Replacement rubber strips for OEM cross members / roof rack

[VX KAT]

no problem mantis, that's exactly what I wanted...that's why I put it in big purple letters!

I agree with all your points, thought the same thing. These are all dense rubber, not porous and spongy (and I did see that type also) but I tweaked the contrast on the pics to be able to see detail on black on black, it made it look that way, especially pics 6 & 7.

I tried:
ACME rubber
Complete Automobilist
Griffith Rubber
Technorubber Industries - Samples 1 & 2
Rocket Seals -
Steele Rubber products - Sample #3 (it's a classic car parts restoration operation)
Robinson Rubber
Manufacturer's Rubber
Yakima- none similar and none remaining

I sent detailed pics and called them, and I know there were a few more companies I'm forgetting. I was REALLY surprised I couldn't find anything similar. One company said sometimes automotive companies patent these kinds of things and maybe that's why I couldn't find anything like them. But I know Yakima made these racks, so maybe they have a paten, who knows.

They're mostly automotive, and some are window weatherstripping.

Any ideas or further sources for something that will work better would be great! Thanks!

not looking to offend, but non of them look particularly great. were did you find samples from? are they intended for automotive use? i use to have some that looked almost identical to oem stip's, that i used at dealership i worked at. i can see were they got it from but with out having rails myself to compare to will be hard to know for sure how well they will fit. i know it came in 4ft lengths though. also the rubber stips u do have do you know what they are inteded for. i only ask because in picture they look a little poris compared to the oem rubber as if they are for sealing a door jam or somthing so they will compress a little. if that is the case u may find they shrink over time as rubber hardens, they also just seem to hook in on one side so apart from the #3 sample i would be worried about leading edge cathing the wind and either pulling it our over time or causeing a wind whistle.... (have had wind whistle on oem room rails when rubber was not intalled just right on mdx"s very anoying).

sorry if i sounds negative, not my intension, just thinking out loud. great work though and pictures really helped

[Ldub]

no problem mantis, that's exactly what I wanted...that's why I put it in big purple letters!

That, & the fact that you like BIG PURPLE LETTERS ...

Any ideas or further sources for something that will work better would be great! Thanks!

http://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=C...ex-us.com&ba=1

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...e4H7f4oibQ4lbg

http://www.minorrubber.com/

http://www.acmerubber.com/hchannel.htm

http://www.invplus.com/home.htm

Look for "H" moulding

[VX KAT]

http://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=C...ex-us.com&ba=1

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...e4H7f4oibQ4lbg

http://www.minorrubber.com/

http://www.acmerubber.com/hchannel.htm

http://www.invplus.com/home.htm

Look for "H" moulding

HOLY BEJESUZ! Your search engine must be way better than mine! Only ACME came up of yours...maybe I should try that googley woogly search engine you use! And I thought this company had a lot of offerings:https://dealer.steelerubber.com/Ecom...Extrusion.aspx


I can see what I'll be doing this week. Thanks Dubster! (and thanks R2D2..I'll check out that company as well) I'm on it!

[Ldub]

HOLY BEJESUZ! Your search engine must be way better than mine! Only ACME came up of yours...maybe I should try that googley woogly search engine you use! And I thought this company had a lot of offerings:https://dealer.steelerubber.com/Ecom...Extrusion.aspx


I can see what I'll be doing this week. Thanks Dubster! (and thanks R2D2..I'll check out that company as well) I'm on it!

Probably as much a difference in search nomenclature vs search engine functionality.

I'm guessing you could search BIG circles around me if we were both searching for anything having to do with medical terminology...

[VX KAT]

I tried every one of the sources Dub listed, and came up empty.

Noticed the seller of an OEM VX roof rack currently on ebay mentioned that his rack was missing a rubber strip, but that they were easily replaced. So I asked him where....he suggested I try "etrailer.com" for replacement rubber strips.

Thule has a couple different ones that are really similar looking.

Check this out! We may have a winner...I'm waiting on some dimensions.

[tjh]

maybe one of these

http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-...853354406.html

http://www.mcmaster.com/#bulb-seal-w...ipping/=dka9t5

and maybe something here.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/weatherstri...3813j1s17.jcwx

[VX KAT]

I ordered 2 different Thule replacement rubber strips....we'll see if they fit...or can be made to fit....