Comments on: Thule 883 Glide & Set Rooftop Kayak Carrier

By: C. Alves

C. Alves — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:23:49 +0000

Review by C. Alves for Thule Sidearm Rooftop Upright Bike Carrier Rating: This is one of the easiest racks to use. It takes seconds to install the bike. I think it is worth the extra money. The only issue is smaller person may have a problem lifting the entire bike on the roof.

By: Nipponjin

Nipponjin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:31:05 +0000

Review by Nipponjin for Thule Sidearm Rooftop Upright Bike Carrier Rating: Why did I buy the item through Amazon from out of US? Yes, that's what people wonder. I would say one thing, it's worth buying from Amazon.com. We can trust, fast responce, and easy to buy. Whatellse do we need? Besides, the item also doesn't exist in Japan, no one has it. It's cool I am may the only one who has it.. hehe. Thnx for everything.

By: Lars H. Hansen

Lars H. Hansen — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:42:41 +0000

Review by Lars H. Hansen for Thule Sidearm Rooftop Upright Bike Carrier Rating: The Thule Sidearm is a very good rack. I have been using it for about a month and it holds my rood bikes securely to the hood of my car with-out any front-end wind-induced wiggling.
It was however not easy to install and I found I had to reverse the installation sequence of the rear roof clamp and the rear wheel fastener - not easy since the rack had already been secured to my roof bars.
I also find that the "sidearm" which secures the front wheel is stiff and takes some elbow grease to move about.

By: Bike Mynx

Bike Mynx — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:54:11 +0000

Review by Bike Mynx for Thule Sidearm Rooftop Upright Bike Carrier Rating: This bike rack is awsome. It takes all the weight and distributes it evenly on the roof of the car, while other rear bike racks eventually will damage your car's suspension, (I speak from experience). It fits any bike, from little light weight roadies to serious full suspension downhill monsters! It does have a pretty good locking system however, like most bike/ski/snowboard racks, they are just a deterent. If somebody reallys wants your gear, they'll get it. Better to unload when parked overnight, or in sketchy locations. I have two of these babies and my fiance and I travel in style in our 89 Civic with our two bikes on the roof!! Here we come Whistler bike park!

By: Cut and Run

Cut and Run — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:18:01 +0000

Review by Cut and Run for Thule Sidearm Rooftop Upright Bike Carrier Rating: This rack is lightweight, sturdy, and quick to load and unload. It holds the bike steady on twisting mountain roads and at highway speeds substantially in excess of the posted signs. I had to do a very unscheduled unload while attempting a low clearance In-n-Out Burger drive through this past weekend. There's nothing like trying to unload a roof rack while several cars in line behind me watch and laugh, but I had the bike off the roof in under 20 seconds.

Assembling the rack is another story. It is not intuitive and the instructions reminded me of another Scandanavian company--Ikea (this is not a good thing). Between attaching the Thule fairing and the bike rack, it took me about two hours. Of course, once assembled, it attaches and removes easily.

By: Wilfredo M. Viray

Wilfredo M. Viray — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:57:54 +0000

Review by Wilfredo M. Viray for Thule 883 Glide & Set Rooftop Kayak Carrier Rating: I have tried Blocks, Yakima Racks and now the Thule. Firstly, I love that Thule has a complete package, so that I don't have to figure out which items to mix and match. Secondly, this makes it possible to load a kayak alone with very little effort. I did buy the Thule Mat to help slide the kayak on the roof of my van.

Please keep in mind, as the name implies that this is a KAYAK ROOF RACK, not for bikes, Canoes, or surf boards. So ONLY FOR KAYAKS. This is for the common everyday variety Hard shell plastic Kayaks. Anything else will not work. If you have a Wooden Sea Kayak, this is not for you in my opinion. I don't think the saddle material was designed for it. Wood has a different coefficient of Friction as Plastic.

But for us people with the garden variety, everyday plastic Kayaks like Hobie, Cobra, Pelican or Ocean, this is perfect.

Pros:
1. Installation - Piece of cake to install. I have factory rook racks, and you just need to put it on top and tighten the knobs. That is it. There are 2 sets of bolts, a long one and a short one. Make sure you use the right length to fit your rack. Instructions are clear and well written and illustrated.

2. Design - Unlike the other load assist systems from Thule or Yakima, these have no moving parts that can break or scratch your kayak. The Hydro Glide in the rear is so smooth that it will not damage your kayak. The front Saddles can be adjusted to fit your kayaks hull so it is a snug fit every time.

3. Quality - Very well made, and does look very good.

Cons:
1. Straps - The Straps work and look nice but I prefer Ratcheting straps. Personal preference.

By: M. Lynch

M. Lynch — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:14:31 +0000

Review by M. Lynch for Thule 883 Glide & Set Rooftop Kayak Carrier Rating: This is a great product. I have 2 17 foot kayaks. One is narrower than the other, these adjust to the size of each one.
Easy to instal on the base rack. If you are using a bunch of different thule racks, one might want to have a separate set for just kayaks. I have mine set in place and I can get the entire rack off the car with the bars and the crossroad towers without having to reajust the settings of the kayak rack. I can put the rack and the boats on the car and have them tied down in 10 minutes.

By: glmccready

glmccready — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:08:33 +0000

Review by glmccready for Thule 883 Glide & Set Rooftop Kayak Carrier Rating: I've used this rack for a year, and some long distance hauling. I like the quality, and ease of use so much I bought another. It takes a little time to put on my minivan, but the kayak stays put. The ratcheting ropes fore and aft, are a great feature. Would I buy again: Yes, I just did!

By: Michael L. Large

Michael L. Large — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:18:11 +0000

Review by Michael L. Large for Thule 883 Glide & Set Rooftop Kayak Carrier Rating: I no longer have to heft my 14' kayak onto the roof rack of my Expedition. Now I simply slide it into the cradle. This is a terrific racking system that is well worth the cost.

By: Andie

Andie — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:10:24 +0000

Review by Andie for Thule 883 Glide & Set Rooftop Kayak Carrier Rating: I was not sure which type of rooftop carrier to purchase to transport my new kayak. I was expecially concerned because I am 5'4" and have to lift a kayak to the top of a RAV4. The carrier was easy to install on my factory installed mount and my boat slides on and off with ease. (I do carry a small step stool to make it easier to tie-down the boat.) This product comes with quick draw bow and stern tie downs so you do not need to order a separate set unless you want to have a spare. (note: In putting together the rack - the directions indicated using the longest set of screws/bolts - but the shorter ones were much better for my vehicle.) This was a great purchase for me - easy to install and easy to use.