Thule Vs. Yakime: Which is Better?

Whether you're looking for a roof rack, ski or snowboard carrier, cargo box, or any other vehicle cargo solution, you may be split between choosing one of two dominant brands: Thule and Yakima. The most common question from those looking to suit up their vehicle with a rack system is, what's better of the two, Thule or Yakima? There's a good chance you've asked the same question, considering you're reading this blog.

I'm going to cut to the chase and tell you straight up that there's no real answer to this question. Both Thule and Yakima make exceptional products that are very similar to each other, and within the same price range. Whether you need a roof rack system, or are looking to retrofit your existing rack to carry more, both companies make loads of products suited to all your needs. Both Thule and Yakima offer rack systems for biking, kayaking, skiing, and both offer a wide range of cargo boxes suitable for any adventure.

So, how should you form your decision? The deciding factor is sometimes based on compatibility. Some vehicles are more compatible with one company's racks over another, which would make the decision easy. Style may also be a factor if you like the look of one rack and its available accessories over another. 

Whatever you choose, we recommend sticking to that brand as you add more accessories such as cargo boxes and water sport carriers. Although this isn't always necessary, it ensures that all your products will be compatible with one another and lets you secure all your gear with a one key lock system, rather than having to have multiple keys to try and secure your belongings.

Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll love it! Find a rack suited to your vehicle so you can begin your long anticipated adventure.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330

Local: 1-403-253-4330

info@autotruckdepot.ca

www.autotruckdepot.ca

Explore the Alberta Rockies: Top Skiing and Snowboarding

The ski season is still in full bloom, and Alberta has some of the most incredible ski resorts the world has to offer, so load up your belongings and head out to the Rockies. Make more room for your winter adventures by adding a cargo box to the roof of your vehicle to help you travel comfortably, and load your skis because you don’t want to miss out on what Alberta has to offer.

Mount Norquay, Lake Louise, and Sunshine village are known as the big three, and are all located in Banff National Park. If a weekend getaway in Banff is what you are looking for, Mount Norquay is the ideal place to hit the slopes with your friends and family. Mount Norquay is located right in town and offers world class skiing, dining, tubing, and more.

Sunshine Village is located just outside of Banff, and they recently opened the TeePee Town LX chair lift. This is the first heated chairlift in Canada and can move up to 1,200 people per hour at 305 metres per minute. If you plan on travelling with skis or snowboards, you may want to consider adding a ski and snowboard mount to your vehicles roof rack or hitch to save space inside your vehicle. This is especially useful if you plan on visiting multiple ski resorts with a car full of family or friends.

Not far from Sunshine Village is Lake Louise Ski resort. Ski both sides of this beautiful mountain, take a run on a world class terrain park, and finish the day off with some fine dining in the lodge.

These three incredible ski resorts are only hours from each other so you can experience all three in a single weekend, and that’s not all. You can also ski Canada’s highest base elevation of 1,697 metres at Marmot Basin in Jasper National Park, or you can check out the 104 trails of Castle Mountain 2 hours west of Lethbridge. And if you’re looking to spend some time in Calgary, you may want to spend the day enjoying winter festivities at Canada Olympic Park, or head out to Nakiska, Calgary’s closest mountain only 45 minutes away.

If you need a hand with racks or other vehicle accessories to get you set for the winter, be sure to give us a call.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330

Local: 1-403-253-4330

info@autotruckdepot.ca

www.autotruckdepot.ca

Holiday Gift Guide from Auto Truck Depot

The holidays are just around the corner and Auto Truck Depot is here to help you prepare. In this article I will provide a list of must-have items for that special someone this holiday season.

1. Tonneau Cover

A tonneau cover is the perfect gift for anyone who owns a pickup truck. Tonneau covers provide many benefits:

• Protect valuables against weather damage and theft
• Increase aerodynamics, which can save up to 10% on gas mileage
• Provide a clean, sleek look

There are various styles of tonneau covers to choose from, such as Roll-Up, Tri-Fold and Retractable tonneau covers. Roll-Up covers roll all the way to the truck's cab to provide easy full truck bed access. Tri-Fold covers are often more durable and fold on hinges to provide 3 levels of truck bed access, and Retractable covers slide easily into a canister when not needed. There are various styles and types of tonneau covers, and no pickup is complete without one! Browse our selection of Tonneau Covers.

2. Cargo Boxes

If you're searching to find something special for someone who enjoys skiing, snowboarding or travelling, you can't go wrong with a cargo box. Cargo boxes attach to the roof of the vehicle to provide additional, secure cargo space. We have various sizes and styles of cargo boxes from Yakima and Thule, so you can find one exactly suited to their lifestyle. Take a look at the cargo boxes we have available.

3. Remote Starters

Remote starters are a perfect gift for anyone living in Canada. The winters are cold and harsh, but there's no need to battle the cold to start a vehicle with a remote starter installed. Auto Truck Depot caries a wide range of remote starter packages with various features, so you can find the perfect starter for that special someone. We also offer professional installations of remote starters so you don't have to worry. Take a look at our remote starter packages.

