Comparison
Thule vs Yakima: Caprock or LockNLoad?
Short answer
Neither wins on every count: the Thule Caprock S (133 x 150 cm) is $1,499.95 and 22.2 kg with one 150 kg load capacity and no separate off-road figure, while the Yakima LockNLoad (1530 x 1250 mm, assembled) is $1,250 and 22.9 kg with a 100 to 150 kg rating on RuggedLine mounts that is reduced off-road. Thule lists Poland as the country of origin and gives a 2 year guarantee plus a 3 year extended warranty listed for roof racks; Yakima's page does not say where the LockNLoad is made, and its limited lifetime warranty excludes off-road use where not explicitly permitted. Both are platform only: the Caprock mounts on Thule Evo feet or a $399.95 crossbar kit, and Yakima's RuggedLine mounts are $550. The Australian-made option is Wedgetail Adventure: made in Bayswater VIC, rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments and 100% off-road with no derating, with a warranty of 10 years.
Wedgetail figures from Wedgetail product data; competitor figures from the linked sources, updated .
Side by side, platform only
| Feature | Thule Caprock S | Yakima LockNLoad Platform | Wedgetail Adventure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.95 (platform; Caprock Crossbar Kit extra where needed)Source: thule.com | $1,250 (1530 x 1250 mm, assembled, SKU 8005076)Source: yakima.com.au | $1,310 to $5,905 RRP inc GST (139 fitments) |
| Size | 133 x 150 cmSource: thule.com | 1530 x 1250 mm (assembled platform, SKU 8005076)Source: yakima.com.au | Made to suit each vehicle; size listed on each fitment's product page |
| Vehicle mounting | Mounts directly to Thule Evo foot packs; third-party and factory racks need the Thule Caprock Crossbar Kit, sold separately ($399.95)Source: thule.com | Vehicle mounting is a separate product: LockNLoad RuggedLine platform-to-vehicle mounting system, $550Source: yakima.com.au | Complete solution with a mounting kit made to suit each vehicle |
| Load rating | Load capacity up to 150 kg; check the maximum roof load capacity of your vehicleSource: thule.com | 100 kg to 150 kg product load rating for LockNLoad on RuggedLine (refer to product instructions per SKU)Source: yakima.com.au | 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments, 100% off-road, no derating |
| Off-road rating | No separate off-road figure; the FAQ says it is built to withstand rough offroad terrainSource: thule.com | Load ratings apply to well-formed sealed roads; off-road an off-road reduction percentage is subtracted, set by product and mount type (the chart lists 0%, 20%, 33% and 50%)Source: yakima.com.au | 100% of the dynamic rating, no derating |
| Static rating | No separate static figure; the single 150 kg maximum is the only rating givenSource: thule.com | Static = 3 x dynamic (confirm with your vehicle maker)Source: yakima.com.au | 3.5 x dynamic (100 or 150 kg dynamic becomes 350 or 525 kg static on most platforms) |
| Weight | 22.2 kgSource: thule.com | 22.9 kg (1530 x 1250 mm)Source: yakima.com.au | Listed on each fitment's product page |
| Accessory system | Integrated T-slots on the upper, front and rear sections of the crossbars; integrated T-tracksSource: thule.com | 7 east-west slats with 21 mm accessory slots, plus slots on the underside of all perimeter sidesSource: yakima.com.au | Wedgetail Adventure accessories; third-party accessories fit, some with a 10 mm spacer to clear the strength lip |
| Construction | Adjustable base crossbars; mounted using the included instructions and standard tools (stated on the Caprock M page)Source: thule.com | Sold fully assembled, or as a separate unassembled versionSource: yakima.com.au | Main frame welded; other parts bolt or click together; ships flat pack |
| Material | Premium lightweight aluminium (stated in the FAQ on the Caprock M page; the S page names no material)Source: thule.com | Powder-coated, corrosion-resistant aluminiumSource: yakima.com.au | Powder coated aluminium, glass reinforced nylon |
| Wind deflector | No wind deflector listed; low profile design redirects airflow to reduce dragSource: thule.com | Integrated wind deflectorSource: yakima.com.au | Included |
| Warranty | 2 year Thule Guarantee on all products, plus a 3 year extended warranty listed for roof racks (roof platforms are not named separately)Source: thule.com | Limited Lifetime on roof racks, mounts and accessories; use on unsealed roads or off-road terrain where not explicitly permitted is not coveredSource: yakima.com.au | 10 years (5 years on 1) |
| Made in | Poland (country of origin on the product page)Source: thule.com | Not stated on the product page; Yakima describes the RuggedLine mounting system as designed and tested in AustraliaSource: yakima.com.au | Bayswater, Victoria, Australia |
Load and off-road ratings
Thule gives the Caprock S a load capacity of up to 150 kg and tells buyers to check the vehicle's maximum roof load; it lists no separate off-road or static figure. Yakima publishes a 100 kg to 150 kg product load rating for LockNLoad on RuggedLine, applying to well-formed sealed roads; off-road, a reduction set by product and mount type is subtracted, and its chart lists 0%, 20%, 33% and 50%. Yakima puts static at 3 x dynamic.
