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Go Back   WakeWorld > >> Boats, Accessories & Tow Vehicles Archive > Archive through May 21, 2003

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Old    xpornsta            05-06-2003, 7:49 PM Reply   
Hey Just got my racks, does anyone know what I can put under the racks to stop them slipping, and not damage the tower they are on a horizontal mount.

thanks
Old    chris_hargis            05-06-2003, 7:56 PM Reply   
That would be one of the million and one uses for duct tape. Mine did the same thing and I put a piece of duct tape arond where it mounts and haven't had a problem since. CHecked the bar under it and no damage so far.
Old     (colorider)      Join Date: Jun 2001       05-06-2003, 8:42 PM Reply   
vinyl tubing around the tower tube
Old     (barry)      Join Date: Apr 2002       05-06-2003, 9:24 PM Reply   
Use a small piece of bike tube, it works perfectly and keeps from scratching your tower.

B-
Old    xpornsta            05-06-2003, 9:51 PM Reply   
thanks for the info
Old     (bob)      Join Date: Feb 2001       05-06-2003, 10:40 PM Reply   
steve try putting the rack to the far front or rear of the horizontal bar and many will then rest against the verticle upright preventing slipping
Old     (typhoon)      Join Date: Jul 2001       05-07-2003, 6:20 AM Reply   
use medium loc tite on the screws also.
Old     (monstertower)      Join Date: Mar 2003       05-07-2003, 1:54 PM Reply   
The bike tube is a great idea, I would have recommended getting a sheet of thin rubber gasket material at an auto supply store. Sound like you need something to fill in a littl space and add some grip so anything that does that will work.

Bill
Old     (jeffr)      Join Date: May 2002       05-07-2003, 2:28 PM Reply   
I tried the inner tube route…. I cut a short section off from on old mnt bike tube and used electrical tape to hold it in place. I then added the new racks to the top of my tower.

I tightened down the bolts evenly and got them tight…. But the first time out they both slid down till they were hitting the tower… and I only had the weight of one board in each rack.
Didn’t scratch up my powder coat at least.

Not sure if one layer of rubber would be better or if I should just switch out and use some duct tape.

Both sets of new racks are sitting in the shop till I get around to fixing it…. Won’t need the extra storage room till the weather gets a bit warmer.

Anyone try drilling and tapping threads through the clamp to add some sort of set-screw to keep the racks from spinning? What about some of the marine adhesive??
Old    skippyh2o            05-07-2003, 11:16 PM Reply   
Just drill a hole through the rack and the tower and insert a set screw
Old     (htown)      Join Date: Jan 2003       05-08-2003, 6:43 AM Reply   
I did what Skip recommended and haven't had a problem since. I drilled a hole through the mount and tower, tapped the tower hole, and put a stainless screw in there.
Before I did that I had some sort of rubber material in between the tower and rack and they would hold up fine, but if I had two boards on them and hit a bump (like a double-up), the racks would come down. Haven't had a problem since.

I also did the same thing for the tower speakers.
Old    swass            05-08-2003, 6:46 AM Reply   
I'd be one unhappy customer if I paid long skins for racks that won't stay where I put 'em. Who makes the racks in question?
Old    kmc            05-08-2003, 7:26 AM Reply   
Another option is to put a few wraps of kitchen plastic wrap around the tower. Clamp down the rack & then trim away the extra plastic wrap that sticks out beyond the clamps.
Old     (jeffr)      Join Date: May 2002       05-08-2003, 8:35 AM Reply   
Swass, The racks I got for the top of the tower were from Wake Design… I think you would have the same issue with all the brands that mount to round tower bars.

The racks that came on my Samson tower are mounted to a rectangular cross bar and are super solid.

Skip, you got any pics of how you drilled out your rack? I was debating on a few other methods that might look cleaner than using a set screw before I fire up the drill.

Any thoughts on using skateboard style grip tape. Cut out a piece that sticks to the rack and let the grip side press against the tower. Or am I just going to sand off the powder coat when it does move?? Plastic wrap huh???
Old    swass            05-08-2003, 8:42 AM Reply   
Not if they were DESIGNED TO MOUNT ON ROUND BARS YOU SHOULDN'T. (Don't use no double negatives.)

