Topic: Sixnall Bike rack..

[pdorazio1]

Excuse me.  I put this accidentally on the towing page.. Didn't see this one

Does anyone think this willl work on the bed cover of the Avalanche?  It would be much cheaper than the Yakima set-up I have seen and like..  Not sure how to strap it down....

http://www.sixnall.com/

Any thoughts would be appreciated.  I don''t have  roof rack and tow a camper, so can't do the hitch mount...

[Donnie1]

That looks pretty cool to me. Looks fairly easy to remove/install. My only concern would be how secure would you be able to make it on the covers?

[pdorazio1]

I don't know.  I am new to the Avalanche as I just got it this past weekend.  It doesn't look like there is a tie down point on teh front of the bed, is there?  I also wouldn't want to crank a tie down that was attached to the sill pillars.  That plastic cladding looks like it would break.  THis looks like the best option, although I would prefer not to drill holes:

Thule 430 tracker II.  You can leave the feet on the bed and just install rack quickly when you need it.  Pricey....

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/orsracksdirect_2128_75442905

[oHIobellboy]

That first rack looks as versatile as the Avy itself. We have a few members working on a rack system for the cargo panels of the Avy. How soon are you looking to buy something like this? They may come up with a mounting answer.

[pdorazio1]

I will be good until after winter when the camping season starts.  I tow a pop-up, but am reluctant to mount to the roof of that.  The Thule rack looks like a good option as well, as the fert mounting points are waterproof, even though they are drilled.  It seems like the Yakima solution I see posted has issues.  Biketote has one for the Avalanche, but I don't want to take the tires off.  My kids bikes don't have quick release, and mine is a mountain bike that requires releasing of brake or deflation of tires.  I like the options this truck seems to have.  I am woried that the Swagman hitch mount will add too much tongue weight w/ bikes and my pop-up.  I thought about just turning the bikes upside down and using tie downs???

[Donnie1]

I don't know.  I am new to the Avalanche as I just got it this past weekend.  It doesn't look like there is a tie down point on teh front of the bed, is there?  I also wouldn't want to crank a tie down that was attached to the sill pillars.  That plastic cladding looks like it would break.  THis looks like the best option, although I would prefer not to drill holes:

Thule 430 tracker II.  You can leave the feet on the bed and just install rack quickly when you need it.  Pricey....

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/orsracksdirect_2128_75442905

There should be the same type of tie downs at the front as those at the back of the bed.

[pdorazio1]

A tie down on top of the bed panels?  I can't find a tie down point in front above the panels...

[Donnie1]

A tie down on top of the bed panels?  I can't find a tie down point in front above the panels...

My bad. I misunderstood and was thinking the tiedowns in the bed, not the grab handles.

[pdorazio1]

Yeah, I think I am going to use the Thule 430 feet and drill thru the bed covers.  the feet stay and rack comes off. 

Donnie1, your truck looks Awesome!  I like the saddlebag....

[alwhite00]

Here is one I built, Works great and no holes to drill. No weight on the covers either. Takes about 10 minutes to install. The 4 C shaped brackets are placed inder the covers and locked down and then the bike rack sits on top and the T bolts "sandwich" the clamps to secure it - Rock solid - took it on a 500 mile trip with 0 problems.

LK

[Donnie1]

Yeah, I think I am going to use the Thule 430 feet and drill thru the bed covers.  the feet stay and rack comes off. 

Donnie1, your truck looks Awesome!  I like the saddlebag....

Thanks. But I don't get to drive it much, it's the wife's.

[pdorazio1]

Wow, that is cool.  I haven't even taken the bed covers off of the truck yet, and don't know how they work, but I will get into that.  So it looks like the weight does ride on the covers as they are clamped to them.  I don't think that is an issue.  Are there seals on the side of the covers or bed that are getting disrupted?  You really did a GREAT job.  Alas, I am not a welder so I think I am stuck with the Thule 430 tracker II for tonneau covers....

[alwhite00]

No weight on the covers other than how tight you make the T bolts - It's really nice and works great - The C shaped pieces sit on the ledge that the covers sit on. Not for everybody - I try to make everything that I can if possible.
but if I had the $ I would go with the Thule.  Nice stuff but way out of my budget.

LK

[HenryJ]

I just happened across another truck who had installed a clamp on Yakima bike rack. It sure looked similar to the rack we use on the Maxx. Inspired, I went out to the garage and dusted off the Thule 400xtr Rapid Aero clamp on racks. They fit clamped to the cover panels on the bed!
I had one Yakima Blockhead mount. I modified a couple elevator bolts to work as channel bolts and mounted it in the center of the front bar. I'll try hauling Tach's bike a few times and see how well it works. It looks like it should work well. If it does I'll buy a couple more Blockheads and carry three bikes back there.

[HenryJ]

Two more Yakima Blockhead mounts on the back-



Now we can carry all three bikes.

[kklobe]

I also installed a Yakima rack on the back on my Av.  I am a Yakima dealer and they "at this time" do NOT make any rack systems that are rated for the cover portion of the Avalanche.  I did some minor modifications and attached my towers to the bed covers so they will not move.  I put close to 5k in bikes on the top and I didn't like being able to grab the rack and see it shift with pressure. 

If you install a Yakima rack, make sure you are able to secure the towers!  Other than that it's golden.  And on the plus side, on two of the covers I have a handle to pull the covers off with now from the rack load bars!