Quick questions on Mopar factory sport bars

SimmZ · Apr 18, 2013

I just receive my new Mopar (factory) sport bars for my 2010 Jeep Compass and I have two quick (and funny) questions for actual owner...

1. What is the use of the locks on the bars? What are they supposed to lock? I can remove the bars (and stealing luggage) just by pulling on the rubber trim and by loosening the bolts of the feet. On my old Thule roof bars (on my Toyota) the locks completely lock the feet adjustment and prevent the bars to be removed from roof (except with a crowbar!). The factory locks of my Mopar bars are completely useless except if I don't understand how they work...

2. Why the F**K did Chrysler put a different lock cylinder (key) on the front bar and rear bar?!? You always have to keep two keys in your keyring... and you always use the bad key in the bad lock!!

Thanks guy!! :smiley_thumbs_up:

MB · Apr 18, 2013

The lock is used to hide the hole that you use to tighten the bars down. If you had them tightened completely there is no chance of someone stealing them.

Mine uses the same key for all bars.

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SimmZ · Apr 18, 2013

PatriotMB said:
The lock is used to hide the hole that you use to tighten the bars down. If you had them tightened completely there is no chance of someone stealing them.

Mine uses the same key for all bars.

I guess the Compass and Patriot bars are completely different in that case. Because mine came with 4 keys (2 for front + 2 for rear) and I swear than I can easily remove the feet with the locks locked on, locks are just like caps at the ends of the bars.

I'm gonna take pictures tomorrow... just for fun! :banana:

MB · Apr 18, 2013

Yes the key only locks the end cap. It hides the hole that you use to tighten the feet. If the feet are tightened and unable to move. You won't be able to steal the bars.

I'm going to assume you have two different sets of bars. Your front bars might be a different set from the rear bars. That would be my theory.

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SimmZ · Apr 18, 2013

PatriotMB said:
I'm going to assume you have two different sets of bars. Your front bars might be a different set from the rear bars. That would be my theory.

This was my theory also at first, but then I download the installation manual from Mopar website and in the manual they say "4 X KEYS", so no, it's not a mistake! They really provide 2 sets of 2 keys (total 4 keys) for the Compass!

MB · Apr 18, 2013

I'll have to look but I might have 4 of the same keys as well.

Still I can understand how that would be a pain to have mismatched keys.

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Brohio · Apr 18, 2013

Just to clarify, there is a difference between the factory cross bars and the sport utility bars by mopar. Since you mention the locks, I assume you are referring to the sport utility bars.

The reason for the lockable end caps are to prevent t-slot attachments from being removed from the bars, and to prevent the loosening of the bars. T slot attachments slide in the grove normally occupied by the the rubber strip.

SimmZ · Apr 18, 2013

Brohio said:
Just to clarify, there is a difference between the factory cross bars and the sport utility bars by mopar. Since you mention the locks, I assume you are referring to the sport utility bars.

The reason for the lockable end caps are to prevent t-slot attachments from being removed from the bars, and to prevent the loosening of the bars. T slot attachments slide in the grove normally occupied by the the rubber strip.

Thank you so much for the clarification!! :smiley_thumbs_up:

I used the sports bars to install a Thule cargo box that is held on the bars with large U-bolts. So in fact I have no theft protection this way? That's why I was able to loosen the feet's bolts without having to remove the locks just by pulling the rubber strip!

Do you think there would be a way to secure my bars and cargo box against theft? Maybe I could insert a small metal plate all the cavity long inside the bars between the two locks that cover the feet's bolts?

Brohio · Apr 19, 2013

SimmZ said:
Thank you so much for the clarification!! :smiley_thumbs_up:

I used the sports bars to install a Thule cargo box that is held on the bars with large U-bolts. So in fact I have no theft protection this way? That's why I was able to loosen the feet's bolts without having to remove the locks just by pulling the rubber strip!

Do you think there would be a way to secure my bars and cargo box against theft? Maybe I could insert a small metal plate all the cavity long inside the bars between the two locks that cover the feet's bolts?

The only thing I can think of would be to see if thule sells lock cores for your specific attachment, but if not I would recommend finding a screw that has a hole drilled in end that is large enough to slide a wire through. You could then put a small travel lock or locking cable through the hole which would prevent the removal of the thule mount.

When you say you have acces to the feet bolts are you referring to the crossbar bolts or the cargo box mounts? Do you have a pic of yours bars by chance?

Quick questions on Mopar factory sport bars

SimmZ

MB

SimmZ

MB

SimmZ

MB

Brohio

SimmZ

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