Thread: Remove Roof Track Trim - RRS/D3

My old man previously fit rhino racks.
He just put a wide blade screw driver underneath, and a fairly flat piece of plastic and then levered of the plastic (anything that would protect the paint would work). No damage at all. It's just like some interior clips.....it has a thread but not the screw in type....just push in and lock type.
Brett....

Hey Garry,

I had the exact problem when I went to re-fit the Oval Alloy Tradesman rack that I have for my D4. I called the guys that did the original fit. They have a fork like tool that they manufactured specifically for this job.

I got an old, heavy fork (four tang) and splayed it through the middle. I gently levered the plastic cap up with a small common screwdriver and then inserted the fork. I used a small hammer and gently tapped the fork in, until it was all the way to the core of the tangs.

Each plug/trim/cap was different to remove....some easy, some hard. I ended up using a combo of quick flicks and slow leverage.

In the end I bent a few but they straightened pretty easily. There is no doubt that they will have a short life if you did this often. They are a bad design and should have an actual thread and a slot on top, so that you can use a common screwdriver. I gave the holes a squirt of WD40 afterwards, as I found some evidence of rust, which must have occurred after the original roof rack fit.

Hope this helps,

Kev.

Got mine out recently,i levered them up with a small screwdriver then used sidecutters under them & they came without damage.The jaws of the sidecutters lifted both sides together,if you know what i mean.

Thanks for that - guess I need to be a little less girlie and just get stuck into them. Once they are out they are not used as the black trim is cut for the Rhino Tracks whereas according the the OEM track instructions the OEM tracks just bolt over the top of the trim.

Thanks

Garry

Garry - after you fit the Rhino Racks - there is no going back! I just whacked a small screwdriver into the top of those plugs and then screwed them out!

Did it on D3 and now on D4 - and survived to tell the tale.

Originally Posted by jonesy63

Garry - after you fit the Rhino Racks - there is no going back!

I know - scary stuff



Garry

Jonesy has the best idea, mine were an absolute pita to remove.
I ended up levering one side up enough to get hold of the flat edge with a good pair of multigrips and just using then as a rolling lever and ripped them out did not destroy one ! but they dont look too good - but not used again so what ?

DD

I gripped the outside edge of mine with a pair of needle nose pliers and rotated the cap anticlockwise till there was enough to unscrew them by hand. came off without any damage and ready to be re-used if needed.