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Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts

$219.00

(19)

Item # 796465

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The wide Yakima FatCat 6 takes ski and snowboard mounts to a whole new level! Holds 6 pairs of your fattest skis or 4 snowboards.

Big push-button opening makes it simple to operate even with gloves on
Integrated binding lift gives you optimal clearance between car roof and bindings
Low-profile design with aerodynamic nesting arms slices through the wind to help cut down on gas usage
A unique internal hinge system allows FatCat to remain low and compact while carrying fat skis and boards
Easy installation with included hex wrench means you're on your way to the slopes in no time
Universal attachment system fits round, square and most factory racks right out of the box
Lockable with included SKS locks and keys
Yakima FatCat mounts cannot be removed from crossbars when closed and locked
Usable pad length = 29.5 in.

Please note: Yakima products can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

Imported.

Item 796465

View all Yakima products

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Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts

3.7

(based on 19 reviews)

72%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Easy to use (13)
Lightweight (11)
Stable (10)
Durable (9)
Easy to install (8)

Cons

Hard to install or use (5)

Best Uses

Suv's (8)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Advanced (5), Intermediate (5), On the mountain (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (11)

Reviewed by 19 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Jan

2010

(9 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Disappointed in Yakima

By lacey303

from Colorado

About Me Competitive Athlete

Pros

Lightweight

Cons

Hard To Install Or Use
Unstable

Best Uses

Comments about Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts:

I spent 10 years working in bike and ski shops so needless to say I have installed a few racks in my life and I have owned both Thule and Yakima racks in the past. While rack systems are never simple to install the universal brackets on the Fat Cats seemed to make this install overly complex. I can get over this flaw since the install is something I won't be doing on a regular basis.

While the universal bar attachment is a good idea in theory, in reality it is bulky. I would prefer something a little more streamlined if I am installing the Yakima ski rack on to Yakima bars.

Now what I really don't like. With just one pair of skis and one snowboard loaded this rack is nearly impossible to close. I practically had to hang off the rack to get it closed. This is due to the low profile nature of the ski rack and the spring loaded pivot hinge on the far side. Most "conventional" ski racks have plenty of rubber that will flex when compressed and make closing the rack relatively easy. Once the rack is closed, assuming it has not popped back open, good luck getting it locked. I was worried about breaking the key off it took so much pressure to turn the lock. Forget about doing this in sub-freezing temperatures.

Sorry REI, this is one is coming back in exchange for a Yakima Powder Hound. It's too bad because the Fat Cat is a nice looking rack until you try to use it.

Jan

2010

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Awesome, Low Profile, WIDE Ski Rack

By ZDarryl

from Castle Rock, CO

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

29½ inches of Rubber
Durable
Easy To Install
Easy To Use
Lightweight
Low profile
Stable
Stylish
Theft-Proof

Cons

NONE

Best Uses

Large Cars
Luxury Cars
Small Cars
SUV's
Trucks

Comments about Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts:

This is an awesome ski rack! I have a 2005 Yukon Denali with a factory roof rack. I only have about 7 inches of clearance going into my garage, so I needed to buy the lowest profile ski rack, so I wouldn't have to remove it to park in my garage. This FatCat 6 is only about 4 inches above my factory crossbars, so no problem getting into my garage.

This rack is really stylish and low profile, almost looks like a police light bar...

Installation was pretty easy, I have read a lot of negative reviews complaining that the installation is overly complex. This may be true, but the reason behind the more complex installation is to prevent theft of the rack. Once installed, there are no exposed screws, everything is hidden. To make this possible, there is a cover piece that attaches to the bottom of the actual rack, so you need to rotate the rack forward to tighten the back screw, then rotate it back to tighten the front screw. Then once the universal support is tight, you center the rack above the supports, then tighten a screw from inside the rack.

Don't let these negative reviews scare you away from this awesome rack! It probably took me 15-20 minutes to install this, including centering, installing locks, etc.

This rack has 29.5 inches of usable rubber to hold your skis or snowboards! Most other 6 ski racks only have 22.5 inches of rubber. If you have some newer fat skis, you need as much rubber as possible. This is the widest rack out there! Get it and you won't be sorry!

Jan

2010

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Other Reviews?

By dlthunder

from Reno, NV

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Install
Easy To Use

Cons

Best Uses

SUV's

Comments about Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts:

Based on the other reviews on this website I almost didn't buy this product. I went to REI yesterday to get the universal mounts to put my 15 year old Yakimas on my new car. I told the worker that I was concerned about the reviews on the FatCat6 and he asked what they were saying. I said the biggest thing was hard to install. He then removed and installed the desplay unit in about 5 minutes walking me through the installation. While the installation is more complex than needed - easier to do my old ones - it still took less than 45 minutes from start to finish (including adjusting the width of my cross bars to match the size of my skis.

Jan

2011

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Don't know what all the fuss is?!

By Slopedaddy

from Lebanon, NH

About Me On The Mountain

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Install
Easy To Use
Lightweight
Quiet
Stable

Cons

NONE

Best Uses

Large Cars
SUV's
Trucks

Comments about Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts:

It seems that most negative comments mention installation issues. I installed this rack on Xterra factory crossbars in 15min in the rain! Nothing could be easier... word of advice.. put the whole thing together on a table in your house (10min) leave the two front facing bolts off, bring outside, slip on crossbars, insert and tighten front bolts (5min) then adjust for position finally tightening internal bolts before closing and locking!
Further.. THANK YOU YAKIMA FOR FINALLY INCLUDING THE LOCK CORES!! It looks good and runs quiet compared to the taller ones.

