Experience? Rola roof basket

[rmarkey]

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!

I mounted a 31"directly to mine, ran some strap from the front bar directly back to the next one. Light just clears the sunroof when open\up. You could put the light bar in the place of the wind deflector too but I figured there'd be more wind noise. Let me know if you need any detailed pics.

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[Flash Runner]

I mounted a 31"directly to mine, ran some strap from the front bar directly back to the next one.

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I actually like that low profile a lot! if you could get me some closer up pics of how you mounted it I'd really appreciate it.

 

[rmarkey]

I actually like that low profile a lot! if you could get me some closer up pics of how you mounted it I'd really appreciate it.

Here you go. It was a real quick and simple alteration before I mounted it. I think I used a spray can bedliner to cover up the welds iirc, matched pretty well.

Sorry it's super salty from the roads up in Utah in these pics, but you can still see what I did. Lemme know if you need a different angle or more.

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[KBToys]

So do you think the rola could handle a spare tire on it?

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[YetiX]

So do you think the rola could handle a spare tire on it?

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Definitely. I'm pretty sure there's a picture earlier in this thread of exactly that. Mine has the ArmourTech Offroad mounting brackets and I can stand on mine (~230#)

 

[b407driver]

Definitely. I'm pretty sure there's a picture earlier in this thread of exactly that. Mine has the ArmourTech Offroad mounting brackets and I can stand on mine (~230#)

Ditto. I've had well over 200 lbs. up there (no extension), and it is absolutely rock solid. I don't know that I'd stand right over the 'joint', but distributed weight is no problem.

That being said, I wouldn't try any of the above with the goofy mounts supplied for stock racks. I used the low-profile mounts detailed here:

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

Rola mounting hardware

Hey all I've followed this thread and pulled the trigger on a Rola with extension as well as low profile mounting kit from 4x innovations. Unfortunately, 4x innovations didn't send any install instructions. After looking at some user pics and examining the equipment, I figered out the basic layout...but cannot for the life of me get the factory crossbars off. I popped the corner brackets but they are preventing the crossbars from sliding out. I'm waiting for 4x innovations to get back to me but does anyone have any advice? I don't want to cut the crossbars unless necessary. Thanks all!

 

[773_T4R]

Hey all I've followed this thread and pulled the trigger on a Rola with extension as well as low profile mounting kit from 4x innovations. Unfortunately, 4x innovations didn't send any install instructions. After looking at some user pics and examining the equipment, I figered out the basic layout...but cannot for the life of me get the factory crossbars off. I popped the corner brackets but they are preventing the crossbars from sliding out. I'm waiting for 4x innovations to get back to me but does anyone have any advice? I don't want to cut the crossbars unless necessary. Thanks all!

Once you pop off the plastic covers on the corners and remove the rubber pieces in the channels, you should be able to loosen the knobs on the crossbars and slide them right out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlY6Y6p-9rQ

This is an installation video but it gives a good idea of how they go on/off.

 

[YetiX]

Once you pop off the plastic covers on the corners and remove the rubber pieces in the channels, you should be able to loosen the knobs on the crossbars and slide them right out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlY6Y6p-9rQ

This is an installation video but it gives a good idea of how they go on/off.

Semi-correct. You have to actually remove either the front or rear "foot" from the rail to be able to slide the cross bars out. To do that, you have to remove the plastic cover and then the two bolts which hold each foot in place. (That is for the Sport Edition roof rails. You may not need to remove the foot for the SR5 or Limited rails.)

 

[WRENCHHEAD]

Hey all I've followed this thread and pulled the trigger on a Rola with extension as well as low profile mounting kit from 4x innovations. Unfortunately, 4x innovations didn't send any install instructions. After looking at some user pics and examining the equipment, I figered out the basic layout...but cannot for the life of me get the factory crossbars off. I popped the corner brackets but they are preventing the crossbars from sliding out. I'm waiting for 4x innovations to get back to me but does anyone have any advice? I don't want to cut the crossbars unless necessary. Thanks all!

is yours a 06 and above sport? the tube style rack requires that you undo one of the mounting foots to slide the cross bars off.

 

[MountainFunRunner]

Roof crossbars

Thanks for so many replies so fast, its good to see this is an active forum even on an old post. Attached are more detailed pictures. I have an 07 v8 4x4 limited with the standard more flat rails than the round ones on the sport. Thanks all!

