by rackdawg on February 8, 2012
Now available from Thule Racks are the 480 / 480R Traverse Fit Kits - 1625 for 2012 Audi A7 RS7 S7 Sportback, 1629 for 2011-2012 Kia Optima, 1633 for 2011-2012 Nissan Leaf, 1638 for 2012 Kia Cadenza, 1651 for 2012 Audi A6 S6, 1656 for 2011-2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
In an ongoing effort to ensure many of the latest cars, vans and pickup trucks are compatible with Thule Racks roof rack systems, Thule is constantly testing, engineering and designing new components to fit new vehicles. Thule has recently released new Thule Fit Kits for use with the 480 Traverse and 480R Rapid Traverse car racks. The latest Fit Kits are the Thule 1656 Fit Kit for 2011-2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee with factory racks and 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee (bare rooftop) SUV models, Thule 1651 Fit Kit for 2012 Audi A6 and 2012 Audi S6 4-door sedan models, Thule 1638 Fit Kit for 2012 Kia Cadenza 4-door sedan model, Thule 1633 Fit Kit for 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2012 Nissan Leaf 5-door hatchback models, Thule 1629 Fit Kit for 2011 Kia Optima and 2012 Kia Optima 4-door sedan models and the Thule 1625 Fit Kit for 2012 Audi A7 Sportback, 2012 Audi RS7 Sportback and 2012 Audi S7 Sportback models.
Tagged as:
Audi A6,
Audi A7 sportback,
Audi RS7 sportback,
Audi S6,
Audi S7 sportback,
Jeep Grand Cherokee,
Kia Cadenza,
Kia Optima,
Nissan Leaf,
Thule 480 Traverse,
Thule 480R Rapid Traverse,
Thule Fit Kits
by rackdawg on May 12, 2011
Picture of the all-new Thule 3113 Podium Fit Kit which replaces the discontinued Thule TK13 Tracker Kit (as the 430 / 430R Tracker II systems are discontinued and are replaced by the 460 / 460R Podium roof racks for applications such as permanent install racks, fixed-point racks, roof track racks, flush side rail racks, factory roof track racks etc.) The Thule 3113 Fit Kit is for drilling and permanently installing a roof rack on fiberglass surfaces such Jeep Hard Top, camper shell, tonneau cover etc .)
Photo of the Thule 3114 Podium Fit Kit which replaces the discontinued TK14 Tracker Kit and is for drilling and permanently installing a roof rack on any pickup truck,van and car metal rooftop surfaces etc.
Thule Racks has completely overhauled the popular Thule 460 Podium Foot Pack and 460R Rapid Podium Foot Pack and included many more Podium Fit Kits (previously the 460 / 460R Podium was only compatible with vehicle rooftop fixed-points) and now works on factory rack flush side rails, factory rack tracks and all Thule Tracks, as well as applications for permanently installing a roof rack on fiberglass surfaces and sheet metal surfaces. Hence, the Podium system now replaces the discontinued Thule 430 Tracker II Foot Pack / 430R Tracker II Foot Pack and all TK Tracker Kits. The Thule 3113 Podium Fit Kit replaces the TK13 Tracker Kit and is for drilling and installing a permanent roof rack on any fiberglass surfaces (applications include pickup truck camper shell, topper & truckbed cap roof racks, tonneau cover racks, Jeep Wrangler Hard Top roof racks etc.) Likewise, the Thule 3114 Podium Fit Kit replaces the TK14 Tracker Kit and is for drilling and installing a permanent roof rack on any sheet metal surfaces such as pickup truck, car and van metal rooftops etc.
Tagged as:
A.R.E. camper shell,
camper shell roof rack,
Fleetwood camper trailer,
Jeep Wrangler Hard Top racks,
permanent roof rack,
pop up camper rack,
Thule 3113 Podium Fit Kit,
Thule 3114 Podium Fit Kit,
thule 460 podium,
Thule 460R Rapid Podium,
Thule Fit Kits,
Thule Foot Packs,
Thule Podium Fit Kits,
tonneau covers
by Rack Princess on June 23, 2010
by rackdawg on June 22, 2010
Thule 460R Rapid Podium roof rack
Using the Thule 3069 Podium Fit Kit, along with the Thule 460R Rapid Podium Foot Pack and pair of Thule Rapid Aero load bars, to install the Thule 460R Rapid Podium car rack system to a 2006 Mazda 3 5-door hatchback, this video delivers a good demonstration and explanation on how to mount a roofrack to a car, van or pickup truck cab roof that has factory installed fixed attachment points. Many modern vehicles have fixed point attachments located on the roof top. These points allow for the installation of an aftermarket multi-purpose base rack system. The Thule Racks 460R Rapid Podium system delivers a superb, clean and premium integrated look when installed. There are many different styles and types of fixed point attachments on the various vehicle makes and models, hence Thule Racks offers many different Podium Fit Kits to fit these specific configurations (the video uses the 3069 Fit Kit on the Mazda 3 as an example).
