Jace and the crew at Rack N Road provided A+ level service at every step of what was a fairly convoluted process to get a hitch installed on my Mini Cooper S. When the first install attempt of a custom hitch failed (through no lack of effort on their end; it turns out my car has an, ahem, "unconventional" chassis behind the bumper), Jace was perhaps even more disappointed than I was. These guys like to make things work! I did more research, found a different custom hitch, discussed it with them, and we determined it was worth a shot. I dropped off my car for a 2nd time, with fingers crossed. Thanks to the skill of installer Eric, I now have an almost-invisible 1.25" "hidden hitch" notched into my bumper. So slick!! They even put the bike rack on for me, and ran me through the basics of taking it on/off. Thank you Jace, Eric, Ian, and everyone at Rack N Road. Your service etiquette and expertise are nonpareil! *chef's kiss* read more

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We came in looking for a hitch rack for our son's electric dirt bike. After providing our bike's specs -- 43" wheelbase, under 100 lbs -- the staff confirmed the MotoTote Mini was the right fit. We confirmed the Mini twice in the text thread. Despite this, staff kept reopening the decision and repeatedly asking if we were sure. Eventually we were asked if we wanted more weight capacity. We said yes -- but at no point were we told that meant a completely different product: non-folding, heavier, and designed for full-size motorcycles rather than electric dirt bikes. When we raised concerns, staff claimed they were looking out for our future upgrade needs -- but they assumed we were getting a full-size 250cc motocross bike. We never said that. We were looking at Sur-Ron/Talaria class electric bikes, which fit the Mini. The assumption was never verified. We contacted MotoTote directly. Dirk from their team confirmed the Mini was the correct product for our needs and reached out to Rack N Road on our behalf. Despite having confirmation from the manufacturer, Rack N Road is now citing a 25% restocking fee on a product we were moved into without full disclosure. Staff also bypassed my husband and contacted me directly after I expressed frustration -- which felt inappropriate and added unnecessary stress to an already difficult situation. Every interaction with this store has been inconsistent and unresolved. We would not recommend them for specialty purchases.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

6/15/2025: Skulking Rack N' Road--New Location! In 2017, I purchased a Thule Cargo Box: I'm happy I bought the Thule Cargo Box. Aside, the new location has more room installing equipment in vehicles. read more

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Used for a roof rack. Helpful, professional, they don't upsell, would use again. Good business.

The crew at Rack n Road in San Rafael has been really great!! I've now done 2 different jobs with them, the 2nd because of the great customer service on the 1st job. They installed a cover for the back of my truck and they weren't happy with how it was fitting. They took it up with the manufacturer and the manufacturer agreed with their assessment and sent a new cover which they installed the day it came in. They have been exact on communicating when things will arrive the scheduling has been easy and the time for the installations were a little less than they estimated. I would highly recommend Rack N Road for anything you need installed! read more

I've never even been in, but my goodness the phone support was so good and so helpful that they've already won me as a future customer. I spoke with Ryan and talked tents and left way better informed then the Internet left me, and with a plan. read more

Seriously the kindest group of people. They were informative, accommodating, knowledgeable and welcoming. It was my first time getting racks installed and they made the process so understandable for me, it was also an insanely fast turn around. 20/5 stars, thanks so much :) !! read more

Fantastic people work here! Every time I've come in, I feel like I get above and beyond service from friendly staff that know their stuff. I will keep coming here for my rack needs and recommend you guys to whom ever asks. read more

Recently, i needed to remove a hitch that had been bolted to the bottom of my Mini Cooper, and these guys spent about 30 mins under my car getting it off. They didnt wanna charge me, but of course i gave them a well-deserved tip! When is the last time anyone worked under your car for 30 mins w/o charge?! I highly recommend these great guys!! read more

Very knowledgeable staff, readily available to help. I stopped by with an inquiry and got a quote to come back. Before I drove away, an employee came over and offered to re-install my roof rack right away. A lifetime warranty on the product is a huge plus too. read more

Jace was super friendly and knowledgeable throughout in helping us pick out some roof rack crossbars.

