[stosh]

I purchased a T2 rack about a month ago and I love.

I have one small problem with the rack, the straps to hold the rear wheel down come off. I've already lost one forgetting it on my bumper and driving away.
Has anybody done anything to modify their rack to make these unremovable?

 

[syadasti]

I purchased a T2 rack about a month ago and I love.

I have one small problem with the rack, the straps to hold the rear wheel down come off. I've already lost one forgetting it on my bumper and driving away.
Has anybody done anything to modify their rack to make these unremovable?

Try to find the better ones sportworks made for the T2 :biggrin:

I have a mix of Sportworks and Thule parts on mine. Thule did some cost cutting

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

i dont see how you lose yours...i have the sportworks version, it used plastic straps that use a racheting mechanism......is yours different? i have never had an issue with mine at all in the year and a half i've had it.

 

[narlus]

yeah, the sportworks straps can't be removed.

sounds like you may need a bungee cord?

 

[jacksonpt]

try the don't-be-such-a-bonehead mod...

 

[syadasti]

try the don't-be-such-a-bonehead mod...

Well actually what i do is strap down the arms - its a tight fit, but they fit if you run the strap the right way and it would save you from loosing straps...

I can take a photo when I get home if necessary...

Thule also removed the stabilizer bolt from the T2 as some hitches won't have any contact (like the one that comes with Xterra for example).

 

[narlus]

why remove it? i realize it's useless on some hitches (like my wife's van), but it isn't on others (like my hitch).

 

[syadasti]

why remove it? i realize it's useless on some hitches (like my wife's van), but it isn't on others (like my hitch).

It has been removed from the Thule T2 - I called and asked about it (its not shown in their online directions or diagrams, thats why I called).

 

[stosh]

The ratchet straps that hold down the rear tire are removeable so you can put them in a different slot for larger tires. The one slot is fine for both Mtn bike tires and road tires however when you release the rear tire often the ratch strap fall loose from the rack.

 

[syadasti]

The ratchet straps that hold down the rear tire are removeable so you can put them in a different slot for larger tires. The one slot is fine for both Mtn bike tires and road tires however when you release the rear tire often the ratch strap fall loose from the rack.

Yeah but you can't remove the strap from the original/better sportworks design - it has the same multi slot setup

 

[N8 v2.0]

The ratchet straps that hold down the rear tire are removeable so you can put them in a different slot for larger tires. The one slot is fine for both Mtn bike tires and road tires however when you release the rear tire often the ratch strap fall loose from the rack.

Drill a small hole in the end of the strap and put a metal key ring in the end of it. That will prevent you from pulling the strap all the way out of the ratchet.

 

[stosh]

Yeah but you can't remove the strap from the original/better sportworks design - it has the same multi slot setup

So how can I get my hands on thoes?

I think I'm going to drill holes in the Thule rack and put some bolts thru them.

 

[Toshi]

So how can I get my hands on thoes?

I think I'm going to drill holes in the Thule rack and put some bolts thru them.

the new design is better. here's why:

to release the tire flip up the lever but do not "unclick" the strap. instead, you should have just enough slack to unhook the removable end. voila.

 

[stosh]

the new design is better. here's why:

to release the tire flip up the lever but do not "unclick" the strap. instead, you should have just enough slack to unhook the removable end. voila.

oHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Hrmmm BRILLIANT!!

 

[syadasti]

It still doesn't make it better, the old strap is higher quality/more durable. I have one of each on my T2.

I've never had a problem losing the strap, but it does occasionally come off (I don't usually try to remove the strap completely like stosh does)...

 

[stosh]

It still doesn't make it better, the old strap is higher quality/more durable. I have one of each on my T2...

Is it made from the same plastic as an IPOD?

 

[syadasti]

Ha ha...

Thule clearly streamlined the design making some cost cutting changes that allow parts sharing from their other systems and simplying its design slightly...

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

The ratchet straps that hold down the rear tire are removeable so you can put them in a different slot for larger tires. The one slot is fine for both Mtn bike tires and road tires however when you release the rear tire often the ratch strap fall loose from the rack.

wow, i didnt know people used it that way.....


i keep the rachet end of the strap in at all times. i loosen the rachet, remove the knob end and put it in the proper slot. makes alot more sense.....

 

[-dustin]

Is it made from the same plastic as an IPOD?

god damn this thread is packed with hilarity.

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

Well actually what i do is strap down the arms - its a tight fit, but they fit if you run the strap the right way and it would save you from loosing straps...

I can take a photo when I get home if necessary...

thats exactly what i do when i'm not using it.....strap goes around the outside, through the middle of the hook and into the slot.

 

[stosh]

wow, i didnt know people used it that way.....


i keep the rachet end of the strap in at all times. i loosen the rachet, remove the knob end and put it in the proper slot. makes alot more sense.....

I'm a snowboarder so I've been un strapping thoes ratchet straps for as long as I can remember.

 

[davep]

the new design is better. here's why:

to release the tire flip up the lever but do not "unclick" the strap. instead, you should have just enough slack to unhook the removable end. voila.

This is the only the older 'sportworks' ones worked. The 'front' or 'male' end of the ratchet strap had essentially a large tooth on the end so that it is not able to come out of the ratchet mech. You just got enough slack to unhook the back side.

Call Thule and get another ratchet strap (sometimes called a tongue). Then as mentioned above, drill a small hole in the 'front' end of the tongue. Feed the tongue through the ratchet mech and then affix something (a split key ring, or pop-rivit, or small bolt/nut) to the hole to prevent the tongue from being fully removed.

When not in use, the arms can be strapped down as well, keeping everything tight.