Industries 968 Black Roof Turbo Rack

I bought this to use with a Reese Towpower 7018100 Canoe Loader on my F150 Supercrew, to carry a long 15.5' Ascend C156 canoe. My wife gave me a few disbelieving stares when I was putting this up on the roof and running the little strap through the doors, but I soldiered on. It feels weak and feeble going on, but once the weight of the canoe is up there and some ratcheting tie-downs are applying downward force, this little gem really shines! The foam blocks are just firm enough to keep the bar plenty clear of the roof, but just squishy enough to really seat to where you placed them on the roof. And after a few short trial trips near home, I felt confident enough to use this setup on a 2500 mile road trip with multiple canoe loads/unloads. This kit worked perfect every time.The best feature is the ability to collapse the pole down and store it when not being used. The two foam blocks and metal pole actually fit beneath my truck's back seat when I had the canoe off. I can't stress enough how your doubts will nag you while setting this thing up the first time. But just be sure and cinch everything down on top of it and it'll work great! This thing is a brilliant solution to a problem that I was about to spend nearly a thousand dollars to fix with an installed Thule rack system. Thanks Darby Industries, and thanks to the other reviewers that convinced me to give it a go!

When I got the rack, I had it together in less than 5 minutes, but I quickly modified it once I had the length set for the roof of my 2012 F-150 Crew max. I gorilla taped the seam where the tubes come together then I used plumbing tube insulation to wrap around it for added thickness and protection to my kayak. I finished it off by replacing the Z hooks with eye bolts that I could lock through the bar so that the strap would not have a chance of moving out, and then took the whole thing and wrapped it with black gorilla tape, it looks much more tough now and is thicker and more durable. I just wish the bar was about 2 inches higher off the roof.

Overall, this is a good product constructed of quality materials and is offered at a good price. You can certainly find more sturdy racks out there, but you're going to pay significantly more.I bought this rack to go over the cab of my F150 super crew cab and recently used it on a trip that involved about 700 miles of 80+ mph highway driving. I have a rack with 2 cross bars on my bed, but I needed the roof rack to keep the bows of the canoes from hitting the roof of the cab. This rack worked great with one canoe, but it was a bit tight getting two canoes on the rack. This is not a design problem, but is simply a function of the size of the product. The seller should consider offering a wider rack for larger trucks.The construction is solid and works well for its intended purpose. Other reviewers who have commented that the rack is "cheap" or "flimsy" need to remember that this is a temporary rack, so you are giving up some quality for the convenience of being able to remove the rack in 30 seconds. And for the price, you can't find a better product. If you want something super solid, spend the $200+ and get a Yakima or Thule Rack. If you want something that you can install in seconds to carry your boats, this is an excellent product. You simply have to check the rack periodically to make sure nothing has come loose.I always tinker with my gear, and I found a way to improve this product somewhat. First, the cross bar is in two pieces for ease of storage. The smaller diameter pipe is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the larger pipe, so the rack has a tiny bit of play in it. I wrapped the end of the smaller diameter bar with a piece of Gorilla tape, which resulted in a nice, snug fit between the two bars (though they were harder to take apart). Also, I covered my bars with rubber heat shrink sheathing (the kind electricians use to insulate and protect wire joints). I put 1 layer on the larger diameter bar and 2 layers on the smaller diameter bar so that the entire cross bar is now the same diameter. Also, the heat shrink covered the joint between the two bars since I won't ever need to take it apart. The heat shrink gives the bars a bit softer coating to protect your boats, and it also results in a snugger fit between the bar and the rubber roof supports.As for the guy who gave this product a one star rating because the rack didn't "fit" his 15' boat: dude, that's not the manufacturer's fault. Go measure the boat and truck before you purchase a rack. If it doesn't fit, take responsibility for not reading the product description instead of flaming the seller.

I purchased this product for hauling long lumber and trim boards in conjunction with a thule truck canopy rack with load stops. Works as advertised. Simple to set up. I found the wind noise created by the product to be very loud so do not recommend leaving it on your rig when not in use. Also note that the instructions indicate not to use if your vehicle has side curtain air-bags as the straps would interfere with their deployment . Not sure that is mentioned in the write up.

I love these racks! I am surprised at how well they work. I bought 2 to carry a canoe on the roof of my Dodge Ram 1500 crew cab. They work great. With a long load like that, I tie the stem and stern to the front/rear bumpers of the truck, but I've taken the canoe more than 20 miles into washboard gravel road access to a mountain lake, and zero problems. The straps that hold the racks (thru the cab doors) are strong and designed with a buckle similar to that of a motorcycle tie down. You can apply some serious tension on these straps, and they hold VERY well. The foam blocks are both sturdy and gentle on the paint. These cost a bit more than a "pair" of racks from another company, but I'm glad I chose these. They will last for years.

I have a 2011 F150 Super Crew Cab and the width was perfect. I used it for securing a canoe (1). I was able to put it on and tighten by myself. I really cranked down on the canoe and bowed the rack, however once tension was released it returned to being straight. The Foam blocks are nice and prevent any dents. I think this is excellent for a temporary rack that stores under a seat. This would be great for ladders, some lighter pipe, and lumber. I think anyone that complains about this item either use if for an item or weight that it is not made for, or have no idea what they are doing.