I recently went to Rack N Road, on the suggestion from a friend and past customer, of this fun filled store and shop. I met with Jace and he helped me find and install the proper 5,000lb trailer hitch on my 2022 Subaru Ascent Touring. I love how the bumper cover completely hides the hitch, and that the hitch tucked completely inside the bumper on the frame between the frame and spare tire! AWESOME JOB!! If you need racks, trailer hitches, gear, for your vehicles, it's very worth the trip to Rack N Road in San Rafael! These guys are great, informative and thorough, you won't get better service anywhere! Nothing is cheap these days. You get what you pay for! I WILL BE BACK, for the roof top 4 season tent for me and the Mrs. As well as that trick rear rack system for all our gear! Keep the room inside the Subaru for the people Thank you again Jace, and the team at Rack N Road! read more

They are the professionals in this space. Jayce is the leader of a top notch group of skilled professionals. They honored my Thule rack I purchased before they were hired and fixed the hinge using spare parts. They have sold all my equipment needs since they began on Francisco Blvd. I would not consider going anywhere else. It's small businesses like this that need to be patronized. read more

Ryan and Jace were incredibly helpful in helping my with tonneau cover on the f150 lightning

Sales people get a bad rap. I have been in sales for years and I get it. I know there are those sales reps who are pushing their own agenda, not listening to YOUR needs and end up not really caring about YOU. Well, THAT just isn't the case at Rack N Road in San Rafael! The whole team there, no matter who I was talking with, were all incredibly friendly, helpful and transparent. Staring with Jace, who I spoke with on the phone and he took the TIME to ask poignant questions about my needs, to Ryan (manager) who, once I arrived, spent quality time asking MORE questions to help get us into the right product. His consultative manner ensured I ended up with the 'Right Racks' for my needs! (financially and then some!) AND, I didn't end up with the most expensive option! Hard to believe? Ask Ryan! When it came time for them to do the installation (right then and there!), the awesome gal (I hate that I can't remember her name) was communicative about the process, walked me through how to use the racks, locking devices, etc. Wait, there's more.... Ryan even came back outside to help figure out how to change the 'auto backup safety setting' to keep from braking since I now had something on the back of my car! Seriously, if I could buy anything from this team, I would. And I think I will....hmmm...roof racks and roof trunk next! Thank you, TEAM! Carla Cosentino BIKE WARRIOR KIT read more

Rack N Road - This rack brought two bikes in the middle of a snowstorm safely over Donner Summit! - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Rafael, California

I just paid $568 to replace the roller (replacement reel assembly) on my truck bed cover. I looked up the price for the part and it was $150. They charged me $200 for the part and $250 labor and when the part was ordered, they charged another $100 for labor. What a rip off. It should've been about half that. It also took them a month to get the part and do the job. If I knew the real time and price I would have gone somewhere else or fixed it myself. read more

I came on a Friday looking to get racks put on my CRV and found manager Ryan McCann extremely helpful with choosing the right type & price for my car. Ryan was able to schedule installation the next day on a Saturday which was very helpful for a trip I planned that Sunday!! I also rented a carrier for the trip. All the staff were very friendly and helpful when installing the carrier. They even loaded my inflatable kayak in two different models to make sure which would be the best fit! I highly recommend this business and will return the next time I need a rental carrier or one of the many other products they offer! read more

I am not very active in reviewing of many businesses. I say this only to establish and emphasize the level of superb service provided by Jace today. His assistance went beyond technical as he explained how to get what I needed to repair my, "car topper", a term coined by my wife. The discussion we had precluded the sale of any product or the encouragement to buy from them, but explained the safety issues and manufacturer concerns related to the part I needed. Further, he proffered multiple solutions to my issue and walked me to the exact answer I needed for a self repair. All while providing that rare and kind service that probably belies his nature. I have an usually strong association with my cargo box, probably borne of the connection with the mountains and the excitement I feel when putting the box on the racks. It means that, not only, is my cargo box is appreciated for its functionality and its purpose it has in creating more room for my family and mutts, but for the emotion it begets. This is trite, the connection we have with things that we associate with fun and recreation, I know this, but its real to me. So, thanks my man. You've earned a customer for life and I'll not dare go anywhere else for my future car topper needs. read more

