I have an 2007 SR5 V6 with factory rails and cross bars. I find the rack pretty useless. Does anyone have any recommendations for how to make the rack more worthy. If not, I have been looking at adding Rhino SXB aero bars for weekend loads, lumber, bikes, but thought I should ask around first. Accessories aren't cheap like cargo box etc. in case I want to add-on later. Any thoughts on the subject? Any simple solutions that look good and are quick to mount?
Factory Roof rack - Useless?
- Thread starter KenM
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Stuck CAPS
New member
momo.75
Registered User
I have a Yakima rack attached to my stock rack mainly because the stock cross bars are so weak. I have hauled lumber, beds, and other stuff up there on those cross bars. I have had that rack for over 20 years and just kept switching it from car to car. I just had to buy the rail-grabs when i put it on my truck.
lehiguy
New member
The cross rails are sort of lame, but the side rails seem pretty beefy. I removed my cross rails then drilled and tapped four pieces of aluminum and slid them into the side rails so that I have four moveable locations into which I can bolt my Yakima cross bars or a roof rack depending on my needs. It has gone from lame to useable and my investment was almost nothing.
coconutpete
New member
Works fine for a ski rack or mattress/box spring.
Anything beyond that I guess you'd need to get more/new equipment.
Anything beyond that I guess you'd need to get more/new equipment.
Martinjmpr
New member
Yeah, "useless" in what sense?
I've got an old Yakima Basket Case that I bought 21 years ago and with some cross bar adapters I put it on the factory crossbars. Have used it to haul the spare tire for my trailer (trailer doesn't have the capacity to mount a spare) and also firewood. On my next big 4x4 camping trip it will hold 2 x 3 gallon Rotopax fuel cans.
Here's a picture of us loaded up and heading to Wyoming with the trailer in tow and a spare tire and bundle of firewood on the rack. Worked just fine.
And I have no reason to believe it wouldn't haul my canoe in much the same way that I carried it on my '99 T4R.
I admire the looks of the bigger/beefier racks but I'm not willing to take the hit on mileage and the Yakima does what I need a rack to do. I have a receiver hitch carrier for bicycles and a trailer if I need to haul anything big.
I've got an old Yakima Basket Case that I bought 21 years ago and with some cross bar adapters I put it on the factory crossbars. Have used it to haul the spare tire for my trailer (trailer doesn't have the capacity to mount a spare) and also firewood. On my next big 4x4 camping trip it will hold 2 x 3 gallon Rotopax fuel cans.
Here's a picture of us loaded up and heading to Wyoming with the trailer in tow and a spare tire and bundle of firewood on the rack. Worked just fine.
And I have no reason to believe it wouldn't haul my canoe in much the same way that I carried it on my '99 T4R.
I admire the looks of the bigger/beefier racks but I'm not willing to take the hit on mileage and the Yakima does what I need a rack to do. I have a receiver hitch carrier for bicycles and a trailer if I need to haul anything big.
Last edited:
BCfish
New member
It is useful for small things like a spare that weighs what 70-90lbs even a decent size canoe is only around 100-150lbs. Heck I even carried a 20lb propane tank and 2 5gal fuel cans in a homemade wood roof box the first time out with the pop up . With the limits Toyota put on the factory racks no way I feel safe throwing my $2000 aluminum boat up there is what I mean I had my rack apart to paint a a year or two ago and those cross bars are so wimpy. I have used my buddies 1st gen 4r to haul it around but it had some old universal style racks. I have Yakima racks on my pop up that would do the job but then stuck with the boat not being as mobile to take to other fishing holes.
Papparover
Junior Member
Teardrop Trailer
Did you make that trailer? I've seen lots of plans on-line. Anything you would change about it?
Did you make that trailer? I've seen lots of plans on-line. Anything you would change about it?
jdkilroy
New member
The roof rack is actually a very rugged structure on the Gen 4's.
The rails are very strong and are nice and long (compare to 3rd and 5th gen rails which are nearly a foot shorter)
The cross bars have plastic ends that slide in the rail tracks and that is their weak point but they are still quite strong. The cross bars themselves are made of extruded aluminum with with structural ribs inside the foils.
I have mounted Thule Aero Bars for hauling multiple kayaks. No movement at all at highway speeds with 2 or three 18 foot boats up there.
