Vehivle racks come in various styles by a change of at odds manufacturers. From job-specific to those which are modifiable, racks are salient accessories for travellers very as outdoor enthusiasts.
History
Car racks began their life as a utilitarian means of securing the additional cooler or piece of luggage to the back or top of a vehicle. As auto manufacturers saw the benefit as well as the general demand for racks, they began to offer vehicles, especially those targeted to families, with basic racks. These were typically aluminum or steel, chromed, and stationary in design. There were two crossbars and that was pretty much all you got. You were on your own in regard to tie-downs and padding. In later years, outdoor enthusiasts saw that the car could be adapted to carry what before only a truck or station wagon could accommodate, and there you have the birth of the modern car rack.
Significance
The significance of the "dawn of discovery," as it were, is that companies such as Yakima and Thule saw the demand, licked their chops, and set to work. The key to truly developing the potential of the car rack was versatility. No longer would luggage and coolers be the focus of use, but just about anything you could strap or tie down would be fair game. Crossbars transformed from stationary to adjustable. For example, a basic setup might include a four adjustable mounts or risers to which the crossbars are attached. From here, depending on design, purpose and maker, you might be able to adapt the setup to carrying bikes, hauling a kayak, attaching a carry-all safari basket, or even fishing rods. In fact, most racks allow for the ability to carry a combination of equipment such as a safari basket and a bike or kayak.
Mounting options were developed that not only allowed for new installation but also allowed consumers to transform boring and single-use original equipment setups to multiuse sport bars. This is what truly opened the door for the car rack and made it a valued piece of equipment to millions.
Types
There are many types of car racks available on the market today. There are even attachments for shovels, jacks and emergency equipment. The adaptability of the car rack is only limited to your imagination or gear.Effects
The effect of all of the attention to car racks is the participation of major automakers. With designs for both original equipment as well as after-market applications, automakers have recognized the potential and are now installing or offering racks on just about anything with four wheels and a roof. In fact, even convertibles such as Jeeps have the ability to sport a roof rack. Manufacturers offer many of the same features and adaptability as after-market makers and will even boast designs that blend with the cars' design or color.
Benefits
Besides the obvious benefit of hauling your mountain bike to the ends of the world and back, car racks also serve a more practical purpose: security. Modern racks no longer depend on cables and chains with padlocks to secure gear. Sophisticated and incorporated locks are designed into the racks, which provide an aesthetic appeal as well as a very strong sense of security for expensive gear. Racks also give single users the freedom to load a large canoe by themselves with the aid of extending and rotating arms. Bikes are now easily loaded, with wheels intact, securely mounted and locked and toted with no worries or fuss.
Considerations
When purchasing a car rack or considering adding one to a new car, it is wise to consider things such as: What will your budget allow? The world of racks is large and potentially expensive. Make sure you are aware of prices from a variety of manufacturers prior to purchasing.
Exactly what do you want from the rack? What will you carry? What type of security will you need? Take the time to research and research some more. Most car racks sell what you need in add-on fashion. In other words, the rack world is sold by the mount, the crossbar, the core lock, the bike rack, and so on. It is easy to spend a large amount of money in a short time if one is not prepared.
Geography
There is really no place where a car rack is not beneficial in one form or another. From its original intent as a luggage carrier with high-tech "rocket boxes" in the city, to the hard-core mountain junkie in Colorado who hauls a bike, kayak, basket and who knows what else, almost everyone can use a rack at some point or another. The surfer in California will find that the car rack is as valuable as the surf fisher on the Carolina coast for transporting gear. And millions across America will attest to the convenience and practicality of Christmas tree transportation around Thanksgiving.