I went back to Rack N Road this month for a hitch installation and a hitch rack. I can't thank the folks who work there enough for spending a bunch of time with me (hours between a few phone calls and a couple of visits to the store) to help me figure out the best hitch and rack for my needs, and to help me try to figure out whether the rack would work on my very steep (15-20% grade) driveway. I left the store with the confidence that the setup we had picked out would probably work, but also with the knowledge that if it didn't, there were other options I could try, and that any equipment I had purchased could be refunded as long as it wasn't damaged. The return policy really increased my confidence level in dealing with the store. I had the hitch and rack put on my car a few days ago. The hitch and rack made it up my driveway! Flawless experience, mostly due to the great help I got from the folks who work in this store. Jace was the primary person I worked with on this transaction, but others helped me as well. You guys all rock! Everyone at Rack N Road is not only knowledgeable but also friendly. This is a well-run business and I highly recommend them. This is my third great experience with Rack N Road - twice in San Rafael and once at the San Carlos store, which unfortunately closed some years ago. read more

Great product selection and informative, accommodating customer service. We came several times before pulling the trigger on a Thule XL titanium cargo roof box, and they answered all our questions patiently. The staff were awesome enough to allow our car a "sample fashion show" and put up several roof boxes so we could compare sizes and colors on our car. The item had to be ordered as they didn't have that color in stock -- it took a little over a week which was fine as we weren't in a rush. They also gave me a 10% yelp check-in discount (even though it wasn't on their yelp page currently, I saw it in another yelpers' review and inquired about it which they honored)! Only slight inconvenience is the parking situation -- there are two parallel parking spots right in front of the store window, but most of the time there seems to be a single car taking up both spots. They have a garage to pull in for installation work (which also tends to be occupied) and then some other street parallel parking a little further up on Francisco E Blvd. All the parking spots were full when we arrived for our installation and I was slightly worried whether the staff would be able to install the cargo box on our car which was parallel parked on the busy road... but they impressively and efficiently installed it and we were on our way in 15 minutes! read more

Rack N Road - Efficient installation service - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Rafael, California

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These guys are my heroes, especially Jayce who rescued my road trip. My car is old with a "weird" roof so no company makes stock parts that fit my roof anymore. I fortunately called RnR and they were able to make a custom fit solution the same afternoon! I thought I would have to be making monthly payments on anything custom, but I was able to get the Yakima Jet Stream bars, Skyline towers, and the roof mounts points installed for almost exactly $1K including tax. While that sounds like a lot, if you consider that the kit itself usually costs around $700-800 retail, the additional cost for labor to complete the custom installed mount points as well as attaching my roofbox and bike rack made it a steal. But what made this a 5 star experience wasn't simply the price. It was how the team was able to get the install expertly done on super-short notice about 2 hours before closing because I called ahead and Jayce and the team made it work. I forget the name of the guy who did the actual install, but he was ace. So when you think "I'll just buy them on Amazon" like I did, don't be shocked when they send you the wrong thing. Just know RnR is in your corner, waiting to help. PS: they were fun to hang with as I waited while my shih tsu ran through the store like a maniac. Plus, we got to talk about Nicolas Cage movies. And if you're reading this, remember: "Mandy" and "Color of Space"- this is my gift to YOU! TL;DR: they killed it. Just go already! read more

