Yakima Vehicle Racks Help Spring Breakers Pack 'Em In

PORTLAND, OR--March 18, 2011: With Americans downsizing to smaller cars and facing soaring gas prices, spring break travelers are faced with the problem of where to put luggage, gear, and friends.

According to Truecar.com provider of automotive pricing and industry analytics, online searches and page hits so far in March show a 31% increase in interest in subcompacts and small cars, and a 5% drop in consideration of large, medium-sized SUVs. This trend requires consumers to think smarter when packing. Yakima, a leading manufacturer of vehicle racks for boats, bikes, camping, winter sports gear, trailers and cargo solutions, has threealternatives:the FarOut Pro ($219), the RocketBox ($329), and SkyBox Pro Onyx 16 ($435).

""It's simple, the right vehicle racks and cargo boxestranslate into more people inside the car," said Joel Grabenstein, marketing and promotions manager at Yakima. "With consumers facing $4 per gallon, Americans are buying smaller cars.  We have consumer friendly solutions at a variety of prices. It's all about making it easy."

The FarOut Pro all weather cargo bag, expanding from 9 to 12 cu. ft., mounts directly to vehicle roofs using included straps. It features PVC-free construction with a topographical pattern. MSRP $219

The RocketBox 15s, with 15 cubic feetof storage space, works well for shorter roofs on sedans or largervehicles.  Quick installation mounting hardware requires no assembly and fits car rack systems with round square and most factory crossbars.MSRP $329

The SkyBox Pro Series Onyx, available sizes from 12 to 21 cu. ft., is a premium multi - sport solution. New this year is a sleek, automotive high-gloss onyx finish. Inside, it has integrated tie-down points, and a cargo net and base pad for protecting gear. MSRP $529-699

About Yakima:

Yakima is a world leader in the design and manufacture of cargo management equipment solutions for outdoor enthusiasts. Yakima's products include: vehicle racks for bikes, boats, ski equipment and gear, a line of cargo boxes and bags for a variety of needs, as well as high performance multi-sport trailers. Yakima Products is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.