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Car racks have come a long way since the TV show "The Beverly Hillbillies," which opened with Granny perched on a rocking chair teetering atop a jalopy. Today, car racks are as commonplace as the crossover vehicles sporting them, and their popularity is steadily rising. Extra-vehicular storage at Outdoor Sports Center in Wilton comes in many different styles, proving that taking your vacation with you is as easy as throwing gear on the top -- or the back -- of your car.
Outdoor Sports Center was founded 50 years ago by general manager Scott Maxwell's grandparents. His parents, Jack and Linda, still oversee the family business. Scott isn't surprised by the profusion of gear-hauling devices: "Big SUVs used to be the only vehicles equipped with roof racks, but people are driving smaller cars now and they still want to haul their gear," he says. The easy-on and off, lightweight and aerodynamic design of racks such as those manufactured by Thule and Yakima -- both of which are sold at the Center -- allow vacationers and outdoor sports enthusiasts alike to add to their storage space (up to 17 cubic feet) without compromising fuel economy.
Gone are the days of the rectangular box, akin to hauling a Chippendale armoire on one's roof. Today's gear-haulers are relatively low profile and extremely sleek. Trailer hitch racks can be affixed to the back of virtually any vehicle, and mounted low enough to allow bikers to quickly and easily store and then remove their rides. And for customers who purchase their racks at Outdoor Sports Center, specialists will professionally mount the unit free of charge.
But according to Scott, perhaps the best characteristic of the car rack is the fact that it allows outdoor sports enthusiasts "to explore the realm beyond their backyards." He adds, "A family with diverse outdoor interests can still have fun together if everyone's able to bring their own toys with them, and I'm not just talking about kids."
The car rack is worth considering, particularly if you want to haul your own toys to destinations near and far. Why leave home without it?
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