New car = roof rack question

lovewales
lovewales Posts: 411
edited March 2011 in MTB general
Well I have just bought myself a middle aged mum mobile :roll: and we are due to go away next month but need to buy a towbar otherwise we will not be going. I also need to take the bikes but funds are a little limited. So I currently have 4 x thule 591's which were fitted on vauxhall's own brand aero bars, has anyone got experience of fitting them to the (cheaper) square bars using the U shaped bolts that they came with as I suspect they will rattle around.
If every action has an equal and opposite reaction does that mean I will be eaten by a fly?

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    you can get the correct fitting to work with the square bars.

    Mmmm 4 sets ouch.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • lovewales
    lovewales Posts: 411
    nicklouse wrote:
    you can get the correct fitting to work with the square bars.

    Mmmm 4 sets ouch.

    The pleasure of having 2 kids and needing to tow a caravan!
    If every action has an equal and opposite reaction does that mean I will be eaten by a fly?
  • Briggo
    Briggo Posts: 3,537
    I used to use the U clamps to fit onto square bars before I got my aero bars now, they're alright no rattling involved clamp just as well as the aero bar clamps.

    Only issue I could see was that a pair of bolt cutters could have the bike and rack off ridiculously easy very quickly.
  • lovewales
    lovewales Posts: 411
    Other option would be to use my existing vauxhall aero bars which are the right length but does anyone know if the thule foot packs/fitting kits will fit?
    If every action has an equal and opposite reaction does that mean I will be eaten by a fly?
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    lovewales wrote:
    Other option would be to use my existing vauxhall aero bars which are the right length but does anyone know if the thule foot packs/fitting kits will fit?

    depends on what the Mum wagon is?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • lovewales
    lovewales Posts: 411
    I swapped an 03 vectra for an 08 zafira which both need the same thule bars
    If every action has an equal and opposite reaction does that mean I will be eaten by a fly?
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    you may be lucky as they can use the same feet.

    you will have to have a trial fit and see.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Briggo
    Briggo Posts: 3,537
    http://www.thule.com/en-GB/GB/FitGuide.aspx#startApp

    Best check yourself, seems they arnt the same.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    but they can be.

    if it has fix points then they are. but it does need more info inputting or poping out side and looking.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Hang on, you said "U shaped bolts", now there's nothing with mine that I'd describe as a u-shape bolt but the fitting instructions only show 2 fixings- the square ended bolts for attaching to the t-track of an aero bar, and the big curved thingmies which could be called u-shaped, which are the correct part for a square bar. So yep you probably have the right parts already.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • Andy B
    Andy B Posts: 8,115
    The U shaped part is for square bars, if you do have them job's a good 'un

    Part 50552: http://www.thulespareparts.co.uk/produc ... arrier-591

    Also needed are the three bolts 50553 & 50554

    I have no experience of how good the Thule ones are, but I have had other carriers that used the same type of system for fitting to sq bars, they did the job.

    Thule's clamp looks a lot better quality than the clamps on the others I've used, although they were cheaper

    I have 1 maybe 2 of the kits I think, if you're short of bits let me know
    2385861000_d125abe796_m.jpg
  • lovewales
    lovewales Posts: 411
    Northwind wrote:
    Hang on, you said "U shaped bolts", now there's nothing with mine that I'd describe as a u-shape bolt but the fitting instructions only show 2 fixings- the square ended bolts for attaching to the t-track of an aero bar, and the big curved thingmies which could be called u-shaped, which are the correct part for a square bar. So yep you probably have the right parts already.

    I was trying to describe what you call big curved thingies, i filed them somewhere safe when I bought the racks so still have them all (I last saw them about 6 months ago) so I should be OK for these.
    If every action has an equal and opposite reaction does that mean I will be eaten by a fly?
  • shx8000
    shx8000 Posts: 222
    I have Thule square bars fitted and they are perfectly fine. Such a great quality bike rack. Really impressed.
  • CharlieH
    CharlieH Posts: 410
    Another happy user with square bars too, you should be fine if you can find them, lol
  • paul_75
    paul_75 Posts: 61
    iv got a set of cheap square cruiz bars with the halfords advanced roof carrier made by thule with the same fittings and i have no movement or noise
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    i have 591's fitted to square bars and there's no problem at all with them :D

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