Experience? Rola roof basket

[Buckles]

The advertisements for the Rola say it's powder coated but after reading many comments online, it doesn't sound like it actually is. I'm wondering if the Yakima Load and Mega Warriors have the same problem. I found an old Load Warrior on craigslist for $100 but I'm wondering if it will suffer the same fate. I only need a basket to carry extra gas tanks.

I'm curious to know if the hi lift jacks rattle a lot when on the roof too. I don't own one to know. I'll have to troll through this forum and find out.

They are powder coated, but only on the outside like any other basket would be. The problem is, moisture get inside the tubing and starts rusting from the inside out. Particularly around the welds.

Hi Lifts are rattly by nature. Unless you strap it down and mount it securely, its going to rattle some.

The rola would be fine for carrying spare gas cans, it just wont last very long.

The Load Warrior is a great basket, for $100 that would be my first choice.

 

[Stone5_T4R]

I had the Rola Rack on my 3rd Gen Runner and loved it. Although the rust was an issue at times. My Runner was white so you could clearly see the streams of rust/water down the side and rear of the truck when we had heavy rain. I took it off and platidipped it and sealed the joints. Didn't have a problem after that. I'll probably buy another for my 4th Gen soon.

 

[kevinpt]

what do you guys mount on your rola rack? all i see online is people with the rack and its empty. no one likes to show how they use it. also anyone know how i could add a pair of yakima bars that i have to the rack?

 

[fogcitysurfer]

I put my surfboards up there, which I did with the stock rack too, but this just looks cooler! It's the mod sickness. Thought I might add that I just bought mine from etrailer and the rack now comes with rubber sleeves, like bicycle tubes, that go over the connection joints. Not sure if they had that before but it should help with the rust issue. And yes the wind noise sucks in my opinion. There is also a whole thread of loaded rack photos somewhere.

 

[ddnww]

what do you guys mount on your rola rack? all i see online is people with the rack and its empty. no one likes to show how they use it. also anyone know how i could add a pair of yakima bars that i have to the rack?

mounted my led lightbar to it, and I use it

 

[kevinpt]

mounted my led lightbar to it, and I use it

you use that thing a lot from what it looks like. i have only used mine so far for putting wet gear on top when on the trails because of some major rain

 

[Martinjmpr]

I've used mine for the spare tire for our trailer (before I got a mount to put the spare on the trailer tongue), firewood, gas cans, basically anything I don't want inside the 4runner.

 

[fogcitysurfer]

One more thing to consider: If you have a sunroof and like to use the vent option, opening the rear part only, the rack will be in the way if you use the drop mount. I am going to cut the two front smaller cross rails to give it room to open.

 

[ddnww]

you use that thing a lot from what it looks like. i have only used mine so far for putting wet gear on top when on the trails because of some major rain

That was probably the most I have used it, was a big camping trip we did. But normally like martinjmpr said, I use it for stuff I don't want in the truck.

 

[Ecko_3429]

Does the armor tech bracket fit 5th gens?

 

[zgfhgh]

Just about to purchase rola low profile roof basket on CL..any thoughts experience, quality, wind noise?

 

[TOY2G]

It's a solid piece that is well worth the money. It's easy to assemble and not too heavy but easier with two people if you're lifted. I used Armor Tech Brackets with mine so it sits much lower to the body by 3" or so. Wind noise is going to happen but not to much to bare with the sun roof open. I can shake the whole truck standing on it with zero give from the brackets or the rack.

I know this is a very old post, but I'm adding a basket to my GX and I really wanted to know more about the armor tech brackets (i tried google).

EDIT.. Found them, I searched as a single word like a tool. Armor Tech

 

[calvinv8sr5]

I've got this apex rack on mine, seemed sturdy, haven't putt anything heavy in it yet, but you can shake the truck with it, also have some leds on the sides, going to mount one on the rear as a back up light

 

[TFJ-4runner]

I know this is a very old post, but I'm adding a basket to my GX and I really wanted to know more about the armor tech brackets (i tried google).

EDIT.. Found them, I searched as a single word like a tool. Armor Tech

I could shake my truck and they would not budge. Very sturdy.

 

[LIRunner03]

I know this is kind of an old thread, but has anyone used silicone couplers over the joint areas to avoid the rust issue?

I would think this would help avoid water getting into the gaps and wouldn't look bad if you used black couplers and black tie downs.

Thinking of going this route.

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

My Land Cruiser had a custom rack made for $250 here in Denver and I was really disappointed with the build quality, but I learned to love it after a couple of years of hard use wherein it didn't show an ounce of trouble. So my plan was to have another custom rack built by the same guy, but of course he doubled his prices, despite what I wanted this time being smaller in every dimension, so I did some more digging.

I was impressed with the style of this rack in pics I found here on T4R.org and it was somewhat low profile looking, so despite wanting a custom, lower-profile rack, I pulled the trigger.

When it arrived I was immediately impressed with how sturdy it felt. Knowing what I put my last shoddily built rack through I have no doubt this one will hold up.

I did take some suggested precautions...

1. Silicone the joints
2. Use better hardware to connect the rack sections.

I drilled holes through the rack and used SS 1/4-20 bolts with SS nylock nuts. Before putting it all together I sprayed a bit of paint on the drilled holes and then silicone around the hardware as well.

I've considered the lower profile mounts and I may get them some day, but for now I'd like to be able to open my sunroof.

 

[Low-Tek]

Anyone Tried Rola Recently?

I know this is kind of an old thread, but has anyone used silicone couplers over the joint areas to avoid the rust issue?

I would think this would help avoid water getting into the gaps and wouldn't look bad if you used black couplers and black tie downs.

Thinking of going this route.

I know this is an old thread, but has anyone bought a Rola recently? I believe they now come with a hard rubber, or silicon sleeve that fits over the joints. I was told they have addressed some of the rust issues due to overwhelming customer complaints.

I was all set to pull the trigger on a baja, but 850 vs 150.... I may have to give Rola a chance if they have improved their design some.

 

[JeRunnerMo]

I know this is an old thread, but has anyone bought a Rola recently? I believe they now come with a hard rubber, or silicon sleeve that fits over the joints. I was told they have addressed some of the rust issues due to overwhelming customer complaints.

I was all set to pull the trigger on a baja, but 850 vs 150.... I may have to give Rola a chance if they have improved their design some.

I bought one the other week! Yes it does come with a rubber sleeve that goes over the joints. Bit of a pain to stretch over the holes but it does work. Overall very happy with it. Still deciding whether i want the extension or the low brackets first.

 

[Low-Tek]

Only downside with the lowpro brackets is that you can't put your sunroof in the "vent" position. My wife almost always wants it like that in the summer so no low-pro rack for me....

 

[eviele]

Only downside with the lowpro brackets is that you can't put your sunroof in the "vent" position. My wife almost always wants it like that in the summer so no low-pro rack for me....

I've read this before and always wondered if the rola rack could be moved backwards to give enough room for the sunroof.

Was thinking of pulling the trigger soon. Amazon had great a price on the rack last time I looked and we could use the extra space. Like you though, the wife wants the sunroof to open as a vent and I want the rack lowered.

Impasse until someone mentions a solution...