A Quick Guide on Properly Installing/Integrating Thule Racks, Roof Racks & Boxes

Without a doubt, a Thule Roof Rack System is an excellent innovation for carrying a wide variety of accessories on your roof while freeing up the interior space. They accommodate just about any type of cargo hauling accessory from bike racks to kayak carriers to cargo baskets. Thule is a globally regarded company and as an industry leader, and it is their responsibility to make certain that every vehicle year and model is provided a precise equipment hauling solution. For this reason, their roof rack system comes in different styles to suitably fit different vehicle roof types.

Thanks to Thule’s exceptional design methodologies, effectively mounting their roof rack system is guaranteed to be effortless and quick. For this article, we’re going to give a step-by-step guide on how to properly install a Thule Roof Rack and a Thule accessory. We’ll be using the Traverse Foot Pack, Square Load Bars, and an appropriate Fit Kit in our example.

Installing Your Thule Roof Rack

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The initial setup requires opening the One-Touch levers on the inside of all Traverse Feet before sliding them onto the load bars. Through the instructions found in your Fit Kit box, measure the inside to inside of the feet using the designated dimensions listed for your vehicle to appropriately set the foot position. Once the adjustments are made, close the One Touch Levers to effectively secure the feet in place. Afterward, press the designated end caps to the edges of the load bar. Once again, referring to the Fit Kit, mount the brackets and pads onto the Traverse Feet and utilize the foot position stickers to make reinstalling the rack easier.

The next step is to place the AcuTight tool into the tensioning bolt on each foot before loosening completely. The bolt will stop once it’s completely loose. Wash and clean your vehicle’s roof and prepare it for mounting the roof rack. Position the bars onto the vehicle such that the foot brackets hang down into the door frame. Do the necessary measurements before positioning and securing the front bar first, and then the rear bar. A more detailed and illustrated description of this step is available in the Fit Kit’s instruction manual. For each bar, tighten the feet through just a few turns on each side while holding the Fit Kit bracket against vehicle. The green arrow and gray notches should precisely line up once tightening is appropriate. With the AcuTight tools left integrated in the two feet, install tensioning bolt plugs in the other two feet. Double check on foot tightness by slightly pushing and pulling on the installed rack and the Fit Kit brackets.

Adding Extra Security Measures

To make certain the roof racks are firmly secured to your vehicle, the separate purchase of the Thule One Key Lock System may be integrated. This system comes in a set of two, four, six, or eight lock cores depending on different needs. Incorporating the lock cores involve removing the lock plugs from foot covers before placing the square install key into lock cylinder. The cylinder is slid fully into foot cover before the square key is removed. The N-series key is then utilized to lock or unlock the foot cover.

Thule’s One Key System Lock Cylinders aren’t limited to just roof racks. If you ever plan to leave your equipment on your roof while say, at a parking lot, this system would effectively prevent theft. For example, we’re mounting a bike carrier to the roof rack system. What are the steps on how to lock a Thule Bike Rack to the rack system? The whole process is similar to the previous procedure. Simply remove a designated lock cap from your bike rack and put in the lock cores. The locks for the roof rack and the bike carrier are now similar and you only need one key to unlock them both. It should be noted that a One Key Lock System with a set of six lock cores would be the best option if you’re looking to secure both the roof rack and the bike rack. For maximum protection, the Thule Cable Lock may also be employed to fasten your bicycles to the bike carrier.

Properly Mounting the Thule Cargo Box

For camping and hiking enthusiasts, Thule’s Cargo Boxes make certain that all your essential belongings are kept safe during the whole interval of your trips. To suit different needs, these cargo boxes are established in a variety of sizes and load capacity. Like their roof rack systems, properly integrating Thule’s Cargo Boxes is easy and regardless of the difference in dimension, the whole process is generally the same. Here is a quick step by step guide on how to install a Thule Roof Cargo Box to your roof rack. The initial step is to open the box through an integrated key that can only be removed once the box lid is fully closed. Once the box is open, locate the four Quickgrip dials and turn them counter-clockwise until the grips under are completely open.

Place the cargo box on the roof rack of your vehicle until it is at the roof’s center and it doesn’t block the doors or overhang on the windshield. Comprehensively check for rear hatch, front hood, and roof-mounted antenna clearance. Slide the box forward and backward until it’s properly over the crossbars. Placement and adjustment of the box is more efficient if done by two people. The roof rack bars should be at the center of the box’s dials. Once that’s adjusted, turn the dials clockwise to have the grips under tightly closed around the roof rack bars. A click sound will be heard and knob resistance will be reduced once the roof box is appropriately fastened to the roof rack.

Once equipment is placed inside the box, you may utilize the included load straps to tie them down to the dials. Make certain that the loads are evenly distributed and the designated maximum loading isn’t exceeded. Furthermore, the dual side opening blueprint of these cargo boxes allows users to access equipment from either side of the vehicle.