mount to the next component, which is the crossbar. It mostly comes with a locking ability, so your roof rack will not be removed by anyone.

The crossbars – These are the bars that run across the width of the roof. They bear the weight of the items that are put on the roof and transfer the weight to the tower.

Accessories – Once you have the rack on your vehicle, you can fix accessories to the crossbars to transport your stuff.

Choosing the mount is the most important part of the process. The tower will always be the right one for the mount.

The Roof Rack That Will Fit Your Car

The kind of roof rack you can use will depend on your vehicle’s roof. Roof rack options for cars can be temporary (can be removed) or permanent (can’t be removed after installation). The main roof types are:

Naked/ Bare Roofs

Cars that have plastic strips which run front-to-back on the roof are called naked roof cars.

The best roof rack for these types of roof is clip fit. It can tension around the door frame that does not have any pre-installed attachment points. These fits need an exact measurement for ensuring correct installation. Brands that provide clip towers include

• Yakima Q Tower
• Yakima BaseLine
• Yakima 1C SST Tower
• Thule 400XT
• Thule 480 Traverse

Doing a custom permanent installation by using either fixed or track point mounts is the second main option. These will be permanent and offer greater flexibility in positioning the roof rack.

Side Rails – Raised and Flushed

Many wagons, SUVs and crossovers come with factory-installed side rails. These rails run front-to-back on the roof. These are strong attachment points devised to bear a roof rack system.

Raised side rails are lifted off the roof in a manner that a tower can be assembled around it. Brands that provide raised side rail towers include

• Yakima TimberLine
• Yakima LowRider
• Thule 450 CrossRoad

Flush side rails are placed straight against the roof and normally have pinholes to fit in towers. Brands that provide flush side rail towers include

• Yakima RidgeLine
• Yakima RailGrab
•  Thule Podium 460
• Yakima Locking EZ Rider

Fixed point or factory track

Several cars come with roof rack mounting points which are built into the roof. Certain ones also come with tracks installed on the roof. These enable easy installation of base towers. Brands that provide a fixed point or track towers include

• Yakima 1A High Rise
• Yakima 1A
• Thule 953
• Thule 300

Let Burnaby Hitch Help

Whether you are heading to the mountains or the countryside, we have you covered. You can trust our experienced staff in selecting the right roof rack for your car. We provide equipment from only the best brands in the business at affordable prices. Have a look at our gallery to see some of our workmanship.

For information on choosing a bike rack, read our blog post - How to Choose a Bike Rack

Call us today to learn more about our cost-effective services.

Are you looking to buy a bike rack? If so, you may be wondering what type would be best suited for your purposes. Here’s a guide to the three most popular types and what you should know about each one.

Many outdoor enthusiasts swear by their roof racks. These handy contraptions allow you to head out into nature and enjoy your favourite sport or activity. However, it’s very important to ensure that all this expensive equipment — and the roof rack itself — doesn’t get stolen. Here are some tips for preventing the theft of roof racks and cargo boxes and the gear they carry.

With ski season upon us, it’s time to start thinking about a rack that’ll make hauling your skis to the mountain a snap. The name Thule is synonymous with high quality roof racks and cargo boxes, so while there are many brands available to people in Vancouver, there are a number of compelling reasons to choose Thule.

When you bought your car, you may have considered the size of the trunk with respect to your day-to-day life, but a car with a trunk that’s big enough to carry your groceries home isn’t necessarily big enough for weekend skiing or long road trips. Roof and cargo boxes allow you to gain extra space in your car when you’re leaving heading out of Vancouver on an outdoor adventure.

When it comes to ski racks in Vancouver, your two main options are either going to be a roof-mounted ski rack or a hitch-mounted ski rack. Picking the right one can make your ski trips go a lot more smoothly, but how do you decide? From the providers of ski racks in Vancouver at Burnaby Hitch, here are some important pros and cons of roof- and hitch-mounted ski racks that you should consider.

Roof racks and hitch racks are two fantastic option for transporting large items and extra gear or luggage that won't fit inside of your vehicle. Sometimes your vehicle may only be suited to one type of rack. If, however, you have the option for either one, then you've got a choice to make. Let the experts at Burnaby Hitch help you choose. Here are three questions to ask yourself when trying to decide between a roof rack and a hitch rack.

Many people in Vancouver use truck accessories to improve various aspects of their truck. Truck accessories from Vancouver's Burnaby Hitch, such as towing mirrors, tonneau covers, floor mats, truck racks, tool boxes, and seat covers can help enhance your truck's functionality for any of your usual activities, from camping to heavy-duty towing.

In the Vancouver area, roof racks are useful for transporting cargo safely and efficiently. They help ensure that you won't be overstuffing the cabin and making the ride uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for your passengers.

Trucks are the vehicle of choice for people from all walks of life. Many use trucks for a combination of work and fun, as they can handle tough workloads and tough terrain. Truck accessories can help optimize a truck for whatever activity you use it for.

For many of the active outdoor enthusiasts who live in Vancouver, bike racks from a bike rack supplier such as Burnaby Hitch are a very worthwhile investment. They allow you to take your bike out for a spin along the ample scenic paths both within and outside of the city. They allow you to take your bike out for a spin along the ample scenic paths both within and outside of the city.