$85 Roof Basket from... yes, Walmart...

[Jacko84]

So today I picked up my 4Runner after being in the shop for over a week getting some hail damage repaired. I wanted to get it a "welcome home" present so I bought this cheap yet surprisingly well made steel roof rack. This is the Reese Explore rooftop cargo basket. Not very big but definitely a cheap option for a quick and easy roof basket. I know I'm not gonna be able to put an elephant on it but for the occasional spare fuel canister or lighter items I think this will do the job.
Anybody have any experience with these?





Rooftop Cargo Basket-1391300-Reese Explore

 

[Koddo]

I've never considered a roof rack before, and actually thought they were just another expensive accessory for people to waste money on, but for $85....hot damn I may become a roof rack guy.

How sturdy are those inner basket supports? Can they be easily bent/moved when clamping two with your hand?

 

[DontKickTrees]

I have the same one and it worked out great on our last trip. Its just a placeholder until I get around to doing a full rack but a good deal for the price. We did a few hundred miles of dirt roads including some fairly rough stuff with gas, firewood and some lightweight bins on top and it held up well. Ours went together really easily. A friend bought the same one for his Subaru and he had some trouble assembling it so the build quality might not be very consistent.

 

[DontKickTrees]

Here it is loaded up. The supports are plenty strong and the knobs are big enough to easily tighten by hand.

 

[calcrc]

So today I picked up my 4Runner after being in the shop for over a week getting some hail damage repaired. I wanted to get it a "welcome home" present so I bought this cheap yet surprisingly well made steel roof rack. This is the Reese Explore rooftop cargo basket. Not very big but definitely a cheap option for a quick and easy roof basket. I know I'm not gonna be able to put an elephant on it but for the occasional spare fuel canister or lighter items I think this will do the job.
Anybody have any experience with these?





Rooftop Cargo Basket-1391300-Reese Explore

Walmart has surprisingly good cheap stuff you just have to be lucky when the prices are dropped. I have bought a couple of nice things there for really dirt cheap and good quality.


Nice find man.

 

[greatape]

Just keep an eye on the coating peeling off and rusting..wouldn't want you to get any rust stains on the rig. Seen a few that had that issue

Or you could redo the coating now with rustoleom bedliner or similar for peace of mind

 

[Jacko84]

Just keep an eye on the coating peeling off and rusting..wouldn't want you to get any rust stains on the rig. Seen a few that had that issue

Or you could redo the coating now with rustoleom bedliner or similar for peace of mind

Good point. I will have to keep an eye on this. If it starts to happen maybe I can re-coat it with some rust-o-lium (or however it's spelled)

 

[Bodie the Dog]

I have one

Other posts have noted they rust quickly, mostly at the screw holes. I have personally seen this on another vehicle in a local parking lot: long rusty drips running down the rack and side of the car.

When I installed mine, I used someone else's recommendation and squirted a bunch of silicon in the holes as I assembled it. I also painted the fairing a satin black.

I like it because I only need a rack on longer trips, so I only put it on when necessary. I'm trying to keep my truck as streamlined as possible, and don't see a need for all that crap up top. I weigh just shy of 200lbs, and have stood on top of my rack multiple times without breaking it.

Walmart rack: $85
Tarp, two collapsible tent poles, and support lines for awning: $40
Old fashioned 4 person ground tent: $50
No hit to gas mileage: priceless!

 

[Jacko84]

I've never considered a roof rack before, and actually thought they were just another expensive accessory for people to waste money on, but for $85....hot damn I may become a roof rack guy.

How sturdy are those inner basket supports? Can they be easily bent/moved when clamping two with your hand?

The inner bars are thin enough to where you can move them slightly when clamping with your hand. I don't expect them to give with weight (I wouldn't stand my 162 lbs self on them either) but if too much pressure is applied with say a ratchet strap they may bend a little.

 

[Jacko84]

Here it is loaded up. The supports are plenty strong and the knobs are big enough to easily tighten by hand.

