This is a great guide, thank you for posting. I'm adding this to my to do list.

Only one beer?

Well.... :red:

Better add - Step 10.5 Drink another Beer:thumb:

Great "how to". Thank's for taking the time and effort to post.

Sounds like a six packer to me. Three while the intense labor thing is goin' on and three sittin' back admirin' the "Job well done".

(Actually been thinkin' 'bout takin' mine off and pluggin' the holes.....wonder if it would leak around those blind nut things?)

I think if you were to replace the bolts with shorter ones and add some blue loctite to the threads (that is what seals the OEM ones) you would be ok. You could always get some small plugs and silicone...

It appears that the blind nut/Riv nut is sealed with the pressure used to set them in place. I am not sure why they would not seal with the rack removed? Heck... when you think about it, I am not sure why they seal at all.. :D

I just installed my side and cross rails this past weekend. And this post helped me overcome the fear of trying it myself. Dealer told me $275 for the install so that when I decide to do it myself. The hardest part for me was the putting on the templates , it took me about 30 min to line everything within the specs. After that it was a breeze.
But I did shorten the riv install tool at the start of the threads. I think my front holes had one more piece of metal under the roof sheet metal , I could of drill it too but shortening the tool did the trick.
This was and Great How TO.
It helped me a lot.

other models
 

i believe that some other models cross rails may fit , and also maybe easier and less expensive to find. my next trip to the salvage yard i hope to find out.

Cool! I am glad you were able to do it. I had the same fear but like you said once the templates were set, the rest was a breeze.