Baja Rack vs. Gobi

[bigbillyt]

Bought my Gobi Stealth rack a couple of years ago on a group buy here and absolutely love it. It is perfect for throwing a kayak or two up there and some wet gear. Now, if I could ever get around to actually utilizing the light bar mounts it would really rock.

I had a couple of nuts and bolts get a little rusty and Gobi customer service was great. They sent me a nice hardware replacement kit for the cost of shipping. I haven't had any experience with the other brands but my Gobi has been great.

 

[munkel]

I will never buy a Gobi product after reading up a bunch on Gobi v. Whitson, not super inclined to order a Baja either after the lame ass excuses with the mounting feet issues. Prinsu seems like a great alternative. All that being said I really want the flat Baja rack due to its height. It will be a game time decision when I have the money, ideally I can find someone local to make me one.

 

[Simpleman74]

I will never buy a Gobi product after reading up a bunch on Gobi v. Whitson,

yawn.... so companies should just cave in and not protect their patents.... the only reason people are mad is because they can't get a gobi design on the cheap anymore

 

[munkel]

yawn.... so companies should just cave in and not protect their patents.... the only reason people are mad is because they can't get a gobi design on the cheap anymore

I'm all for protecting your patents when your patent is not BS. The racks were not nearly similar enough for a normal patent infringement, their patent that they were granted was BS. Basically any rack that is custom fit for a vehicle. That would be similar to someone getting a patent for all iPhone cases, it is fit to an iPhone, so only they could make them. No one would ever grant that patent and no one should have ever granted them the patent they had.

 

[Liquidmantis]

Bought my Gobi Stealth rack a couple of years ago on a group buy here and absolutely love it. It is perfect for throwing a kayak or two up there and some wet gear. Now, if I could ever get around to actually utilizing the light bar mounts it would really rock.

Does the rise cause any issue with 'yaks on top? I've been considering the no-rise but prefer the rise look and it would probably be quicker delivery.

 

[bigbillyt]

Does the rise cause any issue with 'yaks on top? I've been considering the no-rise but prefer the rise look and it would probably be quicker delivery.

I guess I should have specified that I have a couple of Thule saddles mounted up there for the 'yaks to rest on. It wouldn't work otherwise with the rise.

I just got a lift installed though, and I can see that loading the boats is now going to be an entirely different matter now.

 

[blacksheep4]

Does the rise cause any issue with 'yaks on top? I've been considering the no-rise but prefer the rise look and it would probably be quicker delivery.

Probably depends on what kind you have. I have a nucanoe and I just slide it on right side up, push it just forward enough so that the rise in the front of the boat sits where the raised front bar is. Then I just secure it with ratchet straps and one tie down from a seat frame to a crossbar for added peace of mind. If you add any type off kayak saddle it should clear the bar easily, as the rise is only about two inches higher than the crossbars.

 

[MattX014]

I am currently pricing out a bajarack and Gobi Rack and people have in the past felt that Gobi was more expensive or overpriced. At first glance they seem very similar.

There is a group buy for Bajarack that is currently in the works which will likely yield %15 off the price, possibly %20 if 20 people participate.

However with pricing things out the Bajarack seems more pricey than the Gobi when it is all said and done

Bajarack - $1450 for the Full Mesh Rack (the option I am interested in)
- $350 for ladder (Also an option I am interested in)
- Freight about $170

Making $1800 for products (possibly $1530 with %15 group buy discount) and $170 for freight totalling out at either $1,970 or $1,700.

Moving to Gobi it is $1,595 for a similar product including a ladder and freight.

So even with the group buy discount, Gobi seems like a better buy.

As far as everything I can tell goes online and on these forums, people who bought Gobi seem to love it, people who bought baja rack seem to love it. The only bad things about these products seem to be said by people who chose the opposite manufacturer. Tends to be the case with lots of peoples opinions when they feel they need to justify their roughly $2,000 purchase.