My tower has round bars and mine don't move.
Old    sickboy            05-08-2003, 8:48 AM Reply   
When I had WD racks, they slipped. I ended up replacing them with Bat Racks, and haven't had any problems with slippage. Everyone I know with WD racks has had problems with them slipping. I even bought the newer mounts, and those still slipped. If you can, buy new racks, unless you start drilling holes, they will slip.
Old     (jeffr)      Join Date: May 2002       05-08-2003, 9:30 AM Reply   
OK… what other brands have worked for people without slipping?? I guess I could take them back for another brand if I can expect better results. My local shop is pretty good about hooking me up…. and said they would order whatever rack I wanted.

Note I am mounting them to the top cross bar on the tower that runds fron to back. The tower bar diameter is 1 7/8. Mako does not fit… The Boss adjustable 2 board rack would match but I can’t mount them far enough apart to put them on the top of my tower. I have talked with the owner of Samson who made and installed my tower… he can make me a custom rack but not for a couple months.

I went with the Wake Design originally because they had them in stock… they kinda matched my existing racks… and I liked the quick release idea and having the ability to remove them.
Old    swass            05-08-2003, 9:33 AM Reply   
It's not my intent to plug a specific brand. My point is, if you buy a rack that's designed to fit on a round bar tower, then it should stay where you put it on a round bar tower, regardless of the brand or location on the tower. It sounds like Wake Design has some DESIGN work to do.
Old    sickboy            05-08-2003, 12:11 PM Reply   
Jeff-
I don’t want to plug any particular brand either, so when you go to look at the different makes, check out the mounts. How much surface area of the tower does it cover? It is my belief that the more surface area of the tower that is being clamped down to directly relates to how much your racks will slip.

Another thing that I have seen done with the WD racks is mounting them on a vertical portion of the tower, on top of one of the cross members. Does this make sense? In this position, the only movement would be side to side (which won’t happen much, if at all), as opposed to up and down.

mb
Old     (htown)      Join Date: Jan 2003       05-09-2003, 6:08 AM Reply   
Swass - Mine are Wake Design as well and I am also mounting to a round bar. I agree there needs to be a little more designing done on their part. But, after the modifications, they work perfectly.
Old    swass            05-09-2003, 6:23 AM Reply   
That's cool, Tim. I'm really not trying to bash WD, but I guess you're more forgiving than I am. If I pay ~$400 for racks, I expect them to work without modification. "Perfect" to me means that I followed the directions and the product delivered as advertised. If I have to add rubber or some other material to the rack, then, IMO, I'm paying someone so I can do their job. If that's all it takes to make the product work, they could at least include the material with the rack.

(Message edited by swass on May 09, 2003)
Old     (melvinator)      Join Date: Apr 2001       05-09-2003, 8:11 AM Reply   
I have fluid concepts racks and they are awesome. I hung from mine to test them out and no slipage at all. Talk to Jerry over there, they are great people. Don't feel bad bashing WD, I had some of their racks and they slipped also, they are poorly designed.

That is why this message board is so great, we can get opinions from others before we buy!!
Old     (htown)      Join Date: Jan 2003       05-09-2003, 9:55 AM Reply   
I agree with what you are saying. But, I am a pretty picky person so it is rare that I buy something that doesn't need modification, customization, or "tweaking".
My consciousness of my anal retentive tendencies allows me to be lenient on the manufacturers of most products.
Old    mako_man            05-09-2003, 10:57 AM Reply   
Just for clarification, the Mako racks will fit a 1 7/8 bar diameter. The racks will fit a tower all the way up to 2 1/2. So if you are interested in the Mako racks you might want to check back into that.
Old     (trace)      Join Date: Feb 2002       05-09-2003, 1:47 PM Reply   
http://skyjac.com/wakeboard_racks.htm
do not slip, but only work on towers with horizontal ladder bars. email me for great pricing if interested.
Old     (parkcityxj)      Join Date: Mar 2001       05-09-2003, 3:01 PM Reply   
I got these racks off ebay. I paid $200 for two sets. No rattles, squeeks or slippage. Great deal if you're on a budget. If you do a search for "wakeboard rack" you can find them.
rack
Old    jbelson            05-09-2003, 4:32 PM Reply   
My opinion, stay away from anything adjustable. Much like my W.D. racks. They slip constantly. So frustrating. But I like the small screw idea, I bet that will solve my problem, exactly.
And if the product sucks, BASH 'EM. That way I know not to buy.
Old    matt5046            05-12-2003, 6:02 AM Reply   
Try and find a conveyor belting company near you. Ask for some 1/16" material with one fabric ply with friction covers. Cut it to size and install your racks. This will definitely stop the slippage and you could probably get a small piece for free. If you can't find a company in your area let me know. I'll hook you up.


