• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Do you really use your cargo rack?

B

BlessedByGod

Full Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2003
Messages
176
Location
Bunkie, LA
I want a rack on the top of my av. I saw earthquake's mounted with a sunroof like mine has and I really like it.

I would like to be able to justify it to myself for a better reaon than, it just looks good.

Do y'all really use your's?

btw i might wait till I can grab a caddy rack to put up there. I like me some chrome.

-rev
 
While it is possible I may use it for something someday, I added mine strictly for looks.

Don't know what it is, but it just adds something to the overall look without being ostentatious.
 
I hope that the general answer here is YES, as I am developing a prototype roof rack that has many functions...and it looks very cool. Think....Nissan Xterra like.
I'll post a rendering of my prototype as soon as my Patent info is finalized (pending).

Rob
 
Added mine for looks only, which is all it is good for IHMO. Too flimsy and too high up to conveniently get to. I'm certain others have successfully used the rack, but it is not for me. Looks cool, though :cautious:

HOWEVER, the custom bed rack that I purchased from member TXavy is totally awesome and will carry more stuff more conviently than that ornamental rack on the roof will ever dream of carrying. Give it a look (y)

Rich
 
I kind wish mine came with roof racks. I would have loved to put one of those basket type racks on top. I think they look cool and make the Av look more Av
 
txavy's rack is on my list right after i build my bedslide.
i'm also though looking at a different bed rack that runs parrallel instead of perpendicular to the bedsides.

-rev
 
when I bought mine the rqack was in box in the back and not installed.....

I drove about a 9 months or so like that...and decided to mount it myself.....(see thread on here somewhere)

Well I installed for looks....it looks better to me with it....then without....

The EXt would be cool yet as would be a burban Z71 rack....

I do no use since I have txavy rack which is easier to get too...
 
I have a roof rack and really think it adds to the look of the Avalanche. I add a Yakima rack to it in the winter for skiis. Haven't had the Kayaks on top yet. It doesn't interfere with the sunroof at all. :cool:
 
What do you want to put on it? Anything? Yakima and Thule make almost anything you could want and I guess you could do that instead of putting the factory crossbars on. Would still need siderails of some sort though, whether factory or not.

I'd not want to load bikes up there. Skis probably OK and canoe, but bikes sit really high up there and it's just hard to get to. The cargo baskets are cool, but again if I get one it's going on the back for ease of loading.

The "for looks" thing is REAL. It was a REQUIREMENT that my av have the factory rack.
 
For Wild West I I hauled the extra full size spare tires on my roof (anyone remember this). I've hauled my canoe and a couple of other items but I confess, I just though the Avalanche would look better with the roof, and come private sale/trade-in time I saw it as an asset to a potential buyer.
 
I don't want to put anything up there.
I'm too fat and lazy to deal with anything up there.
I just like the looks.

I have a Porta-Bote 10 ft folding boat I might put up there from time to time, but I would really need the reciever mounted stand coming up from behind to hold up the back end.

Has anybody strapped their bed panels up there?
 
I test fitted a Packasport on the top before I bought the AV,... If it didn't fit, I wouldn't have bought it,.... I think. I was perfectly happy with my suburban,....although it needed tires,... I guess that is a good reason to trade it in....
In other words, yes, I will be using the roof rack, as soon as the ski areas open,... the Packasport will go on, and the skis will go in it.

But it does round out the look though.
 
Roof racks on trucks is a pet peeve of mine. I think "if it don't fit in the bed, you don't need it."

You will notice I have one on mine. :cool: Didn't really have a choice. I guess I will use it to store the bed covers if I get an AV tent and we go camping. I guess it does look a little better with the rack.
 
I have the rack as well. I thought it made the Av look a bit more finished.

A couple of weeks ago I put on a Yakima MegaWarrior basket and there Viper series bike carrier. Initially I installed the bike carrier on top of the basket, and the basket mounted directly to the factory crossbars. The factory bars worked fine, but were a little on the bouncy side. I decided to use Yakima's Lowrider bar mounts and a pair of 58" crossbars. That firmed things a lot. The cross bars extend about 4" outside the Lowrider mounts on either side, which was enough room to allow me to remount the bike carrier to them. The repositioned bike carrier now sits about six inches lower than when basket mounted and about six inches outboard, making mounting and de-mounting bikes much easier.

I'll post some photos when I can find the correct drivers to make my Coolpix 990 or scanner compatible with the Windows XP upgrade. :E:

 
I've got the factory rack and I removed the factory cross bars. I have replaced them with Thule cross bars (754 Rapid Railing Carrier) that clamp right over the factory rails. From this platform, I use bike carrieres, a Thule PlayPen basket, and just the bars themselves which are square and have a rubberized coating. I have had on my roof (at different times ;) and using different carrier configs) a boxspring/mattress, canoe, mountain bikes, gas grill, tents, beach chairs, and coolers. The way I look at it is that if I don't mind the cargo being exposed to the elements and my bed if full, then up on the roof it goes. I would rather travel with the bed covers on for cargo protection and security.
 
Kronk said:
I've got the factory rack and I removed the factory cross bars. ...
Click to expand...

Thanks for reminding me...been meaning to ask. How do you remove the crossbars? I understand the clip and slide thing, but can't see how to remove ???

Thanks.
 
I used a Torx driver to remove the plasic rear end caps of the factory rack. (1 or 2 screws each side, can't remember, it's been a while :2:) You can then slide the cross bars all the way back and off the rails. I used some silicon on the screw threads and then replaced them.
 
RichUF said:
Kronk said:
I've got the factory rack and I removed the factory cross bars. ...
Click to expand...

Thanks for reminding me...been meaning to ask. How do you remove the crossbars? I understand the clip and slide thing, but can't see how to remove ???

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Unscrew either the front or rear hard mount....and it will pull out from the side bar....and then you can slide off factory cross bar.....
 
Do I really use my cargo rack? Well...

I used the rack for the first time today. (I kayaked on the Susquehanna river on this warm 75 degree November day.) The "If it doesn't fit in the bed you don't need it" rule mentioned previously didn't apply. The bar set up uses Thule 430 Tracker II Feet, TK1 Tracker Kit, and LB58 Load Bars. The factory bars were not removed, just slid to the center of the rack. I can lock the bars to the Av's rack to prevent theft.

 

Attachments

  • AvAndYak-left_small_file.JPG
    AvAndYak-left_small_file.JPG
    69.7 KB · Views: 37
That is a GREAT picture and that is one sharp looking WBH -- really like it with all the trim and the chrome step bars. That is sharp!

Now back on topic - has anyone seen the racks that come on the Trailblazers that have the marker lamps built in to the supports on the front. Man those are sharp and I wish they had that on the Avalanche.
 
Quick Question???

Can anyone clear up whether or not the rack is installed at the factory or at the dealership. I have heard both from two different dealerships. One I talked to today claimed its shipped inside the car and installed at the dealership.

finally made my first post: Feels good not to be a virgin any more!!!

Thanks
12v
 
the roof racks used to be installed at the dealer...but the dealers messed up alot of installs. So due to complaints the factory now installs roof racks, the last i heard


Patrick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top