Show Chrome Low Contour Rack Install Question

[Choctaw]

Hello,

I just received my Show Chrome low contour rack. Has anyone else installed one of these yet? The graphical instructions hint that a hole should be drilled through both the inner and outer portion of the drunk lid. I just want to make sure I don't drill through the inner portion of the trunk lid if I'm not supposed to. Am I supposed to drill through both outer and inner portion of the trunk lid or am I to remove the inner portion of the trunk lid?

[Viking]

My trunk lid rack is Kuryakyn, and when I installed it, I removed the inner liner of the trunk lid. I would think really carefully before drilling through, as when you bolt it down, it would sandwich the inner liner and could cause irreparable damage. Another thing I would consider if I had it to do over, is to put the larger washers on the trunk lid, and if I could find any, then the same on the inside to spread the stress over a larger area. I did not do this, and so do not put anything on the rack. I am afraid it would, over time, crack the trunk lid.

[Big Blue UK]

You may need to modify the fittings, but definitely fit it as Viking suggested. The instructions do not hint, they instruct to drill through the inner cover, what a load of rubbish. Probably afraid to put in writing to tell someone to remove the inner cover and locking staples, because they know what rubbish the mounting posts are, and want no comebacks.

[tfdeputydawg]

I drilled through both panels as instructed.
Measured the space between the inner panel and outer lid.
Removed inner panel and taped large washers to fil the space.
Remounted the inner panel.
Used star washers under the rack.
Large washer on each bolt.
Make sure the rack sits on all four legs on the lid without any rocking before you bolt it on!

[Choctaw]

Thank you very much for the help gentlemen. Still very much afraid to install this thing. Unlike the idea of using washers between the inner and outer layers.
The idea of committing to the install is painful though.

[Big Blue UK]

The way Deputy did it may be fine for him and many others, each to their own. But taping washers between the lid and inner cover void space, is testimony to how good the design and fitting instructions are. It is to me as if BBP could not be bothered to take the inner cover off, did not fancy people stripping the cheap as chips plastic screw pillars, or reckon the design and build quality of the lid is rubbish. ALL my racks, even on my trailers are chrome plated stainless steel made in Netherlands, all have stainless fittings, so I would not be concerned about a screw rusting in the rack thread, and end up grinding the heads off to remove the inner cover, even then I would not drill through the inner cover. Just remove the inner cover, fit it as normal with big washers on the inside. There is no way I would want to keep removing the top box rack to remove the inner cover.

[Choctaw]

The more I think about this, the more I wonder if I really want to put a trunk rack on this at all. Seems the rattling of the bumps alone would start to stress and crack around the posts. With any trunk rack.

[Choctaw]

tfdeputydawg could you explain the star washers a little more?

[MikeB]

Star Washers

Rack leg on washer

The star washer distributes the load over a wider diameter helping to prevent cracks in the plastic.

My take on the rack is to remove the inner cover prior to drilling holes. Also, if you EVER intend to mount a spoiler, make sure you do it before mounting a rack.

[joeincalif]

When I did the rack on my 02 (I didn't have one on my 08) I removed the inner trunk liner, Use star washers and remember do not overload the rack. I used it to carry my cold weather jacket and gloves. An I used it as a handle to open and close the trunk.