Roof Rack Stuck

[Humvee21]

Hey guys, I haven't been on here in a while. Been really busy lately and I mostly browse Raptor forums since I bought one. But I can't figure out for the life of me how to remove the H2 roof racks. The grab bolts on the top have froze up and I can't get it to budge with gloves or anything. One of them is already loose, but I can't figure out how to get them off completely. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[twinmill28]

You've got to get that big knob to unscrew, that'll loosen the assembly. Then if I understand right, you're supposed to slide the rack completely out toward the back of the truck. Since I have the grab handles on mine and a couple more luggage racks going back, I don't go that route.
I've been taking my light bar off so I can fit in the garage; to do that without disassembling all the other racks, I comepletly unscrew that big knob/bolt to free up the clip holding the assembly to under the roof rail. There's a retaining washer on this, so you'll feel resistance until you get the knob/bolt off.
Hope this helps. Initially it seems like a PITA, but once you do it, it makes sense and works pretty easily.

 

[Humvee21]

I failed to mention that 2 big knob screws are completely stuck. One that is stuck is stuck while unscrewed meaning it is loose so I can move it. The other is stuck but tightened. I'm afraid pliers will break the knobs.

 

[seventwozero]

You've got to get that big knob to unscrew, that'll loosen the assembly. Then if I understand right, you're supposed to slide the rack completely out toward the back of the truck. Since I have the grab handles on mine and a couple more luggage racks going back, I don't go that route.
I've been taking my light bar off so I can fit in the garage; to do that without disassembling all the other racks, I comepletly unscrew that big knob/bolt to free up the clip holding the assembly to under the roof rail. There's a retaining washer on this, so you'll feel resistance until you get the knob/bolt off.
Hope this helps. Initially it seems like a PITA, but once you do it, it makes sense and works pretty easily.

Dont they need to be unlocked with the key too? I've never actually tried to pull them...

 

[twinmill28]

Removing the end caps with the key allows you to mount accessories in that wide top center groove of the cross bar (you have to pull the black rubber strip out first); stuff like the ski racks and individual light mounts for the light bar can slide in there, as well as the HUMMER roof top carrier and I'm thinking the HUMMER roof basket.
Taking those end caps off with the key also allows you to access the star headed screws that hold the roof cross bar onto the black roof mount pieces; you have to peel up the black rubber strip to get at the screws. I do it this way when taking the light bar off as it makes it less awkward for me to remove the bar by myself. Once I get the light bar off, I then remove the mounting brackets from the roof rails individually.
Not sure what to say for the knob that won't turn--you're going to have to convince it somehow. A good strap wrench may help prevent damage, but I'm going to doubt you've got one. As for the other knob you've got loose, it won't completely unscrew because of a star washer that was installed to prevent those bolts from unscrewing all the way out. I just kept unscrewing mine with all that resistance until I got it apart and that washer fell off; it's not an important part of the assembly. This is the part I said earlier that these assemblies were meant to slide out toward the back of the truck but there's too much stuff in the way of mine (grab handles and other cross bars), so I just take mine completely off.
I had the luxury of buying a pair of the roof rack cross bars that a guys wife had driven one side into a low hanging garage and broke one of the rails, so I was able to take it apart and learn how it worked without worrying about destroying anything. I think I had to use pliers to get one or both of those knobs off of that.

 

[Humvee21]

Let's say I break the plastic knob. Does that mean it is stuck there forever or is it just a philips head screw in there?

 

[twinmill28]

I'm pretty sure the pliers won't break the knob, though they'll probably might mar it up. That bolt only screws into a sort of L shaped bracket that when tightened pulls up from the bottom of the roof rail channel to secure the assembly. It's a thin bracket, so even if the bolt were rusted it should break free before the knob breaks. There is a lot of "should" in that statement.
Once you get it apart the way it all works is pretty self-explanatory; if you screw anything up, those cross bars are pretty easy to find for spare parts---unlike the damn U-steps, where once the bolt is rusted in there you put the allen wrench in that hole will strip, then you're going to break the plastic knob using channel locks and then your down to using vise grips, and then when that nut finally breaks, you can remove the step from the truck after working in a really awkward position for 20 or 30 minutes in sub-zero temps and take it in the garage to figure out how you're going to drill and tap the damn thing. Please don't ask how my knowledge of U-steps is so in-depth down to what the temperature outside is............. let's just say I know. And U-step parts are much harder to find. So good luck with the roof rack!

 

[Humvee21]

Twin, thanks for your help. I finally got it off. I figured out why the big twist knobs are stuck... Not only is the bolt rusted but also it was threaded in crooked. Considering just cuttig off the bolt. Do they make replacements?

 

[Humvee21]

Holy mother of god... I decided to try and replace the big twist knob today. I used up all my Incredible Hulk strength to get it off. After over a year of trying to get this thing off... it's finally twisted off. But guess what, it wasn't screwed in sideways. The damn screw was bent crooked.

I'll be looking for a new twist knob and U-clamp. Can someone point me where to get those?

 

[alrock]

Like these? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hummer-H2-Roof-Rack-Knobs-New-Take-Offs-/110879373733?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AH2&hash=item19d0ecf9a5&vxp=mtr#ht_729wt_1211

 

[Humvee21]

Exactly like those! Now how about some u clamps. EBay is a no go

 

[twinmill28]

Shoot me a PM and let me know if you need just one clamp or more? Send your address--I should be able to come up with a replacement knob and clamp. No promises, I've got them squirelled away in a box in the garage but not sure where.

 

[Humvee21]

Shoot me a PM and let me know if you need just one clamp or more? Send your address--I should be able to come up with a replacement knob and clamp. No promises, I've got them squirelled away in a box in the garage but not sure where.

Pm sent!

 

[twinmill28]

If I didn't know any better, I'd think the manufacturer didn't want that knob to separate from the clamp as it seemed the bolt I took apart had some sort of a crimp or pinch in it keeping the clamp from coming all the way out.
I made a mess of the threads getting the two apart, but put them on a tap and die and hope they hold together.
Your box is on it's way Jay