Roof rack mounts for 85 Chevy 4X4?

[Joe383]

I want a Yakima roof rack for my 85 Chevy 2DR 4X4 and am wondering how to secure one to the roof cuz there aren't any top rails like a suburban.

 

[GTME94]

Is there a style that grabs onto the drip rails? I seem to remember that was how roof racks worked back when all cars had drip rails.

 

[Joe383]

Ya I will have to see if I can find some. That's the only place I can see that would be sturdy enough to mount too.

 

[Daveo91Burb]

http://parts.orsracksdirect.com/yak...ma-rpl-drip-rail-replacement-spare-parts.html

This might help?

 

[Joe383]

O cool Dave this is exactly what I am looking for. I have spent a few hours searching and could not find any thing thanks.

 

[highdesertrange]

common guys you can't mount a roof rack to a squares drip rails they are just held in place by sheet metal screws. highdesertranger

 

[MadOgre]

common guys you can't mount a roof rack to a squares drip rails they are just held in place by sheet metal screws. highdesertranger

And there plastic!

 

[Daveo91Burb]

They're not plastic, at least mine aren't. And while they are secured with sheet metal screws they are pretty stout. The original Yakima and Thule roof racks were always mounted on the drip rails - back when most cars still had them. On my '89 k5 I had the front Thule bar mounted to the drip rails and the back one was mounted to brackets bolted to the fiberglass that mimicked drip rails. I put both bikes and a canoe up there (not at the same time) and never had a problem. Still have some of the same parts and would not hesitate to install them on my burb if I had a need to. Of course if the screws had loosened or stripped due to rust or similar you would probably want to go a different route

 

[MadOgre]

They're not plastic, at least mine aren't. And while they are secured with sheet metal screws they are pretty stout. The original Yakima and Thule roof racks were always mounted on the drip rails - back when most cars still had them. On my '89 k5 I had the front Thule bar mounted to the drip rails and the back one was mounted to brackets bolted to the fiberglass that mimicked drip rails. I put both bikes and a canoe up there (not at the same time) and never had a problem. Still have some of the same parts and would not hesitate to install them on my burb if I had a need to. Of course if the screws had loosened or stripped due to rust or similar you would probably want to go a different route

Yes you have a stainless steel drip MOLDING! That slides over a PLASTIC retainer. That plastic retainer is then bolted to the cab using tiny little sheet metal screws! IN the END your drip rail is PLASTIC! The stainless metal is just a veneer my friend

Most other vehicles of the era had actual metal drip edges formed into the body.

 

[Daveo91Burb]

So I see exactly what you're talking about in LMC catalog but I don't see it when I look at the actual ones installed on my burb. They're just a C-shaped metal channel that is fixed to the body with torx head screws. And there's no stainless - all black painted metal. Dealer installed option? Aftermarket? All 4 passenger doors have this design as do the cargo doors. And it's been 18 years but I swear my 89 k5 had the same design.

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[skysurfer]

Mine are like yours Dave, I even noticed a spot where the white paint came off and it's black underneath. They are one piece of steel (checked with a magnet) and held on with stainless screws. I still wouldn't trust them with any real weight.

 

[Skweegle89]

Mine are steel. I know because they were rusty so I took them off and repainted them awhile back. Those screws are super short too.


Sent from an old rotary telephone.

 

[Georgeb]

Mine are steel with stainless strips as well but I wouldn't mount anything to them. There isn't enough strenth there in my opinion.

 

[MadOgre]

Weird. Maybe its a Canada thing lol I have had 6 of these trucks and they have all been plastic with a stainless veneer. And all my buddies trucks have been the same. I honestly have never seen metal ones.

 

[Georgeb]

Weird. Maybe its a Canada thing lol I have had 6 of these trucks and they have all been plastic with a stainless veneer. And all my buddies trucks have been the same. I honestly have never seen metal ones.

Don't they get brittle and break? I would think given the temperature swings up there they wouldn't last long.