mmbirtcher
Observer
I hadn’t seen many (any actually) reviews that were in depth on the YS RTT. I’ve been wanting a RTT for some time, and while I’d love the James Baroud or something similar, the price point just wasn’t working for me. A friend mentioned the YS RTT was on sale and if you add the REI membership discount it’s a real steal. So I picked one up at my local REI store for a total of $618 out the door. When I unboxed, I discovered a considerable dent and torn Velcro. So I took it back for an exchange. When I did they told me that most of the come in damaged from Yakima (what’s up with that)? Anyway after returning I asked what they did with damaged ones to which they said they resell them as damaged. ?
! I said “how much”, they said $450. I said “can you do better”? They said $350! So I walked out with it for $380 or so with tax. Great deal for a cheap RTT to see if I even like them!
That shows the damage. It’s smaller than it looks here.
I’m trying duct tape to patch it. Super sticky stuff and appropriate for this repair IMHO. Although duck tape or similar would probably work well too.
Damaged Velcro. Just not properly sewn. There’s not enough stitching on any of these straps. They’re the ones that hold the two sides folded together when stowed. The straps are riveted in under trim so would have to be restitched somehow in place. Any know how I might do that? Some kind of hand stitcher?
The rain fly is extremely well secured to the main tent with 9 Velcro wraps and at least 6 cinching straps with buckles. Actually overkill I’m thinking. I would leave the rain fly on and just remove when not needed which is easier than putting on in a downpour.
That’s a rainfly strap.
Here’s everything that it came with.
This is the base with the feet / clamps attached. Each base support is held on by two somewhat small screws and nuts. That should be beefier I think.
These are the Spanish instructions. In English. All the instructions are in English then repeated 3 times. Also in in English...?
There’s extra holes in the bottom to accommodate different roof rack systems and sizes. Each extra hole is covered with a small paper adhesive disk that probably won’t last very long after some miles on the road. I’ll hit all of these with larger pieces of duct tape.
! I said “how much”, they said $450. I said “can you do better”? They said $350! So I walked out with it for $380 or so with tax. Great deal for a cheap RTT to see if I even like them!That shows the damage. It’s smaller than it looks here.
I’m trying duct tape to patch it. Super sticky stuff and appropriate for this repair IMHO. Although duck tape or similar would probably work well too.
Damaged Velcro. Just not properly sewn. There’s not enough stitching on any of these straps. They’re the ones that hold the two sides folded together when stowed. The straps are riveted in under trim so would have to be restitched somehow in place. Any know how I might do that? Some kind of hand stitcher?
The rain fly is extremely well secured to the main tent with 9 Velcro wraps and at least 6 cinching straps with buckles. Actually overkill I’m thinking. I would leave the rain fly on and just remove when not needed which is easier than putting on in a downpour.
That’s a rainfly strap.
Here’s everything that it came with.
This is the base with the feet / clamps attached. Each base support is held on by two somewhat small screws and nuts. That should be beefier I think.
These are the Spanish instructions. In English. All the instructions are in English then repeated 3 times. Also in in English...?
There’s extra holes in the bottom to accommodate different roof rack systems and sizes. Each extra hole is covered with a small paper adhesive disk that probably won’t last very long after some miles on the road. I’ll hit all of these with larger pieces of duct tape.
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