Advisory: Baja Racks
- Thread starter Keith_PDX
- Start date
wild_turkey
New member
Pitfa!
Installed the new mounting feet last night. I planned to take photos of the process, but once I started cleaning up the old silicone from the previous 2 installs, I was too steamed to take any more photos.
One photo that may help is of my setup to change the feet without taking the rack completely off the rig.
I used some scrap 2x4 and wrapped them with some packing foam so it wouldn't scratch the paint. I needed an extra piece of 1x to get the rack to a workable height off the roof. I could have turned the 2x4's the other way, but I wanted the stability of having them flat.
Removing the old feet and aluminum shims I made for install 2 went pretty quickly. I removed the bolts holding the feet to the roof, then put the rack up on the blocks to remove the feet from the rack.
You have to clean the silicone residue up pretty well in order for the spacers to fit in the channel properly. The spacers are pretty much net and do not have much play. That's great if you're doing the install for the 1st time on a clean surface. However it forces you to clean the surface pretty thoroughly in order for the plates to fit on install #2, or in my case, install #3. It is a royal PITFA and I spent a solid hour or so just on clean up. I had liberally applied the marine sealant so that I would get some squeeze out for a good seal on the prior installs, which ended up making for a lot of clean up work on this install. Maybe there's an easier way. Heat?
Sorry I only have 2 photos to share, but [MENTION=85819]coversion[/MENTION] shared some nice in process photos in his post.
Installed the new mounting feet last night. I planned to take photos of the process, but once I started cleaning up the old silicone from the previous 2 installs, I was too steamed to take any more photos.
One photo that may help is of my setup to change the feet without taking the rack completely off the rig.
I used some scrap 2x4 and wrapped them with some packing foam so it wouldn't scratch the paint. I needed an extra piece of 1x to get the rack to a workable height off the roof. I could have turned the 2x4's the other way, but I wanted the stability of having them flat.
Removing the old feet and aluminum shims I made for install 2 went pretty quickly. I removed the bolts holding the feet to the roof, then put the rack up on the blocks to remove the feet from the rack.
You have to clean the silicone residue up pretty well in order for the spacers to fit in the channel properly. The spacers are pretty much net and do not have much play. That's great if you're doing the install for the 1st time on a clean surface. However it forces you to clean the surface pretty thoroughly in order for the plates to fit on install #2, or in my case, install #3. It is a royal PITFA and I spent a solid hour or so just on clean up. I had liberally applied the marine sealant so that I would get some squeeze out for a good seal on the prior installs, which ended up making for a lot of clean up work on this install. Maybe there's an easier way. Heat?
Sorry I only have 2 photos to share, but [MENTION=85819]coversion[/MENTION] shared some nice in process photos in his post.
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Same thing happened to me
Hello all,
Exact same thing happened to me. I purchased a 2016 4Runner TRD Pro last month (May). I spoke to Baja Rack direct, to confirm proper mounting to my new 4Runner. It was explained to me that "the brackets kind of float in the channel". Once I received the rack, I was slightly perplexed, because the brackets didn't seem to float at all. However, there is a certain amount of trust when purchasing a product that comes with such stellar reviews. So, not being an engineer, and confident after speaking to Baja Rack direct, I proceeded with the install. I followed the directions exactly, and once everything was in place, I snugged it all down. Now here is the reason the damage is easily missed; when snugging down the rack, you are standing just below the roof line (on the perimeter of the vehicle), so you are watching the outer rail. From that point, everything looks good. But by the time you are finished, the bracket is bending inwards (toward the inner roof) and caving it in. So like others before me, by the time you see what's happening, the damage is done! I don't even have license plates on my TRD yet, but I do have major roof/body damage at 4 locations. After searching the web, and finding this same issue on multiple websites, I see that Baja Rack was FULLY AWARE of this problem, yet they sold me this product just two weeks ago. These are the exact ingredients of a class action law suit.
Meanwhile, since this damage is irreversible by me (and to keep my sanity), I removed the rack, added neoprene washers, stacked 3- 1/16" stainless washers at each location (for spacers), then put the rack back on. The question is, why am I doing a temp fix on a product that has been promised, and sold to me to be correct, and fully functional, if the directions are followed? The TRUTH about Baja Rack needs to be disseminated, and, Baja Rack needs to step up and pay for every vehicle that they have damaged due to their faulty design.