Thule 460R Rapid Podium video
Tagged as:
Mazda 3,
Thule 460R Rapid Podium,
Thule Fit Kits
by rackdawg on June 21, 2010
Thule 460 Podium roof rack system
An excellent demonstration video and review of the Thule 460 Podium roof rack system, intended for use on vehicles with fixed rack attachment points on the car or pickup truck rooftop. Many vehicles rolling off the factory lines today include these fixed point attachments on the roof top, allowing for an aftermarket roof rack to mount to these points to achieve a nice integrated and clean look. The leading system currently is the Thule 460 Podium complete system, which includes a 460 Podium Foot Pack, set of Podium Fit Kit brackets and a pair of Thule square load bars. There are many different Podium Fit Kit brackets available for use on all the differing styles of fixed point attachments found on different vehicles. In this video the Thule 3069 Podium Fit Kit is used on a 2006 Mazda 3 5-door hatchback. With the base rack installed, you can then mount any gear carriers to the load bars to carry all your gear.
Thule 460 Podium video
Tagged as:
Mazda 3,
thule 460 podium,
Thule Fit Kits
by Rack Princess on June 9, 2010
by Rack James on June 5, 2010
Bird's eye view of a 2004 Audi A4 bike roof rack decked out with the Thule 400XTR Rapid Aero Car Rack System (with Thule 2114 Fit Kit), Thule 872XT Wind Fairing, Thule 518 Echelon Bike Racks and Thule 593 Wheel Holders.
Nothing like a sweet Thule Rack base system with bike racks to snaz up your Audi A4. Here we have a 2004 Audi A4 bike roof rack system using the Thule 400XTR Rapid Aero Base Rack System (includes Thule 400 XTR Rapid Aero Foot Pack, Thule Fit Kit 2114, and Thule RB 47 Rapid Aero Bars) with the Thule 872XT wind fairing mounted to the front Rapid Aeo load bar. Also mounted to the Rapid Aero Bars, using the Thule X-Adapt 9 adapters, are two Thule 518 Ecehelon fork mounted bike trays and two Thule 593 Wheel Holders. A Thule 596 lock pack 6 pack of locks keeps it all secure from theft.
Complete 2004 Audi A4 roof bike rack install details.
Tagged as:
Audi A4,
bike roof rack,
Thule 400XTR,
Thule 518 Echelon,
Thule 593 Wheel Holder,
Thule fairings,
Thule Fit Kits
by Rack James on June 2, 2010
Customer install photo of a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe roof rack rowing shell rack system for transporting a rowing scull to and from the water. It is configured using the Thule 460 Podium roof rack system (includes Thule 460 Podium Foot pack, Thule 3024 Fit Kit, and Thule Load Bars) with the Thule 997 GoalPost hitch mounted rack with 58" Load Bar.
You don’t want to mess around when you’re transporting a fine rowing scull, so this 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe roof rack rowing shell carrier uses three crossbars for optimum support. On the roof is the Thule 460 Podium roof rack system which mounts to the factory fixed mounting points found on the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe roof top. The Thule 460 Podium car rack system uses a set of Thule 460 Podium feet, the Thule 3024 Fit Kit, and a pair of Thule 50″ Load bars and is locked down with the Thule 544 lock pack. For additional stability for longer loads such as a rowing scull, canoe, or kayak, the Thule 997 GoalPost hitch rack is added, which mounts into a 2″ trailer hitch receiver and supports a 58″ Load Bar. The Thule 997 Goalpost hitch rack can be adjusted up or down so that the load bar can be leveled with the load bars on the roof. For added security, the Thule STL 2 Snug-Tite Lock is incorporated, which locks the Thule 997 Goalpost into the reciever.
The only suggestion we might make is instead of using foam noodles to support the rowing shell on the load bars, we would use a set of kayak saddles, such as the 878XT Set-t0-Go kayak saddles, which would do an even better job of ensuring that this fine rowing scull gets to the water without a scratch.
Complete 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe rowing scull rack install details.
