Warning on getting a pickup truck with roof rack tracks

jimh425 wrote:
I agree.

No, I'm not going to tell which side I agree with since I can't see the original post. ;)

And I won't comment about your comment, Jim :B


And I will not comment on pictures that AREN'T posted, Bwahaha!

I agree.

No, I'm not going to tell which side I agree with since I can't see the original post. ;)

NanciL wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
Not sure what you mean by "towers? Photo available or explain please?

I have a cover over my truck. It's aluminum with side panels (tool boxes) the full length of the shell and has 2 shelves. Ladder rack on top for our canoe. I had to cut the tips of the rack off to fit in our garage. The truck cap clears the garage by a fraction.

Yakima and Thule make racks that fit into cars and trucks that have tracks for them. (notice, I said fiberglass in my op) There are small "towers" about three inches high that slide into the tracks from the end, and then you tighten them down wherever you want them. Then you install your cross bars through them. The finished product is rock solid.
I have no intention of posting pictures. If you don't know what they are, it won't affect you, but for someone that does and is thinking of getting them with their new fiberglass cap it could affect them big time.

Jack L

Yes, thanks. Many years ago we had a mini-van with that type of rack, with the cross members that slid in the track (in the 2 tracks that ran front to back. I think I know what you were saying now. Yea, I agree, that's pretty icky that you had to do the extra measures to get in installed the way you needed it. Thanks.

Kind of fun to see how long these threads can run when nobody knows with 100% certainty what the subject is really about. LOL!

Negative repsonses?

Maybe when you said: "I have no intention of posting pictures. If you don't know what they are, it won't affect you, but for someone that does and is thinking of getting them with their new fiberglass cap it could affect them big time."

Members may have took offense at the perceived attitude of superiority?

Sometimes when writing on the internet, the real intent of the writer does not come through.

Hard to tell without pictures.LOL.

Thanks. The OP said : "....bought a new fiberglass cap with factory roof rack rails installed ....", so I assumed he was talking about a bed cover.

NanciL wrote:

I have no intention of posting pictures. If you don't know what they are, it won't affect you, but for someone that does and is thinking of getting them with their new fiberglass cap it could affect them big time.

Jack L

Thank you for being helpful and informative.

I hope I can be as helpful to you, too.

....I think the OP is referring to the Yakima "track package". These roof rails are sometimes mounted on the roof of truck campers, for securing cargo (like a canoe,etc).

Have a look here-->

....usually, when we buy new truck campers (particularly pop-up TCs), the truck camper manufacturer will offer this option for roof-top cargo....however, it is the truck camper manufacturer that will usually do the install. The cohort of pick-up truck owners on this Forum that have full-blown fiberglass "caps" for their pick-up trucks, I believe to be miniscule (IMO: from being extremely active on this Forum since 2004: about 10 years). Most members here use tonneau covers (some with rail mount space; eg. on the solid fold-up models, but most with no space to mount a rail).

So, in all likelihood, a Yakima installer would actually be the truck camper manufacturer (or, RV dealership), and not a traditional Yakima detail shop...so this would be an very, very esoteric "heads-up" for those on this Forum (but, appreciated).

Anyhow, these are my thoughts,
S-

If they are the right towers, you do not need to remove the end caps. On our Thule, the plate on the bottom of the tower fits into the rail,and then turns 90 degrees to lock in.