How To Prevent Bike Rack Rubber Straps From Dry Rotting  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Hey Ian, thanks for reaching out, and great question. No, not really, plus there isn’t a hard “X years” answer on those straps, because dry rot on the straps is almost entirely about sun exposure, heat, and how often it sits outside, not just time.

That Thule # 853-7803 is just a rubber strap like any other, so UV is what kills it. In real-world use, if the rack lives on the vehicle full-time in the sun, you can start seeing cracking or stiffening in as little as 6–12 months. On the flip side, if you take the rack off or keep it garaged, it’s not unusual to get a few years out of them before they get brittle and start cracking. My advice would be to replace the straps and keep the rack out of the sun as much as possible. I know removing and reinstalling those trunk mount racks can be a bit of a hassle, but if you want to increase the life of the straps that is the only way to do it.

expert reply by: Jesse M

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Replacement Wheel Strap for Thule Raceway Platform Style Bike Carrier - Qty 1
(click to enlarge)