You haven't been to Idaho, have you? You will need chains if you do serious backroad driving. I've been in places where even studs don't cut it. AWD doesn't mean you don't need chains...Chains only accentuate your AWD.

 

I went to tri-city and priced everything for a rack for my wagon. I totaled it and it came to more than $350. I have the part numbers though, keep in mind this is for a 2002 Wrx wagon with the runners on the roof, but with out cross bars:

(part #'s are all Yakima part #'s)
Q-towers (part #00124)
48" rails (part #0408)
Q78 clips (part #0678)
Locks (SKS) (part #07206)
Powderhound ski rack (sks) (part #03059)

might wanna try ebay or CL, to see if you can find the parts cheaper.

I also have the michelin Alpin tires and they have the mountain symbol so I hope to pass the checkpoints without having to put on chains and damage my rims worse than they already are.

 

Well I will only be going to resorts/hotels on main roads, so I should be ok

 

That's what one Subaru driver thought last night. He was on the news and his car was in the ditch. Didn't look like it had any damage but it was facing the wrong way. Chains will help you if the road is icy. AWD only helps in snow and snow only. Ice is a whole nother story.

 

Buy the Subaru ROUND crossbar kit straight from your local dealer. Comes with everything you need to start mounting stuff on your car - four sks cores, two round bars, the towers and clips: $170. I bought this with my 05 wagon - it's Yakima equipment with subaru stickers on it.

Then go to www.subaruwrxparts.com and hit their specials page - powderhound for $58

$228 + a little shipping for the powderhound and you're stylin. Don't forget a $50 for your buddy sonic

 

The older guy with the white sedan right? My wife and I were watching the news and started laughing as soon as we saw that. Felt bad for the guy though

 

Will it work with a WRX sedan as well without an roof rails?

 

The subaru kit is only designed to work with the wagon. You need Q-Towers and clips to mount to your rain gutter on the sedan. The only thing from the above kit that would work is the locks and the bars. It's a perfectly safe and reliable way to go. One of my friends has the Yakima set up on his 05 STI.

If you have a Rack and Road store nearby I highly reccomend them. The one here in Sac off Arden is kick ***.

http://www.racknroad.com/

 

I think The Sports Rack is the one that's around SJ/South Bay area...

 

you need to use the q-towers setup on the wrx sedan the gutters wont work

On craigslist I would pick up:
any set of q-towers
48" cross bars
Yakima ski rack (I recommend the powderhound)

Go to the store to get these (REI, Sportsrack, etc.)
Q-78 clips
a set of 6 SKS Lock cores (6 if you get a ski rack & towers......4 if just towers)

and you are set!!

You may also want to pick up a yakima fairing it helps reduce the wind noise from the racks a lot.

Here is a shot of the q-tower system on my 2005 sti I also had this rack on my 03 wrx.

 

Thanks...I'll try to get the yakima set up

Its 166.66 w/o locks at the racknroad.com with the 20% coupon mentioned on the website

Then I can pick up the snowboard holder used on craigs list

 

Thanks, skimonkey

 

Last season I drove up there on bald re92s and s03s and never had any issues with caltrans. As long as you drive slow and conservative you can get away with not having chains.

Make sure to fill up your windshield washer fluid before you leave!

 

I have a wagon. Ha-ha. I have Thule crossbars and a Thule 4 board rack.