Roof racks for a TBird ?

Topic: Roof racks for a TBird ? (Read 3263 times) previous topic - next topic

Roof racks for a TBird ?

Reply #15 – January 11, 2010, 01:06:07 PM

I, unfortunately, have to use my Cougar as a truck since I don't have a "real" truck. I've made many Home Depot runs with the Cougar! Hauled a LOT of stuff...pretty much overloaded, but I don't have to drive very far (less than 2 miles) and took it very easy. What's been in my trunk and/or interior (not all at the same time, and carefully placed as needed):

patio block, pavers, locking wall stones, mulch, topsoil, metal shelves from Costco, lumber, pine wainscoting, (probably something I'm missing)

Roof racks for a TBird ?

Reply #16 – January 12, 2010, 05:56:59 PM

check your local thrift stores, i see roof racks in there all the time.
the strap-on types usually.

Roof racks for a TBird ?

Reply #17 – January 12, 2010, 08:23:01 PM

On one of my trips to Columbus for the all Ford swap meet there was a vender there, I think he's some kind of ford dealer because he had alot of discontinued or obselete stuff. And there was actually a new in box roof rack for our cars. I was going to buy it just because I didn't know they had such a thing for our cars, and it would be a cool conversation piece. But I passed on it and I've been back since and have never seen another.

Roof racks for a TBird ?

Reply #18 – January 13, 2010, 08:16:22 AM

i wouldent do that to a t-bird ????

Roof racks for a TBird ?

Reply #19 – February 11, 2010, 02:24:38 AM

Okay, while cruising the www tonight I found a listing for one. Apperantly from the seller it was called a 4 seasons roof rack. It states in the Ad it will fit an '88, so should fit other years I would assume. Although, could be '89 and up. Here is the listing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270511083579&crlp=1_263602_263622&ff4=263602_263622&viewitem=&guid=bbc53e301260a02683014aa1ffc1bc34&rvr_id=&ua=WXI6&itemid=270511083579

Hope that helps.

Roof racks for a TBird ?

Reply #20 – February 11, 2010, 09:17:59 AM

Hmmm…what about this: http://www.magneticroofracks.com/rackmaster.php

Roof racks for a TBird ?

Reply #21 – July 01, 2010, 01:02:26 AM

Quote from: SSX;309888

Hmmm…what about this: http://www.magneticroofracks.com/rackmaster.php

lol. Account suspended for nonpayment.

----------Roof Racks----------

The most severe option is for a permanent installation. Both Thule and Yakima, among others, offer kits that involve drilling a hole in the sheet metal roof, inserting an anchor, and attaching the base to the anchor. You can then attach a foot to the base. A crossbar to the foot. A cargo box/bike rack/ski rack to the crossbar.

The permanent Thule base for metal roofs is TK14. Which attaches to a 430R or 430 Tracker II foot. The 430R mates to Thule's "aero" crossbar while the 430 Tracker II mates to a square bar. Yakima has a similar setup, with different part numbers.
TK14 Instructions
430R Instructions
430 Tracker II Instructions

A more palatable option is a temporary installation. Only Thule has ever made fit kits for our vehicles (to my knowledge). So Yakima can sit on it and rotate.
For temporary installs, you have a fit bracket that interfaces with the car's frame to act as a clamp. The foot sits on a rubber pad that comes with a "fit kit". The fit kit is the core of making it work. Without the fit kit, you can't get the rest of the system to stay on the roof.

'83-'86 cars use Thule's 15 fit kit. The front fit bracket uses the door frame for attachment. The rear bracket uses the quarter glass area. Rack spread (fore-aft distance between crossbars) is ~27".

To the best of my knowledge, you cannot buy 15 fit kits new. Ebay, etc is the way to procure them.

'87-'88 cars use Thule's 66 fit kit. Both front and rear brackets use the door frame for attachment. The revision of the quarter glass area no longer allows for a bracket there. Rack spread is ~21".

You can still buy 66 fit kits new.

One downside of the small rack spread is that you need another adapter in order to use Thule and Yakima cargo boxes. The Thule 477 Short Roof Adapter does the trick. It allows you to extend the rack spread to 28". You can also adjust the spread for some boxes (Sears, etc) that require a specific distance between mounting points. Yakima and Thule racks have adjustable mounting points and work with different rack spreads ranging from 24"-36" depending on the specific box.

To build up a rack system for a '83-'86 car you'll need the following.
1 - 15 Fit Kit
4 feet - 480 Traverse OR 480R Traverse
2 Crossbars - XX Load Bar OR RBXX Load Bar (where XX is the length of crossbar you want)
You can't mix and match square crossbars with aero crossbars. A 480R aero foot goes with a RBXX crossbar. A 480 foot goes with a XX crossbar.

A '87-'88 car needs all the above + a 477 Short Roof Adapter.

Roof racks for a TBird ?

Reply #22 – July 01, 2010, 01:31:01 AM

If I needed a rack I would much rather put a light duty receiver hitch on the back and buy one of those baskets. They also make fixtures that slide into a receiver hitch to hold bikes, skies, whatever...

Roof racks for a TBird ?

Reply #23 – July 01, 2010, 11:20:16 AM

Quote from: Watchdevil;326944

If I needed a rack I would much rather put a light duty receiver hitch on the back and buy one of those baskets. They also make fixtures that slide into a receiver hitch to hold bikes, skies, whatever...

One of the downsides with the hitch mounted racks is it pushes the weight distribution back and will make the rear sag. If I've got the car loaded down with passengers and stuff in the trunk, I'd rather have a cargo box on top then hanging off the rear. Although the rear seats are so small I rarely transport anybody in them.