Repairing Guides

how to repair a thule cargo box

by Aniyah Herman Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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How To Repair A Thule Box Car Top Carrier

  • Tape The Damage Together From The Front Side. Use masking tape to hold the cracks together. Do not try and apply the...
  • Remove Any Dirt, Grease, or Paint From The Back Side. Remove any dirt, grease, or paint from the back side. You need to...
  • Apply The Resin Directly From The Applicator Bottle.. Apply the resin directly from the...

Full Answer

How to repair a Thule roof carrier?

Repair a Thule Rooftop Carrier 1 Products 2 Repair the Damage. If you are starting with a hole, start by adhering some strong, thick plastic over it using epoxy. ... 3 Fill in the Gaps. It still looked pretty rough and uneven, in spite of careful sanding down. ... 4 Spraypaint. ... 5 Recap. ...

What happened to our Thule rooftop box?

A few months before we left, when we were still deciding what system to use to carry our camping gear, we found a discarded Thule rooftop box laying on the side of the road. There were big cracks on both sides but otherwise it was in decent shape. The box was locked when we found it so we paid $5 to get new keys made at a locksmith.

Is this an acceptable finish for a Thule?

Nevertheless it was an acceptable finish. My new improved Thule had gone from a giant hole to a sleekly repaired and functional rooftop carrier. Did you make this project?

Can cargo boxes survive an underground collision?

While it takes quite a collision to completely shatter a cargo box (unless it is very cold out), it is rare that a box will survive an underground with nothing more than a few red or yellow scratch marks. Most damaged boxes will have one or two cracks (ranging from a couple of centimeters to a couple of feet) or even a hole or two.

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How do you fix a crack in a Thule cargo box?

0:483:55How To Repair A Damaged Thule Box - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe area one quarter inch on each side of the crack should be cleaned down to the raw. Plastic.MoreThe area one quarter inch on each side of the crack should be cleaned down to the raw. Plastic. Apply the resin directly from the bottle. There is no mixing or adding of catalysts or hardeners.

Can a Thule box be repaired?

Remove Any Dirt, Grease, or Paint From The Back Side You need to get down to the raw plastic. The resin will melt into the plastic and bond the new ABS in the resin to the box. The resin cures in about 24 hours to a hard finish the same as the original plastic.

Can you repair a cracked roof box?

Fix the roof box into a position where gravity will pull epoxy into the crack. Then work the epoxy into the crack with a mixing stick or a small brush, or inject the epoxy using a syringe. Use a fine blade or stick to push the epoxy as far into the crack as possible.

How do you tighten a Thule cargo box?

1:213:10How to Install a THULE Cargo Box - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOn the inside of the box you'll see the four tops of the feet. Each one has a tightening knob on it.MoreOn the inside of the box you'll see the four tops of the feet. Each one has a tightening knob on it. Next thing you want to do is tighten down these knobs.

Does Thule have a lifetime warranty?

This warranty gives you specific legal rights....Warranty by Product Category.Warranty by Product CategoryWarranty periodThule Carriers, Racks & AccessoriesLimited LifetimeThule Technical BackpacksLimited LifetimeThule Luggage & DuffelsLimited LifetimeThule Bike Bags & RacksLimited Lifetime14 more rows

Can ABS plastic be repaired?

0:064:47How to repair and reinforce large ABS plastic items using ABS slurry.YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn this video I'll show you how I used an ABS plastic slurry to repair and reinforce a large itemMoreIn this video I'll show you how I used an ABS plastic slurry to repair and reinforce a large item made out of ABS plastic. Which in this case is roof of our rooftop tent.

How do you fix a car roof box?

0:283:01How to fit a luggage box - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure the fixations clamp the roof ranks very tightly to prevent any movement whatsoever. YouMoreMake sure the fixations clamp the roof ranks very tightly to prevent any movement whatsoever. You may now attach the two restraining straps always use them to secure the load while driving.

What are Thule boxes made of?

Made of high-quality ABS material, these cargo boxes are built to protect your gear and last.

What plastic are roof boxes made from?

ABS plasticUnless stated, all the boxes we sell are made from various types of UV-protected ABS plastic, and they are fully recyclable.

How do you secure a roof cargo box?

