Prorack roof bars package - S15 bars with K425...

Prorack’s S-wing roof bars are surely the most stylish, best designed, best engineered and arguably best value quality roof bars on the worldwide market. They are certainly the quietest. The big deal is the cross bar, an aluminium wing-shaped blade, the "Whispbar", which removes almost all the irritating whistle normally associated with exposed roof bars. Not only are Whispbar roof racks whisper quiet but they create so little drag, for example 69% less than the leading competitor's aerobars in test conditions, that they can be left in place without any apparent effect on fuel consumption. This is a serious benefit, especially if you use roof bars frequently and can't always be bothered to remove them when not in use - modern roof bar fixings are very safe but can be fiddly to fit and remove. And if you also agree with us that these bars are likely to enhance the looks of your car, then the point is made.

These aren’t cheap bars, so what’s the “best value” claim? Part of the genius of the Whispbar system is that the same “Smart-Foot” is used for every type of roof type, including raised roof rails, flush mounted roof rails, T-tracks, Fixpoints, clamp on systems, even cars with gutters – it’s just a question of which adapter kit you use. Unless you move e.g. from a wide vehicle to a narrow one you'll only need to buy a new adapter kit when you change car. No other roof bar system provides such flexibility. You pay a bit more to start with, but the ongoing costs should be considerably less.

Other features and specifications:

• These bars look good and sound good, but they also feel good. They're beautifully made, are supplied fully assembled, and are relatively quick to fit.
• They have a maximum loading limit of 75kg - but please check your vehicle's load limit as it may be less than this.
• All roof boxes, and all accessories that can be fitted to Atera or Thule aerobars, can be fitted to the Whispbar.
• Other manufacturers supply a rubber strip that you need to cut and press into the bar between the accessory fixings. But not Whispbar – the rubber is already in place, within the slot. Another first for Prorack.
• When in due course you want to fit your S-wing bars to a different vehicle you may need to adjust the position of the Smart-Feet on the bars. If there isn't sufficient adjustment on your existing S-wing system you'll need to buy a pair of longer or shorter Whispbars - we'll list these options in due course. But you can always re-use the Smart-Feet - this is yet another first for Prorack.
• You want to switch from the through bar look to the flush bar look? No problem. You just need another pair of Whispbars. The Smart-Foot system really is this smart!
• Locks are supplied as standard.

Prorack is a major player in the global car rack systems sector, already making roof bars as original equipment for several major car manufacturers. Whispbar is the culmination of many years of design and innovation, with Prorack’s chief designer transferring his aeronautical design experience and know how to the roof rack sector, working closely with the engineering school at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

To summarise, Whispbar is the bells and whistles system without the whistles!

But don’t just take our word for it – hear it for yourself. Prorack engineers built a mini wind tunnel especially for the Frankfurt Automechanika trade fair in September 2008. Turn up the speaker volume and be blown away!

Convinced?

With Prorack S-wing you can choose the style of bar that suits the look of your vehicle, and your lifestyle. This is the "through bar" version - the bars stick out beyond the feet, allowing you to carry more, e.g. both a roof box and bike carriers. The “flush bar” is the typical car manufacturer’s own brand style with feet at the ends of the bars. You can in fact change from one version to the other by buying a pair of Whispbars on their own, for a very reasonable price - we will list these options in due course. To see the flush bar for this vehicle, click on this logo:

To see how these bars fit onto this vehicle (ignore the New Zealand contact details) check out this pdf:

The aim of this note is to persuade you that kayaks should always be tied to the carrying vehicle at both bow and stern.

Untied kayaks have, in our experience, the greatest potential for a roof bar or kayak carrier failure. The massive forces that untied kayaks can generate have even been known to snap roof bar fixing bolts with the result that a complete assembly of roof bars and kayaks has ended up on the road. We know that this has happened with almost every brand of roof bar, and regardless of whether the kayaks are on a special carrier or just strapped to the bars.

You need to fix bow and stern lines, probably using the front and rear screw-in towing eyes to get strong and accessible fixing points on the vehicle. Kayak shops should be able to provide suitable 'paracord' for this purpose. It is cheap and readily available online. Alternatively, Thule makes the QuickDraw 838 which we have listed together with every kayak carrier we sell.

Please note that kayaks should be strapped to the roof bars, or to kayak carriers, using straps that are suitable for the purpose, e.g. 25mm polypropylene straps with strong buckles. Bungee cords must never be used.

Please also note that all roof bar instructions point out the dangers of carrying unsecured long items, as of course do all kayak carrier instructions.

