Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Re: rack failure
By:Brad Farr
Date: 10/16/2003, 11:56 am
In Response To: Re: Strip: boat flys off truck! (Leo Boudreau)

Just looking at the picture on the Thule website makes me wonder if the clamps weren't overstressed to begin with. Instead of spreading the load over a wide flat bar, you have it concentrated at a single point on the bottom of the round bar. (try breaking a stick over one knee versus both knees with your hands about 18" apart and you'll see what I mean) You may have added further stress by pulling the clamp screws extra tight to prevent slipping and rotating on the round bars. Did your dealer get approval from Thule or was he just trying to sell some cradles? I would contact Thule before you remount your carriers, they may not recommend using them with round bars or they may have an adapter to fit. Thule may also be very interested in the failure as they have a reputation to uphold, not to mention product liability. (you might even check on warranty replacement of the broken parts)
Let us know what you find out.

Thule Car Rack Systems
42 Silvermine Road
Seymour, CT 06483
1-800-238-2388

Messages In This Thread

Strip: boat flys off truck! *LINK*
Leo Boudreau -- 10/16/2003, 9:55 am
Re: Strip: boat flys off truck!
Dave -- 10/18/2003, 2:38 am
Re: Strip: boat flys off truck!
Mike and Rikki -- 10/16/2003, 2:38 pm
Re: Strip: boat flys off truck!
Leo Boudreau -- 10/16/2003, 5:21 pm
Re: Strip: boat flys off truck!
Mike and Rikki -- 10/16/2003, 5:52 pm
Re: Strip: boat flys off truck!
srchr/gerald -- 10/16/2003, 11:58 am
OUCH! *NM*
Rod Tait -- 10/16/2003, 11:38 am
Re: Strip: boat flys off truck!
Mike Scarborough -- 10/16/2003, 10:15 am
Re: Strip: boat flys off truck!
Leo Boudreau -- 10/16/2003, 10:54 am
Re: rack failure
Brad Farr -- 10/16/2003, 11:56 am
Re: Rack Failure
Mike Scarborough -- 10/16/2003, 11:54 am
Next time!
Kent LeBoutillier -- 10/16/2003, 11:47 am