Anyone transporting bikes on factory roof rack?

loconzly · Jun 27, 2017

Hi all, I'm looking into options for transporting three bicycles. Our cargo space is filled with camping gear and we'll be towing our camper, so a hitch-mount rack isn't possible. It's gotta be the roof.

I'm eyeballing expensive Yakima and Thule roof-rack systems, but I wonder why I can't just mount the bike carriers directly on the factory cross-braces? Is anyone doing that? It would certainly save money and have less components to mess with. Surely they can handle the weight of three bikes, no?

2005 Sport, by the way.

YotaDriver · Jun 27, 2017

The Thule 535 fork-mount carrier has factory roof rack mounting clamps.

https://www.amazon.com/Thule-535-Th...rds=thule+bike+carrier&refinements=p_89:Thule

GoneLunar · Jun 27, 2017

I already owned a Yakima rack system so I bought the towers that clamp to the factory roof rack; then re-used my existing system. That was years ago; there may be better choices now.

Rodbolt · Jun 27, 2017

I'd prefer the back of your camper over the roof top if that's an option.

boondoggle · Jun 27, 2017

I can't think why some good Rocky Mounts wouldn't work:

https://www.amazon.com/RockyMounts-...8603771&sr=8-2&keywords=rockymounts+bike+rack

I use them on my wife's VW and our Pop Up camper. Haven't tried them on the 4Runner but the strap seems big enough. I can try to pop one on tonight and let you know.

boondoggle · Jun 28, 2017

Did a quick sample fitting of my Rocky Mount TieRod and it fit the elliptical bars just fine.

If I get a chance to mess around with flicker and all that I'll try to get a pic up, but it fit no problem. You'll want to move the crossbars forward enough so the liftgate doesn't hit the mounts/bikes but that's the same for any roof mount system.

radlynx · Jun 28, 2017

the factory roof rack is very sturdy. I used 3 bikes on my roof. I had no problem even in highway speed. just make sure that it's secure enough. I have the sr5 2005 model.

loconzly said:
Hi all, I'm looking into options for transporting three bicycles. Our cargo space is filled with camping gear and we'll be towing our camper, so a hitch-mount rack isn't possible. It's gotta be the roof.

I'm eyeballing expensive Yakima and Thule roof-rack systems, but I wonder why I can't just mount the bike carriers directly on the factory cross-braces? Is anyone doing that? It would certainly save money and have less components to mess with. Surely they can handle the weight of three bikes, no?

2005 Sport, by the way.

oljedi11950 · Jun 28, 2017

Yakima mighty mounts & bike (mtn) rack ! No problems even in heavy winds !! Mine is old school tires stay mounted !

Anyone transporting bikes on factory roof rack?

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