Another in my line of El-cheapo fixes for old kayak gear. I wanted to make use of my old, but still perfectly functional, Mako Saddles with my newer aero-style cross bars. Unfortunately, Yakima’s “Universal MightyMounts” necessary for the job are expensive – and apparently I’d need two packs of them (8 mounts) to secure them to aero bars at a cost of $118. Ouch.
Yakima and Thule both sell T-Bolts to mount various gear on aero bars, but they’re gear-specific – one type for luggage boxes, another for bike mounts, etc. In the case of discontinued gear like the Mako Saddles, Yakima does not provide a way to attach them via T-Bolts. So, for $20 I ordered some knock-off brand T-bolts made in China that were the correct dimensions and made of stainless steel, called the “X AUTOHAUX 8pcs Universal Roof Rack T Shaped Bolt” (?). I drilled holes in the bottom of my Mako Saddles and presto – the saddles are on my aero bars securely. (See photos)
Note: I later discovered that there is a more robust option made by Yakima for the same price as the generic T-bolts I bought. These are called the “T-Bolt with Nut for Yakima Rack and Roll Trailers” (Item # Y8880184), sold by E-Trailer or Re-Rack online. Although made for the Yakima kayak trailer, their dimensions would work fine for attaching the Mako saddles to an aero bar, and they’re thicker than the T-bolts I bought (10mm vs 6 mm). Always wise to buy from the original manufacturer.
