Product Spotlight: Yakima LockNLoad Rooftop Platform
Yakima LockNLoad made its way to the USA in 2019 and provides a versatile platform to carry just about anything you could need on the roof of your vehicle.
Yakima LockNLoad is designed to work like typical crossbars with expanded functionality. Assuming your vehicle is rated for it, you can attach rooftop tents, awnings, bike racks, ski racks, water racks, and some cargo boxes directly to the platform. It is littered with T-slots, allowing you to attach T-slot compatible carriers seamlessly without around-the-bar style clamps. The channels are a little bit deeper than the slots in typical crossbars, so sometimes it can be tricky to get a bolt started, but I’ve been able to attach this Yakima FatCat and HighSpeed with the standard T-slot hardware for those racks.
Yakima has also released several LockNLoad specific accessories such as the LNL High Lift Jack Holder, Spare Wheel Holder, Jerry Can Holder, and Corner Brackets. For carrying other cargo, you can utilize the LockNLoad Perimeter Kits to turn the platform into more of a basket with hard stops to secure cargo.
There are several different ways to attach LockNLoad to your vehicle. If you have existing crossbars that you like, the Crossbar Clamps allow you to attach the platform to these crossbars similar to how other accessories attach.
If the fit for your vehicle uses SkyLine or TimberLine towers, LockNLoad SL Adapters allow the platform to mount directly to these towers in place of a crossbar. That’s how I have the platform mounted here, utilizing the vehicle’s fixed mounting points, Landing Pad 22, and SkyLine towers. Long vehicles can utilize additional towers to give the LockNLoad six attachment points instead of the typical four.
For specific vehicles, Yakima has developed the RuggedLine HD attachment system. These typically replace any existing rails on your vehicle and provide an extremely sturdy and heavy duty platform support.
LockNLoad comes in seven different sizes, and choosing the correct size is important. For many vehicles with direct-to-tower or RuggedLine HD options, Yakima will often specify the best size that fits the distance between the towers and the length of the vehicle. This information is outlined in the Yakima Fit Guide. If you are attaching the LockNLoad to existing crossbars with the Crossbar Clamps, you can often get away with a smaller size if you’d like, but probably would not want to choose a larger size. Yakima has a Finding Your LockNLoad page which details all the size requirements for direct-to-tower fits and Crossbar Clamp fits.
Yakima LockNLoad unlocks options to help your vehicle reach its full potential and bring the fun and your equipment with you.
