Thule Short Roof Adapter Review - etrailer.com

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Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today we are going to show you part number TH477 from Thule. This is their Short Roof Adapter. What this kit does is to work on vehicles with a very short roofline so that they can carry the weight as needed for bicycle racks and cargo carriers. This adapter actually transfers the weight to the part of the vehicle that can handle it better, and therefore you can have your roof rack installed on your vehicle. We will install it on a typical vehicle that requires this kit and show you how it looks and how it gets installed.

These bars will actually go longways with the vehicle instead of with the crossbars. That is how it gets its strength it transfers it to the load bars. These parts here are covers for this part right here, which actually is an extra foot that goes in the middle of the rack itself. These pieces here replace the Fit Kit that is on the rear part of the roof rack. What happens is they actually get traded out. The Fit Kit on the rear actually gets transferred to the middle. And then this goes in its place and the steel supports the weight on top of the roofline. The strength is transferred from here to the center part of the roof, where it is a little bit stronger. And it comes with the extra handles that allow you to tighten them down on there, and also an extra tool right here, which will clamp where the foot mounts onto the bar right here so it does not move anywhere. Let us go ahead and install this on a roof rack that requires this and show you how it looks.

We are starting off with our roof rack installed per the instructions, because there are specific dimensions on where it goes from front to rear on the roofline itself. At this point is where you start installing the Short Roof Adapter. To start off, you take off this bar here for the Fit Kit and then this piece replaces the Fit Kit part right here. And then this tightens it down and just keeps everything together in one piece. And it also provides a space for you to lock the handle into. And you want to do one side at a time, only. And to install our crossbar, it is going to install like this. And there is this little hook right here, which gets installed in this ledge which is up underneath here on top of the hood. And it can be a tight fit, so you want to work it up in there at an angle and then push down.

Then, take your center support here and move it where you need to put it. And then you just go ahead and tighten down the bolt in back. And then all you have got to do is snap the cover onto that. Remember when we took off that first part from the Fit Kit? We are going to reuse it again right here. And just get it snugged tight, and then repeat all the same steps for the other side. All right, with the Short Roof Adapter installed, this allows your vehicle to carry any cargo up to its maximum allowed capacity. And there you have it for part number TH477 from Thule, the Short Roof Adapter.

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Autos & Vehicles

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• carrier
• roofline
• bicycle
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