Can Rubber Channel Strip of Thule Aeroblade Roof Rack be Removed when Carrying Kayak Carrier

Published 09/30/2021

Question:

I am installing two Thule Hull-a-Port Aero racks onto my 2016 Mazda CX-5 with Thule Aeroblades. I need advice about the utility of the rubber channel strips and if I truly need to cut them to make the kayak racks work. The Thule install manual shows that I need to cut the rubber strip that sits in the Aeroblade channels, but gives no measurements or other indication about where exactly to cut the strips. Can I just take them out and not use them all at when Ive got the Hull-a-Ports on there? Im going to only be using the kayak racks occasionally, and Ive read that its nice to keep the rubber strips in one piece so that I can put them back in when Ive got nothing on my Aeroblades. What do you think? I look forward to your reply!

asked by: Kayt

Expert Reply:

One solution would be to just remove the strips altogether when carrying the Hull a Port kayak carriers # TH849000 but you might hear some wind noise in that situation.

Typically you would take the strip out, put the kayak carrier in the channel where you'll want it positioned and then hold the channel up to the rack and carrier so that you can cut the channel in the right places to fit it around the carrier. And then when not using carrier you could put all of the pieces back into it.

expert reply by: Jameson C