Roof rack

Hey all,

I'd like to put a bike rack on my P5, but the roof rack isn't quite standard. Anybody know what models will fit?

Thanks,
-Stephen

I was wondering the same thing. I had a thule on my last car so now I have the ski and bike attachments leftover. Are there going to be adapters available from Thule to attach the carriers I already own? I know if you go to thule's website they have the protege5 in their system, but I can't find anything else out. I haven't checked in a bout a month though.

there is a rack available for you guys....i have it. mazda makes towers that fit in the existing holes. this is a real roof rack not the crap one you see in picture. the good part is the bars that come with the rack are thule and as such will fit all thule accessories. try "rack attack" in toronto they should have the parts you need. i got mine in montreal and for the towers, bars, deflector, and ski attachment i paid $540, that's with locks on both the towers and ski part.

So the rack that we have in the States is not the correct rack for thule attachments?

i would have to say no. however never having seen the rack available in the states i can't be sure. hopefully tomorrow i can upload a photo to show the rack i have.

i hope this works.....this is a shot of my rack but just the front bar. the back is the same only no deflector.

<img src=http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ec549496/bc/My+Photos/p5rack1.jpg?bcJcsg8AuD4.6hJM>


obviously i suck at html...so if you want to see a pic of my rack go to
www.roswel.s5.com/photo.html

[ 01-01-2002: Message edited by: roswel ]

I saw a Thule "basket" on a P5 last week. I call it a basket, because that's exactly what it was. Looked like hell and HAD to be noisy.

I have a solution for the bike problem that you may want to try. Yakima does indeed make a rack for the mp5 but it is not integrated with the factory rack and is big bucks. I carry 2 bikes on the factory rack with an easy to make custom set up. I bought a set of yakima H14 clamps which are not made for, but fit the profile of the factory rails very nicely. I also bought a Yakima steelhead fork mount (made for bolting to the bed of a truck). I also used a rear wheel tray from a standard Yakima bike kit which I had from a previous car. I mount the steelhead fork mount to the front rail of the factory rack using 2 of the H14 clamps. I mount the rear wheel tray to the rear rail using one of the H14 clamps (they come in a set of 4). The wheelbase is a tad short but it has worked well for me. These parts are all available at Yakima dealers for a reasonable price. I have used this set up for several months now with no problems. you can email me if you want more info or pics. kbudd@nerinxhs.org

kevin - Could you post pics with relative part #s (mebbe a how-to) please? i have a bunch of bike rack parts left over from my old pickup and id like to rig something up too.

roswel - Did you put lowering springs on your p5? looks like aftermarket tint and 1"-2" drop.

aftermarket tints for sure...35 all around. however other than that and a drop in K&N she's bone stock, no springs.

let's see if this works...


<img src=http://www.roswel.s5.com/images/p5rack.jpg>

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: roswel ]

The Canadian Mazda rack is a bite unsightly, I have one, but it only take 2 or 3 minutes to put it on or take it off. I bought a bike rail assemble from Canadian Tire that fits and works well. Can't remember the make but it is a name brand and not one you'll find in their cataloge or online store. It may have been a special purchase or a mistake but it works great and only cost $89.

The U.S. factory rack is more stylish but not as strong as the Canadian dealer sold version. Also I believe it can't be remove, at least it's not meant to be removed?

The US version rack is pretty strong, it actually bolts into the roof supports. It can be unbolted and removed, but the long plastic trim pieces remain, where the Canadian version doesn't have those plastic pieces along the roof. I've used the rack (US version) to carry things before and it worked really well.

what i was hoping for was a means to clamp onto us version, then attach yakima bike holder dealies to the improvised clamps. the us version is oval/oblong in a disection, not a round pole like yakima normally is (that ive seen)

how do u take the rook rack off? is it easy? will it leave holes?

Taking the roof rack off is really easy. Your car should have come with a destruction manual to take the rack off and then there are covers that go in the holes left by the rack. EASY!

kevin - thanks, it looks like you have the us rack. i think im going to attempt something like this soon. (once i accrue a few more paychecks) i'll post my pics too once done. When i wen tot hte bike shop on sat. they had some newer designs, for instance yakima now mounts to square and round bars using same hardware. they also have a rear wheel (cup) its 7" or 8" long instead of the "sled" that i am used to.

emailed to me:

"The parts I used are:
A set of Yakima 14H horizontal mighty mounts $40/set of 4
A blockhead fork mount #1117 $20
A short wheel tray from an old rack ( you can probably find one of these at a Yakima dealer) A few 1/2-20 bolts, washers, and nuts

I attached the blockhead to the front rail with 2 of the mighty mounts and 2 bolts (Pic # 24)

I attached the rear wheel tray to the rear rail using one of the mighty mounts and the carriage bolt that came with the tray. The head of the carriage bolt fits into a channel on the bottom of thee tray and goes through the mighty mount and then a wingnut goes on the bottom. (pic # 21). Just be sure the bolt is chort enough that it doesn't hit the top of the car.

Another possibility which would probably work even better is to buy a Lockjaw bike mount Yakima # 2037 for $85 and mount it to the factory rack using the 14H mighty mounts.
http://www.yakima.com/products/dynamic/8003518_7.html

I would have used that set up except, I like the fork mount type and I had the wheel trays at home from an old rack and I was too cheap to spend the $85 dollars.

I want to be perfectly clear that the 14H clamps are not made for the Mazda rack but I find that they fit pretty well. Also, I make no guarantees as to the integrity of this set-up. I suspect that the roof rack is the weak point in the whole system. Check the T bolts to be sure the rack is secure. I also have been checking the mighty mount clamps for signs of fatigue and cracks. I have had them on since August and so far I have seen none. I hope this gives you some ideas.

Kevin"

pic the first
pic the second
pic the third