OEM Crossbars: Received and Installed

[dalton108]

I honestly bought them purely for aesthetics and my Starlink mini lol

Honestly, I don’t think they have much function beyond that. Raked at this goofy angle anything that you put up there is basically gonna be become an air break.


So, I’m in the same boat as you. Maybe worse because I learned that the best place to mount my starling mini is …

flip down the kickstand and let that drop down below the tonneau cover and use that with the tonneau flush up against the tailgate and it is a perfect stable solution I driven more than 100 miles with it at freeway speeds with no issues!

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[dalton108]

Honestly, I don’t think they have much function beyond that. Raked at this goofy angle anything that you put up there is basically gonna be become an air break.


So, I’m in the same boat as you. Maybe worse because I learned that the best place to mount my starling mini is …

flip down the kickstand and let that drop down below the tonneau cover and use that with the tonneau flush up against the tailgate and it is a perfect stable solution I driven more than 100 miles with it at freeway speeds with no issues!

Edit: This is the way!

But don’t go blaming me if you lose your shit! I’m sure it could potentially come popping out of there if you hit a pothole or are bouncing around on something. It could slip out but it’s very firmly rooted in my case.

I imagine you could also do something violent enough to detach the kickstand from the mini itself but it just doesn’t seem like likely to me.

 

[dalton108]

I approve!

A great looking OEM accessory that hopefully doesn't whistle driving down the road.

I have not noticed any appreciable wind noise with windows up or down.

 

[Guylouis]

Edit: This is the way!

But don’t go blaming me if you lose your shit! I’m sure it could potentially come popping out of there if you hit a pothole or are bouncing around on something. It could slip out but it’s very firmly rooted in my case.

I imagine you could also do something violent enough to detach the kickstand from the mini itself but it just doesn’t seem like likely to me.

wow I don’t have the guts to do this haha

 

[dalton108]

wow I don’t have the guts to do this haha

Try it out stationary, see how solid it feels.

 

[Jack27]

I honestly bought them purely for aesthetics and my Starlink mini lol

Bahaha, I’m betting 94% buy it just for the aesthetics. I need to see in in person first. I do like the way the M3 looks with them but haven’t brought my self to buying them for it.

 

[Timthehelipilot]

I’ll admit; I’ve been a pretty good boy this year, so, I’m not surprised that UPS[anta] arrived a day early with my new toys!

I think they look fantastic! You can judge for yourself.

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Are they easily removable and covers go back down? Looks like it from the instructions but since you have them in person and installed it would be good to know first hand

 

[Known-Background]

So my question with these is why didn’t they add some loop points for tie downs or rope or what ever? How are you spose to tie things down properly if you ever use them for other then looks ?

Have you ever used cross bars?

 

[dalton108]

Are they easily removable and covers go back down? Looks like it from the instructions but since you have them in person and installed it would be good to know first hand

Well, I haven’t actually tried to “remove” them fully, but, yes!

After you install the quick release plates, basically, you use the key to unlock and then the end cap tilts out slightly - this motion disengages a little metal tab that when vertical locks the crossbar into the mounting plate. It’s like a tongue/tab and slot situation.

So, doing that on both sides - unlock, tilt-out disconnects the crossbar and allows you to move it to any other mounting point where you’ve already installed the mounting plates.

Once you remove it, yes, the little covers just tilt back down. While the crossbars are installed those covers are flipped up vertically, not removed.

It’s definitely the simplest OEM crossbar situation I’ve ever used. I like it a lot.

 

[Timthehelipilot]

Well, I haven’t actually tried to “remove” them fully, but, yes!

After you install the quick release plates, basically, you use the key to unlock and then the end cap tilts out slightly - this motion disengages a little metal tab that when vertical locks the crossbar into the mounting plate. It’s like a tongue/tab and slot situation.

So, doing that on both sides - unlock, tilt-out disconnects the crossbar and allows you to move it to any other mounting point where you’ve already installed the mounting plates.

Once you remove it, yes, the little covers just tilt back down. While the crossbars are installed those covers are flipped up vertically, not removed.

It’s definitely the simplest OEM crossbar situation I’ve ever used. I like it a lot.

Thanks for the info and confirmation!

 

[TickTock]

Would love to see a pic of the quick-disconnect plates.

 

[Jack27]

Have you ever used cross bars?

In 90 in high school I had Thule surf racks on my VW schiraco I used every day for 2 years ? They had built in Ratchet straps, I
Used about 1k truck racks with hooks on them but nope not that style, possibly why I asked about them not having hooks ??

 

[dalton108]

Would love to see a pic of the quick-disconnect plates.

I don’t know if I like this being first business! You guys are pretty effing demanding it feels like a second job!
????

As you wish. [The photo is of the mounting point closest to the tailgate on the drivers side. And as a reminder you get a quick release plate for every mounting point in the box with your set of two crossbars, so you’re good to go if you want to move them around. I installed all of them.]

1. The mounting plate you can see is labeled which way it points out and underneath the text “out” is where the little L bracket on the endplate of the crossbar slots in when it is vertical.

2. My little diagram on the second photo (in the white box) is my poor attempt at showing the L pivoting into and out of that slot when you unlock and tilt out the end plate.

 

[TickTock]

Thanks! That's a clever design. I ended up manufacturing my own for a custom rack I wanted to be able to remove easily - converting the two recessed studs into a single 14-2 bolt (pic below). Tesla's solution is a bit more elegant.

 

[dalton108]

Thanks! That's a clever design. I ended up manufacturing my own for a custom rack I wanted to be able to remove easily - converting the two recessed studs into a single 14-2 bolt (pic below). Tesla's solution is a bit more elegant.

I wish I had your chops, but yeah I think their design is pretty clever!

It’s so much cleaner than all of the third-party solutions so far. And the way that they deal with the expansion is to just have it telescope in and out no bolts to undo or anything like that.

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