JeanGoulet
Member
So I was installing the Thule roof rack (model 460 foot, 3069 fit kit) on a new Mazda 5 and was expecting a nice strong end result. Boy is that not the case!
If you have the Thule (or the so-called Mazda version which apparently is made by Thule):
- Does the entire surface of the foot push down hard on your roof (mine touches so weakly, a credit card can be placed under the foot! Despite the top nut/washer pushing down on the steel plate that pushes on the steel spacer - in other words, no additional tightening is possible).
- Once fully installed, when you grip the bar near the foot, and you push-pull fore-aft, do you see the foot rock along with your movement (instead of being stiff to the point of not moving at all)?
I have installed quite a few Thule roof racks on other types of cars over like 20 years and never had a flimsy attachment point like this. With the previous (all steel) racks, I had the impression that you could lift the car off the ground with a helicopter by hooking chains to the roof rack (which was held by clamps between the door and the roof)
With this Mazda 5 installation I have the impression that the entire roof load will rip the rack off the roof and everything will fly over the hood in a single emergency brake/swerve maneuver. How can a long but narrow threaded stud (headless screw) hold a Thule foot in place (why is this foot not held in place with two large studs instead? To save the cost of the second nut in the roof?). Seems the spacer is too long and reduces the downforce of the rubber foot onto the plastic roof moulding - unless they did that to prevent breaking/cracking that moulding?).
By the way the regular roof load is 3-4 windsurfing boards, 3 masts, and a cargo box filled completely i.e. 7 sails and 4 wishbones (total weight: not light hence rack must be SOLID!).
If you have the Thule (or the so-called Mazda version which apparently is made by Thule):
- Does the entire surface of the foot push down hard on your roof (mine touches so weakly, a credit card can be placed under the foot! Despite the top nut/washer pushing down on the steel plate that pushes on the steel spacer - in other words, no additional tightening is possible).
- Once fully installed, when you grip the bar near the foot, and you push-pull fore-aft, do you see the foot rock along with your movement (instead of being stiff to the point of not moving at all)?
I have installed quite a few Thule roof racks on other types of cars over like 20 years and never had a flimsy attachment point like this. With the previous (all steel) racks, I had the impression that you could lift the car off the ground with a helicopter by hooking chains to the roof rack (which was held by clamps between the door and the roof)
With this Mazda 5 installation I have the impression that the entire roof load will rip the rack off the roof and everything will fly over the hood in a single emergency brake/swerve maneuver. How can a long but narrow threaded stud (headless screw) hold a Thule foot in place (why is this foot not held in place with two large studs instead? To save the cost of the second nut in the roof?). Seems the spacer is too long and reduces the downforce of the rubber foot onto the plastic roof moulding - unless they did that to prevent breaking/cracking that moulding?).
By the way the regular roof load is 3-4 windsurfing boards, 3 masts, and a cargo box filled completely i.e. 7 sails and 4 wishbones (total weight: not light hence rack must be SOLID!).
