I applied black sealant around the roof-rack landing pads before fitting the rails and crossbars. It then got on my hands and other parts as I continued the assembly.
The roof-rack installation began with exposing the factory threaded holes and preparing the ten landing-pad locations. Black sealant was included among the materials for fitting the pads.
The XFasten black cartridge appeared in my materials list. In my notes, the timing and access around the pads became the main story behind the sealant work.
Working Around the Roof-Rack Landing Pads
I prepared the roof locations and bolted down the landing pads.
I applied black sealant around the pads before attaching the rails and crossbars.
As I continued assembling the rack, sealant got onto my hands and other parts.
A landing pad beneath the roof-rack side rail.The tight space around the roof-rack attachment during fitting.Sealant at a landing-pad location and on my fingers during roof-rack assembly.
My Takeaway from This Job
The timing is what I would change from that session: sealing immediately after the pads made the following assembly messy. Reaching beneath each pad with the cartridge tip was awkward too, so nozzle access and the assembly order are the useful comparison points.
I would change the timing of the sealant step so I was not handling freshly sealed pads throughout the next assembly work.
Product Details And Van-Build Uses
Specification
Product Detail
Product
Black silicone sealant
Cartridge size
10.1 oz
Application
Caulking-gun cartridge
The black XFasten silicone cartridge is dispensed with a caulking gun. Its dark color makes bead placement especially visible against a white van panel. Plan the nozzle path before installing nearby rack parts, and mask the boundary where a clean edge matters. A small nozzle opening gives more control over a narrow joint than a large cut. Keep fresh material off adjacent hardware as the assembly continues, and finish the bead while there is still room to reach it.
The gun and nozzle need room to follow the joint. Nearby brackets or rails can block the angle after they are fitted.
Alternative products
Two Alternatives to Compare
GE SCS1200 comes in a cartridge, while Permatex 81158 comes in a small squeeze tube. Both are black silicone sealants with different dispensing formats. Cartridge size and nozzle handling are useful comparisons after my experience reaching underneath the landing pads.
Product
What distinguishes it
Purchase link
XFasten Black Silicone Sealant
Black cartridge sealant used around my landing pads
This black silicone adhesive sealant comes in a small squeeze tube. Its compact nozzle provides another dispensing format for small sealing and bonding tasks.
