Trapezoid side bars

[flying banana]

Just bought some of these. I noticed the ends were open. Apparently they are genuine oem. Can anyone tell me do the genuine ones have open ends or are they blanked off?

 

[Volkywagen]

Mine are open as well. Genuine OEM
Get some good wax in the ends as they tend to rust after 18mnths. True story.

 

[flying banana]

Cheers. That was my concern. You'd have thought they would be blanked off to keep out the weather.

 

[flying banana]

well i'm on with fitting them and they don't sit central to the van. wondering if the brackets are for a long wheel base ?

 

[Volkywagen]

Unsure what you mean, got any pictures?

 

[flying banana]

It sits closer to the back arch than the front.

 

[Volkywagen]

Hmm. Unsure about that. I know they sit a little short to miss the jacking points. Pics of mine below if that helps....

 

[AlanC]

That is right. The front has to clear the jack support at the front of the sill.

Alan

 

[flying banana]

Cheers. The instructions clearly state it should be in the middle. And I definitely didn't get the brackets wrong

 

[Volkywagen]

Is a certain one for a certain side?

 

[flying banana]

Is a certain one for a certain side?

No.i like your thinking though. They are both exactly the same and both sit more towards the back. Looking at the jack points it makes sense. I had side bars on my beach and for the life of me I never noticed if they also sat back a bit

 

[westfalia]

Hmm. Unsure about that. I know they sit a little short to miss the jacking points. Pics of mine below if that helps....

View attachment 55275

View attachment 55276

You've gotta be a UTD fan with a Van that colour

 

[Volkywagen]

You've gotta be a UTD fan with a Van that colour

Ha. I fkn hate football mate.
wife’s choice.

 

[Billywizz]

That’s how they sit I’m afraid so you’ve done a good job!

 

[drbios]

Mine are open as well. Genuine OEM
Get some good wax in the ends as they tend to rust after 18mnths. True story.

How does stainless steel rust?

 

[Volkywagen]

How does stainless steel rust?

Ill post up a picture next time I see it on mine. It appears at the ends, wipes off. May be from a steel bolt inside.

 

[WelshGas]

How does stainless steel rust?

I have rusted stainless steel, I thought stainless steel couldn't rust?

Yes! Stainless steel can rust. If you are experiencing rust on your 'stainless' steel, you are not alone as we often have customers call us looking for help with that very same issue; rust on their stainless steel.

There are over 150 grades of stainless steel and some are more prone to corrosion than others. Generally, the higher the chromium content, the less likely the steel will rust. However, over time, rust can and will develop on stainless steel. To prevent stainless steel from rusting, you need to passivate it. Passivating stainless steel is a process that allows stainless steel to retain its corrosion resistance.

Factors Affecting Stainless Steel Rust
There are a few factors that can affect the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. The composition of the steel affects corrosion resistance. Even within grades of stainless steel, impurities in the steel can affect the corrosion resistance. The environment is another big factor in stainless steel rust. Environments with chlorine, like swimming pools, are highly corrosive. Salt water environments affect stainless steel, just to a lesser extent than carbon steel. In all environments, properly passivating your stainless steel will prevent it from rusting.

 

[drbios]

Our VW trapezoid side bars are 4 years old. 40,000 camping miles. No rust, only been washed.

@WelshGas are you sure your example is not due the manufacturer using a steel wire wheel to clean up? Common problem as it impregnates the surface with Iron particles that will oxidise and give the impression of rust.

 

[WelshGas]

Our VW trapezoid side bars are 4 years old. 40,000 camping miles. No rust, only been washed.

@WelshGas are you sure your example is not due the manufacturer using a steel wire wheel to clean up? Common problem as it impregnates the surface with Iron particles that will oxidise and give the impression of rust.

No idea. Just making the point that not all stainless steels are equal, and that some can rust under certain conditions and water & road salt are one of them.
I have genuine VW tubular side bars. Over 5 yrs old and 95,000 miles and no rust .