I'd have to say I feel confident I would be happy going with either. And thus the lower price is pushing me towards the Gobi.

Anyone in a similar situation as myself?

 

[brtnstrns]

I am currently pricing out a bajarack and Gobi Rack and people have in the past felt that Gobi was more expensive or overpriced. At first glance they seem very similar.

There is a group buy for Bajarack that is currently in the works which will likely yield %15 off the price, possibly %20 if 20 people participate.

However with pricing things out the Bajarack seems more pricey than the Gobi when it is all said and done

Bajarack - $1450 for the Full Mesh Rack (the option I am interested in)
- $350 for ladder (Also an option I am interested in)
- Freight about $170

Making $1800 for products (possibly $1530 with %15 group buy discount) and $170 for freight totalling out at either $1,970 or $1,700.

Moving to Gobi it is $1,595 for a similar product including a ladder and freight.

So even with the group buy discount, Gobi seems like a better buy.

As far as everything I can tell goes online and on these forums, people who bought Gobi seem to love it, people who bought baja rack seem to love it. The only bad things about these products seem to be said by people who chose the opposite manufacturer. Tends to be the case with lots of peoples opinions when they feel they need to justify their roughly $2,000 purchase.

I'd have to say I feel confident I would be happy going with either. And thus the lower price is pushing me towards the Gobi.

Anyone in a similar situation as myself?

I did a similar analysis as you and came to the same conclusion. Once you add the ladder and accessories to the Baja, there is no price advantage over the Gobi with the same accessories since they're added for free.

I've read more complaints about rust with the Baja and I wanted a basket style because I know I would be paranoid about shit flying off the Baja, regardless of how well I strapped it down (I think their basket style is ****ing hideous, so that was out of the question).

Ultimately, I ordered the Gobi. It likely won't be here till July, but oh well. I'd happily go with someone else if there was a replica version that they hadn't ceased-and-desisted out of existence, but alas, there is not. The fact is the Gobi looks way better than any other rack on top of the 4Runner and is a basket style while also being low profile enough to fit into low garages, which is exactly what I need. Just wish there was another option since their service is awful.

 

[EffayBravo]

I am currently pricing out a bajarack and Gobi Rack and people have in the past felt that Gobi was more expensive or overpriced. At first glance they seem very similar.

There is a group buy for Bajarack that is currently in the works which will likely yield %15 off the price, possibly %20 if 20 people participate.

However with pricing things out the Bajarack seems more pricey than the Gobi when it is all said and done

Bajarack - $1450 for the Full Mesh Rack (the option I am interested in)
- $350 for ladder (Also an option I am interested in)
- Freight about $170

Making $1800 for products (possibly $1530 with %15 group buy discount) and $170 for freight totalling out at either $1,970 or $1,700.

Moving to Gobi it is $1,595 for a similar product including a ladder and freight.

So even with the group buy discount, Gobi seems like a better buy.

As far as everything I can tell goes online and on these forums, people who bought Gobi seem to love it, people who bought baja rack seem to love it. The only bad things about these products seem to be said by people who chose the opposite manufacturer. Tends to be the case with lots of peoples opinions when they feel they need to justify their roughly $2,000 purchase.

I'd have to say I feel confident I would be happy going with either. And thus the lower price is pushing me towards the Gobi.

Anyone in a similar situation as myself?

Mesh floors can be a PITA, I would recommend considering the baja utility option or even one of the many other racks available now (prinsu, frontrunner, rhino etc...) unless your getting it solely for looks and not functionality. Better price point, customer service and lead times as well. I know thats a little off topic from your question but just thought I would add my 2 cents.

I've been super happy with the Baja flat utility. Low profile, super easy to mount stuff to and its completely flat so it accommodates kayaks and larger items with no issues.

 

[MattX014]

Mesh floors can be a PITA, I would recommend considering the baja utility option or even one of the many other racks available now (prinsu, frontrunner, rhino etc...) unless your getting it solely for looks and not functionality. Better price point, customer service and lead times as well. I know thats a little off topic from your question but just thought I would add my 2 cents.

