Multitpurpose gutterless roof rack VS weatherstripping ?
p...@nospam.com
Odysset LX . The vehicle does not have rain gutters to it looks like I
have to go for the Thule or Yakima system - It look like both of these
might cause weathertring problems over time. Any comments or
suggestions ? Thanks
Ueyn Block
I had a Yakima on my '89 Toyota Camry (no gutters) for many years with
no problems. Love that rack.
Last year I bought a used Volvo that also had no gutters. The same rack
fit fine with a new set of clips that worked with the Volvo's roof/door
shape. Unfortunately, they eventually cut through the rubber
weatherstripping that spans the gap between the top of the door and the
roof (the rubber is attached to the door). Without the rack, the gap
this stripping fits in is very tight. Adding the rack's clip in this
gap was enough to cut through the rubber in a month or two. Luckily, it
appears that this piece of rubber is more ornamental than functional.
There is a second weatherstripping below that is much beefier and seals
very tightly against the door when closed (this strip is attached to the
car, not the door). This weatherstripping is not affected by the clip
at all, and the car is sealed up just fine... no leaking even when
sprayed at the car wash.
The small tears in the "ornamental" weather stripping aren't very
noticeable and don't seem to be a problem. Thus, I have stuck with the
rack and still love it.
My suggestion would be to bring your car to the store with the racks and
have a salesman let you bring the tower and clip out to the car. Put
them where they'll be on your roof and figure out if there will be a
problem. I'm sure it depends on your car, the design of the clips, and
how well you install it.
Ueyn <ue...@stanford.edu>
Eric Hassett
I'm not sure what weatherstripping(?) you are talking about that might
get affected. The towers clamp to my existing rack on the vehicle (I
have an EX). It sounds like the LX doesn't come with this rack. I'm
sure Yakima has something that will work for you and they are extremely
helpful with questions.
Eric
Paul Kopit
above each door and and under the weather strippiing, that accepts a
specially made Thule rack. It works better than any other foot and
the rack cannot be removed from the car when the doors are locked. I
think Opels have them too. It must add about 50¢ to the production
costs of each car.
The feet and rack were only $85 from a Saab dealer.
On Thu, 17 May 2001 09:29:40 -0700, Ueyn Block <ue...@stanford.edu>
wrote:
p...@nospam.com
Ueyn Block
> On my SAAB and I thought on Volvos there are some a pair of holes
> above each door and and under the weather strippiing, that accepts a
> specially made Thule rack. It works better than any other foot and
> the rack cannot be removed from the car when the doors are locked. I
> think Opels have them too. It must add about 50¢ to the production
> costs of each car.
>
>
> The feet and rack were only $85 from a Saab dealer.
You are correct. The little holes are there and the Yakima clips have
pegs that fit right into them. Seems to work nicely. I hadn't even
thought about the fact that this makes the rack "locked" onto the roof
when the doors are locked, makes sense! What will the Swedes think of
next?!?!
My Volvo has weatherstripping both below the hole (attached to body of
car) and above the hole (attached to door, touches roof when door is
shut). It is the second weatherstripping that got rubbed the wrong way,
so to speak. The undamaged weatherstripping is what seals the door, the
other just seems to span the gap between the door and roof. It is
probably for looks and to keep dirt and grit away from the *real*
weatherstripping. The damage from the rack seems quite trivial, though.
-Ueyn <ue...@stanford.edu>