Good looking setup. Strong. Easy to use take on and off car. East to mount/unmount bikes. All around great product

The plastic roller thing in the head could use some updating.

Thule makes a beautiful and strong rack system. I was skeptical at first about putting my new bikes on my roof, but after buying and installing my Thule system, I easily carry 4 bikes with no worry. I did buy mine from different people on craigslist, but the build quality Thule puts in these rack gave me the confidence to buy someone's used equipment.

Built rock solid. looks great too

None, my rack has served it's purpose well many times and probably will for a long time.

Lots of negative reviews here I don't understand. Some folks even saying it took 2 hours to put thier bake rack on thier vehicle. That could be the actual problem. They are all pretty simple in design four towers put them on tighten then put your bike on them. Never seen a bike rack that didn't allow the bike to sway some while driving on rough roads. They do make tie down straps for rugged terrain.

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Used a friends Yakima

Horrible design for setup. Instructions are also poor.

If you're looking for something that's easy to use and setup, this is not a good choice. Horrendous design for initial setup.

Square makes it easy to install accessories.

1. Square bars are weak. The bars were actually bowed using using a ski holder to haul snowboard.

2. The rubber pads, the contours did not match the roof line, so that dirt easily got underneath destroying the paint under the pad.

3. The install brackets are a PITA to put over the pins on the roof, as well as removing.

For a 1999.5 to 2005 VW Jetta & Golf, buy the OE Votex set up instead. The install & fit of the rubber pads are a joke. At least the Votex gives you some clear sheets to put under the feet for extra protection. If you still want an aftermarket Thule setup, put clear bra under the rubber pads.

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OE Votex Cross Bars (made by Thule, sold by VW)

Solid fit- vastly superior and more dependable than Yakima

Difficult installation- get Diamond Brand to do it for you unless you like to pull your hair out

The Thule system is not as stylish-looking, and makes slightly more wind noise, but it stays on the car much better! I experienced catastrophic failure of my Yakima Q-tower system flying off my 2008 Honda Civic, and my wife's 2000 Honda CRV. So far, I've heard the same story fron eleven other people who drive low-profile, sleek vehicles without factory racks. Yakima's Q-clip system attempts to fit multiple cars with common clips that just don't work. Their tower system gradually loosens itself over time. Yakima will also put you through hell trying to warranty their product. Thule makes a custom clip for every car, with all metal (ugly but functional) tower pieces- if you like your gear in one peice, avoid Yakima at all cost!

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Yakima Q-tower system

none

fit, cost, wind noise, customer support, dealer support...shall I go on?

What a nightmare...spent 4 hours the first day trying to install load bars on my Audi TT (this rack was "specialy designed" for this car...HA!). Returned to dealer several times and they could not do any better. Thule customer service is a joke. They verified the placement of the load bars and the wind deflector is getting in the way of my wipers, WTF! What really iritates me the most is that Yakima does not make a roof rack for my car and I am stuck with this. Going back to dealer one more time to get proper fit, will return and go with Yakima hitch rack if they cant help.

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saris

I don't know what to say. I have the same load bars on my 2003 Pathfinder that I put on my 1985 Chevy Cavaliere back in 1994 when I was in college. I have loaded everything you can imagine on them,, furniture,, 2x4's,etc. Everything.The bike rails are from 1994 too and I still use them to this day. I have had to replace footpacks because I am on my 4th Pathfinder since that Chevy and the different factory roof racks needed different adapters,, but the load bars and bike rails are perfect. Rust on the load bar a little,, plastic is cracked,, but hey,, 13 years almost,, across the country 2 times,, east coast from Vermont to West Virginia countless times,, I think they are doing damn good. Anyone that is having trouble with there THULE products is lying or just plain had bad luck. I have installed these racks on friends cars too and they have been great. I recomend them for sure

NONE

THULE is a great rack,great company,great product.

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NONE,, never would try another brand.

The Thule model #477, Short Roof Adaptor, is a component. for mounting roof racks on some vehicles that would not otherwise provide sufficient bar spread to mount bike carriers. Product appears to be strong and durable.

Installation is very tricky and instructions, particularly in measurement, position and adjustments, must be precisely followed. Even then, this item does not result in a secure, rigid and stable roof rack. I think that the design needs some serious work.

Although this item might be the only choice for putting a roof rack on some cars, I don't believe that it is much of an option. I'll admit that the dealer warned me that he didn't have a very high opinion of it. He also told me he wouldn't help with the installation and that furthermore, if I wasn't happy with it, everything else BUT the Thule 477 SRA was returnable. Being a hardheaded sort of fellow, I had to find out for myself. I'd like to blame the dealer because he probably should'a refused to sell the darn thing to me but truth is, that would'a made me even more madder!
So I guess I'm just gonna keep on doing things the hard way & Ya;ll have a nice day!
:-)

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Easy to use, keep bikes locked while mounted
Can be fitted to other vehicles with minor additional parts

Durability
Reliability

This review is for the Velo Vise system mounted in Thule Aero bars.
After three years of little use I have experienced just too much trouble with this rack system. I have seen that the problems are the same as the ones reported in this review board, which makes me believe that the Velo vise system has yet to improve a lot to be considered worthwhile.
1o - Breakage ! The head unit in secured in the bars with a single bolt and it just cant take the continuous side to side loading when driving in unpaved roads (this unit is designed for disk brakes, used in MOUNTAIN BIKES, which trails sometimes required driving in unpaved roads to get to, no surprise here Thule !).Even driving carefuly, my head unit has cracked TWICE and the third time it was the bolt itself that snapped. Almost had the bike flying on the highway...

2o - The plastic roller adjuster seizes, compromising proper securing of the fork. Mine actually failed and unexpectedly realeased the fork dropouts while driving, almost resulting in a catastrophic event.

After all this trouble, I just cant trust this sytem anymore. Nothing is worse than drive to trailhaed constantly worring if the rack is going to fail. Cant recomned this. I wish I could find Yakima here in Brazil...

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I don't have a lot of time and the last thing I want to do is spent it putting my Bike on and off a rack. The Tracker foot is fast and easy and the Big Mouth Bike carrier is just as easy to use - Strong too.

None

I would even thing of another system

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