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Old 06-25-2009, 01:49 PM   #1
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Drilling into / through the top

I'm getting ready to mount my solar panel, and later a roof rack.

1) When drilling through the top to mount angle-aluminum, is there anything I need to watch out for? How do I avoid cracking the fiberglass - gradually increasing the bit size? Tape over the hole? What tips do you all have for me?!

2) When mounting roof racks (such as Yakima), how do you secure them? Are they drilled into the top, and if so, are they through-bolted or self-tapping screws into the top?

Thanks very much!
Mike.

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Old 06-25-2009, 03:30 PM   #2
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Re: Drilling into / through the top

My rack bolts and bolts for the solar panel are all outside of the canvas side. It is a through hole with bolt/nut. I don't think I took any special precaution when drilling. The one thing I hadn't noticed prior to starting the project is that the top is not flat near the front and when I bolted down the angle aluminum for the solar panel, I started hearing the crackling of the fiber glass as it was getting straightened out. I ended up spacing the aluminum up in the front. I think the proper way is to use aluminum angle "feet" instead of a long length of aluminum. Of course I think this only applies if you are at the far front of the top.

Phil
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Old 06-25-2009, 06:11 PM   #3
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Re: Drilling into / through the top

I believe John K. gave a good description on installing Thule tracks in this post.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1031
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Old 06-25-2009, 10:55 PM   #4
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Re: Drilling into / through the top

Thanks both! (and John K )
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