:I like the suggestion below. If you do as mr. grit suggests and move the wood parts in toward the center it will give you some more space. The bars remain the same length, they just stick out from the tower farther. I have even been able to get a saddle to stradle a tower when I needed to cary two boats. (not the safest method, just possible)

Also, what are you using to protect your car finish from the wood? Could you add some height by using a thicker gasket material?

Looking at my Yakima cradles right now I think you will need a min. of 1.5 inches of clearance for the bolt and knob that holds the cradle to the bar. That is less than I thought.

Good luck !

Mike

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You can see that I will either have to build the wood part of the rack
: higher, or put the bars on top and bolt them down with 4 steel half loops,
: since the back bar is touching the roof and the front one is almost
: touching. I'm leaning toward the latter way to go. I really have to wait
: for my saddles to come and see how much space they take up under the
: pipes. This Ford Coutour has a short curved roof that causes the problems.
: You can see the homemade clip protruding from above the front door. A bolt
: will go through that part showing and into the wood at approx. 45 degrees
: to hold the rack down. Again this is Gordon's idea.

: John