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Modifying a Thule box
My son has 'acquired' my old Thule box for the top of his Subaru Outback.
When he opens the back it lifts up and hits the back of the box and doesn't open completely. Does anyone have any experience with drilling new holes several inches further back and moving a Thule box several inches further forward? My primary concern is that this increases both the amount of 'sail surface' under the box and the length of the lever arm. At 75 mph (they drive faster in Montana than I do in Maine) this seems to me to be potentially more than a trivial increase in lifting force applied to the box/rack and rack/car attachments. I can't imagine it would have any impact on front wheel function. Anyone done this and lived to tell the tale? Peter |
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Modifying a Thule box
I posted a similar question to rec.alt.subaru and rsn about a year
ago. I have an Impreza OBS wagon, which is even smaller than the full sized outback. I got an old Yakima (I believe) box as a kind gift from Gary Jacobson and had to drill new holes to move it quite a bit forward to fit onto on my small car, even though my Subaru dealer discoraged me from doing that. As a result the front unsupported half of the box hangs by about 50% of its length I drove with it at 80 mph (not to say you son won't drive faster in Montana) and did not have any problems so far. No problems with car control. I did reinforce the holes from inside out with short (10") stainless steel rods though. I do check the box once in a while for cracks and stuff. "pheski" wrote in message ... My son has 'acquired' my old Thule box for the top of his Subaru Outback. When he opens the back it lifts up and hits the back of the box and doesn't open completely. Does anyone have any experience with drilling new holes several inches further back and moving a Thule box several inches further forward? My primary concern is that this increases both the amount of 'sail surface' under the box and the length of the lever arm. At 75 mph (they drive faster in Montana than I do in Maine) this seems to me to be potentially more than a trivial increase in lifting force applied to the box/rack and rack/car attachments. I can't imagine it would have any impact on front wheel function. Anyone done this and lived to tell the tale? Peter |
#3
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Modifying a Thule box
"pheski" wrote in message ...
My son has 'acquired' my old Thule box for the top of his Subaru Outback. When he opens the back it lifts up and hits the back of the box and doesn't open completely. Does anyone have any experience with drilling new holes several inches further back and moving a Thule box several inches further forward? My primary concern is that this increases both the amount of 'sail surface' under the box and the length of the lever arm. At 75 mph (they drive faster in Montana than I do in Maine) this seems to me to be potentially more than a trivial increase in lifting force applied to the box/rack and rack/car attachments. I can't imagine it would have any impact on front wheel function. Anyone done this and lived to tell the tale? Peter For the same reason I had to redrill my box on our Audi 100 wagon 3 years ago, and it is fine. My drilled holes look just like the OEM holes. I put some electrical tape over the unused holes to keep out water, and the thing is always dry, expect for trace amounts of occassional melted snow off skis. The front overhang was a visual concern originally. I didnt like the way it looked in terms of all that load forward of the front bar, and the lift effect, as the box is now right over the windshield, and takes up that breeze. However, it has not been a problem, and we have driven in all kinds of conditions and speeds (high speeds included). Never a concern. The rack is only rated for so much load, not nearly enough to lift the front end of a car off the road. And the box is strong enough to support forward loads. Although I do pack it carefully with heavier things towards the amidships. |
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