Honda Car Forum

If I can visit this again - last week's post has been unfruitful. Are there
any posters here that have experience with non-OEM racks on their Odysseys?
I have a 1999 Odyssey and I want to put a roof rack on it. I have no rack.
Thanks for links to prior posts, but I couldn't find anyone who's purchased
a complete aftermarket rack and wrote to tell of the experience.
This rackless van has what appears to be two thin aluminum or possibly
plastic pieces in two gutters running from windshield to hatch. Does anyone
know how to remove these? Or, is there a base underneath that I can just
drive sheetmetal screws directly into? At this point I'm looking into a
Thule track system, where'd I'd attach a permanent track where these ersatz
gutters now lie and have sliding removable "landing pads" which would attach
to towers and cross bars.
Thanks for links to prior posts, but I couldn't find anyone who's purchased
and installed an aftermarket rack.
Any advice?

CrouchingLamb wrote:
>
> If I can visit this again - last week's post has been unfruitful. Are there
> any posters here that have experience with non-OEM racks on their Odysseys?
> I have a 1999 Odyssey and I want to put a roof rack on it. I have no rack.
> Thanks for links to prior posts, but I couldn't find anyone who's purchased
> a complete aftermarket rack and wrote to tell of the experience.
> This rackless van has what appears to be two thin aluminum or possibly
> plastic pieces in two gutters running from windshield to hatch. Does anyone
> know how to remove these? Or, is there a base underneath that I can just
> drive sheetmetal screws directly into? At this point I'm looking into a
> Thule track system, where'd I'd attach a permanent track where these ersatz
> gutters now lie and have sliding removable "landing pads" which would attach
> to towers and cross bars.
> Thanks for links to prior posts, but I couldn't find anyone who's purchased
> and installed an aftermarket rack.
> Any advice?


--------------------------------------

OK, I've owned three Gen 1 Odysseys, and I have two Gen 1 CR-Vs now. If
you pop off the channels (don't do it, you might deform them) you will
find a few short screw threads that point toward heaven, tack-welded
into the gutter.
http://www.hondasuv.com/pdf/crv/firs...1_roofrack.pdf
They are strong enough to anchor a HONDA OEM roof rack. They are NO WAY
strong enough to anchor a roof rack that has anything awkward tied to
it, especially something LONG, like a canoe / kayak. When you go over a
BUMP, the upward torque will break / strip the screw threads and
everything will 'dismount' onto the windshield of the car tailgating
behind you. :-(

As I said before, I have a Thule 2100 rooftop box on my CR-V (same basic
gutter / setup as an Ody) and I bought a roof rack from Canadian Tire
(made by sportrack.com) that sits on the roof and clutches onto the door
openings, to keep everything in place. The weight isn't as important as
the lifting forces when you're talking about a LONG load.

These links aren't very helpful, but
http://www.odyclub.com/tech/rails/rails.htm
http://www.odyclub.com/tech/thulebox/thulebox.htm

I looked at Yakima, Thule, etc, but they were just too expensive once I
added up all the 'bits'. It would be OK if I was also a sports
enthusiast and could make use of all the functionality that you will.

I'll send you a picture directly.

'Curly

> Any advice?

Why reinvent the wheel? I been around lots of cars with racks and there's
not much too them. I went to yakima and thule and saw racks specific for 99
odyssey. I want my one minute back.