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How to Install Leitner Designs Active Cargo System on your Ram

Installation Time

2 hours

Tools Required
  • 10MM SOCKET
  • 13MM DEEP SOCKET
  • TORQUE WRENCH
  • 12MM SOCKET
  • 19MM SOCKET
  • 3/8 CHUCK ELECTRIC DRILL
  • 12MM AND 13MM COMBINATION WRENCH
  • TAPE MEASURE
  • Center Punch
  • 25/64 DRILL (INCLUDED)
  • RIVET NUT SET TOOL (INCLUDED)

BEFORE INSTALLATION

1) READ ENTIRE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING.
2) CLEAN ENTIRE VEHICLE
3) LAY DOWN CARPET OR CARDBOARD TO AVOID SCRATCHING PAINT ON RACK DURING ASSEMBLY
4) MAKE SURE ALL TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSTALL.

1. ASSEMBLE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE RAIL ASSEMBLYS

1) INSTALL EIGHT M8 T-BOLTS IN (A) AND (B) UPRIGHTS AS SHOWN. HAND THREAD WITH M8 LOCKNUT TO KEEP T-NUTS IN PLACE. (FIG 2)  

2) INSTALL LONG BAR BY SLIDING INTO UPRIGHT AND TIGHTEN T-BOLTS TO 16 LB-FT MAKE SURE THE ACCESS HOLES ARE TOWARD THE REAR UPRIGHTS. (FIG 3)  

3) INSTALL RAIL USING TWO M12 X 40 BOLTS AS SHOWN. TIGHTEN TO 55 LB-FT. THE RAILS ARE LABELED AT THE BACK (D) FOR DRIVER AND (P) FOR PASSENGER SIDE. (FIG 4)  

4) REPEAT STEPS FOR PASSENGER SIDE  

5) A FULL ASSEMBLY IS SHOWN ON PAGE 6 FOR CLARIFICATION OF ALL ASSEMBLED PARTS.  



2. INSTALL FRONT AND REAR UPRIGHT BRACE

1) LOOSLEY INSTALL REAR UPRIGHT BRACE TO REAR UPRIGHT USING (2) M8 X 20 SCREWS AND M8 LOCK NUTS. TIGHTEN SCREWS SO THAT YOU CAN STILL MOVE THE PARTS BY HAND. (FIG 5)  

2) LOOSELY ATTACH THE REAR UPRIGHT BRACE BRACKET TO THE UPRIGHT BRACE USING (1) M8 X 60 SCREW AND (1) M8 LOCKNUT TIGHTEN SCREWS SO THAT YOU CAN STILL MOVE THE PARTS BY HAND. (FIG 6)  

3) LOOSELY INSTALL FRONT UPRIGHT BRACE TO FRONT UPRIGHT USING (1) M8 X 20 SCREW AND M8 LOCK NUT. TIGHTEN SCREW SO THAT YOU CAN STILL MOVE THE PARTS BY HAND. (FIG 7)  

4) REPEAT STEPS 1-3 FOR OTHER SIDE.  




3. ATTACH DRIVER AND PASSENGER ASSEMBLYS TO TRUCK

1) LOOSELY THREAD THE (6) M8 X 80 SCREWS INTO THE (6) RAIL CLAMPS AS SHOWN IN (FIG 8)  

2) SLIDE 3 RAIL CLAMPS ONTO PASSENGER AND DRIVERS RAILS, FINISHED IN STEP 3. MAKE SURE THE TAB ON THE CLAMP HOOKS UNDER THE RAIL. (FIG 9)  

3) INSTALL ASSEMBLY ONTO TRUCK. (HAVING A SECOND PERSON STABALIZE THE ASSEMBLY MAKES THIS JOB MUCH EASIER).  

4) INSTALL CLAMP FOOT ON ALL 3 RAIL CLAMPS. (FIG 11) TIGHTEN CLAMPS SO THAT THE RAIL STAYS IN PLACE ON THE TRUCK BUT CAN STILL BE MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS.  

5) REPEAT FOR OTHER SIDE.  

NOTE: SOME BEDLINERS MAY NEED TO BE MODIFIED. CUTTING BEDLINER IN AREA OF RAIL CLAMP MAY BE NECESSARY. 





