[jafrush]

Regarding the warranty:

Modifying a vehicle only affects warranty on parts that are directly related to the modification. The two big things you can do with a roof rack are not seal it properly during install, which could cause a leak, and putting too much pressure on the threaded stud plate inside the roof and breaking it off, which makes it fall into the headliner. If you did either of those, no Toyota would not warranty it. It should not affect warranty on anything else on the vehicle though.

I've only heard of one customer who had a leak, and he had some gaps in his caulking coverage around the holes when he took the rack back off to look. A re-caulking to cover those gaps fixed the leak.

I did have my first experience with a broken off stud plate a few weeks back. My "new" red Trail had one of the rear plates broken (thankfully the previous owner warned me it was broken). With some creativity, I was able to keep one bolt in the threads at all times during the roof rack switchover, which prevented the plate from falling back into the headliner again. It only added about an extra 10 minutes of work to the rack install. Now if it had dropped, I would have had to pull the headliner and have another set of hands to get the plate back up and bolts back in (which the previous owner had to do when he installed the original rack).

[jafrush]

Originally Posted by gdvan01

Well that's just peachy.....another part from LFD to sit and wait for....

Haha. You should see our engineering project list. Its so long its not even funny.

[gdvan01]

Originally Posted by SpeedyKevin

haha I believe that was me! Sorry forgot to update you on that. The ARD mount did NOT work with the Xbulls. The width was just a tad short. IF you wanted you could make the hole bigger on the Xbulls. I ended up just making my own mount.

Originally went with Carriage bolts but switched them out to 5.5in SS -Threaded rods (5/16). Allows me to remove them quickly (my other accessory mounts are attached via a Tnut). I use a wing nut+washer on the bottom part and a nut + rubber wash on top. The rubber washer keeps the mount from vibrating. To secure the boards I use a clamping nut along with a 1/2in pvc pipe. All in all, very happy with it

photo of all the gear attached (minus shovel)

1/2" PVC pipe for...a spacer between the boards and the clamping nut ?

I just ordered a set of the X-Bulls, your idea sounds like the way to go.

Almost forgot....how are you securing your shovel?

[SpeedyKevin]

Originally Posted by gdvan01

1/2" PVC pipe for...a spacer between the boards and the clamping nut ?

I just ordered a set of the X-Bulls, your idea sounds like the way to go.

Almost forgot....how are you securing your shovel?

That is correct! The 5/16 clamping nut wont be able to screw down all the way with the xbull. I can take pictures of the set up later today

[Sea_ledford]

Originally Posted by jafrush

Haha. You should see our engineering project list. Its so long its not even funny.

Speaking of... I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a hybrid bumper. Before I do that are there any imminent updates to it?

-Chris

[jhguth]

Installed a 100W solar panel on the rack, recessed so I can still carry lumber or plywood without the solar panel being in the way.




@mteolus you can see 2 of the SS carriage bolts in this pic I use for my x-bulls (i'm not sure i understood the other comment about saving time with 5/16 threaded rod, the carriage bolts just slide right through the slot and just need a couple washers and lock washer to secure them. the slot is the size of the square part of the carriage bolt so you only need 1 tool)

[mteolus]

Originally Posted by jhguth

Installed a 100W solar panel on the rack, recessed so I can still carry lumber or plywood without the solar panel being in the way.




@mteolus you can see 2 of the SS carriage bolts in this pic I use for my x-bulls (i'm not sure i understood the other comment about saving time with 5/16 threaded rod, the carriage bolts just slide right through the slot and just need a couple washers and lock washer to secure them. the slot is the size of the square part of the carriage bolt so you only need 1 tool)

Very cool. Did you get the X-Bulls off Amazon or EBay? $85?

[jhguth]

Originally Posted by mteolus

Very cool. Did you get the X-Bulls off Amazon or EBay? $85?

probably amazon but not sure, i've had them for awhile

[mteolus]

Just checked on Ebay, $45. Not X-Bull but look exactly the same. Probably is the same.

Just ordered them, $45, no shipping, no tax. I like the black color better. I heard the red is more of a pink. Although in the description it says fiery red and also black so who knows. Who cares at $45 anyway.

[SpeedyKevin]

Originally Posted by jhguth

Installed a 100W solar panel on the rack, recessed so I can still carry lumber or plywood without the solar panel being in the way.




@mteolus you can see 2 of the SS carriage bolts in this pic I use for my x-bulls (i'm not sure i understood the other comment about saving time with 5/16 threaded rod, the carriage bolts just slide right through the slot and just need a couple washers and lock washer to secure them. the slot is the size of the square part of the carriage bolt so you only need 1 tool)

Looks good!


I use threaded rods as sometimes take them off quickly as i need a little more clearance for short los angeles garages lol

Also, I got my xbulls off ebay for 60ish

[gdvan01]

Originally Posted by mteolus

Very cool. Did you get the X-Bulls off Amazon or EBay? $85?

X-Bulls were $65 on Amazon this past Friday when I ordered, back up to $78 now...

[jhguth]

Originally Posted by SpeedyKevin

Looks good!


I use threaded rods as sometimes take them off quickly as i need a little more clearance for short los angeles garages lol

Also, I got my xbulls off ebay for 60ish

yeah but how is that quicker? i think i may be misunderstanding how you mount yours, i'm just using a carriage bolt with a single nut so it seems pretty quick to me. i want to be able to remove them quickly so not sure if i'm missing something.

[SpeedyKevin]

Originally Posted by jhguth

yeah but how is that quicker? i think i may be misunderstanding how you mount yours, i'm just using a carriage bolt with a single nut so it seems pretty quick to me. i want to be able to remove them quickly so not sure if i'm missing something.

Ahh I see where the confusion is. I mean I actually have to remove the rod itself (empty roof rack) to gain that extra 2-3 inches of height clearance! I went with a 5inch rod so I can't easily take them off the rack :/

Well I think thats where the confusion is haha

[jhguth]

Originally Posted by SpeedyKevin

Ahh I see where the confusion is. I mean I actually have to remove the rod itself (empty roof rack) to gain that extra 2-3 inches of height clearance!

Well I think thats where the confusion is haha

the carriage bolts come right out with a single nut and single tool

[SpeedyKevin]

Originally Posted by jhguth

the carriage bolts come right out with a single nut and single tool

Are you unscrewing nut and pulling it out from the bottom of the rail? When I was using carriage bolts (5in), they were too long so I can't get them out from underneath the crossbars. Probably could with a shorter one. With the rod, I don't need a tool and just unscrew the butterfly nut