Instruction manual for removable SS box body surf board racks

Box body surfboard rack fitting instructions

Thank you for purchasing one of our New Zealand-designed and manufactured products, and for supporting local business, rather than imported products. 

This kit should contain the following:

2 x top mounting brackets

4 x M6 stainless coach bolts and nuts

2 x rectangular internal back plate and plastic covers

2 x surfboard frames

2 x Star-port brackets

8 x stainless steel screws

2 x side marker lights

Preparing for installation

Installing the brackets is usually done on the driver's side of the vehicle. This is because the entrance door is on the passenger side; unless it is a European import, it can be mounted on the passenger side.

The aim is to have the brackets and the surfboards visible in the rear-view mirror, but avoid fitting it too low and causing an obstruction of your rear view through the mirrors

You will bond the components with Polyurethane (PU) adhesive/sealant. Therefore, always ensure that any waxy residue has been removed from the side wall with a solvent before attempting to bond anything onto the wall. You should also use the PU primer recommended by the PU manufacturer before bonding anything. 

Installing the vertical side brackets

Choose a suitable location that works around the windows, awning tracks, and other obstacles along the wall. Mount it so you can view the board in the rearview mirror while driving without obstructing your view of the traffic behind you.

Start by putting down some masking tape where you plan to fit the upper brackets and starports. This is so you can move the brackets along the wall without scratching the paintwork or gelcoat while you decide where to finally mount them. Using masking tape, you can temporarily secure the rails to the side of the van, then stand back and double-check that you are happy with their location and spacing.

The top mounting brackets (as seen in the image below) are fitted through the wall using the supplied 4 x M6 stainless coach bolts and nuts. If you have planned it well, the rectangular internal back plate and plastic covers should be in an overhead cupboard or wardrobe so they are not directly visible from inside the vehicle.

Bear in mind that the starport mounts will need to be fitted in a vertical line below the top bracket. The starport fitting does not bolt through the wall, so there should be no problem internally.

The side brackets slot into the top bracket (see image above) and are held in place by a star-port further down the tube. (see image below)

Mark and drill the 6.5mm holes through the wall, remove the masking tape, and fit the top mounting brackets using a good-quality PU adhesive/sealant.

Once the top brackets are fitted, you can hang the removable side brackets on the side of your van and mark where the starports should be fitted. The starports should be as low as possible but above the black protective rubber coating on the stainless steel brackets.

The starports come in two parts: the male star attachment is fitted to the square tube first, using the supplied stainless steel screws. Ideally, they should both be in exactly the same location, so the front and rear brackets are interchangeable. This can be hard to do. The alternative is to label them front and rear so they always go in the exact same place, mark the locations of the starport receivers, ensuring there is some tension on the upper bracket and all the weight is not carried by the starports, because they are not bolted through the wall, and are not designed as the main support. 

Using the same adhesive sealant bond, the starport receiver is attached to the wall. Prime the starport with a PU primer to improve adhesion. If you have enough time, you could let the adhesive set a little before screwing it to the wall. If you screw it straight away, there is a chance the screws might cause the starport receiver to move slightly out of alignment.

Do not use too much sealant/adhesive that it squeezes out into the starport locking mechanism.

Clean up any excess sealant the following day, when the product is still soft but firm enough to remove. This is less messy than cleaning up straight away.

We hope you enjoy our product. Please leave a review.

If you need any assistance, email tech@vantagerv.nz

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