 

[watson6505]

Rola Extension Mod

Has anyone tried modifying the Rola extension to a length that will still allow the sunroof to pop-up and still not hit the rear spoiler with the rear gate lifted? I'm wondering if the extension can be cut down a few inches to allow the necessary clearance and still assemble properly. Does the extension piece have tapered ends or anything that would prevent this from easily being modified? I would imagine one of the bars is thinner than the other to easily fit inside the other, just not sure the exact dimensions.

 

[rmarkey]

Has anyone tried modifying the Rola extension to a length that will still allow the sunroof to pop-up and still not hit the rear spoiler with the rear gate lifted? I'm wondering if the extension can be cut down a few inches to allow the necessary clearance and still assemble properly. Does the extension piece have tapered ends or anything that would prevent this from easily being modified? I would imagine one of the bars is thinner than the other to easily fit inside the other, just not sure the exact dimensions.

I ran the rola with the extension on the factory cross rails and the sunroof still opened underneath it fine, just FYI.

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[Flash Runner]

[MENTION=163182]watson6505[/MENTION] , [MENTION=52428]rmarkey[/MENTION] is correct. With the extension added to the rack itself, the sunroof operates fine. I can't speak to the liftgate as I don't have the spoiler but this is the first I've heard of the issue

The Sunroof VENT option doesn't work the extension installed if you pair it with the lowering brackets in the Low position, as opposed to having it installed in the high position (or on the factory crossbars)

 

[watson6505]

Thanks for the input on the Rola clearance guys...I’m gonna go for the Rola and probably start without the extension to see if it meets my needs and looks alright. I actually wish the extension was about 50-70% of its current size, I think that would be a happy medium between the two lengths.

 

[rmarkey]

Clears the spoiler too, I didn't use the lowering brackets FYI.

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[Dabsalot]

My Rola basket install

I had a Rola basket that I had on my Subaru Forester that I rarely used because it was so dang noisy. When I got my 4th gen 4Runner I thought I would install it and see how bad the noise was. First I installed it with the supplied mounting hardware on the OEM cross bars. It wasn't as noisy as it was on the Forester, but I didn't like the mounting method and it was squeaking somewhere mounted that way. I wanted to try mounting it more solid, and as an electrical guy, Uni-Strut was my go-to method. In other words, utilization of supplies on hand lol. After inspecting the OEM rails I realized I could slide a Uni-Strut nut down the rail. Perfect! So I used some 1 5/8" strut to mount to the inside of the OEM rails. With the OEM rails having an arch, I knew I had to address that in mounting. I drilled holes in four places through the sides of 2 pieces of 48" strut for bolts to go through, and enlarged the four holes on one side of the struts to allow a socket to fit to facilitate installation. I drilled the mounting holes a little large to compensate for the arch in the OEM rails. The I cut strut 'cross bars' to mount the basket to and fastened with strut nuts. I then used 1" conduit straps to hold the basket. If like the set up, I will take it back off and paint or coat it all with something.
So far I like it. It is very solid and I think I can deal with the wind noise. I would like it to sit lower, but getting under it to mount items would then be more difficult. To clean up the look, I may do away with the strut clamps and drill holes through the round tubing of the basket and run bolts through it, but this is probably a more solid set up.

Here's a link with photos, photos from my SmugMug site don't seem to embed when I preview post.
Rola Roof Basket Install - Steve Eichelberger

 

[ac1617]

Anyone in Canada buy the Rola Vortex? The prices here are insane.. anywhere from $300-400 from Canadian E-Retailers. Cheapest is from amazon.ca at $274 but that's still outrageous considering it can be had for $125 in the US.

 

[MOX13]

Anyone have problems buying the lowering mount from Armor Tech offroad? Everytime I try to do it, my browser says it's not a safe website and wont let me actually purchase them. Even going through Paypal it doesnt work. Thoughts?

 

[MountainFunRunner]

Anyone have problems buying the lowering mount from Armor Tech offroad? Everytime I try to do it, my browser says it's not a safe website and wont let me actually purchase them. Even going through Paypal it doesnt work. Thoughts?

I had the same problems, but saw 4x innovations has a similar kit if not the same