2013 Tahoe luggage rack rails

[Ron C]

I don't know if anyone ever (re-)installed the luggage rack rails,

but what are the part numbers. Is it just the rails and the screws/bolts? (mine had a luggage rack at some point, but was taken off, the plugs/inserts seem to be in the roof.)

thanks,

Ron

 

[thirdcoast]

I have a set of the cross rails off of a 2014 Tahoe and you can have them for free if you pay for the shipping..

They are not real light and may be overlength, but if you have a FedEx or UPS account, it should not be horrible to NM from Victoria, Texas 77904..

Thirdcoast

 

[Ron C]

I have a set of the cross rails off of a 2014 Tahoe and you can have them for free if you pay for the shipping..

They are not real light and may be overlength, but if you have a FedEx or UPS account, it should not be horrible to NM from Victoria, Texas 77904..

Thirdcoast

That's really nice of you. The cross rails are the ones that go from left to right, correct? I was merely looking for the side rails (the ones on the left that go from the back to the front), and that I mostly would be doing to get rid of the holes.

But I might take you up on that offer.. This early summer I was actually "in the area", San Antonio, and in a week I am going to be in the Dallas area.

I'll try and see what shipping is.

Ron

 

[Ron C]

I called a GM dealer, and to my surprise my 2013 SSV factory did NOT come with a luggage/cargo rack. No I am wondering, since the holes are there, if the nuts are in there too and they are only capped/plugged.

Has anyone installed a luggage rack before, on an SSV that didn't have to use one? I might be able to get a complete luggage rack from a wrecked 2011 Tahoe LT, I assume that would fit (and would be great if I could just remove the plugs and bolt it in/on.)

Ron

 

[Ron C]

After I was done with the CB radio, I checked one of the holes for the luggage rack rails. I am pretty sure that the "G63: PROVISIONS LUGGAGE CARRIER, ROOF" basically means "holes in the right spot". I poked around in one of the holes, but didn't see/feel anything. Did anyone ever install or replace those rails?

Ron

PS: I attached a pic of one of these fasteners/nuts. The holes in the roof are hexagonal, and it looks like the nut/fastener goes in from the top. I wonder if it expands in a rivet sort of way?

 

[PG01]

After I was done with the CB radio, I checked one of the holes for the luggage rack rails. I am pretty sure that the "G63: PROVISIONS LUGGAGE CARRIER, ROOF" basically means "holes in the right spot". I poked around in one of the holes, but didn't see/feel anything. Did anyone ever install or replace those rails?

Ron

PS: I attached a pic of one of these fasteners/nuts. The holes in the roof are hexagonal, and it looks like the nut/fastener goes in from the top. I wonder if it expands in a rivet sort of way?

View attachment 188939

Take a pick of the hole on roof and of the top and bottom of the ‘fastener’

 

[PG01]

07-14 will fit no problem, (actually i think from nbs years up 00-14 will fit) i find it hard to believe the holes are in the roof with no nut in there. But then again, gm has done and does strange stuff...also escalade racks fit also.

Edit: Im answering you because i have a ‘civi’ 13 tahoe lt. (In case you’re wondering) i have no problem pulling my caps and taking pics for you btw.

Edit #2: looks like im wrong. You prob have to epoxy those nuts in there. Here’s a longbody with racks off

 

[Ron C]

07-14 will fit no problem, (actually i think from nbs years up 00-14 will fit) i find it hard to believe the holes are in the roof with no nut in there. But then again, gm has done and does strange stuff...also escalade racks fit also.

Edit: Im answering you because i have a ‘civi’ 13 tahoe lt. (In case you’re wondering) i have no problem pulling my caps and taking pics for you btw.

Edit #2: looks like im wrong. You prob have to epoxy those nuts in there. Here’s a longbody with racks offView attachment 188943

Oh I was able to take the plugs out, they are not glued even. They are rubber and are pretty snug (plug is a bit bigger than the hole). I poked around in the hexagonal hole and there doesn't seem to be anything there, on the inside. When I saw a pic of the nut (online) I wondered how it works.

I noticed the same rack (by GM part number) goes on several different models of GM truck/SUVs

I didn't take a pic, because after I pulled the plug, I saw nothing but a black hole, I think I would have seen the threads if there were any. I saw these nuts/fasteners on ebay for $0.99, so I guess GM found a ways to save almost $10

Looks like yours has one hole more. Mine has the 2-1-2 'pattern of holes, looks like yours has a 2-1-1-2 kinda pattern (is it a Suburban?)

 

[PG01]

Oh I was able to take the plugs out, they are not glued even. They are rubber and are pretty snug (plug is a bit bigger than the hole). I poked around in the hexagonal hole and there doesn't seem to be anything there, on the inside. When I saw a pic of the nut (online) I wondered how it works.

I noticed the same rack (by GM part number) goes on several different models of GM truck/SUVs

I didn't take a pic, because after I pulled the plug, I saw nothing but a black hole, I think I would have seen the threads if there were any. I saw these nuts/fasteners on ebay for $0.99, so I guess GM found a ways to save almost $10

Looks like yours has one hole more. Mine has the 2-1-2 'pattern of holes, looks like yours has a 2-1-1-2 kinda pattern (is it a Suburban?)

