Roof Rack Recommendations for LiftBack RS

[drc13]

Hi Guys

So I've just picked myself up a 10ft Stand Up Paddle Board and it looks like my only option to transport it around is on the roof of my 2010 Skoda Octavia VRS liftback. I got it back to my place using soft racks but I'm not sure how well I trust them with the paintwork on the roof.

It now has me considering spending the money on some roof racks. They will be mostly used to transport the SUP, maybe occasionally a surfboard with it and during winter a snowboard/bindings.

Not knowing anything about roof racks at all does anyone have any recommendations and is it a case of you get what you pay for?

These are the ones I'm currently looking at.

http://www.whispbar.com.au/cars/skoda/octavia/2010/5doorliftback-133313

Other than looks what are downsides of roof racks? I presume they will cause some wind noise and extra fuel consumption. Do they wear away at the door sills (as that seems to be how they connect) or paintwork? Are they easy enough to install/remove when needed?

Thanks in advance!

[kamold]

I was researching bars a while back and Whispbar seemed to be the go from my research. Didnt end up getting them but Roof Rack City stock them.

[drc13]

Thanks Kamold,

Good to hear I'm looking in the right direction. I've just found a set for what seems like a pretty good price so think I'm going to pull the trigger. Deciding between flush bar or through bar. This aesthetics will win out in the end and I'll go flush

[woofy]

From friends who have put them on, they are a pain to get off so they just leave them there permanently. I think KIWI here does much the same thing. There are little indents in the door sill of each door where they locate if you have a look. They look like little bolt holes.

[drc13]

Cheers woofy,

Opened my doors and had a look and noticed the bolt holes.

Just put in an order for the flush version of the whisperbars. Thought it would be a tougher decision but these seem like a good choice.

[dportaz]

Where did you get the whisbars from and how much...? Im looking at the same because they are quite and look sleek so they can stay on...

[spud75]

Cheers woofy,

Opened my doors and had a look and noticed the bolt holes.

Just put in an order for the flush version of the whisperbars. Thought it would be a tougher decision but these seem like a good choice.

got whispbars for the a3 and had rhino on the a4. the a3 has flush as they look better. I have snowboard and cycle racks. They are mot that much of a pain to get on/off. I must say. the whispbars are reeeeallllly quiet. I hardly notice them.on. the next thing I buy for the RS will be a set of whispbars.

[Martin]

I've got the whispbar on my Octavia - cost $190 via ebay

[woofy]

Whispbars are what I had planned for our Santa Fe as they are what Hyundai sell as their own branded OEM. Haven't got around to it as without side steps its a fun time to try and reach up there!

[dportaz]

I've got the whispbar on my Octavia - cost $190 via ebay

Huh... Cheapest price I can see online is $290... did you get em a while ago or used or something...?? If they were new, then lucky you...

At $200 id buy them in a heart beat...

[drc13]

the next thing I buy for the RS will be a set of whispbars.

That's what I like to hear!

I have snowboard racks.

Ok maybe a silly question but if I didn't want to spend the extra couple of hundred come winter what's stopping me strapping my snowboard to the racks (with pads) vs the specialised snowboard racks (which I've used on mates cars up until this point)

Huh... Cheapest price I can see online is $290... did you get em a while ago or used or something...?? If they were new, then lucky you...

At $200 id buy them in a heart beat...

Yep got them off ebay for $296 delivered. Going by his sig Martin has a wagon so I thought they'd be cheaper but looking at the same store they are the same price so he did well!

[dportaz]

Yep got them off ebay for $296 delivered. Going by his sig Martin has a wagon so less parts needed hense cheaper price.

I got a wagon also... RRP is $330 for the sleek whispbars and again, can't find anything under $300 (delivery inc)...

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[drc13]

I got a wagon also... RRP is $330 for the sleek whispbars and again, can't find anything under $300 (delivery inc)...

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Yeah sorry you beat me to the edit. When I checked the store I was surprised to see them the same price. FYI I got quoted $359 at a local roof rack place.

[Martin]

Huh... Cheapest price I can see online is $290... did you get em a while ago or used or something...?? If they were new, then lucky you...

I bought them Jan/2013 - some warehouse was dumping lots of stuff that they had not been able to sell
To tell the truth, they have been more like $250 now that I think about it - it was still lots cheaper than everything else at the time

[spud75]

Ok maybe a silly question but if I didn't want to spend the extra couple of hundred come winter what's stopping me strapping my snowboard to the racks (with pads) vs the specialised snowboard racks (which I've used on mates cars up until this point)

Absolutely nothing. I have a 6 ski pair rack that fits 2 x snowboards side by side, which means I can carry 4 boards. 2 x back to back. The convenience is fantastic, and you know yours boards are safe secure, and wont get damaged. It ultimately comes down to how much you paid for your board/s, how much you value them, and how much you value convenience.

Same with bike racks. I have 2 x barracuda stand up racks that secure around the down tube of the frame. But I also have a fork mount rack as well, as one of the bikes has an aero frame (tear drop shape, and using a down tube clamp sideways on the frame is asking to crack the frame. (My preference is to carry all inside the car (bikes and boards), but you cant always do that, so that is when you weigh up what you want your racks to do.)

How often do you go to snow? Have you got a $1000 board or a $300 board?