ALL Owners of the Gobi Stealth Rack: Here's your chance...

[TK-421]

I bought the ranger not the stealth but can add some comments. Wind noise at first was very bad with the stock angle on the fairing brackets. I spoke to Paul at Gobi and he told me to bend the brackets to 115 degrees and pull the ends in a bit so it actually has a good curve in the fairing. My fairing is completely snug and tight to the roof line. It helped the noise tremendously. I can't say much for gas mileage as I only have a little over 1000 miles. But early reports say it is hurting it by about 1.5-2 mpg. Have not installed the ladder, still debating. I am really tall so I am thinking of not installing the ladder anytime soon.

Hendooman -

Thanks for the reply. That's seems to be a significant drop in MPGs for the rack. Guess it's something I'll to have to accept if I want to go with this mod. I'm just surprised by the overall drop.

Have you noticed any leaks, rust, or wear points on your rack yet?

Jabberaw -

Don't consider it a hijack. I wouldn't mind hearing from Baja Rack owners on the same longterm issues associated w/ their rack.

 

[hendooman]

The quality is excellent on the Ranger Rack. No rust anywhere, all great hardware. The ranger top bar is a good three to five inches higher than the stealth as well. I also have the sunroof insert installed, so my overall weight is pretty significant. This is a well made rack.

 

[Antman]

I never noticed a MPG drop with the rack- I still get 18.5 with a lift, Duratracs and the rack during the summer. I drive like a sissy FWIW.:baby:

These racks are very well made. Mine is starting to show it's age due to use. I've had canoes, boats, bikes, plywood, kids, camping gear, chairs, lumber, gas cans, coolers, ME!- you name it up there.
Hard use causes scratches which causes rust to form (expected). Overall it's now faded considerably and starting to rust wherever it was nicked. Structurally 100%- I just need to take it off and spend some time sanding and painting and I'll have a like-new rack, again completely expected maintenance.

Wind noise, with my Rigid LED's mounted, is now pretty much gone- as is the hood glare I had with my Hella lights.

No leaks.

I would recommend a GOBI to anyone looking to buy.

 

[TK-421]

I never noticed a MPG drop with the rack- I still get 18.5 with a lift, Duratracs and the rack during the summer. I drive like a sissy FWIW.:baby:

These racks are very well made. Mine is starting to show it's age due to use. I've had canoes, boats, bikes, plywood, kids, camping gear, chairs, lumber, gas cans, coolers, ME!- you name it up there.
Hard use causes scratches which causes rust to form (expected). Overall it's now faded considerably and starting to rust wherever it was nicked. Structurally 100%- I just need to take it off and spend some time sanding and painting and I'll have a like-new rack, again completely expected maintenance.

Wind noise, with my Rigid LED's mounted, is now pretty much gone- as is the hood glare I had with my Hella lights.

No leaks.

I would recommend a GOBI to anyone looking to buy.

Antman -

Great review and exactly what I'm looking for. How long have you had it mounted? Do you plan on repainting this yourself or would you take it to a shop to have the powder coat redone?

 

[2chains]

Thanks for the review Antman, just checked out their site with new prices...hoping for a Gobi Group buy...

 

[Ammomac]

i'm looking for a full length rack and would be interested in the group buy

 

[IronManKansas]

Love mine I am getting ready to mount some light bars after I fab a bracket. When you are ordering make sure you plan ahead if you want to mount lights. They can customize it and possibly put brackets for the lights that you are planing to mount. If I didn't have to support bars on the front I may have gone with a 40 inch light bar. Only wish is that they made an aluminum or other light alloy version. Other then that it is holding up well and I have very little wind noise. I paid 1345 for mine with ladder, wind faring, one accessory, and free shipping. I bought it at trailduty.com if you watch they have discounts. I got the sun roof insert because I though it would be great if I needed extra room but 20/20 hindsight I wish I got the shovel/ax mount I would use that more frequently.

