R50 Roof rack dillema!!!

[scottybaz87]

Hi guys Im just having a bit of trouble with a roof rack installation and was wondering if anyone could help...

i own a 2002 ST (i think its called) version of the pathfinder, it did not come with roof racks like the TI versions have, as i need roof racks to suit my lifestyle & for camping applications i decided to buy some racks for it, after much searching i couldnt find anything that i could guarantee would fit my vehicle.

eventually i found a 2002 pathfinder in an auto wreckers and they assured me that the cross bars will fit my car, on my roof i have a black strip of plastic on each side running parallel to the vehicle & it seems to have 6 small steel tabs underneath the plastic that i am assuming is for mounting the racks..

im just wondering if anyone has an installation guide for doing this, do the black strips that cover the channels just pop out or do they need to be removed with a tool? if so how does this work? i dont want to damage anything permanently.

also are the cross bars easy to install? im struggling to find any information on this anywhere and theres no useful information in the owners manual.

any help would be GREATLY appreciated, cheers in advance.

scott.

[frapjap]

Welcome to NICO!
Its refreshing to see someone using the Pathfinder for its intended purpose instead of cruising the mall parking lot!

I don't really have an answer to your question, but you might be able to find something in the FSM (Factory Service Manual). Give it a shot!

http://www.nicoclub.com/nissan-service-manuals

Here is a guide to get you to the correct chapter more quickly:
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/use-ni ... abase.html

[Chuck Tribolet]

The cross bars are easy to install once the rails are on.

[scottybaz87]

my problems have all been solved, i already had the steel tabs in the roof for mounting the cross bars so it was actually really easy to attach them, no installation guide was required as it was extremely simple to set up, i ended up using some U bolts to attach a mesh frame & also bolted on a 2x2m awning, its all ready for fishing/camping trips and looks great on a low budget!

[NZads]

Hi All, I'm searching for an answer to this very question. I have a Nissan Terrano II (Japanese version of Pathfinder), i.e. R50 body (1996). I bought some factory rails from a wrecked R50 terrano to install.

I cant find instruction anywhere in any of the Factory Repair Manuals etc of how to install the roof rails, the rail ends to not come apart like newer models, and from the look of them, it appears I have to remove the roof lining, to get at the underside to do the bolts up.

Also as above on my roof i have a black strip of plastic on each side running parallel to the vehicle & it seems to have 6 small steel tabs underneath the plastic that i am assuming is for mounting the racks..

im just wondering if anyone has an installation guide for doing this, do the black strips that cover the channels just pop out or do they need to be removed with a tool? if so how does this work?

Has anyone done this before???

Any advice, photo's, instruction, documentation would be greatly appreciated.

[Towncivilian]

To slide the crossbars out, you need to remove the cap that secures the rails towards the front end of the vehicle. These are secured by a T20 Torx bit. Then, loosen and slide out the loop holders from the rails, and the crossbars should slide out.

[NZads]

Thanks but it's not the cross bars but the factory rails, that run front to back on both sides that I am trying to install on an R50 that has never had them on before. The left and right rails have three attachment points each with two high tensile bolts extending from the mounts between 20-30mm long. It look like I have to remove the current trim/cover in the roof channels, place the rails bolts through the holes in the 6 mounting plates that are visable under the trim/cover in the roof channel, and do up the nuts from the inside. To do this I would have to remove the roof lining and all the other stuff, seats, seat belts, wall lining, mirror, sun visors, hand grips etc etc.

Does this sound right anyone?

[Towncivilian]

Page BT-24 of the factory service manual shows how the crossbars are affixed to the vehicle. I'd guess the headliner has to be removed, at a minimum.

[Bikepirate]

Hi NZads,

I have exactly the same dilemma! I have the roof racks from a wreckers with the studs. It would appear you have to remove the roof lining to install and tighten the mounting nuts - bummer! How did you go or did you not bother? I thought about going to a repair/replace roof liner company and see if they could help.

Cheers,

Grant

[nzkayaker]

Hi,
I'm having the exact same issue.
I thought that the rails would attach straight to the tabs on the roof, but it looks like the only way is to remove them and the lining in the roof...
Has anyone done this?
I'd really prefer to use the rails as they make a much stronger rack system, however I'm considering flagging it and just getting racks that mount to the tabs.

Any help would be appreciated!

Vehicle- 1997 Nissan Terrano/pathfinder R50 or PR50?

[nzkayaker]

Alright so I bit the bullet and went for it.
Result: success.
Easier than I thought but harder than I hoped. Photos below

[nzkayaker]

Correction... photos as soon as I figure out how to upload...

[Buzzman]

as soon as I figure out how to upload...

Upload your pictures to a hosting site like Photobucket.
Then copy and paste the URL from the pic you want to post.

[thequestionmark]

hey everyone,

just found this thread and currently facing the same issue. i got a rack off a '98 r50 for my '96 base model but not sure how to swap out the current brackets underneath the plastic roof runners for the rack brackets without going through the ceiling liner, if that's possible. thoughts?

[nzkayaker]

So i bought a set of the factory front to back rails, and to mount them I pulled off the ceiling liner and did it that way. Easier than i expected, even if i needed to remove some of the side pannels. the other option is to get cross bars that clip onto the tabs that are already there. Doing what i did removes these tabs and drops the factory rail in the mounting holes. Getting the workshop manual is so important for this though, so you know what clips are where on the pannels and how to pop them.