The definitive Yeti roof bar poll!

[FlintstoneR1]

Hi guys,

I may have missed the answer to this in the "black bolts vs. stainless bolts" debate earlier in the thread?

I've just bought a pair of new genuine Skoda roof bars for my Yeti, from Caffyns. Perfect guys to deal with and also trying to help me on this. But my small problem is this:

On unpacking, I discover there are only 8 of the small silver bolts/lugs (with Loctite on threads) in the fitting kit. The lugs you fit into the longitudinal rails and then slot the cross-bars on to. Yet the pack contents picture in the fitting instructions clearly shows there should be 10 bolts. And the long rails themselves have threaded holes for 10 - 2 forward and 3 to rear on each side. Presumably to allow you an alternative to how far back you clip in the rear bar, to suit different loads or applications? Sounds a good idea?

The helpful guys at Caffyns have checked the other two packs they have in stock, and found just the 8 bolts in each fitting pack. They've emailed Skoda UK to find out how many there should be? Reply awaited.

If there are only meant to be 8 bolts, how come the destructions show 10 and why make 10 holes in the long bars?

Just wondered how many bolts you have among those you using the genuine Skoda roof bars? 8 or 10? Have I missed the plot?

[Michael G]

The 10 holes would give you the option, length-wise, but mine certainly had 10 bolts. I purchased my bars from a member here last year, so they may have been New Old Stock.

[Kenny R]

I bought my roof bars from Caffyns eBay shop about 2 months ago, mine came with 10 bolts and 2 keys in the package.

[Michael G]

Yep. Forgot. Two keys here aussi.

[Rapha]

i got some skoda bars last week. Silver bolts only, looks like they don't have the black bolt option as previously discuss in this thread I think. Anyway, they came with 10 bolts although my 3 week old yeti only has 4 bolt holes in each rail (2 at the front and 2 at the back on each rail).

[Llanigraham]

My 3 year old Yeti has 2 holes at the front and 3 at the rear!

[ParaYeti]

I can now join the poll as I bought the Skoda roof bars

A few pics

Only 8 silver studs

http://s9.postimg.or...1b/P1010001.jpg

3mm Allen key. Not Torx

http://s1.postimg.or...5b/P1010002.jpg

Easy fitting

http://s9.postimg.or...27/P1010003.jpg

Neat clamps

http://s4.postimg.or...p9/P1010007.jpg

Clamp closed

http://s9.postimg.or...jz/P1010008.jpg

Clamp open

http://s10.postimg.o...uh/P1010009.jpg

Neat design

http://postimg.org/image/t6ee461fh/

Yeti logo

http://postimg.org/image/iq200d6fl/

Edited 15 May, 2013 by ParaYeti

[FlintstoneR1]

Thanks Graham. That reassures me.

Low and behold, Caffyns have discovered Skoda UK reckon there should be only 8! Skoda UK have been asked why the fitting instructions pack contents diagram shows 10 then? I reckon it's going to be like the black bolts saga. Used to be available as 10, now only 8. To save 10p.

Caffyns are keeping me content (and quiet!) though. Better not say how......

Just bought some black enamel to dip them before fitting, so they'll look more in keeping with the rails when the bars are not in use.

Reading back through this thread as a Newbie still - I feel we're something of a bunch of sticklers for obscure detail and things being "correct" in here? I should fit right in then? When you're doing rally radio you're expected to get everything bang on no doubt - not blink too much and miss the odd car? When I'm co-driving, my driver expects me not miss out any bends - that would put us in the trees - and add up the times correctly every time! Missing a couple of minutes just wouldn't do! Skoda UK please note!

[ParaYeti]

The pics that didn't seem to appear in my previous post

Only 8 silver studs

3mm Allen key. Not Torx

Easy fitting

Neat clamps

Clamp closed

Clamp open

Neat design

Yeti logo

[FlintstoneR1]

i got some skoda bars last week. Silver bolts only, looks like they don't have the black bolt option as previously discuss in this thread I think. Anyway, they came with 10 bolts although my 3 week old yeti only has 4 bolt holes in each rail (2 at the front and 2 at the back on each rail).

Thanks Rapha ( & Kenny + Graham too!). That explains all. It IS like the black/stainless bolts thing then!

Older cars clearly have 10 holes in the rails. Hence older stock cross bar packs have 10 bolts.

Younger cars have only 8 holes, so more recent bars come with only 8 bolts.

Simples!

(Aren't specialist forums just a great source of knowledge? Better info here than from Skoda UK. Just like the TalkTalk member forum vs. support lines - but that's another topic in another area.)

Must say that Caffyns have been really great all along. Great comms. Fast delivery. Went back to Skoda UK for me, even over something so trivial (to some?). Totally agreed with me about comparison with what the packing diagram says (10). Have now sourced an extra pair of bolts for me "from their own resources". Great guys to deal with. Recommend them.

[Michael G]

So no choice on rear mounting position on newer cars then?

[FlintstoneR1]

Sounds like not Michael, from what Rapha says. Although I haven't checked a 2013 car with my own eyes. Partly 'cos I haven't seen one stationary - Yet! (ouch!) Partly 'cos I don't expect owners would be too chuffed to find me poking about their cars in a car park. Be interesting to keep an eye out though. I'm 100% sure Rapha will be correct. One of those "continuous improvement" changes during production, no doubt?

Edited 18 May, 2013 by FlintstoneR1

[Brijo]

FWIW Annie's rails have two screws front and three back (MY13)

[Steph64]

Mine has 2 front 2 rear - French MY 13...

