Today, on our 2013 Ford Escape, we'll be test-fitting the Rocky Mounts Tie Rod Stretch Roof-Mounted Bike Carrier, part number RKY1011. Now, with our roof rack system already assembled and installed on the vehicle, we'll set the carrier onto the crossbars. It is important that the carrier is perpendicular to the crossbars and parallel to the vehicle, to ensure that the brackets have a proper fit onto the crossbars. We'll bring the rubber-coated steel straps around the underside of the front crossbar, and hook them into position. We'll then move to the rear of the carrier, where we will loosen up the bracket, swing it around the underside of the rear crossbar, and use the included Allen key to tighten it down. We'll then move back to the front, where we will again use the included Allen key to tighten down the straps and secure the bike carrier to the vehicle.
Once the carrier is secured to the vehicle, we can replace the black front plastic cap, and move to the rear of the carrier, where we can undo the cradle straps to prepare for our bike. We'll set the bike onto the wheel tray, slide the front fork onto the skewer and tighten it down. We will then move to the rear of the carrier and tighten down the wheel strap. That completes today's test fit for the Rocky Mounts Tie Rod Stretch Roof-Mounted Bike Carrier, part number RHY1011 on our 2013 Ford Escape.