There’s nothing wrong with keeping your gear mounts on your vehicle all year round. But, if you don’t plan on using them for a while, take them off. This prevents any unnecessary build-up of road grime and bugs. Here are some helpful tips to increase their life span
#1. keep them clean
DON’T GO THROUGH THE CAR WASH
• Brush off any loose dirt and road grime…and bugs.
• Hand wash with an environmentally friendly soap.
• Never go through a car wash with gear mounts installed.
• If you don’t need them during the winter/summer, take them off and store them. Road salt can be damaging to a vehicle, let alone your mounts.
#2. HARDWARE CHECK-IN
“When in doubt shake it out.”
A shake test is always a good measure in confirming your roof racks attachment. Grab ahold of it and give it a shake! If there’s movement follow below.
Check-Up
- Once a month or so give your rack and mounts a hardware check-up. Ensure all of your bolts and clamps are tight and ready to go!
- Once a year you should remove your roof rack and mounts and re-install them. Long-distance travel and windy conditions could possibly set your racks off-kilter.
- Periodically lube locks, clamps, and hardware as necessary.
- Check locks to ensure that they are in-fact locked.
- Check for any wear and tear on parts. If something seems like it could use an update you can replace it!
Rooftop Tent and Awning Specific:
- Air out any products with fabric. For instance, your SkyRise tent or SlimShady awning, and allow it to dry at home before storing for a long period.
- Check locks to ensure that they are in-fact locked
- Periodically lube locks and clamps as necessary
- Check for any wear and tear on parts.
*Our friends at Yakima have helped provide us with this research and images for this blog post.
