Front Runner Rack Options
- Thread starter pauldavis
- Start date
pauldavis
New member
I just bought these on ebay and some M8x16mm bolts for another $7.
M8 Female Thread Marine Metal Lifting Eye Nuts Ring 10pcs | eBay
Much cheaper than Front Runner ones and they look the same.
M8 Female Thread Marine Metal Lifting Eye Nuts Ring 10pcs | eBay
Much cheaper than Front Runner ones and they look the same.
Taco04
Member
Not to throw a wet towel on your party but what is Marine Metal? I guess you will find out! Hopefully it is more than cheap chromed steel if not they are easy enough to remove when not in use.. Main reason I say this is once they rust and the iron oxide hits your paint it can work its way through and cause the body to rust. I hope that's not the case!
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pauldavis
New member
Hey, I appreciate the heads up. I was thinking Marine Metal would have some sort of rust preventative metal in it. Maybe I will throw two out in the backyard for a while and see how they hold up. I may have to wait a while since we don't see much rain here.
Can I paint them with some rustolium?
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Price and shipping (to hawaii). Lol..
I could have bought another rack they make for Tacomas, that would have been cheaper, but the use of the FR accessories work great with their racks...
Going from a 6ft bed, to no bed, I knew that one of the first things was going to be a rack for the boards, lumber (if needed) and camping. Wish they made a full length already, but can't speak bad about the company wanting to make sure their product is tough before releasing, and not just "resting " but attached to the vehicle. Supposedly, if and when the full length is released, I can just but the extra parts to make a full length.
Aluminum is also a plus for us in Hawaii. No crazy rock crawling, so even my Pilfreybilt from bumper was aluminum.
jdtaylor42
New member
Very interesting. You will have to let us know how those work out. Definitely cheaper but I went with the official FrontRunner ones because they were powder coated black. Not that I plan to leave them on there when not in use but I definitely prefer to keep the black/white theme on my truck and even the smallest bit of chrome bugs me :shocked:
maybe my google-foo is weak at the moment, because i can't find a good answer to this question:
is there a Front Runner accessory that allows you to mount any of the carriers from Yakima or Thule that require square or round load bars?
Bajarack has these handy little things.
I've read that you can put towers into the FR tracks, but I don't want to mess with that. I'd prefer something that bolted up to the rails.
is there a Front Runner accessory that allows you to mount any of the carriers from Yakima or Thule that require square or round load bars?
Bajarack has these handy little things.
I've read that you can put towers into the FR tracks, but I don't want to mess with that. I'd prefer something that bolted up to the rails.
pauldavis
New member
maybe my google-foo is weak at the moment, because i can't find a good answer to this question:
is there a Front Runner accessory that allows you to mount any of the carriers from Yakima or Thule that require square or round load bars?
Bajarack has these handy little things.
I've read that you can put towers into the FR tracks, but I don't want to mess with that. I'd prefer something that bolted up to the rails.
You could easily make these Baja ones work. just use a 8mm bolt in the track and use a nut and washer to mount those brackets to the 8mm bolts.
pauldavis
New member
I set one of these out where it will sit in a puddle and get rained on for over a month. No rust what so ever yet.
Loadedpocketz
New member
Could you possibly take a picture looking up from your moonroof? I'm curious how much the mid-sized rack blocks it. Trying to decide between the two sizes. Thanks in advance!
pauldavis
New member
I would if I had a moonroof. Alas, I am just a peasant and could only afford the sr5.
Loadedpocketz
New member
Well, the world needs peasants too. After all, who would work the fields while we tool around in our TEP's and TRD Pros? :biggrin1:
pauldavis
New member
Ah yes, even us peasants are a part of the circle of life. On a serious not I think I did measure the distance from the front of the rack to the back of the windshield. That info is somewhere in this thread I think. If not I can measure it again if you would like.
I'll post a pic in a bit. It doesn't block it much. Still debating going to a full length and drilling the roof.
Here are the pics. If you open the sun roof, the rack lines up with the glass.
When closed, the last slat just hangs over about 3-4 inches.
Loadedpocketz
New member
Here are the pics. If you open the sun roof, the rack lines up with the glass.
When closed, the last slat just hangs over about 3-4 inches.
Thanks brother! The overhang doesn't look too bad. I was reading your build thread. Did you ever figure out the rattle/moonroof/deflector issue? That might make me shy away from the longer version. I plan on using my moonroof a lot during the warmer months.
CoMtn4Runner
New member
As of now, this is my top choice for a rack. Now that you've had it for a few months, it sounds like you are still loving it. Anything you've learned or figured out about it that you didn't know after first installing it? Any new recommendations or things to keep in mind before purchasing it? Thanks for your pics/write ups.
Loadedpocketz
New member
[MENTION=130489]pauldavis[/MENTION] - one more question. Any huge issues with wind noise or radio reception now that you've run it for a while? Also, still rust free? Thanks!
Rattle is gone.. may come back, but has nothing do with the rack itself.. That thing is good...
As for me... I love my FR and the attachments that go with it. I really like that it is modular as well, being able to swap move things around easily. I called this morning to get the telescoping ladder mounting points. Office said 6-8 weeks, but I'm gonna grab that so I can use a ladder when camping... Being vertically challenged (5'6") I can stand on the sliders and the rear wheel, but when loading up the camping gear into a "Keeper" roof bag, it would be nice to get onto the rack. One recommendation would be to grab the things that you may need down the road to save on shipping (especially since we pay through the arse here in Hawaii). I do like their straps as well with the bungie built in.....
I was all ready to drill my roof and extend my current one for the full length, but then realized that I would only be able to look up through a small 5" or so section between the supports.. A totally useful sunroof outweighed the need for 2' of more storage space especially because our camping trips are like every 2-3 months, and are for a 1-night or a 2-night trip.
