Roof rack mounting points

[sotal]

As the summer holidays is drawing to an end, we have removed the camping stuff from the Bongo and left it as a day van / commuter.

The camping stuff is packed into the roof box and the roof box is now in the garage instead.

We have a "New Dawn Conversions" Roof Rack: http://www.newdawnconversions.co.uk/app ... ow/3355982

I have taken the roof box off to try and tidy it up a bit as it is showing rust and lets the rest of the vehicle down a bit really.


So onto the questions...

First should there be anything to plug the holes where the bolts were?

Second - it has left a rusty mark round each mount hole where rusty water has run, is that best cleaned off with t-cut?

Third - The above rusty marks look to have been caused by the washers. The picture doesn't show any fixings but there is a stainless allen bolt which runs through and at the moment it has a washer between the roofrack and the hole in the Bongo roof. Should that washer be there? If so I'll try and get some stainless ones to replace.

[Simon Jones]

The nuts in the roof are stainless I believe (or at least don't rust) so any rusty marks will be from the roof rack or the washers.

To answer the specific queries:

1) no - they're blind holes
2) t-cut or just polish should do the job
3) don't know, but stainless fixings should be used for anything that is exposed to the elements.

[cmm303]

There is usually a spacer of some sort so that the roof rack leg tightens onto the roof nut and clears the roof material.

[windywatson]

when you reassemble for use next time. Use stainless steel washers /spacers. They wont rust & cause any staining. With anything that is subject to the wet you should always try to use materials of the same type. Dissimilar materials when wet cause what is know as electrolytic action & that actually speeds up the rusting process.

cheers

[sotal]

Having looked closer I suspect the washers may be stainless but have been 'stained' by the rusty drips.

The rack itself has various spots of rust. When I get some spare time I will wire brush it and repaint.