kdegLR4
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2011
- Posts
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A long-winded FYI for people looking to purchase/install a Thule roof rack on an LR4 with factory roof rails.
I bought a set of Thule aero cross bars, podium feet and fit kit 3112 to install on the factory roof rails (full length). In the fit kit there are two sets of rectangular "anchors" that slot into the track for the foot to bolt into. The instructions with the kit specify using the anchors stamped with a "B" for the LR4 tracks, with the second, unmarked set of slightly larger anchors designated for Hummer roof rails.
The quirk in my case is that the LR4-specific anchors are too small and simply rotate within the roof rail track rather than lodging against the edges and allowing the anchor bolt to tighten. I tried using the larger, Hummer-specific set of anchors but wasn't comfortable with the amount of contact made by the rounded corners of the anchors within the track. I went back to the Thule shop yesterday and the install guy confirmed that I wasn't a complete idiot (in this case, at least) and that the supplied anchors were too small. He gave me a set of replacement anchors with a "C" stamped on them that have slightly sharper corners. The new bits made much better contact when I installed them last night though I'm not sure I'm totally satisfied with the solution and may re-install with custom parts after this weekend's trip.
I don't know if there has been a mid-model change to the full length roof rails or Thule messed up a batch of parts in the fit kit but in case you end up in the same boat, the pertinent details are:
2012 LR4
Full length factory rails (black) installed by dealer
Thule fit kit 3112
Thule podium feet 460R
Thule AeroBlade cross bars
I bought a set of Thule aero cross bars, podium feet and fit kit 3112 to install on the factory roof rails (full length). In the fit kit there are two sets of rectangular "anchors" that slot into the track for the foot to bolt into. The instructions with the kit specify using the anchors stamped with a "B" for the LR4 tracks, with the second, unmarked set of slightly larger anchors designated for Hummer roof rails.
The quirk in my case is that the LR4-specific anchors are too small and simply rotate within the roof rail track rather than lodging against the edges and allowing the anchor bolt to tighten. I tried using the larger, Hummer-specific set of anchors but wasn't comfortable with the amount of contact made by the rounded corners of the anchors within the track. I went back to the Thule shop yesterday and the install guy confirmed that I wasn't a complete idiot (in this case, at least) and that the supplied anchors were too small. He gave me a set of replacement anchors with a "C" stamped on them that have slightly sharper corners. The new bits made much better contact when I installed them last night though I'm not sure I'm totally satisfied with the solution and may re-install with custom parts after this weekend's trip.
I don't know if there has been a mid-model change to the full length roof rails or Thule messed up a batch of parts in the fit kit but in case you end up in the same boat, the pertinent details are:
2012 LR4
Full length factory rails (black) installed by dealer
Thule fit kit 3112
Thule podium feet 460R
Thule AeroBlade cross bars