Hello all,
Exact same thing happened to me. I purchased a 2016 4Runner TRD Pro last month (May). I spoke to Baja Rack direct, to confirm proper mounting to my new 4Runner. It was explained to me that "the brackets kind of float in the channel". Once I received the rack, I was slightly perplexed, because the brackets didn't seem to float at all. However, there is a certain amount of trust when purchasing a product that comes with such stellar reviews. So, not being an engineer, and confident after speaking to Baja Rack direct, I proceeded with the install. I followed the directions exactly, and once everything was in place, I snugged it all down. Now here is the reason the damage is easily missed; when snugging down the rack, you are standing just below the roof line (on the perimeter of the vehicle), so you are watching the outer rail. From that point, everything looks good. But by the time you are finished, the bracket is bending inwards (toward the inner roof) and caving it in. So like others before me, by the time you see what's happening, the damage is done! I don't even have license plates on my TRD yet, but I do have major roof/body damage at 4 locations. After searching the web, and finding this same issue on multiple websites, I see that Baja Rack was FULLY AWARE of this problem, yet they sold me this product just two weeks ago. These are the exact ingredients of a class action law suit.
Meanwhile, since this damage is irreversible by me (and to keep my sanity), I removed the rack, added neoprene washers, stacked 3- 1/16" stainless washers at each location (for spacers), then put the rack back on. The question is, why am I doing a temp fix on a product that has been promised, and sold to me to be correct, and fully functional, if the directions are followed? The TRUTH about Baja Rack needs to be disseminated, and, Baja Rack needs to step up and pay for every vehicle that they have damaged due to their faulty design.
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Teufel_Runner
New member
No Homo!
Nice rig! thats my favorite color of this machine! 2nd is the inferno! but I like the detail in your write up...
Nice rig! thats my favorite color of this machine! 2nd is the inferno! but I like the detail in your write up...
Has anyone talked about or looked into a lawsuit? I am normally not the litigious type, but this kind of damage was *easily* avoidable with proper testing. It's a hard pill to swallow, knowing that I spent a grand on a rack I assumed was properly designed, just to damage my truck.
I just sent an email with the information requested by Baja to get the replacement brackets. I got back a reply from customer no-service with the same exact form asking for the same information again, because they didn't bother reading the first email where it was provided.
I should have trusted my gut and bought Gobi. I regret being impatient and now I am just pissed.
I just sent an email with the information requested by Baja to get the replacement brackets. I got back a reply from customer no-service with the same exact form asking for the same information again, because they didn't bother reading the first email where it was provided.
I should have trusted my gut and bought Gobi. I regret being impatient and now I am just pissed.
They did proper testing when the bracket was designed. In this thread it states that wear on the tooling is the cause for the issue, not lack of initial testing. QC is a different issue.
I'm not in a hurry to accept the word of the company that is at fault in the first place. Both tolerances and tool wear should have been accounted for, and would have been by a company investing in proper R&D. It feels very much like Baja was just chasing GOBI dollars and rushed something out the door which has caused easily tens of thousands of dollars in damage to customer vehicles, based on the number of pictures I'm seeing.
Testing should have been more thorough than first run brackets at the onset of production, and it should be ongoing over the life of the product.
Lastly, based on my interaction with the company, they couldn't be less interested in making right, past giving us some replacement brackets I had to bug them to get, coordinated by a person who fails at basic reading comprehension. It's business 101 to setup product registration to facilitate recalls. I used to recommend them to people who asked. I'll be advising anyone who asks (or who will listen) to avoid them now.
mattyrides07
New member
And I will NOT be buying a Baja Rack now. Thanks to this thread, my decision is a lot easier.
tommygunn5645
New member
I have received my replacement feet but I am unsure if I'm going to use them. The damage is done and the old feet seem like they might hide the dents better. Has anyone tried to fix the damage?
Chrisinvermont
Member
another reason for advisory
Wow, Just found this thread. I have a Baja cargo rack on my 2010, I got it right after Baja released them for the 5th gen. I know that I don't have this issue because I just pulled the entire rack off and there were no dents. What I do have is massive failure of the powder coating. This started happening after 2 years of having the rack and I tried patching it up each year.
I did reach out to Baja last year and they offered to recoat but I would have had too pay for shipping each way. This year I finally pulled the rack and it's currently off for powder coating locally at my expense. I figured the expense of shipping would be close to the cost of redoing it locally. Local guy looked into galvanizing the rack but it would need to be drilled before dipping. Going with a powder coat with some zinc in it after it's been blasted.
