2013 Tahoe luggage rack rails

[Ron C]

these are the exact same rivnuts (well, they're hex), as used in the roof of the Tahoe:

 

[Ron C]

Finally got all the parts, the rivnuts, the bolts (I had 4, had to order 6, cheapest I saw was on eBay, $2.62 a piece, dealer $5-something)

I also bought a rivnut tool, I know it can be done with a bolt etc too, but I wanted something easy to use and NOT scratch up the roof or dent it. (I did a few test runs on washers, works pretty easy).

I bought the luggage rack from a salvage yard (in Dallas) for $165 (complete with all the trim pieces) and it was dirty, but no scratches, not bleached by the sun and it cleaned up really nice (almost as new) with "armor all". I was not too worried about the condition to begin with, one rain/snow/sand storm and it probably is back to how I saw it first.

I had to buy some rivnuts ($0.99 on eBay, and the said bolts, 10 of each), these rivnuts actually have a bead of sealant on the shank. The bolts have some rubbery sealant too.

Oh and I didn't have to do any drilling, the holes were already there (hex shaped holes, the rivnuts' shaft is hex too).

I'll attach the pics, from no rack to done.

Ron

(Yeah I can see the comments coming, "she has a nice rack" or "nice rack on that hoe" *lol*)

View attachment 190119 View attachment 190120 View attachment 190121

 

[Ron C]

wouldn't let me post the last one. so here it is



Ron

 

[Ron C]

Oh and for comparison, I checked with the dealership. A complete, new, luggage rack as I used, was $853 (before tax).

Ron

 

[balln2k11]

I took a roof rack off a 2009:Hybrid this week from a wrecking yard. I don’t have any holes in my PPV so I’m assuming I wil have to install the holes and nuts myself. Doesn’t seem fun.

 

[kbuskill]

I took a roof rack off a 2009:Hybrid this week from a wrecking yard. I don’t have any holes in my PPV so I’m assuming I wil have to install the holes and nuts myself. Doesn’t seem fun.

It's really not that difficult... the proper way is to do it with nutserts...

http://www.avdelusallc.com/products/nutsert.shtml



You just line the rack up where you want it and market and drill your holes, then install these like a rivet from up top... no need to drop the headliner if you are careful drilling your holes.

 

[balln2k11]

It's really not that difficult... the proper way is to do it with nutserts...

http://www.avdelusallc.com/products/nutsert.shtml

View attachment 211516 View attachment 211517

You just line the rack up where you want it and market and drill your holes, then install these like a rivet from up top... no need to drop the headliner if you are careful drilling your holes.

This is amazing! Thank you so much for the info. Look forward to doing the job now.

I did measure the hole locations off the truck I took it off of.

 

[PG01]

This is amazing! Thank you so much for the info. Look forward to doing the job now.

I did measure the hole locations off the truck I took it off of.

Like ken said and i would fill hole with silicone before inserting nut and hold down screw. Cheap water *********** insurance

 

[MD Tahoe 13]

Does anyone have any recommendations for clamp-on roof rack/cross bars for a 2013 SSV with no hole locations or screws? For example:

https://www.amazon.com/LEDKINGDOMUS...th+rain+rail&qid=1563466153&s=gateway&sr=8-14

https://www.amazon.com/SportRack-SR...rack+no+rails&qid=1563466437&s=gateway&sr=8-4

I don't think either of these would fit my Tahoe. There's the Seasucker brand with suction cups ($499+) but I'm not entirely comfortable with relying on the safety of that set up. Just curious if anyone out there has used something else that they'd like to share.

 

[kbuskill]

Best/most correct/easiest way to do it is to drill holes and insert nutserts from the top that way you don't have to pull your headliner.

The hardest part would be getting good measurements to get them as close to the factory holes as possible.

But with the headliner down it may be more obvious where to drill.