Chris wrote:

All,

I'm thinking of buying a Kia Sedona Mini-Van and Thule sells add-on
feet/bars for the factory rack. I've read some negative comments about
factory racks. Do you think that this setup would do fine for transporting
1 kayak? 2 kayaks?

Factory roof rack mounts vary in their structural integrity, I'm sure. I draw
this conclusion from pulling the headliner out of a 1990 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban
/w/ a factory rack, only to find the factory rack mounted in nothing but the
roof sheet metal! Not in any stronger braced points, just the relatively thin
roof sheet metal. I was quite surprised, especially after hearing about all the
chatter about "aftermarket rack manufacturers have measurments telling them
where to drill in the roof of various vehicles to mount a rack in a reinforced
part of the roof"! I don't believe that 100% anymore, cause I witnessed the
1990 Suburban not *having* any additionally reinforced places that it's own
factory rack was mounted in!!!

John Kuthe...