THULE rack for 80

[Enigma]

I'm ordering a thule rack for my 80 (long story), using the #300 gutter feet (5" high), LB58 bar, and moab rack.

Is their a fit kit (part #kit223) required? Sales guy seems to think so for some reason , but no mention of it in the fitment guide, and even their literature says that kit is for the #400feet and for a 100 series.

 

[kidglove13]

No fit kit just attach them to the gutters and good to go
I use the Thule short towers as well

 

[Enigma]

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Nay]

I have the same setup - no special mods. The Thule setup with MOAB rack (full length with extension) is just awesome. I am surprised we don't see more of them here - with the cross bars you can add bike racks on the outside of the MOAB, or whatever else you desire.

I picked my entire setup with locking feet, crossbars, and MOAB for $500 off Craigslist last summer. It has mount bars on the MOAB as well that can be used for an additional cargo box or ski racks, etc.

Killer strong and stable and not overly heavy.

 

[Enigma]

How many bars on yours Nay? I just got the basic 2 bars (and rack with extension) now, I see kidglove has 4 in his photo. I don't think I'd ever carry too much up there, perhaps some plywood from time to time, so 2 should be fine?
Does Thule have any axe/shovel attachments like the Yakima? Nothing on their site that I could see.

 

[Nay]

How many bars on yours Nay? I just got the basic 2 bars (and rack with extension) now, I see kidglove has 4 in his photo. I don't think I'd ever carry too much up there, perhaps some plywood from time to time, so 2 should be fine?
Does Thule have any axe/shovel attachments like the Yakima? Nothing on their site that I could see.

I have four...but that's what the rack came with when I bought it used...

No reason you can't start with 2 crossbars. I could see maybe wanting one in the middle as it is a pretty long rack with the extension, but 4 is probably overkill for a basic rack setup as the basket itself is quite sturdy and the Thule crossbars are pretty stout.

I don't know about other attachments, but the crossbars are rectangular tube bars, so anything that would mount to that type of setup would work...

 

[kidglove13]

Anything can be modified to work on the racks with a little thought
I love the versatility of the rack system
And the fact that you can pick stuff up used for fairly cheap
I think my whole rack cost me about $250 to date

 

[Stone]

Jeff: I have the same towers and bars that you're thinking of, but I have the biggest Thule box up there instead of a rack. With two bars, I put a bend to my two load bars putting a bunch of duffel bags filled with our clothes and the playpen up there. I don't think I'd want to carry too much more than 100 lbs on two load bars...so would depend on how much you're planning on carrying up there.

If you haven't bought your stuff yet, I know the owner of the Langley Cap-It well. Shoot me an email if you want.

 

[retrofive]

.......

No reason you can't start with 2 crossbars. I could see maybe wanting one in the middle as it is a pretty long rack with the extension, but 4 is probably overkill for a basic rack setup as the basket itself is quite sturdy and the Thule crossbars are pretty stout.
.......

I agree, I ran 2 bars on mine for awhile, added a 3rd and is much more solid. IMO

 

[Enigma]

Jeff: I have the same towers and bars that you're thinking of, but I have the biggest Thule box up there instead of a rack. With two bars, I put a bend to my two load bars putting a bunch of duffel bags filled with our clothes and the playpen up there. I don't think I'd want to carry too much more than 100 lbs on two load bars...so would depend on how much you're planning on carrying up there.

If you haven't bought your stuff yet, I know the owner of the Langley Cap-It well. Shoot me an email if you want.

No playpen anymore thank god, but it will be all clothes, tent, sleeping stuff.
I got a good deal through Steve at EBI, but thanks for the offer.

 

[kidglove13]

If you can pickup 4 for a good deal then I would get them
Then if need be your roof will be set up to carry more things such as ladders etc. if need be
4 is just better , 3 would be good also

 

[wussyPup]

Thule bars

Thule load bars and feet with Thule cradles up front and and Yakima rollers in the rear.

DSC_1502 by Steve@VICruisers

Each boat is at least 50 lbs, plus the cockpits will be full of loose gear; no issues.

 

[Stone]

Okay...maybe I underestimated how much all those clothes, toys, and the playpen weighed...lol.

 

[Toyole]

I got a orginal rack from Thule, but they dont made they more. It`s a alu rack, and not very heavy and strong.
The middle is linked at the rails, couse I dont get easy door movment from the tight room on top of back doors.

 

[MYSHERPA]

Wussypup, what is the brand of your front bumper?! I like it!

 

[firetruck41]

Wussypup, what is the brand of your front bumper?! I like it!

Looks like Slee: Slee - Toyota 80 Series Land Cruiser Front Bumpers

EDIT: Never mind, I was looking at the wrong post... The one you are referring to looks kinds like ECB East Coast Bullbar... Maybe?

 

[MYSHERPA]

Yeah, it looks very similar to the ECB bumper on their site, with a few differences. Perhaps WussyPup's is an earlier model or something. Thanks for pointing me in ECB's direction. I'd love to see this bumper from a sideview, all the pictures I can find are from the front or angle view.

 

[wussyPup]

Wussypup, what is the brand of your front bumper?! I like it!

Thanks. It's an older style ECB

 

[Bravo1782]

Hey, I was just shopping for some Thule bars for my 80 series! The thule fit guide suggests 65" bars...are you guys running 58 bars on your 80 series? That would be pretty clutch if you can run them on both because The 58 bars would fit my F-150 as well...all I would need would be different feet for each vehicle! Essentially, I want to be able to easily transfer a RTT from my landcruiser to my f-150, depending on circumstances.

 

[Enigma]

Since this thread got a bump, I'll give an update. I originally had just the two load bars with the Moab rack, and as Stone eluded to, I bowed one of them somewhere along the line.
I later bought a used RTT, removed the basket for the tent, and found some more bars and clamps on CL, so stuffed those under as well. It all works pretty good, I do have a few issues with the clamp as they sit over the rear doors which make it a little difficult to open at times.
The only issue I had with the basket, and probably due to overloading, was it shifting along the length of the bars as my weeblewagon flopped from side to side during our Rubithon run.
The deflector on the basket also induces some wind noise with the moonroof open.
Tent will soon be moving onto my M101 and the basket will be going back on. I'm sure glad I bought those extra bars and clamps, as I mangled a couple of them (and my roof gutters) when I smoked a tree branch one day going up a tight trail.
I will eventually replace it with a full length custom rack of sorts one of these days, but for now it works as intended.
I have 2 different lengths of bars, not sure what they are at the moment.