Feb

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Sleek design and hard to steal!

By Pocono Bound

from Pocono Mountains, PA

About Me Advanced

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Use
Lightweight
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

SUV's

Comments about Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts:

Don't be afraid! After reading all the trouble people were having I was not going to purchase this product.. but I don't scare easily... It is true that it takes some time to install this rack... but you want to take your time with something like this.. who wants to half-[*] it and have a problem when your driving on the highway.. Anyway this rack is sleek, quiet and delivered big... just take your time and lock your rack when in use... I drove to poconos and back in single digits. Lubed up the rack like others suggested and never had a problem...Never installed a rack before.. so anyone can do this... just take your time... who cares if it takes more than 15 mins....sheesh..

Jan

2011

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great rack, the best out there

By Jesse James W

from Boulder, CO

About Me On The Mountain

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Install
Easy To Use
Lightweight
Stable

Cons

Locks

Best Uses

Anything wluggage rack

Comments about Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts:

I came here to just review the Fatcat, and I am SO GLAD I bought this rack before I read these reviews!! If I had read the reviews first, I would not have bought it and would settled for a lesser product.

To start, I am not sure why everyone is having such a hard time installing these racks -- if you can read, and you can follow the directions IN ORDER, you can install with no issues. I have NEVER installed a ski rack before this one, and it took me less than 20 minutes. The only way it could go on the car much easier is if you had someone else do it for you and you sat and watched.

Second, if you need to haul more than 4 sets of skis, or ski/snowboard combos -- this is the only rack for you. I measured this rack with the REI associate, and it has 6 INCHES more usable space than any 6 ski/4 board combo from Thule -- Thule must not have realized that we don't use straight skis anymore.

I have had 2 boards, and 3 pairs of wide(not really fat, but wide) skis in it, and due to the expanding hinge on the inside had zero issues closing this with one hand. There was also enough room for another set of skis.

Third, compared to the Thule racks, the Fatcat makes ZERO noise -- no whistles or anything. When it is unloaded you don't even know it is up there. This is subjective, as I have not had anything else on the Jeep -- but I have friends that have Thules and they make a lot of noise.

I did want to mention that I only gave this 4 stars because in order for the locks to lock/unlock easily I had to WD-40 them. They work smooth and easily now.

All in all, I don't think there is a better rack out there right now.

Dec

2009

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great rack!

By ltizzy

from Seattle, WA

About Me Advanced

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Use
Quiet

Cons

Hard To Install Or Use

Best Uses

Small Cars
SUV's

Comments about Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts:

This rack is great for loading any combination of boards and skis. Easily fits 4 large/wide boards, and is simple to use with gloves on. Aerodynamic shape keeps it quiet (comparatively) when driving on the freeway. I was amazed that the rack truly does fit on the stock wide Subaru cross-bars.

This is my second season with this rack, and still great. No rusting as others have mentioned. Still looks like new.

Only issues I've had:
- If you don't follow the mounting instructions, it can be difficult to install. Read the instructions, follow them.
- Yakima locks are difficult to turn when below freezing. I suggest spraying with lock-ease/WD40 before you go to the mountain to keep them moving easily.

Dec

2009

(1 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

stainless aluminum galvanic corrosion?

By RentonWA

from Renton, WA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

SUV's

Comments about Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts:

MARider,
thank you for sharing your experience. I believe the problem you had is due to galvanic corrosion between stainless square nut(I assume – do not have the rack yet), and aluminum? Bracket (refer installation instructions for pictures). If the pair was exposed to road salt one way or another, there you have it - it will weld together due to galvanic corrosion, in fact the "salt spray test" is designed exactly for this.
I think putting a shim of clear plastic (retail package wrap), and lubrication should prevent the problem – should have Yakima thought of it? Plan to use your experience to do these preventive measures before installing the rack - read your review while researching this item.

Thank you

Jan

2012

5.0

Terrific Ski & Board Rack

By desertrunn3r

from Oceanside, CA

About Me Advanced

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy To Use
Lightweight
Stable

Cons

Expensive

Best Uses

SUV's

Comments about Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts:

This is a great rack system with solid construction and looks great. I had to use a combination of things in order to make it work properly with my aftermarket Defender Roof Rack, but once I set it up and through some boards up there it worked like a charm. The whole setup is pretty easy to install and remove. The setup is also very quiet while on the road and I have not had any rust issues, as some reviewers have reported. Great products guys!

This is what I used to make everything work properly:

-Thule 50" load cross bars
-Thule Crossroad Railing Foot Packs
-Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts

Dec

2011

4.0

Works great!!!

By swilliams041280

from San Francisco, ca

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Use
Lightweight
Looks great
Stable

Cons

Hard to lock
Time consuming to install

Best Uses

Luxury Cars

Comments about Yakima FatCat 6 Ski/Snowboard Mounts:

Takes a little while to install but once on the car it holds your skis/snowboards without difficulty. The only thing is sometimes you have to reposition and mess with it to lock it with the equipment in it.