Compatibility of Round Cargo Box U-Bolts with Square Roof Rack Crossbars

Updated 05/21/2015 | Published 05/19/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Replacement U-Bolt with Nuts for 3" Round Trailer Axles - 1/2" Diameter

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Loctite RTV 598 High-Performance Silicone Gasket Maker - Black - 2.7-Fl Oz Tube

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SportRack Replacement Hardware Kit for Explorer and SkyLine XL Roof Mounted Cargo Boxes

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Question:

My Karrite explorer cargo box has round clamps that mount to the cargo rails of a vehicle with round rails. Only problem is that my vehicle has square rails. Do you sell replacement clamps? Or what is my solution? Thanks in advance.

asked by: Greg S

Expert Reply:

Its easy to modify a cargo box to fit a new vehicle that has differently-shaped roof rack crossbars.
However you may not need to do anything to get your Karrite Explorer cargo box's hardware to work on your vehicle with square cross bars.

It is perfectly okay to use rounded u-bolt hardware like # 1755892 on a square bar. The replacement hardware kit # SR05587 that we offer for your Explorer cargo box actually uses rounded u-bolts.

As long as you can tighten down the hardware you have to keep the box from sliding on the bars you do not need to worry about the different shapes of the u-bolts and crossbars.

But if you want to install alternate square-shape u-bolt hardware on your cargo box you might consider using the Heavy-Duty Crossbar Fit Kit # RUBK-MF from Rhino-Rack. This may require you to drill new holes in the box to fit the new hardware but extra holes are easily sealed up with a product like # LT37467.

expert reply by: Adam R