SeatRack has come out with a new accessory that makes it easier to transport long items in your SUV or wagon – things like wood boards, PVC pipes, a ladder, a surfboard, and other items that normally wouldn’t fit inside.
The SeatRack kit (model SRA-01) comes with 2 brackets that slide into your passenger and rear passenger headrest slots. It looks like the posts are adjustable, to make them compatible with a range of vehicles with different headrest post spacings.
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Both cargo bars come with hold-down straps and protective covers, and a zippered storage bag.
There’s a weight limit of 25 lbs for each cargo bar, for 50 lbs total.
In addition to being able to hold wood boards, the SeatRack brackets can hold other long narrow items, like PVC pipes.
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Or larger items, such as a ladder.
The SeatRack can accommodate the company’s optional (available separately) camera and accessory mount.
Made in USA.
Price: $130
More Info(via SeatRack)
Universal Compatibility Notes:
SeatRack is universally compatible with most cars that have removable headrests. The bars slide in a track on the bottom of an aluminum extrusion to adjust for different widths.
Provided in each box is a set of sleeves that adapt to different diameter posts. In our research we found 4 post diameters that are standard in the industry and the rack will fit any of those.
Also included with the pack of adapter sleeves is a gauge card that the customer can use to measure the size of their headrest posts, and the sleeves are coded by size with a mark.
First Thoughts
The first thing that comes to mind is to ask whether this is safe. I suppose it’s user beware. I would use something like this in my SUV, but would take proper precautions, such as driving slower than usual and ensuring the cargo is all secured down really tight.
It’s important to point out that the SeatRack is designed to be used in an SUV or wagon that has open rear cargo access. It might be possible to use this in sedans, or other vehicles, but the length of the cargo you can use it with will be greatly diminished.
Of course, you must be able to remove passenger and rear passenger headrests for SeatRack cargo posts to be used.
While you could always attach certain types of cargo to a roof rack, this system looks easier to use. There is a downside – you lose at least 2 seats when the SeatRack is used.
I also like how the company makes optional camera and accessory brackets. We have a mirror attached to one of rear headrests, for keeping an eye on our son when driving. It sags and slides around, requiring frequent readjustment. You’ll see similar complaints on the web about pretty much every model.
Having an attachment point like this would be a lot easier to use. Plus, it would be handy for mounting a camera for those funny “first time in a tunnel” moments and similar.
I’m optimistic about the SeatRack. It looks like an effective and easy to use design, and isn’t prohibitively expensive.
Patrick
Sheet goods have always been the larger problem for me.
Travis
I removed the headrests in my Jetta Wagon all the time to transport lumber/ladders inside the car (anything above 9ft goes on the roof rack). The is easier and guarantees I keep the items dry from the random FL thunderstorms.
I have created a bracket that slides into the normal headrest post slots that acts as a guide. This has worked fantastic. Lined the surface with some grip tape for added benefit. I will say I like the product above a lot however it seems steeply priced. There is nothing complicated about the design. I would consider purchasing a set around the $60-$70 price point.
-Travis
Kent
Yes, it’s somewhat simple, but it’s made in the USA.
We can’t have it both ways – cheap and made here.
I appreciate that the manufacture went for quality over lowest price possible.
Tom
Great idea, but a little spendy for my needs. You can rent a truck from the home center several times for this price (which like Patrick, I usually only need to do for sheet goods). I’ve never had too hard a time figuring out a solution to transport small amounts of lumber, trim, etc. in the SUV for short distances without putting my life, car, or the purchased items at too much risk.
I’d also be a lot more interested if my SUV had a lift window (which seems rare these days) so you could run longer boards (and more so trim) out the back.
K2
The slide down window was one of the reasons I chose the Toyota 4 runner. I use 2 two-step ladders to support the weight, and use the in floor mounts to secure the load. Nothing rests on the actual truck. I then drive home with plenty of ventilation to avoid the carbon monoxide danger of having the rear window down.
Drew M
Neat idea but $150 is just mad. I could probably make something similar and much more flexible for less by using 80/20 instead of their proprietary extrusion.
P
I suppose this could be handy for SUV’s and Wagons without fold-down seats. But if your seats do fold down, this seems a lot more dangerous. It’s easy to imagine a hard stop and a broken window resulting.
The straps look like an average buckle and pull-cinch, whatever those are called. If it’s for moving lumber, it should really have a small ratchet like you can find on any $5 cargo tie-down strap.
P
I just looked at the pictures again, and the SUV they show clearly has fold-flat seats and integrated tie-down spots in the seat-backs. This is needlessly complicated when the vehicle in question already has features designed for cargo loads.
Tim B.
Wow… pretty ingenious idea! Though I’d say that from my standpoint, about twice what I’d consider purchasing it for… and looks like something that could be done quite easily DIY.