[TMfSR]

I recently fitted some Thule RT 9583 roof bars, and as I have not seen these yet on the forum, I thought I'd post some pics.  They were a little more fiddly to fit than I expected, mainly as I was working alone.  The fixing points on the rails came in very handy in aligning the bars square to the centre line of the car

 

The bar has integrated feet, which sit on the roof rail and are secured in place by a rubber/steel strap...

 

 

 

...which wraps around the rail and hooks into a couple of lugs:

 

 

A tool is provided to tighten the strap.  The tool functions like a torque wrench and “snaps” at 2 Nm

 

 

This picture shows the strap fully secured.  The strap is rubber with steel inserts at each end

 

 

Once the ends are secured, the covers are snapped into place and locked with the key

 

 

Here are a couple of pics with the roof bars in place:

 

 

[Michael G]

Nice neat fitting. I'm betting that low profile keeps the noise down in use.

[Paul52]

Just bought and fitted a pair of Thule bars, just the basic square profile bars. Perfectly serviceable. The fittings are very similar to those shown in the post above although the bars project a few centimetres either side. Fitting was very straight forward and I was able to do it on my own without difficulty, carefully lifting the bars over the roof. The only slight issue I had is that unlike my previous Thule bars the Allen key integrated in to the cover/lock (which forms the handle for the key) isn't captive to the foot. I needed one hand to hold the foot in place (and the rubber Tee piece in its groove) which meant I only had one hand to turn the Allen key and a couple of times as I went to change grip it fell out of the socket, fortunately not scratching the paintwork. Because of the design of the feet a captive bolt probably isn't possible but a deeper socket would have made this less likely. However now I know it can be a bit of problem I'll just need to take that bit more care.

 

With hindsight would I have chosen Skoda bars instead?. On the plus side I'm sure they look better but I only use bars infrequently so on balance, as the Thule bars are universal and so should be transferable to the next car (or fetch a good price on ebay!) I think for my needs the Thule bars just take it.

[Vectis]

I had the Prorack Whispbar S17 through bars on my Freelander 2 and as I only really want them for my fishing rods and occasional use I just bought the appropriate foot pack for the Yeti, they list the S16 bars which are a bit shorter but I prefer the slightly longer bar for tying off to:

From this:

 

 

To this:

 

[dumbledore]

So no choice on rear mounting position on newer cars then?

As others have found, my recently ordered kit came with only 8, but with an instruction book for 10. When I queried this with the dealer they checked other packs and they also had only 8 bolts, but with updated instructions to match! So I clearly got a "cross-over" pack.

 

As I had an older model with the 10 holes, and instructions that matched, I argued some extra bolts out of the dealer (They did have my reg after all so I reckoned I should been sent a kit to match). After checking with Skoda UK they said they would send a whole pack of 8 as that is how they come. Still waiting for them to arrive...

 

Surely it would be less hassle just to keep 10 bolts in all the packs? I wonder how many queries of this nature go back to Skoda UK?

Edited 30 July, 2013 by dumbledore

[Sandy.Rogers]

Hi All, read most posts but just need a quick answer - I'm thinking of buying a Thule Karrite Odyssey 580 via the Internet, will it fit on the Yeti?

[Bruce437t]

First post I think as my introduction one went astray some weeks ago. Well I have a Kia Sportage 2.0 CRD but as I have just sold the Caravan and we will now go for Cottage holidays combined with having a dog & as my Sister is recently bereaved I will need a Roof box, there is her teenage daughter as well to fit in. The car has only done 32,000 miles in over 6 years (less than 2000 last year due to my works van) but I will either this or next year buy a Yeti (lurking here for a few months), so I need a set of bars to fit the Sportage and then transfer to the Yeti, do these coming up this Thursday hit the mark?  http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/SID-EA9E856D-720188E6/www_lidl_uk/hs.xsl/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=6205

I am an ex heavy Engineer (Marine diesel specialist, Steam, Air Conditioning etc) so even with low mileage will have to go diesel, I have not had a Petrol since the 80's. As I get a car allowance I will/may have to change in year 7 anyway. The Sportage has all the toys but is a big bit of kit for the IOW.

Off to the last Speedway meeting of the year now.

[dcl5ad]

I don't think the Lidl bars are meant to fit, but I suspect they can be persuaded to. I was just going to ask a question about these myself, does anyone know the distance between the roof rails? I'd go and measure up myself, but our yeti is on its way from the factory to the docks in Germany.

[discosteve]

Erm see my post #12 above as well as my first post explaining that the OE system uses the T-track system.

At the risk of being shouted at, can anyone please confirm that I can use Thule items with the t-track system on the Skoda manufactured roof bars. My reason for asking is that i have just purchased Skoda bars and a Thule bike rack which can be clamped on of use T-tracks. I can't clamp the rack on the bars as they are too big. I notice that the roof bars have a rubber insert which sits inside a form that looks like the T-bars might fit into.

 

Any help would be greatly received because at the moment I either need to get a different bike rack or Thule roof bars...

[900000]

At the risk of being shouted at, can anyone please confirm that I can use Thule items with the t-track system on the Skoda manufactured roof bars. My reason for asking is that i have just purchased Skoda bars and a Thule bike rack which can be clamped on of use T-tracks. I can't clamp the rack on the bars as they are too big. I notice that the roof bars have a rubber insert which sits inside a form that looks like the T-bars might fit into.

 

Any help would be greatly received because at the moment I either need to get a different bike rack or Thule roof bars...

 

Yes you have to remove the rubber strips first.  And put them back if you want to transport other things.

[discosteve]

Phew, thanks very much. I had a sleepless night thinking I had made a duff purchase...