Little help needed with positioning OEM roof rack etc on my 88 Suburban

So it looks like the correct answer to the OP's question is...put 'em wherever the hell you want to.

skysurfer said:

So it looks like the correct answer to the OP's question is...put 'em wherever the hell you want to.

Click to expand...

That's what it's looking like. There are some profiles on the feet that should match something on the roof so I'll go by that and what everyone has posted. I got all the gaskets and screws so I should be good to go.

Thanks for all of the input.

Next project is the rear bumper. Between the trailer hitch and the dents, at least one of the mounting bolts for the trailer hitch or the bumper or the bumper brackets is blocked off. Couldn't have done it better if they tried, haha. Might end up cutting pieces of the bumper off to access the brackets, wouldn't be a great loss.

One thing worth mentioning, the rack screws should thread into nutserts in the roof skin. Sheetmetal screws will pull out if you actually want to use the rack.

bucket said:

One thing worth mentioning, the rack screws should thread into nutserts in the roof skin. Sheetmetal screws will pull out if you actually want to use the rack.

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Good to know, thanks. The one I removed just had sheet metal screws right into the roof skin. No nutserts/keenserts installed, I would have remembered that.

Don't know if the measurements might come out different if you have the barn doors or tailgate, I have a tailgate. The 2 rusty screws are for the air foil, the grey screw is the rear for the rack.

http://s880.photobucket.com/user/gh...018_162355599_zpsm1asawhq.jpg.html?sort=1&o=1

http://s880.photobucket.com/user/gh...018_162404222_zpskdvfq7rs.jpg.html?sort=1&o=0

glockholiday said:

Don't know if the measurements might come out different if you have the barn doors or tailgate, I have a tailgate. The 2 rusty screws are for the air foil, the grey screw is the rear for the rack.

http://s880.photobucket.com/user/gh...018_162355599_zpsm1asawhq.jpg.html?sort=1&o=1

http://s880.photobucket.com/user/gh...018_162404222_zpskdvfq7rs.jpg.html?sort=1&o=0

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Your placement looks just like mine maybe. Mine is also an '88 with tailgate. It was also the same color originally, lol.

glockholiday said:

Don't know if the measurements might come out different if you have the barn doors or tailgate, I have a tailgate. The 2 rusty screws are for the air foil, the grey screw is the rear for the rack.

http://s880.photobucket.com/user/gh...018_162355599_zpsm1asawhq.jpg.html?sort=1&o=1

http://s880.photobucket.com/user/gh...018_162404222_zpskdvfq7rs.jpg.html?sort=1&o=0

Click to expand...

I have the tailgate too. Thanks for the info. Do you have threaded inserts in the roof or did the screws go right into the sheet metal?

I'll bet that a lot of the racks were installed by the dealer. It would explain why there are so many inconsistencies with the mounting.

There are inserts in the roof, but if yours are missing you can get a coarse screw/bolt that will tread into the sheet metal. A couple of mine are like that, just dont tighten them too tight, and I put a dab of silicone on the threads.