4. INSTALL CROSS BAR BRACKETS

1) ADJUST THE RACK SO THAT THE SWING TUBE MOUNTING BRACKETS ALIGHNS WITH THE CENTER OF THE D PILLER. INSURE TAILGATE DOES NOT HIT THE BRACKET IN THE CLOSED POSITION (FIG 12)  

2) TIGHTEN THE (3) RAIL CLAMPS TO 6 FT-LB REPEAT FOR OTHER SIDE MAKING SURE THE RAILS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TRUCK ARE IN THE SAME LOCATION (FRONT TO BACK) USE A TAPE MEASURE TO INSURE LOCATION IS THE SAME ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE /- 1/8 INCH. (AFTER 500 MILES AND 10,000 MILES THERE AFTER CHECK RAIL CLAMP BOLTS FOR CORRECT TORQUE)  

3) INSTALL TWO T-BOLTS AND M8 NUTS INTO EACH OF THE (4) CROSS BAR BRACKETS (FIG 13)   5) SLIDE (4) T-BOLTS INTO THE TOP RAIL USING THE ACCESS HOLES. REPEAT FOR OTHER SIDE.  

4) ATTACH (2) OF THE CROSSBAR BRACKET AS FAR FORWARD ON THE RAILS AS POSSIBLE. (ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE). USING TWO M8 NUTS TIGHTEN TO 16 LB-FT. (FIG 14)  

5) ATTACH (2) MORE CROSSBAR BRACKET AS FAR REARWARD ON THE RAILS AS POSSIBLE (ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. HAND TIGHTEN DOWN USING TWO PLASTIC KNOBS. (FIG 15)  





5. INSTALL CROSS BARS

1) SLIDE THE (2) CROSS BAR 60” ONTO THE T-BOLTS THAT ARE INSTALLD ON THE CROSS BAR BRACKETS. CENTER THE BAR AND LIGHTLY TIGHTEN THE M8 NUTS AS THEY WILL BE ADJUSTED IN A FUTURE STEP. (FIG 16)  

2) TAKE MEASURMENT BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR OF LOWER ALUMINUM T-SLOT RAILS. (FIG 17) RECORD MEASURMENT BELOW. SUBTRACT 18.75” FROM EACH MEASURMENT. THIS IS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PLASTIC ENCAPS ON THE UPRIGHTS. (FIG 18)  

3) USING A TAPE MEASURE ADJUST THE DISTANCE ACCORDINGLY. TIGHTEN THE (8) M8 NUTS THAT HOLD THE CROSS BAR IN PLACE.  

DOUBLE CHECK YOUR WORK AS YOU WILL BE DRILLING HOLES IN THE NEXT FEW STEPS!! 




6. DRILL REAR UPRIGHT SUPPORT HOLES

1) USING A CENTER PUNCH MARK THE CENTER OF THE LOWER REAR UPRIGHT SUPPORT BRACKETS HOLE. REPEAT FOR OTHER SIDE (FIG 19)  

2) SWING THE BRACKET OUT OF THE WAY AND USING A POWER DRILL AND 1/8 DRILL, DRILL THROUGH THE SHEET METAL. FOLLOW WITH THE INCLUDED 25/64 DRILL. BE CAREFULL NOT TO DRILL INTO THE LIGHT OR WIRING BEHIND THE SHEET METAL.  

3) USING THE SUPPLIED RIVET NUT SET TOOL. INSTALL THE RIVET NUT AS SHOWN. FLANGE SIDE TOWARD TOOL. (FIG20)  

4) INSERT THE RIVET NUT INTO THE DRILLED HOLE. MAKE SURE THE FLANGE IS PUSHED UP AGAINST THE SHEET METAL. YOU WILL USE A 13MM OPEN END WRENCH TO HOLD THE TOOL FROM SPINNING AND A 10MM SOCKET TO TIGHTEN THE BOLT. WHEN REMOVING BOLT MAKE SURE TO HOLD TOOL WITH 13MM WRENCH. (FIG 21)  

5) SWING THE BRACKET BACK INTO PLACE. USING A M6 X 20 BOLT TIGHTEN BRACKET TO TRUCK. REMOVE THE M8 X 60 BOLT HOLDING THE REAR UPRIGHT BRACE TO BRACKET. YOU CAN NOW CENTER PUNCH THE UPPER HOLE AND INSTALL THE OTHER RIVET NUT AS OUTLINED IN STEPS 2- 4. REPEAT FOR OTHER SIDE. (FIG 22)  

6) REINSTALL AND TIGHTEN ALL BOLTS IN REAR UPRIGHT BRACE BRACKET TO 18 FT-LB.  

