Trac Rac Truck Racks Announces 2005 Featured Product Line-Up

Truck rack manufacturer, TracRac, Inc., recently announced its 2005 featured product line-up. The company's flagship product, the Trac Rac Slides, is the only truck rack system that slides and adjusts forward and backward in pickup beds. Other products in the line-up include the T-Rac, TracVan and Workstation.

Trac Rac is headquartered in Fall River, Massachusetts and distributes its line of pickup truck rack and van rack products nationally through truck accessory & equipment dealers, building & contractor supply houses, and retailers including Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Centers. Track Rac also manufactures private label racks for customers such as Ford, General Motors, Chevrolet and Dodge.

NorthWest Ski Rack Retailers Feel Burden of Snowfall Shortage

Ski rack retailers in the Northwest are reporting that they are feeling the burden of the region's snowfall shortage. Tacoma, Washington retailer, Narrows Rack Shop and Auto Sports, reports that due to this season's continuing snow drought in the Northwest, the retailer is heavily bearing the effects of the snow shortage. Store manager Tim Ampe stated that the company typically spends as much as $45,000 per month during the winter season to restock its inventory of snowboard racks and ski racks, but so far the company has spent less than $3,000. “If it doesn’t snow, we don’t sell,” said Mr. Ampe.

New Consumer Thule Racks Web Site Unveiled

Thule Racks of North America recently launched a new consumer web site. The company has completely overhauled the website with a new design and navigational scheme. The Thule automated car rack fit guide takes center stage. Visitors can immediately find gear carrier system options that are specifically engineered for their particular vehicles. Consumers can also choose to browse by the sports they are interested in.

Thule Racks hopes the new architecture will greatly improve user satisfaction levels in finding the canoe racks, kayak racks, surfboard racks, ski-snowboard racks, bike racks, roof baskets and cargo boxes that fit their individual needs and budgets. Customer service, Thule dealer locator and technical information is also available on the new website.

Thule Terrapin Cargo Box Released As Alternative to Car Roof Boxes

The Thule Terrapin Cargo Box by Thule Racks has recently launched after much feedback from consumers. The result of extensive design and engineering, the Terrapin connects to two inch rear hitch receivers, instead of to a car roof rack like conventional cargo boxes.

Thule states that another major feature includes a swing-away design that allows users to accesss the rear of their vehicles. Thule explained that many consumers have recently expressed grief over their inability to easily access roof mounted cargo systems on taller vehicles such as SUV's. The Thule 684 Terrapin is a major effort in alleviating this problem for certain consumers. The Terrapin cargo box dimensions are 50.25 inches x 24.25 inches x 23.5 inches and has a recommended minimum suggested retail price of $529.

Yakima Racks EZ Loader Roof Rack Delays Debut Date

Yakima Racks announced that it has decided to delay and revise the public launch date of the Yakima E Z Loader Roof Rack to the fall of 2005. Keeping in line with the company's long-standing commitment to providing the highest standards in car rack engineering, Yakima Racks is revising the delivery date of the E-Z Load side-loading roof rack system from this spring to the fall.

Company spokesmen explained that the decision was based on the need to have Steve Rodden, vice president of product development, to have ample time for design input and ensure top performance of the end product that consumers will see and purchase. Mr. Rodden will be reviewing all products in the WaterMark family, which includes Perception Kayaks, Dagger Kayaks and Yakima Car Racks, as part of the reorganization of the product design and development process.

“The E-Z Load is a great new addition to our Yakima family of car racks, but we have a chance to make significant enhancements to its design and performance,” president of WaterMark, Jim Clark stated. “Steve Rodden and our product development team are going to put a few extra months of work into optimizing the E-Z Load to ensure that the product we ship in Fall 2005 exceeds their high standards and those of our valued retailers and their customers.”

In September 2004, Yakima Racks purchased all trademarks, patents and intellectual property relating to the E-Z Load in September of 2004. The new product design team and the recent development of operational improvements, Yakima has decided to postpone shipment of the slightly modified product and instead offer a fully redesigned, next generation E-Z Load this fall. Retailers that have already placed orders for E-Z load will receive first delivery when the product is delivered this fall.

The EZ Loader is designed to aid users who have trouble reaching the car roof rack of current taller cars and SUV's. It allows the user to lower the roof rack along the side of the car, continuing to keep the load in a horizontal position. The E-Z Load will allow the attachment of a cargo box, two kayak racks or two bike racks, as well as combinations of boats, bikes and cargo boxes.

The company has offices in Easley, South Carolina and is headquartered in Portand, Oregon. Yakima's complete line of carriers includes bike racks, canoe racks, kayak racks, ski & snowboard racks, roof baskets and cargo boxes. Its parent company, Watermark, also manufactures and distributes a complete line of whitewater, touring and recreation kayaks under the kayak brand names Dagger, Perception, Mainstream, Harmony paddlesports accessories & AT Canoe-Kayak Paddles. Rhode Gear also designs a line of trunk mount bicycle carriers.

Rocky Mounts Racks Sponsors Womens T Mobile Professional Cycling Team for 2005

Rocky Mounts Bike Racks announced that it provided contributing support to the 2005 Women's T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team winter training camp in California. RockyMounts Racks will also be seen on the team cars throughout the 2005 bike racing season.

