2013 Outback Yakima Landing Pad

[hiker74]

We are looking at the Skybox 16S. Anyone know how bad MPG suffers with a 16S on the roof?

[jrabdawg]

I got this response from Yakima:


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Thank you for contacting Yakima Customer Support.

Our Fit Team and Product Developers are working together to make necessary changes to our current system. These will accommodate the new spacing and hardware adjustments Subaru has made to their factory system. We sincerely understand the demand to fit this popular vehicle and appreciate your patience while the fit is developed. Regrettably, we do not have a time frame for when this will become available. We have logged your interest in the fit and you will receive an email once a fit update has been published.

Again, thank you for your patience.

Thank you for your inquiry!
Yakima Support
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[chrix]

thanks jrabdawg, hope all of you are contacting them

[jrabdawg]

I also suggested/asked if they could make a mount for both rear locations so the end user could move the rear bar to either location based on the load. I think for us '13 owners to be able to use landing pads/control towers and still be able to utilize both rear mounts would be super sweet.

[gonzo08452]

lol. It seems Subaru and 'waiting' go hand in hand.

[jrabdawg]

Originally Posted by gonzo08452

lol. It seems Subaru and 'waiting' go hand in hand.

All us 2013 owners probably should keep in mind that we do have a vehicle that has only been out for about two months, it does take some time for vendors to update their product lines. yakima/weathertech/etc. I am sure the outback isn't the only 2013 model vehicle in the United States that has had some changes. It happens every year across the industry. Patience is a virtue, it comes to those who wait. And I have no patience

[PamK]

I'm considering taking advantage of the GTP to upgrade to a 2013 as the whole roof rack issue on my 2011 is an issue for me as I carry kayaks. I, too, contacted Yakima and here is the response I received...

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Thank you for contacting Yakima Customer Support.

We are in the process of designing new mounting points for the 2013 model but unfortunately we don't anticipate these to be available until the first of 2013. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thank you for your inquiry!
Yakima Support

[vr4Legacy]

^ I'm confused by this argument. Don't the landing pads eliminate the roof rails and allow you to use a more versatile set up? As I understand it the 2013 simply allows you to move the roof rail rearward a notch, to the same location as the landing pads would be on a 2011. No doubt a HUGE improvement over the previous OEM setup.

What would you accomplish by trading up to a 2013 for the new roof rails, only to remove them and replace them with landing pads? Now if you want to upgrade, to upgrade that's a different issue. But if the only reason is the roof rack, and you are removing it anyway, I don't see the advantages.

[PamK]

Originally Posted by vr4Legacy

^ I'm confused by this argument. Don't the landing pads eliminate the roof rails and allow you to use a more versatile set up? As I understand it the 2013 simply allows you to move the roof rail rearward a notch, to the same location as the landing pads would be on a 2011. No doubt a HUGE improvement over the previous OEM setup.

What would you accomplish by trading up to a 2013 for the new roof rails, only to remove them and replace them with landing pads? Now if you want to upgrade, to upgrade that's a different issue. But if the only reason is the roof rack, and you are removing it anyway, I don't see the advantages.

I'm not considering an upgrade just for the rack, that would be just dumb. The rack is a factor though. The previous models rack only has a spread of 30 inches. The 2013's have an additional notch to move it back to increase the spread. The hope is that the landing pad will allow me to install the bars further back to increase the spread to that add'l notch. 30in is do-able, but that extra 9 inches (or whatever it is) is better for carrying my kayaks up there safely. Maybe I'm assuming too much, but hopefully Yakima is designing the new LP to fit in either rear notch.

[vr4Legacy]

I guess I misunderstand what the landing pad actually does. My understanding was that it expanded the spread to the full extent of the current cross bars (the extra, unusable, notch in the '10-'12). Essentially emulating the same, improved, spread that the '13 OB provides.

I think I'm just completely confused now.. lol