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Tip for Drilling Thule Adventurer Box to Install QM3 Mounting Hardware  

Updated 08/27/2025 | Published 08/16/2025

Question:

I received the QM3 replacement mounting kit for use with a Thule Adventurer box. Everything looks great, but it doesn’t align with the factory holes and requires drilling new ones. Any guidance for the best location and method to drill new holes?

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Expert Reply:

Hey Elias, we don't have a recommended way to pull that off but like with most situations like this you'd want to measure twice and drill once! How far off are the mounting holes from working with the # TH04997?

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Jameson C
Elias H. profile picture

Elias H.

8/27/2025

Hi Jameson, The stock holes are probably only a half cm off from the new brackets. Enough that I either need to drill new holes as others noted in their reviews, or add a half inch plate inside the box to level off the bottom so the brackets will sit higher up on top of the other part of the box. Drilling holes shouldn’t be difficult, aside from knowing where it would be recommended, since they need to be offset from the original ones since they are so close. I was hoping there was simply a recommendation for something like a set number of inches from the existing holes, or a best area for structural integrity. Just haven’t been able to find anything online that gave instructions. Thanks for replying. We leave this weekend, so I guess I will just wing it and hope that I don’t drill in a weak spot. -eli

Jameson C. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Jameson C.

8/27/2025

@EliasH I think if you use your best judgment on where to drill you'll be fine. I wish we had something more helpful but the brands stopped supporting those older boxes a while back unfortunately.

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