Hang Fire
Once the AAA and IIHS get their way and head restraints are no longer removable, this product will become obsolete.
Really, since all the SUV’s have the second (and third if available) row seats folding down, and you can leave the tailgate open and tie a flag to the back of the load, I don’t see a lot of applications that scream for this. Maybe the camera for do-it-yourself road mapping. Not a big market there.
Brian
eh, figuring about 13lbs for an 8′ 2×4, this thing would theoretically support 4 of them…
Its not clear why i would want to spend $130 to haul 4 2x4s this way vs any other…
Ill keep laying them down between the seats. I can get 9-10 feet this way, more room lower in the cargo area, and the angle buys a few inches.
Nathan
Lower the price to 50 ish. And this might be a good thing for the smaller suv market. IE the devices smaller than a ford Edge or Honda CRV. They sort of need the front seat to fold down to hold something 8ft long. This accommodates that. Sheet goods will still be an issue but there you could just pull the head rest off and let it sit on the seat top.
but the price is way too high.
Justin
This is an interesting and probably good idea, but to fit 8 foot boards in my Pontiac Vibe, I just pop the headrests out and lay them on the tops of the seats which align well with the dashboard, then to secure the boards better I slide the headrests back in, either trapping the boards on the far passenger side or if it’s just a couple trim boards, right on top of the boards.
What is great about this design (and what I already do) is that you can line it up with the opening hatch glass so you can potentially carry an even longer object, though I worry about them being unstrapped at the back end. However, for a hundred or so dollars I can also get a cheap set of roof rails.
RKA
I see a couple issues with this. First the supports lack end stops so whatever you’re loading could slide or roll off the support. A U bracket or removable end stops would have been better. Second, most wagons and SUV’s have steeply raked windshields and rear glass. Loading the cargo up that high limits the length of the cargo you can accommodate. Third, at this height, it presents a serious visibility issue.
I usually place a towel on my center armrest and one on the passenger side of my dash. Rear seats are folded down and the cargo is place diagonally from the driver’s side of the cargo area, over the center armrest and up under the passenger side of the windshield. That buys me enough to room for 8 ft boards in my wagon. Finally, the price of 2 old bath towels is $0. That’s tough to beat.
I’ve got no issue spending coin on something that solves a problem, but in this case, it doesn’t do that and it even creates a new one.
JMG
For some reason, the pictures of the lumber on this mini rack reminded me of one of my brothers friends, many years ago, who had rested his extension ladder on the dash of his old Ford econoline van, slammed the rear doors, and punched out his front windshield. Comedy at its best.
MikeIt
I’m sorry, this does not look like a good idea. One sudden stop and your windscreen is gone. Visibility has also got to be an issue. It looks fine for a camera mount but not for materials as shown. That is what the roof rack is for. A set of decent second hand load bars are less than this so cost shouldn’t be the issue. If you really wanted one of these, you could go to a salvage yard and get another headrest to modify and maybe add a good strap. But even so, it still doesn’t look like a good idea and you are just asking for a busted windscreen.
Jacob
This is silly. If this were to make sense, they should be maximizing the width of it, possibly making it adjustable in width for a universal fit.
The reality is it eats into your available space, and at a price point that is comparable to exterior accessories that would allow you to haul much more than this can.
I can haul a full 24″ W x 96″ long stacked in my Kia Hatchback just by folding the seats down.
Photos for evidence:
https://goo.gl/EmEXaD
https://goo.gl/1KDfIl
Derek
Putting the seats down in my wive’s SUV is a big pain because of the car seat in the middle of the 2nd row. I’d buy this if it was a lot cheaper.
JasonM
Isn’t this what the SUVs roof rack is for?
Derek
Not many SUVs have them anymore
Randy
Take 4″-6″ diameter PVC, cut it in half. Line the inside with thin foam (or leave unlined and lay towel over seat top) and outside with toolbox / cabinet liner. Put a bolt/pin at each end to prevent side-to-side movement and holes to secure a bungee cord. Remove headrest and drape over seat top. Finished.
Simple, cheap evening project.
Brian
This idea is pretty okay but the price is ridiculous. It should be a $19.99 TV infomercial. I guess $150 is to cover the costs for the civil suit when people start destroying their windshields and back glass by trying to transport four 2X4s.
Wayne
I used to have a chevy sonic hatchback and I once fit 15 8′ 2x4s in it with the cargo area folded flat and passenger seat all the way forward with the headrest removed. I have to agree with everyone else. It’s a little too spendy for what it is.
Chris
100% Made in USA. And manufacture’s retail is usually pretty high, I bet you’ll find these for a lot less in stores…
Kent
The comments make me laugh.
All day and night I hear “make things in the US” and “stop buying Chinese crap”.
When those items are available, all I hear is “I can make something from duct tape and PVC for less than this; it’ should only cost $20”.
So, what do you all want – US made, or Harbor Freight prices?