salimshah

There is a trick with the magnet. If choose a weak one it will not fish and if you use a very strong one it will swing out to the body. The combination has to be right. I have 3 sets of magnets.

Also I would suggest do it once and forget about it.

Some members like the clean lines and think that the rack is in the way of cleaning/washing. If you go with rails, you might like the slats too. To install the slats you have to pop out the ends. The tabs may last a few clips and unclips, but eventually they will break. $60+ each when I bought one. First gen RX was notorious for wind noise due to the rack. The slats had to be placed at the right spot. I have had no issues with 3rd gen or I might have the slats at the sweat spot by chance.

Salim

bluebunny

I ended up using some fat chopstick type peices of wood to get the part back up. And also a dental tool. Magnet was good for cleaning up shavings.

These are the parts that were in there and the bolt and nut.



I couldn't figure out where the clip went. Going to glue or drill a small hole and bolt the inside piece in place.

I would like to have the racks but I don't feel like spending the $200 plus mounting parts for them right now. It's a summer project. I don't need the slats. The car has a towing pkg. and trailer hitch and I already have a small utility trailer. I took the slats off my RAV4. It makes getting the snow off easier.

Couldn't have managed this without an endoscopic type light. At one time it was a camera also which would have helped find where the clip went.

salimshah

So far so good. How about the other side?

Salim

bluebunny

The other side is ok... I think. Haven't looked very closely as that bolt ( hornet ! ) had my full attention.

All the pieces are off and I'm pretty sure there are 4 of the rack delete pieces. I got some appropriate length bolts to replace the 4 rack ones . As a former boat owner/builder, I'm good at waterproofing things. That's next.