Racks and Cargo Management
From roof racks to cargo management systems, the Calgary Hitch Shop is ready to meet your travelling needs. Whether you’re transporting your bicycle to rugged trails, your kayak to raging whitewater or you just want some extra luggage space, we have just what you need. Let us get you on the road to recreation with quality brands like Blue Ox®, Swagman, Thule, and Yakima®.
Our team at the Calgary Hitch Shop wants to ensure that we find the best cargo management products for you, your vehicle, and your travel needs. Our experts are well versed in consulting on the most suitable products for a variety of jobs.
What kind of roof rack do I need?
When determining what kind of rack or cargo accessory you need we always suggest starting with determining what items you will be carrying; this may seem straightforward, however, it can be easy to overlook important details. When it comes to cargo management it is important to find balance and not opt for an accessory that is too big or too small. Luggage and smaller sports items are often best stored in a cargo box whereas bigger sports items such as a bike or kayak will need a specific rack to transport it safely.
With this in mind, the type of roof you opt for will be based on its application. For instance, a cargo box is your best option if you plan on travelling with numerous items that will clutter your vehicle’s interior. Or, if you have larger items in need of transport, then the ideal choice will probably be a cargo basket with tie-downs.
Roof rack solutions based on your vehicle’s roof weight capacity
Another important element to consider when shopping for cargo storage for your vehicle is the weight capacity of the roof of your vehicle. If your cargo weighs too much it can cause irreversible damage to the roof of your vehicle. Usually, the bars and crossbars of a roof rack can be adjusted to properly distribute the weight on the roof so that too much pressure is not put on one area; however, it is important to know that load-carrying capacity of your vehicle before you begin shopping for your rack or other cargo accessories. The roof rack and load carrying capacity for your vehicle can easily be found online or in your vehicle owner manual.
Lastly, we encourage customers to calculate and guestimate the load they anticipate to be carrying when the vehicle is “fully loaded”. All vehicles come with maximum weight capacity, so while it may seem like the best idea to opt for the largest cargo box it could actually have the opposite effect and negatively impact the efficiency of your vehicle. It is integral to your safety and the productivity of your vehicle to note overload it with too much cargo.
Conclusion
The best way to utilize your vehicle’s transportation abilities is to obtain the proper racks and baskets. It makes things easier and more efficient and will save you a lot of headaches along the way. For this reason, you’ll want to ensure your vehicle is properly equipped to handle any load that needs delivering.
At Calgary Hitch Shop, we are a locally owned and family-operated business that has been serving Calgary for over 25 years. Our dedication to our customers involves offering the most extensive inventory of hitches and hitch accessories in Canada at an affordable price.
Contact us today to learn more about our wide selection of racks and other cargo accessories!
Thule Roof Racks Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
My old rack doesn’t fit my new car. What can I do?
Typically, racks are composed of individual pieces. As such, solving this problem simply means buying the components you need. If you inform us of the vehicle that housed your rack, we’ll let you know the necessary parts.
My car doesn’t have rain gutters. So how do you attach a rack?
Rain gutters can be found on most cars; they are just usually hidden within the door frame. However, with over 200 Fit Kits or Q clips, Thule and Yakima have the tools to attach to these internal rain gutters, which allow a rack to be safely installed while also permitting the doors to close without disruption.
My factory rack has no cross bars, only rails. Is there a rack for this?
Yes. Thule and Yakima have racks that can clamp your rails, allowing you to transport accessories easily.
My factory crossbars are too curved and short. What do I do?
Bent or short crossbars are common. If such is the case for you, the best course of action is to replace them with straight and more extended crossbars.
Can I attach accessories directly to my factory crossbars?
Yes, permitted your crossbars are strong enough. Then, you can fasten your ski, kayak, bike racks, etc., without any problems.