Tagged as:
Hyundai Santa Fe,
rowing scull rack,
rowing shell rack,
thule 460 podium,
Thule 878XT Set-To-Go Saddles,
Thule Fit Kits
by rackdawg on May 31, 2010
Thule 480R Rapid Traverse roof rack
Check out this Thule 480R Rapid Traverse roof rack video from the ORS Racks Direct crew. An excellent overall review and demonstration of the features of this revolutionary new multi-purpose base rack system for any vehicles with nothing on the rooftop currently (i.e. no factory rack or factory side rails, no raingutters / drip rails, no roof tracks, no fixed attachment points etc.) A dramatic improvement over the previous Thule 400XTR Rapid Aero system both in ease if installation and superior design styling. The Thule 480R Rapid Traverse delivers a more premium look over the standard Thule 480 Traverse roof rack that uses the regular square Thule cross bars. Instead, the Thule 480R Rapid Traverse system uses the Thule Rapid Aero load bars for a more sleek, aerodynamic and integrated look. Accessory options such as pack of Thule locks (to lock the roof rack to the vehicle) and wind fairing (for design styling and elimination of any possible rack noise or ‘whistling’) are highly recommended.
Thule 480R Rapid Traverse video
Tagged as:
roof rack,
Thule 480R Rapid Traverse,
Thule Fit Kits
by rackdawg on May 29, 2010
Thule 480 Traverse roof rack system
The Thule 480 Traverse roof rack video from ORS Racks Direct offers an excellent demonstration of this multi-purpose base rack system that fits virtually all cars, vans and pickup trucks that currently have nothing on the roof top (no factory rack or factory side rails, no raingutters, no roof tracks, fix-point attachments etc.) The result of years of extensive design and engineering, the Thule 480 Traverse system is a vast improvement over the previous Thule 400XT Aero roofrack system. Uses half the parts of the 400XT Aero and installs in a fraction of the time. Includes Thule 480 Traverse Foot Pack, Traverse Fit Kit clips (many Fit Kits available, each designed to custom fit specific vehicles) and pair of load bars (varying load bar lengths available). Features sleek, aerodydnamic and modern styling that delivers a slick integrated look on all styles of vehicles. Any Thule gear carriers (as well as gear carriers from other car rack makers) will mount directly to the Thule square load bars.
Thule 480 Traverse video
Tagged as:
roof rack,
Thule 480 Traverse,
Thule Fit Kits
by Rack James on May 12, 2010
by rackdawg on May 10, 2010
by rackdawg on April 18, 2010
The Thule 480 Traverse car rack base system and Yakima Buttondown Aero ski-snowboard rack used as a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR roof rack ski-snowboard carrier setup.
A superb customer installation photo above that features a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR car rack snowboard-ski rack system with the Thule 480 Traverse roof rack mounted to the Mitsubishi Lancer roof top using the Thule 1477 Traverse Fit Kit clips (included with the Thule 480 Traverse roof rack system, along with the 480 Traverse Foot Pack and pair of 50 inch cross rails). The Yakima Buttondown Aero ski-snowboard rack is then connected to the cross rails. The Buttondown Aero can carry up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards, and of course you can combine carrying skis and snowboards at the same time. The 480 Traverse base rack is a great versatile, multi-purpose base rack platform that allows you to attach all sorts of other gear carriers as well for carrying bikes, canoe, kayaks, luggage, surfboards, stand-up paddle board and more.
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution roof rack ski-snowboard rack details
Tagged as:
Mitsubishi Lancer,
ski snowboard carrier,
Thule 480 Traverse,
Thule Fit Kits
by rackdawg on April 17, 2010
by rackdawg on April 8, 2010
Picture of a 2010 BMW 328i car rack with roof mount bike racks. The Thule 460 Podium roof rack is mounted to the 2010 BMW 328i fixed attachment points located on the car top using the Thule 3039 Podium Fit Kit brackets (included with the 460 Podium complete system).
Many vehicles available today feature attachment points on the roof top (called fix-points), allowing for the mounting of an aftermarket roof rack system to these fix-points. The customer installation photo shown above is an excellent example of this. This is a 2010 BMW 328i roof rack that is using the Thule 460 Podium car rack system mounted to the 2010 BMW 328i car rooftop fix-points. The Thule 3039 Podium Fit Kit brackets (included with the complete Thule Racks 460 Podium car rack system) mount directly to the fix-points. The result is a premium, sleek and integrated looking roof rack system.
2010 BMW 328i roof rack install details
Tagged as:
BMW 328i,
thule 460 podium,
Thule Fit Kits
by rackdawg on April 6, 2010
Picture of a 2008 Honda Civic EX 2-door coupe bike roof rack and fairing setup using the Thule 480 Traverse car rack system (with Thule 1557 Traverse Fit Kit clips), Thule 872XT wind fairing and Thule 594XT Sidearm bike rack.