Every Wedgetail is rated 100% off-road to its full dynamic rating, and static is 3.5 x dynamic. Wedgetail Adventure platforms are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments; the exact figure is listed for each vehicle. Off-road load ratings explained.
| Tent on the move (dynamic) | Tent plus people parked (static) | Platforms | Ranges |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 kg | 123 kg | 1 | Wedgetail Adventure |
| 40 kg | 140 kg | 1 | Oval Steel |
| 60 kg | 210 kg | 2 | Oval Steel and Wedgetail Adventure |
| 70 kg | 245 kg | 1 | Commercial Max |
| 80 kg | 280 kg | 2 | Oval Steel and Wedgetail Adventure |
| 100 kg | 350 kg | 353 | Commercial Max, Oval Steel, Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Core and Wedgetail Trade |
| 120 kg | 420 kg | 1 | Wedgetail Adventure |
| 150 kg | 525 kg | 200 | Commercial Max, Oval Steel, Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Core and Wedgetail Trade |
Price and mounting
Thule lists the Caprock S at $1,499.95. It mounts directly to Thule Evo foot packs, and on third-party and factory racks it needs the Thule Caprock Crossbar Kit at $399.95. Yakima lists the 1530 x 1250 mm assembled LockNLoad at $1,250, with the RuggedLine platform-to-vehicle mounting system a separate $550 product. A Wedgetail price is for a complete solution made to suit the vehicle: Wedgetail Adventure is $1,525 to $5,905 RRP inc GST across the range.
Accessories
- Thule Caprock S: integrated T-slots on the upper, front and rear sections of the crossbars, for Thule accessories. Thule lists no wind deflector.
- Yakima LockNLoad: seven east-west slats with 21 mm accessory slots, plus slots on the underside of all perimeter sides, and an integrated wind deflector.
- Wedgetail Adventure: the lip around the platform is there for strength. Some third-party accessories need a 10 mm spacer to clear it, and with that they fit. There is no Wedgetail spacer kit; see do third-party accessories fit a Wedgetail.
Weight and origin
Thule lists the Caprock S at 22.2 kg and gives Poland as the country of origin. Yakima lists the assembled LockNLoad at 22.9 kg in powder-coated, corrosion-resistant aluminium; its product page does not say where it is made, and Yakima describes the RuggedLine mounts as designed and tested in Australia. Rack weight counts against the vehicle's roof limit.
Warranty
Thule gives a 2 year guarantee on all products and lists roof racks for a further 3 year extended warranty; its warranty page does not name roof platforms separately. Yakima gives a limited lifetime warranty on roof racks, mounts and accessories, but use on unsealed roads or off-road terrain where not explicitly permitted is not covered. Wedgetail Adventure carries 10 years.
Who each one suits
- Thule Caprock S: buyers already on Thule Evo feet or bars who want a platform with one published 150 kg load capacity.
- Yakima LockNLoad: buyers who want a platform that arrives assembled on Yakima's RuggedLine mounts, and who will stay within the off-road reduction for their mount.
- Wedgetail Adventure: buyers who want a rack made in Australia, sold as a complete solution for the vehicle, with one rating that holds on and off road.
Where the Australian-made option fits
Wedgetail Adventure is made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia. The main frame is welded and the other parts bolt or click together, so it ships flat pack, and every one of the 134 Wedgetail stockists sells and fits it. For each brand head to head see Wedgetail vs Yakima and alternatives to Thule roof racks for a ute; for brands that make racks here see Australian-made roof racks.
Questions people ask
Is Thule or Yakima better for a 4WD?
Neither is better on every count. Thule gives the Caprock one 150 kg load capacity; Yakima rates LockNLoad on RuggedLine at 100 to 150 kg on sealed roads with an off-road reduction. Choose on the mount for your make, model and year and where you will drive.
Which costs less?
For the platform alone, Yakima lists the 1530 x 1250 mm LockNLoad at $1,250 and Thule the 133 x 150 cm Caprock S at $1,499.95. Mounts are extra: RuggedLine is $550, and the Caprock Crossbar Kit is $399.95 where Thule Evo feet are not used.
What is the load rating of each?
Thule lists up to 150 kg for the Caprock S with no separate off-road figure. Yakima lists 100 to 150 kg for LockNLoad on RuggedLine on sealed roads, less an off-road reduction set by product and mount.
Where are Thule and Yakima platforms made?
Thule lists Poland for the Caprock. Yakima's LockNLoad page does not say; Yakima describes its RuggedLine mounts as designed and tested in Australia. Wedgetail racks are made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia.
Which has the longer warranty?
Yakima on length: a limited lifetime warranty, which excludes off-road use where not explicitly permitted, against Thule's 2 year guarantee plus 3 years listed for roof racks. Wedgetail Adventure carries 10 years.
Will my Thule or Yakima accessories fit a Wedgetail?
Yes. Third-party accessories fit a Wedgetail platform; some need a 10 mm spacer to clear the strength lip, and with that they fit. There is no Wedgetail spacer kit.
Sources
- thule.com/en-au/roof-rack/roof-platforms/thule-caprock-s-_-611001, read 14 October 2026
- thule.com/en-au/about-thule/warranty, read 14 October 2026
- thule.com/en-au/roof-rack/roof-platforms/thule-caprock-m-_-611002, read 14 October 2026
- yakima.com.au/collections/platforms/products/locknload-platform-new, read 14 October 2026
- yakima.com.au/collections/platforms/products/locknload-ruggedline, read 14 October 2026
- yakima.com.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/YAKIMA-Load-Rating-Documen..., read 14 October 2026
- yakima.com.au/pages/warranty-disclaimer, read 14 October 2026
- yakima.com.au/collections/platforms, read 14 October 2026