Check your fairing!

[Antman]

This is for everyone that has some sort of fairing (wind deflector) in front of their rack...

Take it off and check the paint on your roof. Chances are, the rubber weatherstripping under your fairing is scratching the hell out of it. I have been meaning to check mine (on the Gobi) for a while, and in almost a year it scratched the clearcoat enough so that I wasn't able to buff it out completely.

It's not that big a deal until it rubs through ALL of your paint, which it will do eventually. Especially for all of you mud-dawgs (Adio3x!); mud between that rubber strip and the roof is like wet-sanding your paint.... all day long

Solution? This stuff from Trimbrite.






You can pick it up at places like Pepboys for a few bucks. It's a thick, adhesive, clear vinyl that you can stick to your roof to protect the paint.

I taped some to the roof with the backing still on and traced the front curve of the fairing, where the rubber meets the roof. Then I removed it all, cut the line with scissors and stuck it up there.

No more scratches on the paint, and you can hardly tell it's there.


Do it before it's too late! :crybaby:

 

[Bay33saw]

This is for everyone that has some sort of fairing (wind deflector) in front of their rack...

Take it off and check the paint on your roof. Chances are, the rubber weatherstripping under your fairing is scratching the hell out of it. I have been meaning to check mine (on the Gobi) for a while, and in almost a year it scratched the clearcoat enough so that I wasn't able to buff it out completely.

It's not that big a deal until it rubs through ALL of your paint, which it will do eventually. Especially for all of you mud-dawgs (Adio3x!); mud between that rubber strip and the roof is like wet-sanding your paint.... all day long

Solution? This stuff from Trimbrite.



How about some pictures of thise clear tape?



View attachment 61400


You can pick it up at places like Pepboys for a few bucks. It's a thick, adhesive, clear vinyl that you can stick to your roof to protect the paint.

I taped some to the roof with the backing still on and traced the front curve of the fairing, where the rubber meets the roof. Then I removed it all, cut the line with scissors and stuck it up there.

No more scratches on the paint, and you can hardly tell it's there.


Do it before it's too late! :crybaby:

How about some pictures of thise clear tape?

 

[Antman]

Demanding little jerk. Gimme a minute.

 

[TOPDECK]

I never understood why Gobi designed their racks in that way. Glad you found a fix!

 

[Antman]

OK- I can't take pictures to begin with, so you can imagine the difficulties I face when trying to capture clear film in direct sunlight in the shaded area under the fairing. But- you get the idea...

Here's what it looks like from the front. Can't see it? Exactly.

 

[Ducmonsta]

Is it inappropriate to say "I told you so!":hiding:

 

[Ducmonsta]

So, the GOBI.

I elected not to have the crossbars installed in the rack. I wanted to have a bigger space for storing/hauling stuff flat. I also wanted the front of the Gobi semi contour the truck. That's why you'll see the top bar curve down. Orignially, I was going to mount the SR on top like everyone else, but I wanted to keep the truck "parkable" in garages. I know it isn't that much, but every little bit helps. I also told them that I did not want the vertical "bars" in front of the rack (the part that separates everyone's 6" lights). And I have the sunroof insert also. Haven't decided on the ladder yet, but it's growing on me.

I'm also not too big a fan of the fairing sitting on top of my truck. I live where there are too many mature trees and can only imagine the crap that would get wedged behind the fairing. Plus, when we do get snow (ice here in nova), it'll be easier to sweep away.
And yes, the fairing is di noc'd
View attachment 52033

Pulled from my build thread. I have no idea why Gobi designed it this way.

BTW, everyone should check under the rear spoiler. Chances are, there is paint coming off there too. Check under the corners where the spoiler meets the gate.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

Shiny.

 

[Bay33saw]

Thank you sir, now how hard was that.....:lmao:

 

[||ReT4Ribution||]

rubbing is racing! :driving:

yeah... my rear spoiler rubbed my rear gate to bare metal... dealer gave me a bottel of touch up paint and sent me on my way.... -_-

Our paint is SUPER THIN!!!

 

[1engineer]

I use the clear tape on my mountain bike to keep the hydraulic brake hose from rubbing through the paint.

 

[SavageRunner]

Is this film still holding up well? I just ordered some to put on when I install my rack this weekend. Has anyone tried cutting a piece to put on the edge of the hood?

 

[3wbdriver]

OK- I can't take pictures to begin with, so you can imagine the difficulties I face when trying to capture clear film in direct sunlight in the shaded area under the fairing. But- you get the idea...

A man with your multidimensional talents can't take pictures!? THE SHAME!!! OH THE HUMANITY!!!! hoto:

 

[4RnR Grl]

Interesting... when you buy a fairing from Thule, they actually include a couple little clear stickers to put on the roof under the foam feet of the fairing to prevent that exact thing from happening. I had my rack on my Matrix for two or three years with no issues.

 

[Antman]

Is this film still holding up well? I just ordered some to put on when I install my rack this weekend. Has anyone tried cutting a piece to put on the edge of the hood?

Holding up great!

 

[marmotan]

Gobi rack fairing rubber strip

I just installed my Gobi Stealth and put the fairing on.

Since the fairing brackets are fully-adjustable, I'm considering removing the long rubber weatherstrip from the fairing altogether, raising the fairing a bit, and just leaving a half-inch or so of space between it and the roof. I think the weatherstrip cheapens the look a little. Baja Rack fairings, for example, don't touch the roof and I kinda prefer that.

Does anyone who has had a Gobi for a while think this might be a bad idea?

 

[sandcrawler]

Interesting... when you buy a fairing from Thule, they actually include a couple little clear stickers to put on the roof under the foam feet of the fairing to prevent that exact thing from happening. I had my rack on my Matrix for two or three years with no issues.

...with a new, "snowboard-style" Thule fairing, anyway. i have the old style Thule fairing (555, i think?) and it didn't come with any paint protection. :shrug:

another tip o' the hat to [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] for the clever, cheap mod. my paint and clearcoat thanks you. :cheers:

 

[desertred]

One for the reasons I believe t hat manufacturers place or offer a fairing on their racks is to reduce wind noise from the bars. Raising the fairing may increase the noise, especially at highway speeds. No experience here; just thinking virally.

 

[LandCruiser]

The paint is paper thin on these damn things. My rock chips are rusting where they were to the primer.

 

[Jhalko]

I just installed my Gobi Stealth and put the fairing on.

Since the fairing brackets are fully-adjustable, I'm considering removing the long rubber weatherstrip from the fairing altogether, raising the fairing a bit, and just leaving a half-inch or so of space between it and the roof. I think the weatherstrip cheapens the look a little. Baja Rack fairings, for example, don't touch the roof and I kinda prefer that.

Does anyone who has had a Gobi for a while think this might be a bad idea?

I have the fairing on my camelback rack adjusted like this, about 1/4-1/2 inch gap all across. I look up there here and there with zero scrapes, I also generally have no wind noise. Although at 75mph if I get a crosswind I will get some rattle as the fairing vibrates against the supports. I'll take that over scrapes in the paint though. I've had it like this about 9 months.

Not sure if the Gobi is different...