Got the Thule rack and tested it hauling my windsurfing gear from Austin to Corpus in some heavy rain.

A question please - with the rack off (and with the adaptors sticking out of the roof) - seems there is a lot of chance for the rain to get inside - the covering plastics are not a tight fit at all.

Has anybody checked where does the water go after getting beneath the side rails plastic covers please ?

Thanks

Water can get under the plastic roof 'garnish' even without any racks or attachments. Some water will flow forward to the edges of the windshield, some will flow back, and down the channels beside the tailgate.

paulj

Got the Thule rack and tested it hauling my windsurfing gear from Austin to Corpus in some heavy rain.

A question please - with the rack off (and with the adaptors sticking out of the roof) - seems there is a lot of chance for the rain to get inside - the covering plastics are not a tight fit at all.

Has anybody checked where does the water go after getting beneath the side rails plastic covers please ?

Thanks
I was wondering the same thing as I feared that the water would freeze and damage the seals, etc. I can't remember who recommended getting the TK9 footpacks, but I'm told they come with a rubber gasket insert similar to the factory rack. Right now I'm to cheap and still running with the TK6 footpack and knock on wood....I haven't had any problems yet. Food for thought.

Read about my experience with water on and under the roof
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12903

The roof garnish does not make a water tight seal with the roof on the inside edge. The factory 'lids' for the roof rack openings are not water tight either. So roof rack gaskets/covers serve more to keep dirt and leaves out, than to keep water out.

paulj

I was wondering the same thing as I feared that the water would freeze and damage the seals, etc. I can't remember who recommended getting the TK9 footpacks, but I'm told they come with a rubber gasket insert similar to the factory rack. Right now I'm to cheap and still running with the TK6 footpack and knock on wood....I haven't had any problems yet. Food for thought.

I have the TK9s and they did not come with any gaskets.

Besides, just as they posted earlier...rain can get in there just as easy with the basic E plastic inserts w/o a roofrack. Thats what the channels are for up there anyway to let water drain down. If the water is going to freeze, it would freeze in there w/ or w/o the rack in place.

I think this is mostly "in peoples minds" so to speak that the non-secure fit of the plastic pieces will cause some harm. Sure its not tight, but its really no better than w/o a rack to begin with.

I do agree that, obviously water gets in and drains via the rain gutters. Esthetics can be a dangerous thing when it comes to our vehicles :) . As for the gaskets, I guess I should have said covers. I went looking when you mentioned that you didn't get any. Anyway, check out this site. Pdf instructions for tk8s and tk9s with covers.

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/instructions/501544503,%20tk8%20tk9.pdf

Yup I actualld DID read that bad boy when I installed mine...I was kinda nervous since I had never put a rack on before. I was sad at first when the gaskets (aka plastic covers) did not sit flush. But I remembered some threads on here stating it was not that big a deal....so now I dont even worry.

Occassionally I do press them down some from habit it I walk by, but its not bad. I did notice the Yakima covers do fit better from some others posts

Yup I actualld DID read that bad boy when I installed mine...I was kinda nervous since I had never put a rack on before. I was sad at first when the gaskets (aka plastic covers) did not sit flush. But I remembered some threads on here stating it was not that big a deal....so now I dont even worry.

Occassionally I do press them down some from habit it I walk by, but its not bad. I did notice the Yakima covers do fit better from some others posts

Nice to know they (the covers) don't sit flush. I was thinking of getting them, but as you say...I don't even notice it anymore.