VW Vanagon Westfalia with Thule 300 roof rack crossbars
We are excited to share a recent custom install on an iconic camping vehicle! This customer came in with their Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia looking for a set of rooftop crossbars to carry a canoe or cargo box. Hauling gear to a campsite while preserving the ability to pop up the top of the camper was a priority for the customer.
With this particular vehicle, no rack is made specifically for it, requiring a custom approach. Read on to find out how to we mounted a set of Thule roof rack crossbars on this camper.
Products used in this installation
- Thule 300 Gutter Foot Pack - set of four Thule rack towers to grab on to a vehicle's rain gutters
- Thule LB65 Square Load Bars - pair of 65" rectangular Thule bars
- Thule 542 Artificial Rain Gutters - set of four rain gutter brackets to allow rain gutter racks to be installed on canopies, campers, or similar bases
We discussed the roof rack crossbar options with the customer and concluded that a semi-removable crossbar system would work best for the customer's needs. The Thule crossbar rack that the customer selected is a component system with several options that make it a nice fit on Vanagons and other campers. The Thule 300 Gutter Foot towers grip tightly onto any vehicle with a set of external raingutters. This is a great removable rack option for vehicles like Jeep Wranglers, commercial vans, and older cars and trucks which were designed with rain gutters along the roof line.
As you can see in the above pre-installation photo, the fiberglass roof of the Vanagon Westfalia did not have factory raingutters. Therefore, the Thule 300 towers alone would not work, as they have nothing to grab on to. Fortunately, Thule produces a solution for this situation!
The Thule 542 Artificial Rain Gutters set includes four plates that add a length of "rain gutter" to campers, canopies, or vehicle roofs. The 542 plates can mount vertically on the side of a vehicle, or horizontally on the roof top. The plates have a curved raingutter lip that allows the Thule 300 Gutter Foot to grab on at many different angles. In this case, we mounted the plates on the sides of the fiberglass roof. The image below shows one of the four plates installed on the Vanagon:
After discussing specifically where to place the bars on the roof to ensure easy loading of a canoe, we masked the working area with tape. This allowed us to mark where we intended to mount the plates.
When doing a permanently mounted installation, make sure you always make precise measurements many times before marking and drilling the points. Measure thrice before drilling! Always make a pilot hole smaller than the bolt size you need to start.
Thule includes a rectangular rubber gasket for installation between the 542 plate and your mounting surface to prevent leakage. For extra protection, we applied silicone sealant behind the rubber gasket around each bolt hole.
After allowing the silicon to cure for several hours, it's time to mount the Thule 300 Gutter Foot crossbars. The large knob on the outer face of each 300 tower clamps the lower vinyl-coated steel clip up against the 542 rain gutter plate. This creates a very tight hold that can be easily released by loosening the knob.
The final result looks awesome! The customer can now have more fun camping by bringing more of their gear with them. And of course, they are still able to pop up the top of the camper with the crossbars installed.
One optional add-on we always recommend with Thule roof rack crossbars is a Thule 544 4 pack of locks to secure your investment to your roof for peace of mind.
Be sure to check out the rest of our blog or follow us on Instagram for more rack installation photos. Happy camping!
