Longer Replacement Ubolt for Sears Luggage Carrier Sport 20 SV

Question:

I see a few people have posted this question, and in several instances the suggestion made is too short. The Ubolt that shows up as the adequate replacement for this specific model is very short, and it does not clear a curved crossbar into the carrier. The screw/threaded portion needs to be longer. What other options do you have available?

asked by: JDG

Expert Reply:

The U-bolt you are asking about, the Replacement Part for the Thule Sidekick # TH02943 is 4" wide and 2" deep with a threaded portion of about 1-1/2". If you find it too short for your crossbars, you do have different options:

First, you can find a 4" wide U-bolt that is deeper than 2". RhinoRack Aero Crossbar Fit Kit # S280 is 4" wide and has 2-1/2-inches depth measured at the center indent. However, the threaded portion of the ends measures 1-1/8-inches which is shorter that the Thule U-Bolt. I attached a photo if you want to see how it fits over a curved bar like the Aero Crossbars.

Another option is to use other differently-sized U-Bolts, but that might involve drilling if they don't match the 4" holes in your box, and you would have to get matching plates and knobs. An example are replacement Rhino Rack bolts # RUBK which are 2-1/4" wide and 2-3/4 deep which are ideal for the generally narrower square or round bars. You'd also need to use a sealant like # LT37467 to seal the old holes.

My best recommendation is to use the Replacement QM3 - Quick Mount Hardware # TH04997. Instead of U-Bolts, it uses two plates and a carriage bolt to clamp them together. It's similar to the discontinued EasySnap system Thule used to use with their boxes. With the parts needed for the top and bottom plates, if it still isn't long enough, it's easy to switch them out for longer M6 bolts. It's still 3" long, so drilling and # LT37467 sealant would still be needed. I recommend it because it goes beyond your basic mounting kit as these have "quick mount" components that really shine if you have to take off your box regularly.