Thank you for purchasing a Barkow glass/stone carrier. With proper care, your carrier should provide many years of dependable service. Please read the following instructions carefully before you begin installation.
PARTS LIST
- Glass/stone carriers with stakes (qty 1)
- Rubber shims (qty 10;1/4″ X 2″)
- ⅜” X 1½” hex head bolts (qty 6)
- ⅜” X 1″ hex head bolts (qty 8) (High Roof)
- ⅜” X 2½” hex head bolts (qty 4 or 5, depending on length of upper mount rail)
- 2″ diameter stainless steel washers (qty 4)
- ⅜” flat washers (qty 38)
- ⅜” lock washers (qty 19)
- ⅜” hex nuts (qty 19)
- Bolt with wire welded to bolt head
- Upper Mount Rail
- Upper mount brackets – High roof (qty 2 for single carriers, 4 for double carriers)
- Lower mount bars (qty 3 for single carriers; 6 for double carriers, unless additional lower mount bars specified in order)
THE GLASS/STONE CARRIER IS SECURED TO THE VAN AT THREE (3) POINTS: (SEE PHOTOS A & B ABOVE)
- Upper mount brackets (High Roof)
- Upper mount rail
- Lower mount bar
STEP 1 – BOLT UPPER MOUNT BRACKETS (HIGH ROOF)
Bolt upper mount brackets (See Photos C, D & E below) using the eight 3/8″ x 1″ hex head bolts 19″ (inches) in from vertical seam to the outside edge of the brackets (See photos C & E below) and immediately above the horizontal body line.
FOR STANDARD ROOF, SKIP TO STEP 2
STEP 2 – POSITION THE CARRIER
- Identify the front of the glass/stone carrier by the fixed front stop. (See Photo A)
- Set carrier securely on a jack stand or lift. Position carrier so that the top of the mount rail meets the bottom of the upper mount bracket (High Roof) or so it sits 2″ below window inset with approximately 18″ – 20″ clearance between the ground and the bottom of the rack (Standard Roof). Center carrier to desired location.
- Set the angle of the carrier by moving the bottom of the carrier in or out until the vertical posts are no more than 2″ (inches) away from the side of the van at the closest point. This will set the carrier at a safe angle (approximately 6 degrees). If you are installing racks on both sides, make sure you don’t exceed the legal width limit of 102″ (inches).
STEP 3 – SECURE CARRIER TO VAN AND MAKE FINAL ADJUSTMENTS
- Clamp carrier to upper mount brackets (High Roof).
- From the inside of the van, drill five holes for a 10′ (foot) carrier, or four holes for an 8′ (foot) carrier through the skin of the van and the back of the upper mount rail (see Photo H). Space the holes approximately 18″ (inches) apart. The holes should be drilled just below the bend through the double layer (above the window cut-out) of sheet metal. After drilling each hole, place rubber shim (see Photo I) If necessary, clamp a straightedge to the carrier to ensure it is straight and flat.
- For a high roof, bolt the upper mount rail to the upper mount brackets and through the skin of the van (See photos A & B above). For a standard roof, bolt the upper mount rail through the skin of the van (See photos F & G above).
STEP 4 – ATTACH LOWER MOUNT BARS*
- Re-check that the carrier is straight. Bolt the lower mount bars to the van body frame and the underside of the ledgeboard. (See photos J & K below) Use the six 3/8″ X 1 1/2″ hex head bolts provided. Note: The mounting bars may require additional bending to fit perfectly.
- If necessary, bend the exhaust pipe to ensure it clears the carrier.
* NOTE: NEWER MODEL VANS
Many of the late model vans now have encapsulated frame rails. If your van is in this category, you may need to drill a 1″ hole near the 3/8″ hole (see photo L) that is used to secure the lower mount bar to the van. The 1″ hole (drilled with a hole saw bit) can be used to feed the bolt through to the 3/8″ hole that secures the lower mount bar. Some vans have existing holes that you can feed the bolt through. The bolt with the wire welded to the bolt head (see photo M) is designed so it can be fed through a hole. For your safety, since the wire is sharp; we strongly recommend the use of pliers and eye protections during the process and when tightening the bolt.
These instructions are also available in downloadable PDF format.