Quick Disconnect Roof Rack (I'm asking, don't have yet)

[shovel]

Like the topic hints, I'd like to make my roof rack disconnectable quickly.

Vehicle is a 2001 Chevy Blazer (s10) 2dr, and the rack is attached to the roof with 8 torx screws.

They're a pain in the buttox to screw/unscrew, and I do use my rack once a month or so. I'd love to be able to latch it on with some type of disconnect or "quick screw"... then just hang it back up on my garage wall after i'm done like I do with my hitch-haul carrier.

Removing the crossbars necessitates removing the whole rack, so that's not a great option either.

Thoughts?

[Daox]

Pictures would probably really help out.

[wwkayaker]

Remove the cross bars and install a Yakima or Thule system on the stock side bars. These systems only take about 10 minutes to install and remove. They also typically have a higher load rating than the flat stock cross bars. I have the Yakima system for my car and remove it whenever I am not hauling anything. You may want to get the fairing for it when you purchase it. The fairing saves 5 mpg. There may be some decently priced systems on ebay for you vehicle. I got my first one from there. To bad I broke one of the towers and had to buy them again two years ago.

[Bicycle Bob]

My first choice would be flush-mount clips. Z-clips would work, but would have to be set at angles to take side loading. The easiest hardware to obtain for hacking might be common shelf brackets and track (K&N?) Anyway, you'd just set the hardware to lock when you push forward on the rack. A couple of screws would keep it from sliding back, and you could just drive them deeper to release the unit.

[wagonman76]

Sounds a lot like the roof rack on my 89 6000 wagon. 8 torx screws, and the crossbars do not come out. It wasn't hard to remove, but I put the screws back in afterwards to keep water out of the roof.

My 90 6000 wagon has something of the newer style, the crossbars come out with thumbscrews. But the base is also riveted to the roof and I am sure it is not the same bolt pattern.

Maybe somebody makes a roof rack with the thumbscrewed crossbars, that will attach using your existing screw holes.

Other than that, I'd just keep the a proper size torx driver with the roof rack so you can install it and remove it easily.

[brucey]

I replaced the torx bits in my roofrack with wing screws. They work fine and it takes no time to throw it on top.