An excellent example of how to set up a sweet looking 2008 Honda Civic bike roof rack system. The 2008 Honda Civic EX Coupe 2-door model is using the Thule 480 Traverse roof rack (which includes the 480 Traverse Foot Pack, Thule 1557 Traverse Fit Kit clips and a pair of 58″ length load bars), size large Thule Racks 872XT wind fairing and the Thule 594XT Sidearm car rack mount bike rack. This customer installation was performed in Charlotte, North Carolina and the owner uses it to carry his mountain bike all over the southern USA.
2008 Honda Civic bike roof rack install details
Tagged as:
Honda Civic,
Thule 480 Traverse,
Thule 594XT Sidearm,
Thule Fit Kits
by rackdawg on March 14, 2010
A very good looking ORS Racks Direct customer installation photo featuring a 2008 Lexus IS250 car rack and snowboard-ski rack setup using the Thule 400XTR Rapid Aero roof rack with Thule 2176 Fit Kit clips. The Thule Racks 91725 Universal Flat Top ski-snowboard carrier is attached to the Rapid Aero cross rails. A wind noise deflector fairing is also mounted to the cross rails.
Check out this customer install picture showcasing a 2008 Lexus IS250 snowboard roof rack setup that is configured with the Thule 400XTR Rapid Aero roof rack (attaches to the car top using a set of Thule 2176 Fit Kit clips, the Thule RB47 Rapid Aero load bars are also used) and Thule 91725 snowboard-ski carrier mounted to the load bars. A Thule Racks 872XT roof rack fairing is also installed onto the front Rapid Aero load bar. Thule locks are included with the ski carrier to secure skiis and snowboards, while an extra 4 pack of Thule locks is used to lock the base rack system to the Lexus IS250 roof top.
2008 Lexus IS250 car rack snowboard carrier install details
Tagged as:
Lexus IS250,
roof rack,
ski snowboard carrier,
Thule 91725,
Thule Fit Kits
by rackdawg on September 29, 2009
Q: I am looking at installing a 2008 Lexus IS 250 roof rack for carrying snowboards. The 2008 Lexus IS250 roof top currently has no raingutters, side rails or faactory rack, just a smooth roof top. What car rack do you recommend that I can then attach a snowboard carrier to?
A: The complete Thule 400XT Aero roof rack system is engineered to fit your vehicle perfectly and is very quick to install. The Thule 400XT Aero system includes four 400XT Aero feet, four 2176 Fit Kit Clips (these Fit Kit Clips are specific to your 2008 Lexus IS 250) and two load bars (the 50″ load bars are the recommended length for your vehicle). You can then attach any Thule snowboard carriers to the 400XT Aero front and rear load bars.
Tagged as:
lexus,
ski snowboard carrier,
Thule Fit Kits
by rackdawg on September 28, 2009
Car rack customer installation of a 2009 Nissan Versa roof rack system using the Thule 400XT Foot Pack, 2183 Fit Kits and LB50 50 inch cross bars.
An excellent photo featuring a 2009 Nissan Versa car rack customer installation. The Thule 400XT Aero roof rack system serves as the multi-purpose base rack system that the customer can then connect whatever gear carriers he cares to use for transporting his gear around. The Thule 2183 Fit Kit clips are the Thule Fit Kits required for the 2009 Nissan Versa.
2009 Nissan Versa roof rack install details
Tagged as:
Nissan Versa,
Thule Fit Kits
by rackdawg on September 22, 2009
by rackdawg on September 22, 2009
2009 Nissan Versa Roof Rack for Hauling a Canoe
Q: I’m trying to figure out what components are needed for a 2009 Nissan Versa car rack for carrying a canoe. The 09 Nissa Versa doesn’t have any kind of rack on the car top right now, no side rails or anything. Do I need a roof rack on the cartop that I can then carry the canoe on? I want something very solid and sturdy that will prevent the canoe from shifting sideways or anything. I’ve used cheap canoe foam blocks and stuff and that is a total nightmare.
A: Yes, no matter what gear you plan to carry on your roof, you will need a multi-purpose roof rack base system. The Thule 400XT Aero roof rack base system is an excellent choice for your 2009 Nissan Versa. The Thule 400XT Aero system includes four Thule 400XT Aero Feet, a set of four Thule 2183 Fit Kit Clips (the 2183 Fit Kit Clips are specific to your 09 Nissan Versa) and two load bars. You will attach the canoe carrier directly to the 400XT Aero front and rear cross bars. The 50 inch crossbars are the recommended length for your Nissan Versa rooftop.
You can then attach the Thule 579XT canoe rack directly to the Thule 400XT Aero base rack cross bars. Includes a pair of heavy-duty securing straps. Also includes a pair of Thule 885 Quick-Draw tie-down straps to fully secure the front and rear of the canoe for very safe and worry free canoe transport.
Tagged as:
canoe rack,
Nissan Versa,
Thule 400XT,
Thule Fit Kits,
Thule Racks
