Experience? Rola roof basket

[LIRunner03]

I have mine flipped so I could use the vent option. Been that way for a year or so....no issues and looks great!

 

[YetiX]

Has anyone figured out a full width fairing that will work on these racks? I feel like the big openings at each side add drag and noise. Anyone?

 

[PeteZ06]

Looks good

 

[TXLX1]

are there any DIY low-profile mounts around? $80 is fuxkin' steep for a little bit of hardware.

I make and use a similar style mount for my roof racks, and I don't think I'd sell a mount set for less than $75 with the hardware and powdercoated. But I make and drill them entirely by hand.

 

[Flash Runner]

So I'm just gonna try and summarize this whole thread (since its old, 9 pages, and some people just skip to the last page after the first couple) from what I just got done reading:

1) Most people would recommend the rack
2) The best place to buy regularly is etrailer or amazon
3) It's recommended to buy the extension piece for aesthetic and performance reasons - too each their own though

4) It's had a history of rust:
-to combat it Rola now offers rubber sleeves over the joints
-it's recommended to upgrade the hardware that comes with the rack with stainless steel pieces
-also to rustoleum/plasti-dip the whole rack (especially the connection points) and the new hardware. - someone recommend doing it again after the first year of use
-when put together seal all the joints with silicone or something similar

5) Aesthetically people are really recommending the low profile mounts from Armour Tech:
-when using the mounts you should also rustoleum/plasti-dip them to stop rust
-these mounts can be installed in two ways
-mainly they are mounted in "Low" position - use of these mounts in this way does not allow the use of the "vent" function of the sunroof (some people have cut out the cross bars that block the vent from being used)
-they can be "flipped" which makes them sit higher about 2" to allow the venting
- I believe that the normal "Open" function of the sunroof can still be used with the low profile mounts despite the position

edit- parts about the brackets having two different mounting positions (thanks to [MENTION=114745]YetiX[/MENTION] ) and to silicone all the rack joints after construction.

 

[YetiX]

So I'm just gonna try and summarize this whole thread (since its old, 9 pages, and some people just skip to the last page after the first couple) from what I just got done reading:

1) Most people would recommend the rack
2) The best place to buy regularly is etrailer or amazon
3) It's recommended to buy the extension piece for aesthetic and performance reasons - too each their own though

4) It's had a history of rust:
-to combat it Rola now offers rubber sleeves over the joints
-it's recommended to upgrade the hardware that comes with the rack with stainless steel pieces
-also to rustoleum/plasti-dip the whole rack (especially the connection points) and the new hardware. - someone recommend doing it again after the first year of use

5) Aesthetically people are really recommending the low profile mounts from Armour Tech:
-when using the mounts you should also rustoleum/plasti-dip them to stop rust
-use of these mounts does not allow the use of the "vent" function of the sunroof (some people have cut out the cross bars that block the vent from being used)
- I believe that the normal "Open" function of the sunroof can still be used with the low profile mounts

The Armour Tech brackets can be mounted two ways. In the low position, you cannot use the sunroof vent function as you have noted. In the high position (about 2" higher) you can use the vent function.

 

[Flash Runner]

[MENTION=114745]YetiX[/MENTION] Mind shedding some more enlightenment for me - I just ordered the trio, rack extension and LPMs, and re-read through this entire thread.

1) Can you clarify that you can use the "Open" sunroof even when in the low? - I assumed this when I first posted and well you know what happens when you assume
2) are there instructions for removing the factory crossbars and installing the mounts... or is it expected to be straightforward?

Just some last minute details I was wanting to clear up before the parts arrive

 

[YetiX]

[MENTION=114745]YetiX[/MENTION] Mind shedding some more enlightenment for me - I just ordered the trio, rack extension and LPMs, and re-read through this entire thread.

1) Can you clarify that you can use the "Open" sunroof even when in the low? - I assumed this when I first posted and well you know what happens when you assume
2) are there instructions for removing the factory crossbars and installing the mounts... or is it expected to be straightforward?

Just some last minute details I was wanting to clear up before the parts arrive

Hey Flash Runner,

1) You can slide the sunroof open and closed with the rack in the low position. However, you CANNOT use the vent function, i.e. where the rear of the sunroof tilts up, as it will hit the cross-bars. (I may just remove 1 or 2 of the Rola's cross bars.) If you use the ArmourTech brackets in the higher position, you can use the vent function too. If you need pictures of anything, please let me know.

2) There are no instructions on how to remove the factory roof racks, I had to look it up. Short version: you remove either the front or rear covers, remove the front or rear rack supports, slide the factor cross bars out, loosely install the ArmourTech mounts, re-install the rack supports, re-install the rack end covers, and then install the Rola rack.