Not sure why OP feels the rack is useless, I actually would give it high marks for construction and strength. (talking about the standard SR5 roof rack)
The rails are very strong and are nice and long (compare to 3rd and 5th gen rails which are nearly a foot shorter)
The cross bars have plastic ends that slide in the rail tracks and that is their weak point but they are still quite strong. The cross bars themselves are made of extruded aluminum with with structural ribs inside the foils.
I have mounted Thule Aero Bars for hauling multiple kayaks. No movement at all at highway speeds with 2 or three 18 foot boats up there.
Not sure why OP feels the rack is useless, I actually would give it high marks for construction and strength. (talking about the standard SR5 roof rack)
Attachments
viggen337
New member
I haven't actually used my rack yet (only had the 4Runner for 11 days) but the rails look very sturdy to me. The factory crossbars are usually the weak point.
I use the Yakima system already. I bought the RailGrab feet and 48" bars years ago to hold my RockyMounts. I've had them on three vehicles now. Very easy to adjust between different vehicles, and I can put the rack on my Volkswagen in 5-10 minutes, and it has the same type of rails. I would recommend it based on my experience so far.
For bikes, I will probably be using a hitch rack with the 4R because I'm not crazy about putting my 29er on the roof, let alone 4 of them. I dropped a handlebar on my Legacy and put a nice dent in the roof just before I traded it for my Volkswagen. I don't want to risk that on the 4Runner.
However, I will be picking up another set of (longer) bars at some point because I'd like to get back into kayaking. Time to cash in my REI dividend during the 20% off member sale.
I use the Yakima system already. I bought the RailGrab feet and 48" bars years ago to hold my RockyMounts. I've had them on three vehicles now. Very easy to adjust between different vehicles, and I can put the rack on my Volkswagen in 5-10 minutes, and it has the same type of rails. I would recommend it based on my experience so far.
For bikes, I will probably be using a hitch rack with the 4R because I'm not crazy about putting my 29er on the roof, let alone 4 of them. I dropped a handlebar on my Legacy and put a nice dent in the roof just before I traded it for my Volkswagen. I don't want to risk that on the 4Runner.
However, I will be picking up another set of (longer) bars at some point because I'd like to get back into kayaking. Time to cash in my REI dividend during the 20% off member sale.
Let me clarify...
Great pics and ideas. Love the tear drop trailer. Looked into buying one a few weeks back but forgot I married a city girl. Doh! Let me clarify what I meant by useless. I agree. The rails and cross bars are well constructed. The cross bars come with nice tie down holds. I have used them quite a bit. My beef is that Toyota doesn't provide accessories that you can mount to the cross bars. I looked long and hard for some simple load pegs that I could mount to the bars but found nothing. I'm a bit risk averse. The cross bars are curved so loads tend to shift. Thanks for the Thule tip jdkilroy but went to the Thule site and their product selection wizard did not include aero bars for my 2007 just the square ones. What model aero bars do you have? Sounds like I'm heading in the right direction with the Rhino Aero SXB bars.
Great pics and ideas. Love the tear drop trailer. Looked into buying one a few weeks back but forgot I married a city girl. Doh! Let me clarify what I meant by useless. I agree. The rails and cross bars are well constructed. The cross bars come with nice tie down holds. I have used them quite a bit. My beef is that Toyota doesn't provide accessories that you can mount to the cross bars. I looked long and hard for some simple load pegs that I could mount to the bars but found nothing. I'm a bit risk averse. The cross bars are curved so loads tend to shift. Thanks for the Thule tip jdkilroy but went to the Thule site and their product selection wizard did not include aero bars for my 2007 just the square ones. What model aero bars do you have? Sounds like I'm heading in the right direction with the Rhino Aero SXB bars.
viggen337
New member
Now I am reevaluating sticking with Yakima for my truck. I like these Rhino bars, and that price is pretty good, too. I certainly wouldn't mind a set of aero bars. My Yaks are a bit noisy on the VW, even though they were quiet on both of my Subarus. Doh.
jdkilroy
New member
Thanks, Silver!
That is the special edition 4Cruiser grille, otherwise known as the Satoshi grille.
Search "Satoshi" for some great how-to's.
jdkilroy
New member
Hey Ken, I just ordered the Rapid Crossroad Foot Pack; they clamp to existing rails and then ordered a couple 53" AeroBlade load bars to go with them. The set-up is really strong. Needs to be as the wind forces on those big boats can get severe.
Similar threads
