mydmax wrote:
G'day Jason
I don't own a 2016, only a 2011 which has NO threaded ports in the roof.
If, IF, your model has the threaded holes under the roof strips, they are in the strongest section of the roof and can bear weight as designed.
I cannot tell you where they are, ie distance from ends, but if you go that way you have to remove sufficient strip to allow the channel, T channel I presume, to be screwed to the roof grooves.
Mine required 7 per side drill holes and therefore I used Sikaflex to both seal, support and glue the channel to the roof grooves. I had to drill and seal and fit strip and POP rivet, before the Sikaflex became too hard to allow bedding.
On yours,
Once you know how much strip has to be removed, the holes should be reasonably easy to find.
Trouble with drill holes method is two fold, You have to drill in a position where there is sufficient thickness of base material to be able to tap the holes for a proper amount of thread, where is that? Also getting the swarf out may be a problem. Vacuum cleaner and small plastic hose does work.
You alo have to ensure you use a drill with a tube over the drill bit, ie, depth limiter, so sudden breakthrough doesn't allow the drill bit to make a hole in roof lining which varies in it's distance from the roof underside.
Whatever screws are used also have to be coated in sealant/Sikaflex so they cannot allow water to leak into the roof lining and all parts are sealed to the paint surface for sealing integrity.
When settling the strip at installation, make sure the top of the channel is level. Because of roof metal variations and some OE sealant, when finally fixing it down, the channel may become slightly twisted and not flat orientation for all it's length, mine did twist slightly, so a screw system with a prefit to check all is a good idea before the final sealant and finish.
One of the blokes who has fitted theirs may be able to tell you where the actual screw threaded sections are. Also a body repair/panel beater may have the info in the body views on their repair data.
Good luck with it all.
Cheers for the heads up thanks for some great info .