roof rack crossbar removal

[NC_John]

I hope this isn't a stupid question but after a quick look last night I couldn't figure it out. How do I remove the roof-rack crossbars on my 08 LT? On my 02 I just removed the rear trim cap and slid them both back and out/off. I tried that on the new one and found real quick it wasn't going to work.

Am I making this more complicated than it is or did GM decide to make it more complicated on the NNBS trucks?

 

[Wakinvol]

Same general concept. Remove the rear screws, pop off the plastic pieces, and slide the bars out the back. Then re-install the hardware and end pieces. Not too bad

 

[NC_John]

Same general concept. Remove the rear screws, pop off the plastic pieces, and slide the bars out the back. Then re-install the hardware and end pieces. Not too bad

I took out one of the screws from the rear in an attempt to do that but instead of the plastic coming off, it was trying to take EVERYTHING off. I could not see how to separate the plastic cover from the base assembly and sure as hell don't want to break it. The way the cover seems to wrap around, it doesn't look like it can be removed from the base with the rail in place. I may take another look this evening.

 

[KMeloney]

I took out one of the screws from the rear in an attempt to do that but instead of the plastic coming off, it was trying to take EVERYTHING off. I could not see how to separate the plastic cover from the base assembly and sure as hell don't want to break it. The way the cover seems to wrap around, it doesn't look like it can be removed from the base with the rail in place. I may take another look this evening.

There's a tab on the plastic end piece that keeps it locked to the side rail. You'll have to undo that tab in order to slide the plastic end off. It's not the easiest thing to locate and do, but once you know that and look for it (and release it with a screwdriver), you'll be good to go.

 

[NC_John]

There's a tab on the plastic end piece that keeps it locked to the side rail. You'll have to undo that tab in order to slide the plastic end off. It's not the easiest thing to locate and do, but once you know that and look for it (and release it with a screwdriver), you'll be good to go.

I'm guessing its on the front of the rear assembly?

Thanks guys.

 

[KMeloney]

I'm guessing its on the front of the rear assembly?

Thanks guys.

Well, it's on the rail-side, whether that's front or rear.

 

[NC_John]

Got it! What I was missing was both screws had to be removed and the entire base unit taken off. Just the cover/trim comes off with the NBS. Thanks guys

And were you as pissed off as me that the factory saved $0.10 a truck by not putting a rubber gasket beneath the unit (like on the NBS) so it wouldn't scratch up the paint? What a bunch of morons.... You pay this much for a vehicle and this is what you get? No wonder the rest of my family drives BMW's.... I'm the only one slumming with chevys..

 

[KMeloney]

And were you as pissed off as me that the factory saved $0.10 a truck by not putting a rubber gasket beneath the unit (like on the NBS) so it wouldn't scratch up the paint? What a bunch of morons.... You pay this much for a vehicle and this is what you get? No wonder the rest of my family drives BMW's.... I'm the only one slumming with chevys..

I hear you! But the Esky one, with it's rail-long rubber gasket, still etches the paint. If ANYTHING can get between the gasket and paint, it'll scratch. Oh well.

 

[InTruckDesign]

that's weird, both my '07 tahoe and my '11 burban have the rubber piece under the end caps.

 

[KMeloney]

that's weird, both my '07 tahoe and my '11 burban have the rubber piece under the end caps.

Under the STOCK rack's end caps?? The stocker's caps are just cheep, thin, slightly flexible plastic. I can't really imagine any rubber between them and the paint. Mine certainly didn't have anything between the cap and paint. It was just the cap, itself, sitting on the roof.