Topic: Sixnall Bike rack..

[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!