Video Transcript for Install: Custom DK Fit Kit for 4 Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Roof Rack Legs on a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

Today we're taking a look at our Rhino-Rack Roof Rack System. So this has the 46-inch long crossbars, the towers as well as the Custom Fit Kit for your 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. So you got a little car with a lot of personality, but what if you need to do some other things with it Maybe you wanna carry around a roof basket or a roof box or kayaks. What you then need is a roof rack system. So your options for your Sonic may be limited, especially with the hatchback version, which is what we have here. But this is still a good option because you have this Custom Fit Kit that fits perfectly into your door and you have a solid system with a great weight capacity to carry around those accessories.

We have the 46-inch long crossbars here which I think is a great balance for crossbars. I usually prefer longer crossbars just because I wanna maximize the space. But when it comes to smaller vehicles like this, you don't want them too long because when you get into your car, you don't wanna hit your head against them. So this still gives you overhang without being too long of a crossbar. In fact, taking some measurements, tower to end cap, we have 2 and a quarter inches here for our front crossbar.

Next measurement is the height added to the top of the roof. So top of the roof to top of the crossbar is 4 and a half inches which means that's where your cargo is gonna sit. If you're carrying around skis and snowboards, especially skis with extra tall bindings, you want enough clearance off the top of your roof. And if you don't have enough clearance, that's when you're gonna start taking a look at our accessories that give you that clearance. At the end of your Rhino-Rack Crossbars, you have the special Rhino-Rack Security Tool.

So you're just gonna turn this and you can pop that end cap off and now you can see the shape of your Rhino-Rack bar but as well as get access to your T-track channel. So these are the Vortex Aero Bar. So if you remember the traditional round and square cross bars, those had a lot of wind noise and wind drag when driving down the road. This is to help out with that. They're a lot more aerodynamic where they're tapered, they get larger and then they're tapered again.

It adds that sporty look to your Chevy Sonic but it also adds that practicality. If you wanna carry around kayaks, you wanna carry around skis and snowboards, this is probably gonna be the best way to do it. Now it might seem tricky to install but hopefully this video helped you out with that install process. Remember, this has 165 pound weight capacity but that includes the weight of your accessory, the weight of your cargo, and the weight of your roof rack system. So when you do use this roof rack, keep that in mind before you enjoy your adventures. This roof rack system has pretty much everything you need but I recommend grabbing your tape measure real quick as you install them. So let's take a look at that process. So the install process for this is gonna be a little bit confusing. That's just how it is with naked roofs. It is easy though, and that's what this video is for, to guide you through that process with the different numbers for the pads, different numbers for the hooks, where to put the plates, whether they're out or in, things like that. So first we'll start up with setting up your towers. So start by taking your end cap off and then you're gonna get your tower and feed it through your crossbar. And you're also gonna have this measurement strip for underneath. So for our front crossbar, you want it at 146 millimeters. So find that and then cut that to size. So I'm not gonna cut this strip just because I'm installing it for demonstration purposes but once you have it at the exact measurement you need it to be, tighten it down with your included Rhino-Rack tool. Now we're gonna set up the pad. So there's gonna be different numbers and there's gonna be different arrows on the pad. So you want the foot plate to be facing out. And then for this case, we're gonna be using 628 and it's gonna be on the right side. So if they're both facing out, you just pop them together. So just double check that both of those arrows are facing the same way before you pop them onto your tower. So now we're ready to put this onto our roof. So don't forget which one's the right side, which one's the left side, 'cause they have different components. And then gently place it on there. So your fit kit is gonna have these specific measurements for where your front crossbar and where your rear crossbar should go. So for example here, it's gonna be 5 and 29/32. So pretty much almost 6 inches. So get that measurement and then line up the center of your tower to that distance. Once they're in place, you're then going to get the hooks on. So there's that bolt, you're gonna put that through the hook and you're gonna feed it with that threaded nut back there. So it can be a little tricky. You're gonna have to use both hands and then hand tighten. So I hand tightened it first because you don't wanna tighten one side way too much more than the other. So what you could do is you can tighten it down halfway on this side. Go to the other side, go to like 75%, finish it off on the other side. That way it doesn't pull the crossbar to one side unevenly. Your Rhino-Rack tool has a torque spec. So as you pull on the end, if you have enough tightness or torque, it's gonna flatten out. And the final step, once everything is tightened down is to put your end caps on. You have your crossbar end caps and then you have your tower end caps. So you're gonna lock that with a key and you can get the metal lock core upgrade for your crossbar. Here we have the plastic one. Once all four sides are locked up, then that's it for the install. You're ready to load this up and hit the road. And that right there was a look at our Rhino-Rack Roof Rack System with the 46-inch long crossbars, the thru feet for your Rhino-Rack roof rack as well as the Custom Fit Kit for your 2012 Chevrolet Sonic..