Has anybody found a problem with using factory roof racks? I am getting ready to rebuild a 1988 Ford Bronco II that has a factory roof rack. I plan on using my Thule load bars and the Thule foot that adapts to the factory tracks. How are the tracks fastened to the roof? Should I be concerned about reinforcing the attachment of the track to the roof? It is a Ford, after all. Thanks. Robb *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 01:08 PM 9/13/00 EDT, RBHoltKayak_at_aol.com wrote: > Has anybody found a problem with using factory roof racks? I am getting >ready to rebuild a 1988 Ford Bronco II that has a factory roof rack. I plan >on using my Thule load bars and the Thule foot that adapts to the factory >tracks. How are the tracks fastened to the roof? Should I be concerned >about reinforcing the attachment of the track to the roof? It is a Ford, >after all. Thanks. > > Robb Robb, You can check with Ford and Thule(and/or Yakima) to try to establish the "factory" rating for the "factory" rack. I can't speak for Ford, but I once owned a 1988 Dodge Caravan. After a roof leak that caused the headliner to come loose, I had a chance to see how the factory rack was attached. Scary!!! If you are rebuilding anyway, it might be a good opportunity to reinforce (as in big fender washers) the existing set-up. Be aware of the roof curve and pre-bend the fender washers if required. Good luck, Bill Leonhardt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Can you be a bit more specific? I've never torn the ceiling off of my Honda Accord. Richard Frost Bill Leonhardt wrote: I had a chance to see how the factory rack was > attached. Scary!!! > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
My last two cars --- a Subaru Outback and the Audi A4 Avant --- have had rock-solid factory bars on them. But I agree with Bill --- could be dicey if you've had any condensation or leaking around your Bronco's fittings. If they're solid and seem to be corrosion free, I wouldn't hesitate to use Yak's DoubleCross fittings, but if I were redoing the vehicle anyway, I'd install Yak's "Tracks" directly to the roof and use their RailRiders to hold the bars. You might even be able to cover the holes where the original racks were mounted, if you're lucky. I'm sure Thule has an equivalent. But, then, you've got a Ford: you could always just nail two by fours to the roof. Jack *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 10:53 PM 9/13/00 -0400, Richard Frost wrote: >Can you be a bit more specific? I've never torn the ceiling off of my Honda >Accord. > >Richard Frost > >Bill Leonhardt wrote: > >I had a chance to see how the factory rack was > >> attached. Scary!!! >> > Richard, I'm working from memory here of something I looked at briefly over 10 years ago. As I recall, each end of the rack rails was held by two fasteners. The fastener was a screw inserted from the outside and a nut-like device on the inside. The screw may have been on the order of 6 to 8 mm in diameter (1/4 or 5/16 in.). The nut-like device was conical in shape. Naturally, it had internal threads. The large dia. of the cone was about 2 to 3 mm larger than the screw diameter and pressed against the inside of the roof. I appeared that maybe the nut was somehow inserted through the roof from the outside and expanded in place in a manner similar to that of a drywall (sheetrock) anchor. I remember thinking at the time that this nut had less bearing area than an ordinary hex nut of the same screw size. That's it. No washers or anything. It just seemed inadequate to me. Now, automotive engineers may have developed and tested this sort of set-up and feel comfortable with the load rating. I'm a licensed Professional (mechanical) Engineer and I was a bit uncomfortable. I now have a "97 Caravan. I haven't had a reason to peek under the headline. Perhaps I'm better off not knowing...... :-} Bill Leonhardt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Re factory racks, Bill wrote that it "...appeared that maybe the nut was somehow inserted through the roof from the outside and expanded in place in a manner similar to that of a drywall (sheetrock) anchor." Not sure I wanted to hear that, either, Bill. This sounds very similar to Yak's track mounting system --- I think they call them "Plus-nuts" or something close to that. This is the technique used when you don't want to pull the headliner. They've also had a better system for mounting tracks in the past which does require pulling the liner --- big fender washers and stuff. Sounds a lot better. Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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