So this is a two part question:

I am taking a trip across the USA this Fall and have a Gobi Stealth Rack. Should I trust people enough to put/leave my YETI cooler while traveling? (More worried about the stops at the gas station and grocery store trips)

Also, I have a Viair 400H Compressor and purchased the mounting bracket they sell, I haven't found a place to put it. Where have you put it? Pictures please!

Honestly....if you cant figure this out, a cross country trip should be abandoned...

Well the Stupid question I can't answer without knowing you better.

Me I don't trust people for nothing. I think you'd be okay for gas and grocery stops but anything beyond that I'd be leery of.

If the area you are going people are bold/stupid enough to steal a cooler that is strapped down to the roof while you are at a gas station and or grocery store I would avoid such an area

I guess I am confused on the bracket, most brackets are deigned to go someplace vs a generic mount but if its generic any reason to mount it at all? If I could do it again I Would not have mounted my compressor but bought a portable unit so I could transfer it to other vehicles.

Here is where I installed my Viair 400P

Viair Install

Ahh, don't say that!

Damn, that's rough! I'm just the normal stupid. Haha!

Thanks for the advice!

Yes, it is a generic bracket.

Thank you so much! That works for me.

^ This is not bad advice.
@moshie ,

Looks like you can benefit from having someone with you. The CB question and the cooler question are a little awkward.

If I were you, I would worry about that 250$ 3" lift kit. Is this it?
3in Suspension Lift Kit for 10-19 Toyota 4-Runner 2wd/4wd [76630] | Rough Country Suspension Systems(R)

Pricey 3" lift kits can be, I would hope, dependable and reliable, but I see nothing good coming out of a cheap, big for an IFS lift.

Spacers are a really bad idea on high-center of gravity body-on-frame vehicles driven long-distances by inexperienced drivers.

I don't judge other folks' tastes, but you asked for advice on far lesser matters while this is a safety and a reliability issue.

How not to have issues on a long trip? First, don't lessen your vehicle's road-worthiness.

Safe travels!

Can you post a photo or link to the mounting bracket? That might help give us a visual so we can make suggestions.

My general experience with this is if it looks like an easy opportunity, someone will be enough of a jerk to try to steal it. However if it's strapped down and looks like a hassle and there's some visible padlocks on it (the bearproof part of Yetis), I think that'll suffice as a reliable deterrent.

Thank you for the advice, the reason for the CB is because I have heard so many of my friends talk about them, I have never needed one before (most trips I have taken with people we have had two-way radios). I was already planning on getting the Garmin InReach Satellite Messenger.

The cooler question is because if someone has already experienced someone having it stolen from their vehicle, I was looking for someone to reinforce my thoughts on taking it. I'm still debating on taking it or going out and buying a cheaper cooler but with some of the same qualities.

I have actually been on multiple long trips (but less than a week). This one is longer and now that I have a forum to bounce ideas off of other people who are way more experienced than I am it is quite nice.

I have had my lift on now for over 20,000 miles and use my car as my daily driver. I have had no issues with anything. In an earlier post, I am not going to be tackling any crazy trails, nor do I plan to do any crazy offroading.

Here it is! Thank you, maybe I should have thought of that!

https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-280C-Co...r+mounting+kit

Hmm, never thought of actually putting a padlock on my YETI! That's a great idea. Thank you so much!

No valuables on my roof rack. If it's up there...I already assume it can be stolen. If I had a yeti cooler (which I dont cause I'm cheap as f....) that cooler would be staying inside my truck in larger cities with junkies.

Lacking knowledge on a certain subject doesn't make you stupid.

Yes, the Yeti is at risk when out of sight.

Compressor location idea, link below.

YouTube

Just for the record my ARB compressor/Viair tank are under the hood in the same location as trigger.

I understand that, I wouldn't have one but this one was given as a gift to me!

That's an awesome video! Thank you. I actually sleep in the back of my 4Runner with my puppy! I appreciate it though. I did watch the video all the through

I'm probably the wrong person to answer here as I'm generally not a paranoid person and actively try not to be, but I wouldn't worry about grocery stores stops and especially not gas stations. Short stops, very public - nobody is going to climb up and start unloading your rack. Overnight hotel parking lots, OTOH, would worry me. I'd probably unload anything not locked down - and maybe even then. Motels where you can park right outside your room are better than towers with big parking lots.

Get renters insurance. Car insurance won't cover gear stolen from your vehicle.

YouTube