 

[rdswriter]

Quality Rack

Compared to my Ford Explorer, I noticed that the 4Runner factory sunroof design is much quieter. The GOBI rack was one of the first mods to my 14TEP due to (what I consider) inadequate rack system from Toyota. Once installed, I can tell a difference in noise level with the radio off, and also with the sunroof open... but it is still ALOT quieter than the Explorer... and noise tends to be relative to user expectations. With the sunroof closed and the radio on low, I can't even perceive the noise difference from the factory rails.

So all that being said, noise isn't an issue with the GOBI especially with the wind fairing properly curved, anchored and touching the entire roof line (like hendooman previously noted).

The funny thing is with all the different stuff I put up there, my kids still love the 30' Christmas garland the best. And I gotta admit... the GOBI rack provides a ton of options if you're looney enough to use it for that 'decorative mounting purposes'. Next year, I've already got more stuff I'm planning on doing for the Christmas holiday.

 

[Antman]

Antman -

Great review and exactly what I'm looking for. How long have you had it mounted? Do you plan on repainting this yourself or would you take it to a shop to have the powder coat redone?

My rack has been on there about 3 and a half years. I'll fix it myself- NBD.

 

[TK-421]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions -

I'm leaning towards the Gobi Stealth w/ a 40" Rigid or similar make LED light bar. Hoping to pull the trigger here shortly.

IronManKansas - I'll be sure to order it w/ the mounts for the light bar. Not sure when the lightbar will come, but don't want to have to fiddle around w/ brackets after the fact. Also, if a group buy from the forum doesn't happen soon, I'll be sure to check out trailduty.com, that's a great price on this rack. The Gobi website advertises at 1595.00.

I don't have a sunroof, so is it possible to have mesh built into the sunroof opening rather than going w/ an insert? I'll call Gobi directly and ask, but if anyone on the forum knows, I'd appreciate a quicker answer.

 

[Mowgli]

I'm undecided if I want to order it how it comes with the 4 6" light spots or change it to a 6/20/6 or a 40"

 

[IronManKansas]

I got the standard rack set up so I am doing two 6 inch combo reflector and a center 12inch curved spot. This is what it looks like with them sitting up there. I am going to mount them and run wire in January. I also have two 12s that i need to figure out how to mount behind the grill.

 

[2chains]

IronManKansas;looks great, What do you think is the best feature of the rack? What would you change? I'm going to order rack soon hope i can get a good deal shipped up here in the north. What route are you going to take with the wiring into the cab? I understand the Gobi rack comes pre-wired.

 

[eddie333]

Someone wanted input from Baja Rack owners: I have the Baja Short rack and love it. No problems in 2 years on ownership. Great customer service also. I've outgrown the short rack and will sell it, and plan to buy a Baja Long rack now.

 

[IronManKansas]

Thanks 2chains, The best part of the rack is the design and integration to the factory mounting points. I would have spent a few more dollars to get it in a light alloy. Also I saw that they have adjustable cross bars on the jk version. That may be nice to have full floor and adjustable/removable cross rails. My current plan for wiring is to run the grounds to the rack. Probably using the pre wired section to the back passenger corner. Then run power for the center bar down the driver side of the windshield gutter and power for the 6 inch bars down the passenger side. I think that this will be easier then going in by the rear lift gate and then running wire back up to the engine bay.

 

[Jabberjaw]

So ...when is the group buy?

 

[RitzCracker]

Roof Rack Looks great! I have one and have no issues with wind noise.

 

[Kashoggio]

Roof Rack Looks great! I have one and have no issues with wind noise.

Two years later....

 

[CF_Machete]

Awe hell why the **** not... My one gripe with my gobi is the clearance between the movable cross bars and the mesh floor, like 1/2 a inch more would be perfect; thats what she said.

I can get my yakima skybox 21 on, but it takes some force. Eventually installation might wear away at the powder coating. With all the winter rock salt, I'm not messing with non-aerodynamic roof bags and salt in the zipper any more the I'll toss my snowboard up on the roof unprotected. The dog needs his space.

1st world problems...

 

[T4R Trey]

Probably a stupid question but, what do you do with the satelite radio fin thing when you at a roof rack? I have a Gobi Stealth ordered already and it just occurred to me.