Besides Rocky Mounts bike racks, other team sponsors include Giant Bicycles, Shimano, SRM, Trial-tir, Pearl Izumi, Deda, Smith, Uvex, Clif Bar and First Endurance. The team will operate under the management of High Road Sports, a San Luis Obispo, California sports management agency. The team is directed by Andrzej Bek and the team roster includes Mari Holden, Kimberly Baldwin, Kristin Armstrong, Lara Kroepsch, Ina Teutenberg, Kori Seehafer, Brooke Ourada and Rebecca Much. The Valley of the Sun Stage Race in Phoenix Arizona, February 18-20 will be the team's first race of the season.

Kentucky Bicycle Rack Manufacturer Sold to Investment Group

Bicycle Rack maker, Stewart Iron Works, has been bought by a group of Northern Kentucky investors. The investment group formed a company named Covington Iron Works but will still operate as Stewart. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Former owner, Mark Rottinghaus, is expected to continue to work for the company on a contractual basis. He owned the company since 2002, when he completed a buyout of brothers John and Tony Milburn. "I had an opportunity and I took advantage of it," said Rottinghaus, deciding to "pursue the sales and marketing end (of the business) which I really love."

Car Roof Rack Maker SportRack Names New CEO

Automotive parts supplier Advanced Accessory Systems, best known for its car luggage rack division Sportrack, has recently named a new CEO. Succeeding Terence C. Seikel will be Alan Johnson. Mr. Seikel will be resigning to pursue other interests. AAS has grown from about $60 million in sales 10 years ago to $360 million in 2003. The privately-held company has yet to comment on 2004 sales.

"I enthusiastically welcome the opportunity and the challenge that AAS offers," stated Mr. Johnson. "This is an industry that I know well, and I am confident that the company will continue to expand its operations and markets here and overseas." Mr. Johnson was formerly president and chief operating officer of Dearborn Michigan based Plastech Engineered Products. Plastech is a major supplier of injection-molded plastic components, assemblies and systems to the automotive original equipment manufacturer market.

AAS manufactures a variety of parts for the auto industry. The well known division, SportsRack, supplies factory roof racks and luggage racks to several automakers including General Motors, DaimlerChrysler (including Mercedes), Ford, BMW, KIA, Volkswagen, Honda and Toyota. In addition to the Sterling Heights AAS headquarters, SportsRack has two manufacturing facilities in Macomb County Michigan. The New York private-equity investment firm, Castle Harlan, has owned the controlling interest in AAS & Sportrack since April 2003.

Bus Racks Racks Added to Texas City Transit Routes

Tyler, Texas Transit general manager, Norman Schenk, announced recently the addition of bus bicycle racks to two of the city's buses - the Red Line and the Green Line. The move was made as a response to several citizen requests and public input. The bicycle carriers will service routes that comprise a large portion of the Tyler, Texas transit system's daily trips near and around hospitals, colleges and other public institutions.

"Bike racks on the buses give customers just one more option," Mr. Schenck stated. "It may have been too far for a customer to walk to and from the bus stop, but riding the bike makes the trip distance more acceptable." Mr. Schenck added that several large Texas cities, including San Antonio, Dallas and Houston already offer bus bicycle carriers for commuters.

According to city officials, each bike rack, which is mounted on the front of the bus, can transport up to two bikes, further explaining that users must pull the handle to lower the bike rack, lift the bike onto the rack and replace the spring tension arm over the front tire and conduct a safety check. The entire process is expected to take just 20 seconds. Additional bicycle carriers could be added to buses on the Blue and Yellow lines if demand for the service increases in the future.

Canoe Racks, Kayak Racks & Bike Racks Included in River Expansion Plans

The McKeesport Redevelopment Authority announced recently that it acquired the necessary funding to extend Water Street to McKees Point in Pennsylvania, adding another dimension to its development of the marina area. The expansion plans call for the steet to be extended several hundred feet in 2005 in order to connect it with McKees Point, where the Youghiogheny River and Monongahela River meet.

The extension will measure about 300 ft and will include adding bicycle racks, canoe racks and kayak racks along the water way, officials explained. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has provided $300,000 in federal transportation funds to the project. An additional $75,000 will be provided by the McKeesport Redevelopment Authority.

New Software Fits Weather Guard Truck Racks & Van Racks

Manufacturer of Weather Guard truck racks, van racks and equipment, Knaack Manufacturing Co., recently launched its Weather Guard Vehicle Solutions software, a program assisting distributors and vehicle outfitters by interactively designing truck and van storage solutions for their customers. The new software allows Weather Guard retailers and distributors to design custom truck and van storage solutions, turning quotes quickly and accurately.

Currently a time-intensive process that requires extensive product knowledge, hours of time to design, and additional time to quote, the new Weather Guard software shortens the process dramatically and can make design changes and revisions with the click of a button. Weather Guard Vehicle Solutions concludes by creating a corresponding bill of material and an immediate and customized quote. The company states that a web-based version of the software is available. Knaak Manufacturing claims it is the first tool of its type in the contractor-vehicle outfitting industry. The software tool allows users to custom design work vans and trucks with shelving, cabinets, ladder racks and accessories.

CheapTickets.com Announces Free Ski Rack Offer

CheapTickets.com announced that it is offering a promotional ski package program that offers skiers $50 off a weekly SUV rental along with a free ski rack and unlimited mileage through Avis car rentals. Another option is $20 off a weekend rental car along with a free upgrade, free ski rack and free unlimited mileage at Budget car rentals.