Got my Wheeleez, a new Hobie and then my Thule rack broke!

Well we were in Sacramento and stopped by Adventure Sports for their moving sale.  I got a full size Wheeleez for 160 dollars.  I am even more excited that is fits into the front hatch of my P13, although snug.  I know I will not be able to stow rods in there with the cart, but most my long walks are at the lake or easy launches.  I will walk the cart back to the truck on surf launches.

I also got a new scotty LED light.  I mounted it on my plano box for foggy or dark conditions.  I gooped the scotty holder onto my plano box and secured it with some aircraft rivets I had laying around. I didn't feel like messing around with more stainless bolts on the box, it already looks like Plano Frankenstein.

Then my wife saw a Hobie kayak that she had to have.  It is the Mirage Outfitter tandem model for her and my daughter.  I didn't have much input as her mind was made up and the credit card out.  Ouch.  Oh well I did get my Wheeleez.

Then I went to put the Thule racks on the truck to take it home.  But one of the towers would not snap!  I tried and tried but it wouldn't engage the roof bracket, and the darn thing is BRAND NEW!  I just had it put on the truck!  So we slid the kayak in the back of the truck, and strapped it down.  Now I have to go back to the truck store and do a warranty on the Thule rack. Arggg....I am glad I found out about it before going down the freeway, but now have some doubts on the rack.  I hope it is just a defect of the one tower.  The rest seemed secure.

Well at least I have a nice cart for this year although I now have to fish for food!  Matt

What model of the rack? Xsporter?

-Brian G

It is the Thule Tracker II roof rack system.  I have the roof rails mounted on the camper shell, with the towers and rails.  The rest of the towers clip on great.  It is just the one tower, it will not engage onto any of the rail mounts.  I can't visually see anything wrong.  It feels like when inserted it is rocking on something.  I think something is binding up, before the rail mount can fully clip inside.  Maybe the tollerances are simply too tight on this one?  Not sure, but it is definately getting send back tomorrow.  Matt

Matt, I hate when something brand new and that expensive don't work
When I saw the price of rack systems I decided to go the ghetto route. For my rack I went down to home depot and picked up two of those 36 in. stainless steel handrails (20 bucks each) you see in a handicapped bathroom stall or shower. I mounted them to the top of my camper shell and pad them with an extra large pool noodle.
works great for 40 bucks
Congrats on the new cart and yak for the wife and kid, hope they work better than the Thule rack
 
 Tad

Nice idea Tad!  Yours will probably last forever too!  Of course while I was leaving today, the door handle fell off in my hand and I had to fix a sprinkler head the wife stepped on.....I hope that it is true that bad luck runs in 3s.

Well went to the truck store and I am getting a whole new rack under warrantee, although all I needed was the tower.  The guy promised to go over the entire rack before I leave the shop.  They really went through the tower and couldn't find what was wrong, just that it wouldn't engage.  The sales guy honestly seemed stumped.  It all should be in Monday.  They were really apologetic and courteous about it.

I also have to look into ordering a Hull-a-Port J rack for the roof rack.  My wife's' new kayak is too wide to fit along side mine.  I measured my bars today at 58" across.  My kayak is 28" wide, hers is 34" wide.  I read good reviews on the j racks as long as the bow and stern are tied down.  I will likely just get one, and lay my kayak flat on the bars.  I do have to say that new Hobie is heavy!  I will have to keep a small step ladder in the truck to help lift it onto the roof.

Well now I can get back to fun things, that the errands are done.  Matt

That is cool that they are replacing it fairly hassel free. I did notice on my yakima that if I try to unlock under load it won't engage the lock. Tension on the bars could have been causing the issue or there is a mis alignment in the system.

-Brian G