2004 Subaru Forester Roof Rack by Thule

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Video Transcript for Thule Podium Roof Rack Installation - 2008 Honda CR-V

Today we are going to install a roof rack from Thule on a 2008 Honda CR-V, and we will be using the following part numbers: THLB50 we are going to be using the Podium Roof-Mounted Foot Pack, part number TH460 and then we will use the Fit Kit, part number THKIT3042. That will connect the roof rack and the foot to the actual roof of the CR-V itself. On the table here we have got the assemblies needed to assemble on the roof rack. This is actually one-half of the kit all these part numbers include two of everything. So you have two load bars here, two of the Foot Packs, and two of the Fit Kits. As you can see, we have one already installed on the front half of the vehicle. We are going to put this one together for you and show you how it will install on the back part of the vehicle.

The first thing we are going to do is install the feet onto the load bars here. And they just simply slide onto the ends of it. And then it just slides on the other side, like so, and then we put on our end caps. That is all we need to do with the load bars. The next thing we will do is prepare the vehicle for the Fit Kit. What we need to do first off is remove these panels that cover up the attachment points. Find a spot for a screwdriver and just pop them up. Underneath, there are two screws: one here, and one here. The actual Fit Kit uses the top of those screws there. We will take off the other cover and we will start preparing those screws, because they do need a little work, yet. The next thing we need to do is prepare the bolts, and what we have to do is actually clean them off a little bit. And Thule gives you a special nut right here that allows you to do that. It is just this one nut in the package that has this little slot right there in the sides that helps clean off the threads as you crank it down. So basically just put the nut on the threads, because they are covered in paint. Take the supplied tool and then just go ahead and run the nut all the way down to the bottom and then back up and down a few times to clean off all the threads. And it would also make this a little bit easier if you use a 13-millimeter socket, too. And, depending on how much paint you have on there, you probably want to do this at least two or three times.

Next we are going to install the studs that actually go on top of the bolts here and basically extend them. This is actually a mechanical fitting right here that holds the roof rack to the roof. And we have cleaned off those threads to make these install just a little bit easier. And you want to make sure when you install these that the base of this extension goes down to the bottom, touching the very bottom of the stud here. Next we will install the covers that will cover up the hole here. It just lays like that, and then the foot will actually hold this down. To finish off one of the feet here, basically this little metal bracket fits inside this rubber foot here, which sits on top of the vehicle. And then those metal studs will come through here. This little bracket just slides in like so and pretty much snaps into place. And that will actually sit inside here like that. And there are two screws here and here that will actually bolt these together.

Just to show you where we have run those bolts into, it is this metal part right here. It kind of swivels up and down. And we just get the bolts in there started, just enough to keep everything loose but still together. And for the outside cover, we install one of these key locks here, because this little lock actually keeps the cover on and also covers the bolts, too, so nobody can undo the bolts and take off with the rack or whatnot. And these simply pop into place. They do have a specific key, I guess you would say, to start off, but then they just push in. And one nice thing about the Fit Kits is that each individual pad is made for each individual roofline of the specific vehicle. So this would not fit another type of vehicle, only the Honda CRVs. You can see how it is wider on one side and thinner on the other, so that matches the roofline of the vehicle.

At this point we can actually stick the load bars on. It is a good idea to have an extra set of hands so you do not it on the other side and potentially damage the vehicle. And as you can see it just goes right into place right there, and the studs are coming through this metal bracket. And the reason why you would keep all these screws loose is that they are part of the clamping structure for the load bars. So leave everything loose so you can move your Bars inside and out. All right, then we need to bolt this down. We will secure it with two little washers and two of the little black nuts. We are also using a 10-millimeter wrench to tighten these down, too. It does not take much after they stop, just one little tug and they will be secure. We have got these bolted down next we will tighten these screws. And that actually works as a clamp for the load bar. Last, but not least, we will put our cover back on. Push it in place as far as you can go. Take a coin, put it into the lock and then just twist it to the right. Pull your coin out and you are good to go. That covers our install of these roof racks. Now, these roof racks are ready for a variety of different attachments, whether that be a cargo box, a bicycle rack or even a kayak rack.