Wow, Just found this thread. I have a Baja cargo rack on my 2010, I got it right after Baja released them for the 5th gen. I know that I don't have this issue because I just pulled the entire rack off and there were no dents. What I do have is massive failure of the powder coating. This started happening after 2 years of having the rack and I tried patching it up each year.
I did reach out to Baja last year and they offered to recoat but I would have had too pay for shipping each way. This year I finally pulled the rack and it's currently off for powder coating locally at my expense. I figured the expense of shipping would be close to the cost of redoing it locally. Local guy looked into galvanizing the rack but it would need to be drilled before dipping. Going with a powder coat with some zinc in it after it's been blasted.
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NutZac
New member
I appreciate all the info on here. While I do appreciate that they're somewhat "rectifying" the issue at hand, I ended up going with the Gobi stealth. Unfortunately it's a 12 week lead time. I wish you all the best of luck with the damage repair, and I'm sorry that some had to be weary by the dismay of a few.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
davester00
New member
Updated mounts
Received the updated mounts for my baja spy rack.
Unbolted the old mounts, cleaned roof surface, vacuumed channel, sealed outside of tubes with silicon and Chemical Guys jet-sealed the portion of the roof that was once covered by the old mounts.
I employed a similar technique as wild_turkey by using 2x4 wrapped with the padding that they shipped the new mount in. I did not take of the entire rack. I loosened all the bolts enough to give me wiggle room. Started with the passenger side by taking the bolts off the B mount then the C mount. Before I removed the weight off the mounts I inserted the 2x4 to hold create space to work and install the new mounts.
Only installed the B and C mounts and not looking forward to replacing VSB tape to my A pillar mounts since they came loose when I was installing B and C mounts.
Inspected my roof-line and I could not see any dents on my roof, maybe because I left the inserts in from the roof rack delete I did before receiving th Baja rack or because I only had ~100#s of gear on top for extended periods of driving time. The only damage seen was some paint damage due to the friction of the old mounts from vibrations where they contacted my roof. I consider myself lucky.
The update looks to be pretty sturdy with the taller insert and the arched / angled rise portion of the mounts. Looks like the weight will be dispersed better on the roof channel. I torqued the bolts down to recommended specs. I'll put on some miles and re-check the bolts.
Received the updated mounts for my baja spy rack.
Unbolted the old mounts, cleaned roof surface, vacuumed channel, sealed outside of tubes with silicon and Chemical Guys jet-sealed the portion of the roof that was once covered by the old mounts.
I employed a similar technique as wild_turkey by using 2x4 wrapped with the padding that they shipped the new mount in. I did not take of the entire rack. I loosened all the bolts enough to give me wiggle room. Started with the passenger side by taking the bolts off the B mount then the C mount. Before I removed the weight off the mounts I inserted the 2x4 to hold create space to work and install the new mounts.
Only installed the B and C mounts and not looking forward to replacing VSB tape to my A pillar mounts since they came loose when I was installing B and C mounts.
Inspected my roof-line and I could not see any dents on my roof, maybe because I left the inserts in from the roof rack delete I did before receiving th Baja rack or because I only had ~100#s of gear on top for extended periods of driving time. The only damage seen was some paint damage due to the friction of the old mounts from vibrations where they contacted my roof. I consider myself lucky.
The update looks to be pretty sturdy with the taller insert and the arched / angled rise portion of the mounts. Looks like the weight will be dispersed better on the roof channel. I torqued the bolts down to recommended specs. I'll put on some miles and re-check the bolts.
Last edited:
Peakbagger
New member
Installed my new feet today. Only had the old ones on for about 3 months and only have one one camping trip with about 150 pounds of gear on top. Like the previous poster, my paint under the old feet was scuffed, but no dents/divots (thankfully).
Thanks to Bajarack for being responsive to this problem and coming up with a fix and sending out the replacements quickly. The new B-pillar mounts sit a little higher so the windscreen doesn't directly contact the roof during installation.
Thanks to Bajarack for being responsive to this problem and coming up with a fix and sending out the replacements quickly. The new B-pillar mounts sit a little higher so the windscreen doesn't directly contact the roof during installation.
wild_turkey
New member
Toffees
Member
Do you have a spare $40k I can borrow?
1engineer
Moderator
Sorry. It's already being used by people who need it to live apparently.
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