I want to get a snowboard rack for my '01 A4 but don't know where to start looking for roof racks. I've done some searching on here and there's plenty of info on the actual mounts, but does anyone have any info on the racks? Is it common to have whistling noises at freeway speeds? 95% of all my driving is freeway so I definitely want to avoid that if possible.

 

I recommend saris... www.sarisproducts.com

and buy the fairing... the wind deflector thing, it makes it MUCH more quiet at freeway speeds.

 

I used to have Yakima on another car and I loved them. I had the huge snowboard racks that could hold 4 boards and it never made too much noise at all. I would keep it on all winter. I did have the fairing (sp) for the front but that thing actually made more noise I think. Anyway, I'm sure they are all good racks so choose the ones that look best.

 

Look at Saris, Yakima and Thule...all very good, and generally in the same price range.

I've owned both Thule and Yakima, and have Yakima on my Audi right now.

Strangely enough....the racks without any attachments made more noise. I put on a bike rack two weeks ago, and a surfboark pad and the racks are pretty quiet.

The systems are all very modular so you can take the attachments off when you are not using them...and this might help with noise reduction as well. ( I have a feeling that the snowboard racks are noisier than the bike rack because they run perpindicular to the airflow. I'll let you know as soon as it snows!

 

I say go with Thule.. just my 2 cents

 

Thanks for the info guys. I think I would want one as low riding as possible to the roof (for aesthetics)-which would provide that?

 

saris

 

Yeah, saris is definately the best looking... the self centering load bars do it for me too. In fact, saris's load bars are just superior in every way, IMO... the attachments however, Thule has saris beat, I think.

Here's my saris rack in action:

look at my car, so stock!

 

My Yakima rack and bike carriers should arrive tomorrow! finally I can take the bike AND the dog when I go ride.

 

Is yakima the only brand that fits with your car, since it has the roof rack bars on the avant?