THULE Xsporter

[jerseyrob]

Anyone using this system on their trucks?
http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/prod..._id=75&sku=422

[mluther]

I have had the xporter on my truck for about 6 months, pretty good set-up has a 400lb capacity. Racks wont adjust down as advertised due to the shape of the bed. But if your hauling lumber or ladders it is a good rack, And the only one that will fit these trucks right now.

[jerseyrob]

Nice...I like the looks of it. Does it not adjust down at all? I was looking to mainly use it in the lowered position.

[1slktoy]

Do They interfer with the oem track/rails in our beds?

[jerseyrob]

I believe they attach into them. Thule says they sell an adapter for this rack for "pickup trucks with track systems". If you search around their site you should find it.

[1slktoy]

Originally Posted by jerseyrob

I believe they attach into them. Thule says they sell an adapter for this rack for "pickup trucks with track systems". If you search around their site you should find it.

I SEE. Thanks jerseyrob. I think I'll head to REI and see if I can get a better look at this. I have a tool box, so I'm curious if this will work with it.

[chazms]

I have had this system for a week now and have decided to return it to REI. It does not adjust down at all and it whistles at high speeds (a whopping 35 mph). I don't see a reason to pay $549 for a rack that doesn't do what it s supposed to do. It does however attach VERY securely to the rail system. I did like that. I am going to return these and get the U.S. Rack Utility Rack. It also attaches to the rail system and is a more traditional post style rack, simple but $350 out the door. Better deal as far as I am concerned since the xsporter doesn't move up and down like it is supposed to.

[Open Taco]

I have the Xsporter. I like it. It doesn't really bother me that the arms don't adjust down (though they do really whistle when up -- particularly if you don't put the rubber gaskets into the tops of the rails). In part I think that is because I regularly use the rack, and is also in part because it only takes a minute or two to remove the upper halves of the rack. And the rack does fasten to the bedrail system. I've come pretty close to 400lbs with the rack, too. It holds just fine.

If you wanted to lower the rack some, you can. The arms will adjust about halfway down before the bed interferes with it. You could cut new notches in the posts to accept the locking mechanisms. A good handsaw can cut through the Thule aluminum pretty easily.

If you're serious about getting the rack, I'd suggest waiting until REI has a sale. They're the only retailer I've seen who regularly discounts Thule and Yakima products. I got my setup at REI for considerably less than $550 (incl. kayak mounts).

[koa]

I had this rack and returned it. It will adjust down on the long beds depending where you install it. You can make it adjust down (but not all the way) by sawing some addition slots in the uprights. I didn't like the way it mounted. It barely catches the top rail and tends to torque over at an angle without the uprights making it hard to remove just the uprights. Also remember that the cap rail is kinda hallow with a bunch of plastic bracing inside so the the ones I've seen on trucks that have had much weight tend to crush down the plastic top caps.

I talked to one guy who had mounted the TracRac system by just bolting it to existing holes under the top cap and drilling one hole. He was happy with it but didn't haul real heavy stuff. The one advise he gave was to make sure you install the rails for the TracRac parallel to each other and not the bed so you will be able to slide them on and off.

[Larzzzz]

You HAVE to install the rubber strips on the top rails to stop the whistling. The mounting clips clamp onto the top of the tie down rails. They work nice for me.

[chazms]

I put all the rubber stripping in both top and bottom. Still whistles. The whistle is really bad during 35-45 mph but on the freeway it is not as bad.

[04asphalt]

any pics on an access cab? really want one but that's alot of scratch!

[04asphalt]

looking for pricing and location of half of a thule xsporter.

[niskyne]

The whistling from the crossbars is normal for every car/truck with crossbars.

To get rid of most of it, if not all, just take a bungie cord, hook one end to the vertical mount, and keep wrapping it around the cross bar until you reach the other side and then hook it on the other vertical mount. Do the same with the other cross bar.

This got rid of the whistling when I had my rack on my car......until I did something stupid and its gone now.

[pigmode]

I have an Xsporter on the rear. The rubber strips (top and bottom) pretty much eliminate the whistling, but there is still considerable wind noise left over. All racks make wind noise, but you get used to it.