Overpriced and unresponsive. They say they're crushed with business during the pandemic, so they can't answer their phone. That's a fine point to make in March. We're now six months in... how about hiring some more people to staff your shop? Unemployment is high; it's not like it's hard to find employees. I asked about buying a tow bar and having them install it. They wanted to charge me $450, that I was #7 on the waitlist, and that it'd come by end of August. I asked for a printout of something indicating that I was on the waitlist. Turns out, when I got home at looked more carefully, the printout was not even for my order; it was for some random order back in 2017 that I never made. Their staff is that sloppy in their work. So, I had to go back, wait in line (because they can't hire anyone in the middle of record unemployment) and get a new printout. Frustrated,I looked into going to another vendor. Yelp won't let me say their name, but you've hard of them. Long wait times on the phone, but eventually I found a hitch for $160, versus the $241 that Rack & Road wanted to charge. To get it installed, I went with another vendor (again, Yelp won't let me say names) on the San Francisco Peninsula -- who charged only $120 versus $250 that Rack & Road charges. Even better: they answer the phone -- imagine that! Bottom line is that Rack & Road seems fat & happy serving a Marin County market that simply doesn't know any better. Yes, the Peninsula is a drive from Marin, but trust me, you'll save time in the long run by not dealing with Rack & Road. They charge almost 2x more and have much worse service. You can see all this documented in the attached receipts. read more

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Update: 12/21/2020 I'm adjusting the stars from 3 to 5. To see details on the original issue read below. They promptly called me to correct the problem. I got a call directly from the owner (Chris) within hours of posting. He was sincerely apologetic. They scheduled a time and date that was convenient to me, ordered the necessary parts ahead of time and even sent a technician to my home to complete the repair so that I wouldn't be inconvenienced to have to drive and then rideshare/taxi home and back. The technician (Eric) arrived on time and got the job done. He could have just twisted some plastics and tried to make it look better, but I told him I really did want it done right, so he pulled off the bumper and did a complete reinstall even with new hardware. He even went to the local hardware store to get new bolts rather than just recycle the used ones. The whole thing was done right there in my driveway in an afternoon. It's not everyday that a business will own up to their mistakes and then make a real effort to fix the problem and then fix it the right way. Kudos to Chris for running a shop with integrity. And, thanks to Eric for going above and beyond. ----- Original review below Ok. But really only just O.K. Expensive. And, when there's no real competition around, I guess they can charge what they want. Mediocre quality. See the attached photos. Missing screws and misaligned bumper reinstall. Slow. Granted, covid suppliers have slowed things down, but even when they had the parts in hand, they didn't have enough staff on hand to handle the volume of installs they need to complete for the winter ski season. Mediocre customer service. At least they called. But, while on the phone with them, they seemed to be pretty disinterested in actually getting the job done in a timely fashion even after I'd already waited nearly 3 weeks for the first "scheduled" install and...they asked to reschedule. On the flipside, they did get the job done...eventually. But, truth be told, I'm not entirely sure that I couldn't have watched a YouTube video and done the work myself. read more

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Got a phone call and voicemail after my last review which made me feel like I was dealing with the former, customer oriented Rack N Road. Like I said I have been going to the San Rafael store for decades and have recommended it to many people. I hold it in very high esteem and that is probably why I reacted so strongly to my last visit. But it could have just been a one off. I will be going back for all of my hitch and bike rack needs. Not to mention I feel like they do very quality work. I've never had any problems with any of my hitches or bike racks. read more

Great service, Knowledgeable staff. Excellent products. Called and installed same day. Super efficient. Fair prices.

"I was able to work with Ryan at Rack N Road. He was very attentive to my questions while on the phone. I went in store to pick up my purchase and was able to meet him. What outstanding customer service, I will be doing business with him again. Thanks again Ryan" -Terence (Rebecca's boyfriend) read more

Rack N Road - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I went in looking for older parts for my yakima roof rack, and Chris searched high and low until he found it! Thank you so much, Chris!