I've been super happy with the Baja flat utility. Low profile, super easy to mount stuff to and its completely flat so it accommodates kayaks and larger items with no issues.

That utility sounds like an excellent way to go, but having experience with only a conventional basket rack I feel like I used the edges quite a bit when strapping things down. I certainly like the looks of the flat rack better but am hoping to have the most practical thing up there more than anything. Also what is the negatives you've heard about the mesh rack? I suppose strapping down with tie downs could be more difficult with the mesh as it would get in the way of the cross bars.

Do you have much trouble getting luggage and smaller items tied in easily without the walls? I definitely see the pluses when you are tossing a kayak up or something similar.

 

[EffayBravo]

That utility sounds like an excellent way to go, but having experience with only a conventional basket rack I feel like I used the edges quite a bit when strapping things down. I certainly like the looks of the flat rack better but am hoping to have the most practical thing up there more than anything. Also what is the negatives you've heard about the mesh rack? I suppose strapping down with tie downs could be more difficult with the mesh as it would get in the way of the cross bars.

Do you have much trouble getting luggage and smaller items tied in easily without the walls? I definitely see the pluses when you are tossing a kayak up or something similar.

I actually prefer having no walls, its just easier to load and unload and causes no restrictions for larger objects.

I've had zero issues strapping things down and securing various mounts with the crossbars on the utility rack. I overpaid for a few of those frontrunner stratchits and they have been a great alternative to using traditional ratchet straps.

The main issue with the mesh flooring is being able to mount things after you have the rack installed, you can barely get your hands let alone tools underneath the rack to bolt anything and some bungees with coated or rubber hooks can be tricky to get in and out of that mesh.

 

[MattX014]

Thanks so much for the reply brother, I feel like you've saved me from alot of trouble by keeping me away from the mesh. I know exactly what you're talking about by getting the pressure fittings in there.

I was set on the basket and mesh, but now that you've helped realize the limitations of mesh I feel like I'm closer to knowing what my needs will require. You've got me leaning towards the utility but I'll have to mull that over.

Thanks alot for your help, I feel like I'm closer to making an informed decision!

 

[airpirate]

Baja VS Gobi

I have a 2019 4runner and am looking for a rack system.
Regarding the previous comments about denting with Baja Has anyone had any further issues?
Is there an advantage to having a wind deflector like with the Gobi? Does it keep items from floating off the rack? Does the deflector deteriorate the roof paint?
The Gobi msh stops short of the front of the rack, any issues with items contacting the roof through this openeing?

 

[codyHTX]

I guess I'll mention this since a baja thread popped back up top.

friend of mine has a baja flat rack (no sunroof) with horizontal bars (no mesh) that he uses primarily for his tepui rtt, which sees a decent amount of use. the front 3M mounts have been replaced with the newer narrow version (he did have very minor dents with the old wider 3M mounts)

so anyway... it seems the placement of the rtt (positioned more toward the rear of the rack, the center of the tent about 35% forward from the rear) has caused the front half of the rack to bow upward slightly with time and use, enough to break the adhesion of the front feet from the roof and now there is play in the front of the rack while driving, esp at hwy speeds.

the front feet are already at full extension, so without drilling longer slots there is no adjusting to regain solid pressure on the front feet. the nose of the wind fairing used to sit about 1/4" above the roof line, even if we re-slot the feet, it is easily at 1" above the roof line now.

the baja rack is flat, the gobi rack is contoured to follow the 4R roof line. similar to the built in bow of a flatbed trailer, i think the baja rack could be improved by contouring the outer frame to the roof line. since this would cause the rack platform itself to curve, the lateral support bars could be fab'd in such a way to make a flat platform within the contoured frame.

used to love the super low-profile look and functionality of his baja rack, but i would definitely not buy one anymore and am happy to have my heavier / better constructed (albeit louder) gobi stealth