OE cross bars cant be repositioned?!?

[chris_in_phx]

Folks need your help here. Having a WTF moment with the OE cross bars and roof rails. The cross bars have two small “dowels” that fit into matching holes on the roof rails…which means i cant reposition them??? I tried mm and inch hex wrenches in the “dowels” because it looks like they might have recessed holes to unscrew them but nothing grabbed or fit.

 

[chris_in_phx]

Okay well i got the “dowels” to come out with a T-15 bit… now to call Toyota dealership and see if its okay to mount at least one without these dowels.

 

[chris_in_phx]

What do you guys all think about reseating at least one cross bar without the dowels and relying on the clamp/rubber grip? Thinking maybe i try the rear one.

Toyota dealership didnt have any advice for me - no rules against this but hes never heard of this before.

If i bought thule cross bars they would just be clamping down the sides with a rubber grip too… and these seem more secure even without the dowel.

The reason I’m doing this is to see if i can get to 32” distance required by trxstle fishing rod carrier. The cross bars come at 26.5” distance from factory

 

[chris_in_phx]

Bumping this One… What do you guys all think about reseating at least one cross bar without the dowels and relying on the clamp/rubber grip? Thinking maybe i try the rear one. Has anyone tried this?

 

[Markarian421]

That is puzzling. I don't have one so I don't know what to say. On my FJ the factory ones are only held in place with gripping force, but I use Thule bars for pretty much everything I put up there -- those also only use clamping force but are built much more substantially that the stock ones..

 

[easyC]

Replace the dowels and drill new holes at the point where you want them installed.

 

[EOD Guy]

Bumping this One… What do you guys all think about reseating at least one cross bar without the dowels and relying on the clamp/rubber grip? Thinking maybe i try the rear one. Has anyone tried this?

Drill new holes