So I've got me a Thule ClipOn High (9106) to perform carrying duties on the back of the family Skoda Superb estate. It's all assembled after a lot of faff, and adjusted nicely so everything seems good and solid.
I'm disappointed though that it's such a pain to mount on the car. I'd heard it was a 2 minute job once it's properly adjusted, but it takes me way longer. In particular I'm having trouble getting the top clips into the gap between the boot lid and the roof. What do people find is the best way to do this? Boot fully up and open makes the biggest gap for prising the clips into, but the whole thing is in danger of crashing down uncontrollably. (I'm past caring about the paint work.) I managed it today but I'm not sure how. I'm really hoping it'll get easier.
So, any tips for smoother execution?
I usually used a shoe or something on the boot sill to rest the boot slightly open and then fitted, it could be a faff occasionally but got used to it
when I changed cars it wouldn't fit the new one but I swapped the top brackets for some Mont Blanc ones that where similar but longer and they worked really well, really secure and a bit easier to fit as they where thinner metal (not plastic coated)
Got a new car this week and not so sure about trying it on that as it has an electric opening boot lid so not sure if the weight of it will cause issues for the motors
Thanks for that. From your shoe comment sounds like you only need the boot lid open a crack to thread the top clips on. Is that standard?
Good shout on the shoe idea, may have to start using that! I normally attach mine with the boot closed, there is normally a 10mm or so gap between roof and boot on the top.
With the boot closed lift the rack and hook the two top hooks in, and line up all the rubber supporting bits on the window etc. The bottom of the rack then just sits on the bottom of the boot. The rack rests there while I open the boot a couple of inches, supporting it in one hand whilst using the other hand to twist the bottom sprung bits into position and lock them on. Granted this is where the new shoe idea may come in handy from now on. Taking the rack off, the reverse..
I've just changed my car as well and yet to try it on the new one. Fingers crossed it fits OK. Looking after the paint, I've heard people use a bit of helicopter tape in the right places..
Depends on the car and how tightly the panels butt together I guess, was easier on my BMW than on my Hyundai (note Thule say it won't fit on either, it does)
I put it on similar to above but with the shoe (or whatever was in the boot at the time), and I had heli tape at the attachment points