WARNING! RIVET NUTS NOT PROPERLY COLLAPSED WILL NOT HOLD SECURELY TO SHEET METAL. 





7. DRILL FRONT UPRIGHT SUPPORT HOLES

1) ALIGN THE FRONT UPRIGHT BRACES WITH THE FRONT OF THE CARGO BED RAIL. CENTER PUNCH BOTH BRACKET HOLES. PILOT DRILL WITH A 1/8 DRILL AND THEN DRILL WITH 25/64 DRILL (INCLUDED). (FIG23)  

2) INSTALL RIVET NUTS THE SAME WAY AS YOU DID IN PREVIOUS STEP.  

3) SECURE EACH BRACKET WITH M8 X 20 BOLT. TIGHTEN TO 18 FT-LB. (FIG 24)  

4) TIGHTEN UPPER FRONT UPRIGHT BRACE BRACKET BOLT AND NUT TO 18 FT-LB. (FIG 25)  

NOTE: IT IS NORMAL FOR THE FRONT SUPPORT BRACKETS TO BEND SLIGHTLY.  

NOTE: BE CAREFULL NOT TO PUSH ON THE DRILL SO HARD AS TO DRILL INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK CAB. 




8. INSURE REAR CROSSBAR SLIDES AND FINISH INSTALLATION

1) LOOSEN THE 4 PLASTIC KNOBS ON THE REAR CROSS BAR AND SLIDE RAIL FORWARD.( FIG 26)  

2) IF IT DOES NOT SLIDE ALL THE WAY FORWARD LOOSEN THE FOUR NUTS SECURING THE RAIL TO THE BRACKETS AND SLIDE INTO MOST FORWARD POSITION UNTIL BOTH BRACKETS TOUCH. RETIGHTEN NUTS WHILE KEEPING CROSS BAR AND BRACKETS IN FORWARD POSITION. (FIG27)  

3) INSTALL (2) CROSSBAR PAD AND (4) ENDCAPS AS SHOWN. (FIG 28)  

4) SLIDE THE CROSSBAR BACK INTO THE REARWARD POSITION.  

5) CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE NOW READY TO MAXIMIZE THE CARGO CARING CAPACITY OF YOUR TRUCK! PLEASE CHECK OUT THE MANY ACCESSORIES AT WWW.LEITNERDESIGNS.COM  





ACTIVE CARGO SYSTEM GUIDELINES

When using Leitner Designs carriers and accessories, the user must understand the precautions. The points listed below will assist you in using the rack system and will encourage safety. 

 For quality fits and safety, use only the recommended rack or accessories. Do not assume a rack will fit, always check the current Fit Guide when obtaining a new vehicle.  

 The maximum load is not to be exceeded. (250# off road - 500# on road). However, this limit is always subordinate to the maximum load recommended by the manufacturer of the vehicle itself. It is always the lower maximum recommended load that applies. Max truck load = load carrier weight any fitted carrier accessories the weight of the load itself.  

 Make sure all knobs, bolts, screws, straps, and locks are firmly attached, tightened and locked before every trip. Knobs, bolts, screws, straps and locks must be periodically inspected for signs of wear, corrosion, and fatigue. Check your load at stops during the trip to ensure continued fastening security.  

 Check local and state laws governing projection of objects beyond the perimeter of a vehicle. Be aware of the width and height of your cargo since low clearance branches, bridges, and parking garages can affect the load. All cargo will affect the vehicle’s driving behavior. Never drive with any lock, knob or rack in an open or unlocked position. All long loads such as, but not limited to, sailboards, surfboards, kayaks, canoes, and lumber must be tied down front and rear to the bumpers or tow hooks of the vehicle.  

 All locks must be turned and moved periodically to ensure smooth operation. Use graphite or dry lubricant to help this. Leitner designs locks are designed to deter vandalism and theft but should not be considered theft proof. Remove valuable gear if your vehicle is unattended for an extended period. Place at least one key in the glove compartment.  

 For safety to your vehicle and rack system, obey all posted speed limits and traffic cautions. Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road and the load being carried.  

 Do not use Leitner Designs load carriers and accessories for purposes other than those for which they were designed. Do not exceed their carrying capacity. Failure to follow these guidelines or the product’s instructions will void the warranty.  

 Consult with your Leitner Designs dealer if you have any questions regarding the operations and limits of Thule products. Review all instructions and warranty information carefully.  

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