This video shows how to remove the factory roof racks for an SR5 or Limited: VIDEO

If you have any more questions, let me know. :thumb:

 

[THays]

Armour tech mounts just for looks?

To those that have used the low profile mounts from armour tech, did you get them just for cosmetic purposes? Has it made any impact on wind noise or mpg?

I currently have mine mounted on the stock cross rails which makes it sit up a bit higher than I'd like, but it's easy to take off when I am not using it. I imagine the kit from armour tech makes it a bit more of a pain to constantly take on and off?

 

[b407driver]

To those that have used the low profile mounts from armour tech, did you get them just for cosmetic purposes? Has it made any impact on wind noise or mpg?

I currently have mine mounted on the stock cross rails which makes it sit up a bit higher than I'd like, but it's easy to take off when I am not using it. I imagine the kit from armour tech makes it a bit more of a pain to constantly take on and off?

Both cosmetics and for the potential wind noise decrease, though I never installed it 'normally' to know how much difference it made. When sitting on the stock crossbars, it looks much more like the Yakima Road Warrior. Down lower it actually looks like it was made for the 4Runner.

It's probably a bit more involved to remove, but I would trust those goofy stock mounts for anything beyond the weight of the rack itself. I've had way more weight than I should have on this rack with these mounts, and it has been absolutely rock-solid.

More info here specific to the low-profile mounts:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/238047-installed-rola-low-profile-mounts-5th-gen.html

 

[YetiX]

To those that have used the low profile mounts from armour tech, did you get them just for cosmetic purposes? Has it made any impact on wind noise or mpg?

I currently have mine mounted on the stock cross rails which makes it sit up a bit higher than I'd like, but it's easy to take off when I am not using it. I imagine the kit from armour tech makes it a bit more of a pain to constantly take on and off?

I originally had my Rola mounted to the stock crossbars and then switched to the Armor Tech mounts about a week later. I feel like the wind noise went down quite a bit and the rack definitely feels more stable and strong. It also doesn't see, to catch cross-winds the way it did when it was mounted up higher.

I just wish the fairing went all the way across. I need more room for stickers!! :doh:

 

[pDubs]

A lot of people are saying you can't use the sunroof vent option with this rack and armourtech brackets in the "Low" position. This is true if you have the extension piece on the rack. Otherwise just install the rack so it is a few mm back from the sunroof when it's opened.

 

[YetiX]

A lot of people are saying you can't use the sunroof vent option with this rack and armourtech brackets in the "Low" position. This is true if you have the extension piece on the rack. Otherwise just install the rack so it is a few mm back from the sunroof when it's opened.

Or remove the offending bar, which is what I'm going to do. :thumb:

 

[ebercon]

Just added one of these to the Christmas list! Seems like a solid deal

 

[Anteupp]

Or remove the offending bar, which is what I'm going to do. :thumb:

i think I'm going to do the same thing, i love this budget rack so far i highly recommend it. [MENTION=114745]YetiX[/MENTION] did you custom mount for your awning or are you using mounts that are available for purchase?

as far as the rust issues go, i welded all the seams where the rack slips onto itself.

 

[YetiX]

i think I'm going to do the same thing, i love this budget rack so far i highly recommend it. [MENTION=114745]YetiX[/MENTION] did you custom mount for your awning or are you using mounts that are available for purchase?

as far as the rust issues go, i welded all the seams where the rack slips onto itself.

I used mounts from Four Treks for my awning and for my shovel. LINK They aren't cheap, but they are incredibly well-made and bombproof. Before I got my Rola, I had the awning mounted to my Sport Edition rack. You can see well-made the mounts are:

 

[Anteupp]

I used mounts from Four Treks for my awning and for my shovel. LINK They aren't cheap, but they are incredibly well-made and bombproof. Before I got my Rola, I had the awning mounted to my Sport Edition rack. You can see well-made the mounts are:

wow those are nice! thanks for the info, merry christmas to me LOL

 

[Flash Runner]

Keeping this thread going bc I think the Rola is a great budget entry rack for those who want one. But to expand on the topic of discussion:

Anyone have experience with light bar mounting directly to the Rola rack? (as opposed to mounting to the 4R itself) I'd imagine its a bar 40" to 42", I'm wondering how people are going about making some mounts for it!

 

[BagiMT]

Keeping this thread going bc I think the Rola is a great budget entry rack for those who want one. But to expand on the topic of discussion:

Anyone have experience with light bar mounting directly to the Rola rack? (as opposed to mounting to the 4R itself) I'd imagine its a bar 40" to 42", I'm wondering how people are going about making some mounts for it!

There is a whole thread on this:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/157764-rola-roof-rack-lighting-options.html

 

[Flash Runner]

There is a whole thread on this:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/157764-rola-roof-rack-lighting-options.html

What do you now, I guess I got lazy HA! At Least I didn't start a new thread.

Thanks for the link!