Thule Rapid Release foot is imploded

About to go on a road trip (to permanently move) from New Mexico to Oregon.

Inspecting the truck, check to see if my roof top tent bolts are torqued and look what I find.

Foot to my thule roof rack has sheared for no good reason.

No time to order a replacement so i pumped the interior with 4200 caulking and duct taped it.

These things arent cheap… too many moving parts, I’ll be looking to replace all 4 feet someday, open to suggestions

 

Thule should have a lifetime warranty on that broken foot.

It may be small consolation, but get them to send you a replacement in case you change your mind or sell the stuff.

 

It looks to me that you exceeded the payload / leverage of the design of the rack. So instead of "Thule is junk", it's more of a "I need a rack that is all metal and designed for weird crossloads and twisting from a RTT application".

 

This. Thule/Yakima are the industry standards for a reason. They're pleasantly enjoyable to work with when it comes to warranty items. Sucks it happened, but lets be honest, that RTT is likely more than what the system is rated for. And if its not, its still no surprise it was being pushed to its limits. Give them a call, get your replacement, and hopefully your new perspective will be "I told Thule I overloaded my rack and they still chose to send me a free replacement anyways!" (all this assuming you bought through a reputable vendor, and not secondhand on the used market).

 

Call them. they're excellent with warranty issues.

 

duct tape?

 

So, to the folks saying I exceeded the load limit, this is the GFC Superlite, 80lb tent.
@Off Topic Guy @JasonLee

If a roof rack cant support 80lb across the two load bars then we’re in trouble boys.

i just think those feet with the locks are a shit design, over complicated and too much plastic.

I will reach out to Thule and see what they say, thanks for the suggestion.

Lots of 4200 caulk and duct tape for good measure haha, especially while it cures to keep the 4200 from oozing all over the place

 

I had spareMe2 bike rack for my Jeep and they were very helpful with installing it and replacement parts. When I sold the Jeep I got over half what I pad for it on Marketplace and got to use it for 10 years so I'd say they aren't junk

 

Couldn't agree more, thats why I went away from Yakima and got an extrusion rack. As for it being overloaded, 80 lbs dynamic weight is very likely within whatever rating the system is rated for. Its that "static load" that is never published where we have to use our better judgements. As you said, lots of plastic; a RTT on those feet could be fine, or it may explode like yours! Who knows, bc those numbers don't exist anywhere. Fortunately, the point remains, and Thule has awesome customer service. Hopefully they'll treat ya right, get you a free replacement, and you can either run it or go another direction. I really like the functionality of the wedge tents, but not having the ladder to actually support any of the weight probably exacerbates these issues on plastic-rack systems.

 

I have sold Thule since the mid-1980s in the bicycle industry and with VW/Audi.
If you have the proof of purchase in your name, follow up with Thule's warranty https://help.thule.com/s/warranty?language=en_US

 

I will echo the comments on Thule's good customer service. I had some issues with one of the Rod Vaults (2 separate issues over 2 years). Let's just say that after some back and forth with lots of photos, they went above and beyond.

I have sold both Thule and Yakima roof rack systems for many years, and I've seen quality vary from year to year and product to product. I make recommendations for customers based on their vehicle and what they want to attach where. Thule's roof rack components generally seem to be well made, and we rarely see egregious product defects.

OP, is that mud or corrosion on the tower depicted in your photo? In either case, I would darn sure check the other three towers. Curious to see what Thule would make of this.

 

Just dust, i live down a dirt road.
Trying to get proof of purchase because i bought them through my fiberglass shell dealer.
I’m thinking eventually once I have a set of 4 Thule feet again, I will sell them and order Sherpa’s mounting feet, theyre just steel brackets so probably more reliable

 

I might be wrong, but it looks like it rapidly released. Isn't it what it was supposed to do?

 

That’s what i had hoped but i couldnt get it to click back into place. It was locked too so shouldnt have been able to release

 

K just to follow up

Thule is sending a new foot!

I didn’t even have proof of purchase! But I told then I bought it at an authorized dealer and they were understanding about it

 

...maybe, but it'd have to be the good kind.....