Going a big trip and was interested in a cargo box. Didn't have the time to do it myself and needed a box asap. Contacted this location via website. Made an appointment after leaving a deposit via text. The counter persons service was friendly and he was extremely knowledgeable. The install was done reasonably quick and installed properly. I am beyond happy with my purchase. I will be recommending others here and coming back with my other vehicles. Thank you! read more

Rack N Road - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Rafael, California

These guys are so kind and helpful. They understand the value of customer relationship, even before you've become an actual customer. Ryan helped me figure out a solution to a challenging rig setup. I will definitely bring my business here and refer others. read more

Ryan patiently explained the newer offerings and compatibility with my older gear, he really knows it all. I bought a Yakima setup and when I discovered (UPS or Fedex) damage on the crossbars they were exchanged no questions asked. Great experience here, thanks. read more

Really great service from Rack N Road. Tim knew exactly what I needed almost before I finished explaining it. Fast installation, fair pricing and expert advice. read more

Rack N Road - My rig - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Rafael, California

Brand new replacement rack from rack and road courtesy of Thule, thanks to Ryan and Jace for going after the lifetime warranty. I haven't had this great of customer service in so long. They even gave me a loaner rack to use for the weekend while I waited on the replacement. Thank you so much Ryan Jace and Tim! read more

I needed a blank key to remove and replace a lock on my rack system I purchased from Rack N Road. Since I live in Santa Rosa and didn't want to make the drive for such a small item I asked if they could mail it to me. The next day it arrived. Five star service. (Again). read more

I bought a tunnel and rack for my truck in mid-March for $4800. I work in construction and I was trying to get it ready for work. No mentions of back-orders, or a "no eta" on Yakima products. I waited for a few weeks and called the store and they said they had received an order of Yakima products and it might be in that. It was the HD roof racks. They installed them. Horrible product - non aero-dynamic and it sounds like a banshee is chasing you when your driving. So I waited a few more months and called late May and they said that the remaining things to complete the order would be in "in early June". It wasn't. I called again in July and was told "why would we call you when we have nothing to say", great customer service. So I went in today to get my money back. Believe it or not, the tunnel was in, imagine if they had of called, I would not be writing this now. Furious with the lack of communication, the lack of knowledge and manners, I ended up sacrificing close to $500 for the 20% for restocking fee. So after spending $4800 I got $3200 back and a a pair of "banshee racks", which I have taken off. Try other companies, try another brand, or a business who has the common courtesy of letting you know what is going on. I get it's been hard through the past two years but lift your standards to keep people informed of what is going on with the money that they spent in YOUR store. read more

Very helpful. They provided me with a hard to find hitch and performed the install. Would recommend.

I very recently bought a high-quality bike rack from Rack N Road in San Rafael. The experience was flawless. Ryan (the owner) helped me out and couldn't have provided a better experience. He was super efficient, professional and respectful of my specific needs. He had me on my way swiftly with a fair deal on a terrific product. 5-Stars all the way! read more

Rack N Road - My new bike rack with Ryan (the owner) - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Rafael, California

Had a great no drama hitch install plus bike rack installation that took 2 hours as expected while I waited. Had searched for awhile to find a shop for our Subaru Forester that had good installation reviews on hidden hitches and as a bonus, Rack N Road could also setup the Hollywood e-bike rack I wanted. Everything looks solid and bomber on the install so I definitely recommend them. read more

Ryan.... And his team are so efficient, knowledgeable in everything that they sell from crossbars chance, raps, etc. They are just the guys to get the job done right. I live in San Pablo the drive to San Rafael is approximately 30 minutes. I've had them do two different jobs for me. Can't say anything more about these guys. They are worth the drive.. read more

Wish I could give 10 stars. My fiancé and I were in a serious pinch! We needed a hitch installed so we could attach our 5x8 Uhaul to our car before leaving on a 3 day road trip from California to Chicago. Without a hitch, we would not have been able to move how wanted and would have had to pay triple what we were originally going to spend. The amazing people at Rack N Road were able to order the parts and install them for us within a day. They really came through for us. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY. Superb job and excellent customer experience. Thanks again! read more

They have everything you will need for your rack system. Quality products, excellent professional staff. Can take a week or so to get scheduled but worth the wait! My daughter is very happy with her ski/surf rack. I would highly recommend. read more