Very nice!

 

[Jacko84]

Other posts have noted they rust quickly, mostly at the screw holes. I have personally seen this on another vehicle in a local parking lot: long rusty drips running down the rack and side of the car.

When I installed mine, I used someone else's recommendation and squirted a bunch of silicon in the holes as I assembled it. I also painted the fairing a satin black.

I like it because I only need a rack on longer trips, so I only put it on when necessary. I'm trying to keep my truck as streamlined as possible, and don't see a need for all that crap up top. I weigh just shy of 200lbs, and have stood on top of my rack multiple times without breaking it.

Walmart rack: $85
Tarp, two collapsible tent poles, and support lines for awning: $40
Old fashioned 4 person ground tent: $50
No hit to gas mileage: priceless!

Great ideas. Definitely coating with some silicone as soon as I get a chance. Do you have a pic with your setup with the awning?

 

[nglayton]

I wanted to get it a "welcome home" present

Is that a thing?

 

[Jacko84]

Is that a thing?

Heck yea man! I missed it, specially since my rental was a Chevy Equinox... :toilet:

 

[Bodie the Dog]

pics

Great ideas. Definitely coating with some silicone as soon as I get a chance. Do you have a pic with your setup with the awning?

Here's a couple from 18 years ago. I still use the poles, different tarp.

Crap, I'm getting old. What happened?

 

[Throwback]

Tarp "awning" doesn't count. Not ARB branded. You should be ashamed to even post that photo. And good attempt at passing off lawn chairs as overlanding furniture. What's wrong with you?

 

[Jacko84]

Here's a couple from 18 years ago. I still use the poles, different tarp.

Crap, I'm getting old. What happened?

Lol! I may have to try this setup.

 

[4Reak Show]

Another member bought 2 of these kits from Wally World for his 3rd gen and put them together to make it longer. And then he didn't like it so he GAVE it to me for my 2nd Gen and it fit PERFECTLY right only the stock rails. Super low profile and I've since thrown all kinds of goodies on it.

Like shovel/axe with homemade mounts:

And then lights all around (front/left/right/rear) wired independently:

And then weatherproof bins for gear/tools:

And finally a knock-off of max trax for like $90 on eBay:

So yeah, this rack is pretty legit for the price in my opinion. And for 8% of the price of other racks... Tough to hate if it works for you.

 

[Jacko84]

Another member bought 2 of these kits from Wally World for his 3rd gen and put them together to make it longer. And then he didn't like it so he GAVE it to me for my 2nd Gen and it fit PERFECTLY right only the stock rails. Super low profile and I've since thrown all kinds of goodies on it.

Like shovel/axe with homemade mounts:

And then lights all around (front/left/right/rear) wired independently:

And then weatherproof bins for gear/tools:

And finally a knock-off of max trax for like $90 on eBay:

So yeah, this rack is pretty legit for the price in my opinion. And for 8% of the price of other racks... Tough to hate if it works for you.

Very good idea to put 2 together. I don't need one that big but if I did that would be the way to go. Looks good man. If i did more off-roading I'd definitely get the maxtrax and a shovel up there.

 

[4Reak Show]

Hahaha I don't off road at all. My uncle gives me sh!t for it being a museum piece but I just have a weird high school-like crush on it. F*ckin OCD. Makes my brain wired weird.

The fun for me is the process of making it look pretty and cool and READY for action, without actually ever seeing any. A cardinal sin for a lot of folks here...

But I get cool looks in the grocery store parking lot on weekends. ...[sigh]

 

[Toyojay]

Hahaha I don't off road at all. My uncle gives me sh!t for it being a museum piece but I just have a weird high school-like crush on it. F*ckin OCD. Makes my brain wired weird.

The fun for me is the process of making it look pretty and cool and READY for action, without actually ever seeing any. A cardinal sin for a lot of folks here...

But I get cool looks in the grocery store parking lot on weekends. ...[sigh]

That looks pretty sweet! How were the two joined? Just cut and welded together?