0:313:01How to install a luggage box - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure the fixations clamp the roof ranks very tightly to prevent any movement whatsoever. YouMoreMake sure the fixations clamp the roof ranks very tightly to prevent any movement whatsoever. You may now attach the two restraining straps always use them to secure the load while driving.

How do you pronounce Thule?

Though it isn't spelled phonetically in English, “Thule” isn't difficult to pronounce. The correct way to say it is “too-lee,” Rack Outfitters reports.

How does a Thule attach?

6:488:06Thule - Cargo Box Installation - How To - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe thule stretch cargo net is a great option for baskets. This allows your customers to secure aMoreThe thule stretch cargo net is a great option for baskets. This allows your customers to secure a variety of cargo by attaching to several different points on the frame of the basket.

How do you fix a car roof box?

0:283:01How to fit a luggage box - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure the fixations clamp the roof ranks very tightly to prevent any movement whatsoever. YouMoreMake sure the fixations clamp the roof ranks very tightly to prevent any movement whatsoever. You may now attach the two restraining straps always use them to secure the load while driving.

How do you repair plastic?

2:028:11How to Fix Broken or Cracked Plastic or Weld Plastic - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what I want to do is build up plastic on top of this whole area okay and when I do this I'm goingMoreSo what I want to do is build up plastic on top of this whole area okay and when I do this I'm going to squeeze that gap together. So it doesn't leak through so to do this I'm using superglue.

What are Thule boxes made of?

Made of high-quality ABS material, these cargo boxes are built to protect your gear and last.

Can Thule bike racks be repaired?

We offer many spare parts for our products. For warranty cases, please turn to your dealer to repair your Thule product. For out of warranty repairs our dealers can provide you with spare parts as well.

Tape The Damage Together From The Front Side

Use masking tape to hold the cracks together. Do not try and apply the resin between the cracks as this will distort the box. Taping the damage together as tightly as possible will keep the shape while you begin the repair from the back side.

Remove Any Dirt, Grease, or Paint From The Back Side

Remove any dirt, grease, or paint from the back side. You need to get down to the raw plastic. The resin will melt into the plastic and bond the new ABS in the resin to the box. The resin cures in about 24 hours to a hard finish the same as the original plastic.

Apply The Resin Directly From The Applicator Bottle

Apply the resin directly from the applicator bottle. There is nothing to mix or add. The resin will flow out and smooth as it cures. The resin is about the same constancy as thick yogurt and will stay where you put it. You can apply it upside down or on vertical surfaces and it will stay in place.

Continue The Repair From The Front Side

Remove the tape from the front side. I use a Dremel Tool to groove into the cracks. You can also use a knife or file to make the groove. Groove out 50% to 75% into the plastic.

Fill The Groove From The Front

Fill the groove with resin from the front side. You want to fill the groove completely, do not over fill as you will sand the repair. You can add more resin if needed after the first application is cured. Apply the resin directly from the applicator bottle. There is nothing to mix or add. Let the resin cure for about 24 hours.

Sand The Repair Smooth

Sand the repair flat an smooth with the surrounding plastic. Do not use any two part bondo type fillers to even out the repair. This material will not stay bonded to the plastic and will crack and flake off. Use the same resin as a filler it will weld in place and never come out.

Finish The Repair, Final Sand, And Paint

The repaired area will sand and accept pain the same as the original surface because it is the resin is the same ABS plastic. Trying to repair plastic with any epoxy type product will not sand smooth because the Epoxy is so much harder than the plastic.

Step 2: Repair the Damage

If you are starting with a hole, start by adhering some strong, thick plastic over it using epoxy.

Step 3: Fill in the Gaps

It still looked pretty rough and uneven, in spite of careful sanding down. That is when I turned to my next product: the Flex Seal. I taped off the area and tried to fill the low spots with several layers of spraying. I laid it on really thick and spread it while it was still wet with a putty knife.

Step 4: Spraypaint

I removed the taped off area from the previous step and then retaped leaving an extra 3-4 mm gap so that my final finish would totally overlay the Flex Seal. I then sprayed over the whole area again using Tremclad rust paint. The paint is supposed to match the colour of the cap, but I found it to be quite a bit lighter than the look of the cap.

Step 5: Recap

My new improved Thule had gone from a giant hole to a sleekly repaired and functional rooftop carrier.

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