If you tie down your kayaks you almost certainly won't experience a product failure. If you don't you may or may not get away with it. If there is a disaster and the kayaks end up on the road, separated from the vehicle, then you were not using tie downs and you have subjected the roof bars to forces for which they were not designed. The costs of sorting this out are yours, not ours, and you may also have difficulties with your insurers.

We're sorry to be so firm about this, but "things coming off the tops of cars" is the stuff of nightmares, and we want to do all we can to prevent accidents of this sort from happening.

Delivery charges and arrangements:

We charge a contribution towards delivery costs, depending on what you order, where you live, and how quickly you want the goods.

For most UK addresses, the charge for our two to three day service is £5.50 (£9.50 for orders including a roof box) and our charge for Next Working Day deliveries is £8.50 (£12.50 for orders involving a roof box). AutoSock, and small spare parts, are charged £3.95 (1st Class post) or £5.50 (express courier, usually Next Working Day).

There are different charges for any delivery including a sea crossing, and deliveries to Skye - we will contact you with a quote on receipt of order.

Orders for Next Working Day delivery need to be received by 4.00pm.

There are no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays. Next Working Day orders placed on a Friday will be delivered on the Monday, Next Working Day orders placed on a Saturday will be delivered on the Tuesday.

We are very flexible with our deliveries and will aim to deliver on a day and at an address which suits you. Goods can usually be left without signature - we prefer this with roof boxes. There's a "Special Delivery Instructions" box in the checkout area where we'll ask you to choose a typical instruction and then amend it to suit your particular requirements.

No retailer or courier company can ever "guarantee" a Next Working Day delivery. All courier companies occasionally have the same transport problems as can happen to everyone else, including snow blocked roads, closed roads, traffic jams, mechanical breakdown, an inability to find the delivery address, or to gain access to it if, for example, it's in a block of flats. We work with some of the best couriers in the business, and overall they provide an outstanding service.

Whispbar™ technology reduces drag and noise massively, thereby making a significant improvement to fuel efficiency. Hear it for yourself! Prorack engineers built a mini wind tunnel especially for the Frankfurt Automechanika trade fair in September 2008. The results are compelling:

How come we can describe, honestly, a set of roof bars priced at £169.95 as "your best choice for long term value"? Easily. To start with, there are three things you need to know:

1. The Smart-Foot™ "foot pack" on the Whispbar is designed to be used with every roof bar fixing system, including gutterless, guttered, raised roof rails, flush roof rails, T tracks, Fixpoints.

2. There's 42cm of adjustment on a "through bar" so you'd only need to buy replacement bars if you move from a wide vehicle to a narrow one, or vice versa. This is unlikely, but in any event you can buy the roof bar blades on their own.

3. Prorack users will usually only need to buy a new fitting kit when they change vehicle, only £24.95 a time.

So, let's assume that you move from a car with gutterless fittings to one with Fixpoints to one with raised roof rails. The maths looks like this, comparing Prorack with Thule's aluminium roof bar systems:

First vehicle (gutterless):

• Prorack: S16 bar (for example) + fitting kit = £169.95
• Thule: Foot pack 750 + aerobar + fitting kit + locks = £139.85 at Our Price (£195.25 at RRP)

Thule is £30.10 cheaper (18%) than Prorack at Our Price.

Second vehicle (Fixpoint):

• Prorack: Fitting kit = £24.95. Cost to date = £194.90
• Thule: Foot pack 753 + fitting kit = £74.85 at Our Price (£100.00 at RRP). Cost to date = £214.70 (£295.25 at RRP)

Prorack saving is £19.80 (9%) at Our Price, £100.35 at RRP (34%).

Third vehicle (raised roof rails)

• Prorack: Fitting kit = £24.95. Cost to date = £219.85
• Thule: Foot pack 757 = £56.85 at Our Price (£75.00 at RRP). Cost to date = £271.55 (£370.25 at RRP)

Prorack saving is £51.70 (19%) at Our Price, £150.40 at RRP (41%).

We're assuming that you won't also need to change the Thule aluminium aerobars when you change vehicle. The reality is that Thule bars only have 23cm of adjustment compared to 42cm on Prorack bars, so you're more likely to need a change of Thule aerobars as well, Our Price £55.00 (£76.25 at RRP), especially when you move to the car with roof rails.

This video (13.4MB) from the Frankfurt Automechanika in 2008 shows the Smart-Foot™ being moved onto different styles of car roof. There's a piece of T-track slot, a Fixpoint, a gutter mount, and a roof rail, as well as several others out of camera shot or out of focus. Click on the logo.

Please click here or on the pdf symbol below to see the fitting instructions:

As well as obtaining a Green Directory award at the Frankfurt Automechanika in September 2008, awarded for eco friendly products, Whispbar won a prestigious International Forum Design award in 2009: