by Daniel Clarke 7 years ago
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There are only two "base" systems for carrying accessories on your vehicle.
Roof Racks and Towbars.
This map attempts to logically set out how to explain and choose a rack "system" for your car.
Follow through this mind map and explore the major dot points of roof rack decision making.
Roof Racks have to attach to the vehicle some how? Some times there maybe more than one method. Different variants of different models may have different connection points.
Make sure you know which car and variant you are connecting to before trying to explain roof rack attachment methods.
Factory Fixed Points are factory included with the car at manufacturer
Normal roof or naked roof is a result of car manufacture moving to modern cars. Where the roof used to be joined to the body welded along the gutter seam. Now the weld is on top of the car and the weld area acts as rain channel. This weld is often covered by a black strip.
Normal roof attachment means that there is no additional connections added to the vehicle to attach roof racks. Resulting in the rack set attaching by having a pad on the roof and a clamp around the door area. Tightening on to the door frame.
Old school attachments. Not many new cars now use this method. This is where along the edge of the roof line there is an up turned "gutter" running the length of the roof. Roof racks squeeze onto this gutter.
Advantages: Put as many roof racks on as you please. Easy attachment. Quick to take on and off. Often gutter is in a straight line so easy to have a multiple racks system level.
It is very important first of all be 100% sure of the car you are trying to fit out. That is why you need to know right down to how many doors and what chassis code you are working with.
Here are some tips:
- Ask the customer all the obvious details
- Make sure the year is not a change over year.
- Confirm the year and shape against Wikipedia if not sure.
- Search Bing or google images to make sure you and customer agree.
- Have customer email pictures of car or bring car onto driveway
- Check compliance plate, check vin number with manufacturers
