I'm bolting on a Surco Safari rack while I have the headliner out. And I am removing the factory racks. (the parts that slide, not the rails!).
The Surco sets on four feet that have two bolts holes each. And will bolt down nicely to the roof. (looks better setting low too!!)

The bolts will come up from inside to bolt through the feet on the rack. I am thinking of cutting out rubber gaskets to match the feet that will be bolted down. And coat everything with clear silicone. Has anyone else done similar without leaks ??
I dont want it to leak in on the new headliner and ruin all my work.

Any Thoughts ??

 

You could get some of that waterproof windshield silicone. It's made to hold against water. That's what I would do.

 

Postpone leaks. Not prevent. Every single astro with a bolt on ladder rack like that (professionally installed) that i used to work on leaked eventually. Years, but still eventually.

 

Worked fine for my buddy's windshield. That just what I would use, what would you recommend?

 

I just took my old roof rack that was bolted on and I used windshield silicon, it never had a leak, but I would highly highly recommend not bolting it to the roof, mine bent the roof. Took some time to get it back with heat. I welded the holes up and now built a new roof rack that I will use gutter mounts for... Way WAY better IMO

 

Clean to bear metal where mounting and fabricate a backing plate. Then use 3M 5200 marine polyureathane . It won't leak and it is perminate.(sic)

 

x2 on the gutter mount. That is where the strongest structure is up there. Stronger than the stock location. If you get that seam to flex then you are probably having a bad day anyhow.

 

X2

We use this on a lot of our boats. I work at a boat rental shop. With some of the people we get driving these boats... The stuff holds great up. Out of our 25 boats(used daily) we only have to redo 2-3 of them each year. Also good quality RTV sealant will work with the gasket idea.


if you do use the 3m 5200 it's a 5-7 day cure time...don't rush it.

 

go ahead and drill all your holes through your mounting plates, put on a backing plate and during final install, place a rubber washer, top and bottom,(with a reg. 3/8 washer),when u tighten down the bolt, the rubber washer will seal around the hole and never leak....similar to how a toilet tank is mounted to your bowl....

 

No that is the best sealant, I'm just saying that down the road be prepared to reseal. It's really inevitable.

 

On my last rack I made gaskets from 1/4" high density neoprene rubber. cut them the same size as the feet on the rack. cut steel backing plates the same size as the rack feet for the inside and used self locking nuts. 10 years latter and no leaks or squeaks.

 

Lets keep in mind..your your motor you have a real gasket, and a gasket sealer....see where im going with this? Soming solid other than just some variance of silicone is as close to bulletproof as you'll get.

 

Thanks for the tips Guy's, It's on and looks great but now I youve got me worried, thinking that too much weight WILL danage the roof ! I' Might add some support up there..
Also sealed the heck out of it with sillicone, and then I am going to Mask off the top from the back to the front of the factory rails, and spray it with Rhino-liner.So the back half of the roof and the entire rack will be covered with rhino. Adding another level of sealing ! And should look Awsome !

Thanks !

 

Use "bonded" washers for your "gasket." They have a layer of rubber bonded to a metal flat washer (slightly oversize) with a slightly undersize hole through the rubber to seal against the screw.

Back up with a smear of RTV.

Use the bonded washer/sealant on both sides of the roof panel. On top, the washer will go between the mounting foot and the roof panel.

 

Post up some pics of the new rack!