4. Tool Boxes & Fuel Tanks

For anyone who uses their pickup for work purposes, a tool box, fuel tank or a transfer tank and utility chest combo is an ideal gift. We have a large assortment of tanks and tool boxes to fit in any pickup to provide safe and secure organization for tools and other belongings. Browse our selections of:

• Fuel Transfer Tanks
• Combo Transfer Tanks
• TITAN Fuel Tanks
• Tool Boxes

5. Ski & Snowboard Mounts

If you know someone who takes routine trips out to the mountains, there's no better gift than a ski and snowboard mount. These provide a convenient and secure space to mount ski or snowboard equipment on the roof of your vehicle or hitch. There are various styles and sizes to match any vehicle type, and it eliminates the need to pack skis and boards inside the vehicle. Search our selection of ski and snowboard mounts.

Other Gift Ideas

If you are still uncertain about the perfect gift, take a look at:

• Gifts Under $50
• Gifts Under $100
• Gifts Under $200
• Top Gift Ideas from Auto Truck Depot 

If you want to be sure to get exactly what they want, try treating them to an Auto Truck Depot Gift Card and let them choose. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions. Happy Holidays.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330

Local: 1-403-253-4330

info@autotruckdepot.ca

www.autotruckdepot.ca

Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter With Yakima

Get ready for your mountain adventures with cargo management solutions from Yakima. Whether you plan to ski, snowboard, camp or travel, Yakima has products to help you out, and this article will help you decide which product is right for you.

Cargo Boxes

Yakima cargo boxes are a great addition to any vehicle. The Yakima SkyBox and RocketBox series are secure, convenient, and well built. Yakima cargo boxes are great for any season, and especially useful for those taking routine trips out to the mountains to ski or snowboard.

The RocketBox Pro 11 has a long, narrow design that is ideal for anyone planning to carry skis or snowboards, while the RocketBox Pro 14 is built wider, and may not fit longer skis. To get a better idea of what each kind of Yakima cargo box will be able to carry, here is a useful diagram of each cargo box and its dimensions.

Ski & Snowboard Mounts

If your main priority this winter is to ski or snowboard, maybe a ski or snowboard mount is all you need. These useful devices connect to any existing roof rack system to make transporting skis and boards as easy as possible. 

The Big PowderHound let you carry up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards on the top of your vehicle. This mount is fully lockable, so your gear will remain secure.

The FatCat 4 is a little smaller, allowing you to transport up to 4 pairs of skis or 2 snowboards, or if you would rather use your hitch to carry your gear, the HitchSki can carry up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards on the back of your vehicle.

Check out more similar products here to help you get out to the mountains this season. 

Utilizing Your Small Vehicle for Big Adventures

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330

Local: 1-403-253-4330

info@autotruckdepot.ca

www.autotruckdepot.ca

Carry a Little More With Thule and Yakima

It doesn't matter what type of adventure seeker you are, Auto Truck Depot has everything you need to make the most out of your journey. Whether you are looking to head out to the mountains to ski or snowboard, go on an epic mountain bike ride, escape city life to go camping, or are just wanting to head out of town to escape your daily routine, we are here to help.

Cargo Boxes are one of the most convenient storage solutions for any type of vehicle. These boxes simply attach to an existing roof rack to provide additional cargo space on top of your vehicle. There are various styles, shapes and sizes, so you can find exactly what you need.

 

The Yakima RocketBox and SkyBox series are a great choice for anyone looking to expand the cargo space of their vehicle. The SkyBox 16 is one of our top-selling cargo boxes and provides enough cargo space for up to 3 people. It has a sleek, aerodynamic design to reduce wind drag, it is completely secure, durable, and it opens from both sides for even more convenience. If this isn't enough space, the SkyBox 21 provides up to 21 cubit feet of storage space. The SkyBox 21 is perfect for large family adventures with enough space to hold everyone's belongings.

Take a look at our large selection of Cargo Boxes to find one that's perfect for you!

If you plan on going out on an epic ski or snowboard adventure, you might want look at a ski or snowboard mount. The Thule SnowPack 4 easily holds up to 4 pairs of skis or 2 snowboards on top of your vehicle, and the new smart vertical spring system adjusts for various ski thickness. The SnowPack 4 is completely secure, with a one-lock key system, and if you need space for more boards, the SnowPack 6 holds up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards. There are also various ski and snowboard hitch racks available if you are unable to utilize the cargo space on top of your vehicle, such as the Thule Tram Ski & Snowboard Carrier, which connects to a 2" receiver hitch.

If biking is your thrill, we have a large selection of bike racks and mounts that are just for you! It doesn't matter if you drive a small car, van, SUV or even an RV--there are numerous options to suite your very specific need. 

The Swagman Trailhead 2 - 2 Bike Two Arm Rack transports up to 2 bikes and includes new anti-sway cradles to prevent bike-to-bike contact. The arms easily fold away and the rack folds down to allow access to the rear of your vehicle and save space. This rack easily attaches to any existing 2" hitch receiver, and if a two bike rack isn't enough, take a look at the Trailhead 4, which can carry up to 4 bikes! Check out this short video for more details about the Trailhead 4.

Check out our selection of bike racks and mounts to find one that's perfect for you!

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330

Local: 1-403-253-4330

info@autotruckdepot.ca

www.autotruckdepot.ca