4runner Flat Roof Rack Comparison

[4runrr]

Hey all,

I appreciate all the threads on roof racks on the forums and I thought I would share the research that I've done so far in the attached spreadsheet. If anyone has suggestions for additional manufacturers, features to track, or corrections to the data please let me know and I'll update. I'll also try to reach out to the manufacturers on any ?? I have at this point as well!

 

[Hautian]

Nice work. What about the ARB base rack?

 

[whododat1]

RCI rack please.

Thanks for the work on this.

 

[cbaty08]

Would be interested in seeing Westcott Design's in the lineup.

 

[Dorobuta]

WestScott has a decent rack

I have their ladder on my T4R

 

[PaulC4]

I have the Victory rack, and can confirm that it takes a lot of tweaking to get the fairing tight against the roof to avoid noise.

One other possible column for the table, for those of us who use the rack for "home chore" purposes: "How well does it handle a sheet of plywood or drywall?" Or perhaps simply another column for miscellaneous notes.

The Victory rack is just a touch under 4' wide (47.5" outside-outside). The challenge this presents is that the racks side rails are higher than the center cross pieces, so any sheet-goods wind up resting on one side or the other, rather than laying completely flat. (A solvable problem by adding some fore-and-aft pieces under the sheet-goods, but a small bit of a pain, none-the-less). Other racks may not suffer from the same problem (based purely on pictures I've seen).

 

[I4CUTigers]

You should check your load ratings. No way your static load should be less than your dynamic load for any of these options. Also the factory rail options would appear to be the dynamic load capacity, not the static load capacity as you have it listed. Pretty sure Toyota rates the factory rails at 135lbs under dynamic or moving conditions.

 

[mscot]

I have an LFD 3/4. It's not the most attractive of the options out there but it is flat and I have carried many loads of plywood on it with no problems.

 

[4runrr]

You should check your load ratings. No way your static load should be less than your dynamic load for any of these options. Also the factory rail options would appear to be the dynamic load capacity, not the static load capacity as you have it listed. Pretty sure Toyota rates the factory rails at 135lbs under dynamic or moving conditions.

I believe you're referring to the up top rack numbers, I accidentally flipped those, I'll be updating this weekend and correct that number! Regarding factory, I'll change how that reads as well...agree the 135 is factory dynamic...no one can tell if that is due to the crossbars or the actual rail, some indicating that for prior year 4runners with different crossbar design had a limit sticker of 165, but that is certainly a rabbit hole.

 

[honda250xtitan]

nice work.

this guy "lets use data and other measurable qualities to determine the roof rack to buy"

me "that looks cool, i want it now" lolol



westcott rack has a nicer and better built mounting system IMHO. THat being said, i've had no issues with our og full length Prinsu.

 

[slonny]

Thanks for posting this. Just in time.

 

[OffKamber]

excellent write up. I would also include a line for "true flat" as (for example) the SSO is slanted in the front... making it slightly less desirable with a roof top tent.