View attachment 188955

Yes thats a suburban, not mine though, another members here. I was just showing you what it would look like with the nuts in. I would guesvthey are epoxied in. Good luck

 

[Ron C]

Yes thats a suburban, not mine though, another members here. I was just showing you what it would look like with the nuts in. I would guesvthey are epoxied in. Good luck

Hmm... but except for some 'thin' sheet metal, there is nothing in there that you can epoxy to. From what I see on that Suburban, and what the nut/fastener looks like it seems that the nut/fastener expands, sorta like a rivet. if it was in there epoxy-ed, I would wonder if a good gust of wind could actually pull it off.

 

[PG01]

Hmm... but except for some 'thin' sheet metal, there is nothing in there that you can epoxy to. From what I see on that Suburban, and what the nut/fastener looks like it seems that the nut/fastener expands, sorta like a rivet. if it was in there epoxy-ed, I would wonder if a good gust of wind could actually pull it off.

Cant see that hex nut expanding or even crushing, if the hole in roof is hex shaped... not sure...

 

[MidwestMike]

I'm not positive, but for some reason I was thinking they used well nuts...

https://www.google.com/search?q=wel...n5LYAhWEG5AKHQyTBa8Q_AUICygC&biw=1920&bih=888

 

[Ron C]

Cant see that hex nut expanding or even crushing, if the hole in roof is hex shaped... not sure...

Me neither, but "parts drawings" show the nut/fastener goes in from the top, The suburban pic also shows the flange of that fastener, and you can't see the hex-hole. I think the hole is hex shaped, so the fastener doesn't turn when you put the screw in.

I'm not positive, but for some reason I was thinking they used well nuts...

https://www.google.com/search?q=wel...n5LYAhWEG5AKHQyTBa8Q_AUICygC&biw=1920&bih=888

That is exactly what I was thinking (the name 'well nut" I couldn't remember). That would make sense, and actually be better than epoxying it. The screws I saw are machine screws.

 

[PG01]

Didnt think epoxy would hold it, i know i was missing something, i guess that ‘well nut’, crush nut looks lead-ish...meh ya learn something new everyday.... i’d epoxy it anyway, a little added holding power plus waterproofing...

 

[Ron C]

Didnt think epoxy would hold it, i know i was missing something, i guess that ‘well nut’, crush nut looks lead-ish...meh ya learn something new everyday.... i’d epoxy it anyway, a little added holding power plus waterproofing...

I have tried that (epoxy) with mounting an antenna on my Jeep CJ, if it just moved a little, it rips the paint off. (but silicone might be a good idea). That would make sense, if the well nut is lead or some sort of lead alloy. We'll see, next week I might pick up a complete luggage rack, buy some nuts online and see where it goes.

I just received a message from a GM dealer, these nuts are called rivnuts, and they may need a special tool for installation(but also there are different 'techniques' to install one

I was told the thread size is: M6 x 1 x 16 I wonder if I indeed need a rivnut tool, or if the screw will crush them correctly by itself

 

[MidwestMike]

Rivnut, I was close...

Basically an all metal version of the well nut.
I was thinking rubber instead of metal for a better chance of sealing against water.

It would be nice to have the holes marked up there like others reported, I would have to start from scratch on mine.

 

[Ron C]

Rivnut, I was close...

Basically an all metal version of the well nut.
I was thinking rubber instead of metal for a better chance of sealing against water.

It would be nice to have the holes marked up there like others reported, I would have to start from scratch on mine.

Well, once I have these rivnuts installed, I'll probably put a dab of silicone on there before I put the bolt in.

I think that is what "G63: PROVISIONS LUGGAGE CARRIER, ROOF" is, holes in the right places. I am still thinking (and searching). Since the rivnuts have a hex shaft, maybe they don't need the install but just tightening the bolt while keeping the rails down. The rivnut tools I see are more for versions that are round instead of hex, but also, I think you can go either way.

Ron

 

[Ron C]

This just looks too easy to install rivnuts, I'll attach a video link below:

 

[PG01]

Ya know what ive used them, they came with the bu/air deflector for my hood just use a reg ratchet and the crush easily.

 

[Ron C]

Ya know what ive used them, they came with the bu/air deflector for my hood just use a reg ratchet and the crush easily.

Oh I would definitely try that, IF I was able to get a mess up fixed. Once the rivnut is in, there is no real way to get it out. I might do a few test runs on a piece of scrap metal (the rivnuts are only 0.99)

Of course there are several options.
Dealer: but they will only sell the new rack to you, and it takes 2 people (according to them) to do it, that's $800+ rack and 4hrs labor (2hrs times 2), that's just a little stuff.

DIY-1: with just crushing the rivnut with a bolt and to nuts, or a cheap tool, Definitely cheapast, but easy to mess up.

DIY-2: get the 'right' tool, practice a few rounds til you get the hang of it and go for it. Yeah the tool is a lot more expensive ($50-$70) and you only use it for 10 rivnuts, BUT still a whole heck of a lot cheaper than the dealer option.

I think it would look good though, a luggage rack on it.

Ron