steven1955
Full Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2002
- Messages
- 201
Well, it took a long time to figure out how to do it with currently available Thule parts, but here's how to fit a Thule rack on the bed cover of an Avalanche.
Bonedog had already done this fitment, but by dumb luck he bought a used Thule rack at a yard sale that had an obsolete fit kit, Thule's 71 fit kit, that was nearly perfect. I called Thule, but they didn't have any old stock of 71 fit kits. I called 12 on line Thule dealers, but they didn't have any old stock. So after weeks of trying I got hold of a Thule engineer who was able to find a workable non obsolete fit kit with clips that needed minimal modification. You do have to rebend the fit kit clips.
So here are the Thule parts you need:
1. 400 or 400XT foot pack. (Includes 4 feet.)
2. 157 fit kit. (Includes 4 clips, 4 rubber pads, and 4 plastic spacers. You don't need the spacers.)
3. 50 or 54 inch load bars. (I already owned 54 inch bars, which won't allow full opening on the side compartments. 50 inch bars allow the side compartments to fully open.)
First, here's what the finished installation looks like.
Bonedog had already done this fitment, but by dumb luck he bought a used Thule rack at a yard sale that had an obsolete fit kit, Thule's 71 fit kit, that was nearly perfect. I called Thule, but they didn't have any old stock of 71 fit kits. I called 12 on line Thule dealers, but they didn't have any old stock. So after weeks of trying I got hold of a Thule engineer who was able to find a workable non obsolete fit kit with clips that needed minimal modification. You do have to rebend the fit kit clips.
So here are the Thule parts you need:
1. 400 or 400XT foot pack. (Includes 4 feet.)
2. 157 fit kit. (Includes 4 clips, 4 rubber pads, and 4 plastic spacers. You don't need the spacers.)
3. 50 or 54 inch load bars. (I already owned 54 inch bars, which won't allow full opening on the side compartments. 50 inch bars allow the side compartments to fully open.)
First, here's what the finished installation looks like.