Matt
Old    boehnkew            05-12-2003, 3:13 PM Reply   
I have Mako racks mounted on my MonsterTower. No slippage at all. Very satisfied.
Old    swpmwinc            05-12-2003, 3:32 PM Reply   
Why dont you try and sufacing the clamps so you end up with more gap i.e more to close so you are pulling the rack tighter
Old    xpornsta            05-13-2003, 1:41 AM Reply   
sorry i dont understand sufacing? how do you do this?

Matt thanks for the offer I will check if there are any co's near me.
Old    supraboarder            05-15-2003, 8:12 AM Reply   
Does anyone know if C&C Creations is still selling racks? IMHO those racks were the best on the market.
Old    steveaz            05-15-2003, 8:54 AM Reply   
I have racks on the verticle and horizontal bars of my Titan tower....no slippage what-so-ever while fully loaded. I agree with Swass, they should not slip without modification, if they do...I'd be sending them back!
Old     (wakeside1)      Join Date: Nov 2002       05-15-2003, 2:21 PM Reply   
Wakeside sells hundreds of racks from Boss, Mako, Skylon, Titan, and Wake Designs. This slipping problem should never happen.

Boss and Titan make exact fit mounts and I have never heard of any slipping problems.

Mako uses a bushing to make an exact fit and we have never had a problem.

Skylon redesigned their universal mount for 2002 and has not had any problems since.

Wake Designs just redesigned their mounts in 2003. I have not heard of any problems yet but we will keep our ears open. We would never knowingly sell a rack with a mount that "slips" - I would consider that a total failure and the set screw should not be required.

Mike Hellweg
http://www.wakeside.com
Old    aaron_bell            05-15-2003, 7:17 PM Reply   
Mike,

You mentioned WD redesigned there rack in 03. What about the previous years models? I think this is what many of us are talking about.
Old     (colorider)      Join Date: Jun 2001       05-15-2003, 8:29 PM Reply   
First off, those ebay racks are by far the BEST racks for the money. They are stronger and more secure then any expensive board rack I have seen. I have purchased 4 pair for me and friends. Second, I am yet to find a rack that has a quality rubber insert that goes in the inside of the rack forks. You know the rubber piece that protects the edge of the board from hitting the metal rack. Every rack I see, after time the rubber gets cut from the board and the edge ends up hitting the metal.
Old     (wakeside1)      Join Date: Nov 2002       05-15-2003, 10:06 PM Reply   
Aaron,

WD did have some problems in years past. They used to have problems with the forks slipping on the rack cylinder before 2002. In 2002 they added ridges on the cylinder. In 2003 they improved the mount that attaches to the horizontal or vertical tower tubing. They told me today that they already are working on the 2004 design. Racks will continue to improve each year from every manufacturer. I believe that WD is past the problem stage and now fine tuning their racks.

Andrew,

Many racks do use standard o-ring material in the forks. Two major exceptions at Wakeside.com are the Titan Oval Rack and the Wakeside Battle Rack (manufactured by Titan). These are using custom mushroom shaped, extruded rubber inserts that go all the way to the very end of the forks. That keeps the board from ever hitting the fork or the other board.

Mike Hellweg
http://www.wakeside.com
Old     (bob)      Join Date: Feb 2001       05-20-2003, 2:49 AM Reply   
Shawn Macking i think your right, ive got two of the C&C racks and have never had a slipping problem since they rest against the upright which makes it impossible for the rack to slip. Also i was just up in your neck of the woods this past weekend, Toccoa and road atlanta.
Old    supraboarder            05-20-2003, 3:08 AM Reply   
Bob, do they still make C&C designs racks? I haven't seen them in a long time. Also, what were you up to at road atlanta?
Old     (bob)      Join Date: Feb 2001       05-21-2003, 1:35 AM Reply   
The Big Kahuna national motorcycle race plus we went for a ride in the mountains with our bikes. Friend of mine put his wallet in his pocket inside his leathers then never zipped them up since it was warm and we wound up searching for his wallet for about 5 hours on friday doing about 20-25 miles an hour back tracking, never did find it, had 600 bucks in it too. Theres a lesson in there somewhere for all of us i think .
As far as the racks go, no i havent seen an ad for them in about a year and a half. I dont know why they would have gone out of business unless they had made some bad management decisions??

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