Front Runner Rack Options

[Doc.SS]

Installing a full length roof rack was one of the first mods to my 2016 TEP. I selected a Front Runner because I liked the idea of bolting down the front feet. I wanted to make sure my rack didn't vibrate at speed.

After a successful installation, here's what's great about FR:

1. The thing is surprisingly solid. It's really impressive. I grab ahold of the rack and shake the whole vehicle with no discernible flex in the rack. It is very rigid.
2. It supports plenty of weight. We occasionally climb up on the roof rack to secure items in place.
3. FR makes tons of accessories and attachment devices.
4. It's really pretty quiet. I briefly installed the expedition rails, but hated the wind noise. And I couldn't keep the bars from rattling. I took those off, and everything was perfect. No major wind noise.

Here's what I didn't like:

1. I didn't mind drilling the holes in the roof for the front feet, but the rivnuts we're awful. I spent a lot of time measuring sheet metal depth, and looking up rivnut specs. The sheet metal at that place in the roof was double thickness. The rivnuts did not have the grip range to be set there. I emailed FR, and they said they would send me bigger rivnuts. I got four more rivnuts a few days later that were identical in size. I ended up dropping the headliner and using a large fender washer, a regular washer, a lock washer, and a nyloc nut from below to secure the bolts through the front feet.
2. Although FR has plenty of accessories, I just haven't been happy with the various options for attaching the awning or the Maxtrax. The Maxtrax solution puts them off the side of the vehicle, rather than on top. I ended up modifying a side mount to work with the Eezi Awn awning so that it could be mounted right along side the rack, rather than up above it with the FR-recommended bracket. In brief, I often look at K9 solutions and wish I had gone with a K9 rack.

Overall, the FR Slimline II full length rack is a solid option and I'm content with it. If I were starting over, I would choose another rack, however.

They have a top mount for the Maxtrax. RRAC104
maxtrax-flat-brackets

I've had issues with the supports corroding. They were more than willing to ship me new supports.

 

[jbinmd]

Sorry to revive this old thread (for the second or third time).

Do any of you have the 3/4 "Extended" Slimline II rack on a 4runner with sunroof and have any issues with excessive noise and/or a low frequency oscillation creating an unbearable "shitty subwoofer" sound inside the cabin?

I ask because I just installed this rack and that's what I'm experiencing. I tried removing and relocating the wind deflector, but each thing I tried has it's own problems. Seems like most are really happy with this rack, so I'm really curious. I'm confident that it's installed correctly.

 

[Overrunner]

Sorry to revive this old thread (for the second or third time).

Do any of you have the 3/4 "Extended" Slimline II rack on a 4runner with sunroof and have any issues with excessive noise and/or a low frequency oscillation creating an unbearable "shitty subwoofer" sound inside the cabin?

I ask because I just installed this rack and that's what I'm experiencing. I tried removing and relocating the wind deflector, but each thing I tried has it's own problems. Seems like most are really happy with this rack, so I'm really curious. I'm confident that it's installed correctly.

Not sure what you mean by "3/4 extended?" Do you have an earlier rack? I believe they only off the 3/4 and full length rack now.

I have the 3/4 that sits just behind the sunroof and with the included wind fairing I haven't noticed any issues. Not even so much as a light wind noise. Been happy with it for the last year.

 

[JsinLegacy]

Anyone with the 3/4 rack attached an awning to it?

Looking to add one but can't decide which one and size to add. Thought maybe I'd get some people's opinions on here first.

 

[jbinmd]

Not sure what you mean by "3/4 extended?" Do you have an earlier rack? I believe they only off the 3/4 and full length rack now.

I have the 3/4 that sits just behind the sunroof and with the included wind fairing I haven't noticed any issues. Not even so much as a light wind noise. Been happy with it for the last year.

Apex Overland sells a version that is one crossbar longer than the standard 3/4.
Shop | Apex Overland | Off-Road Part Accessories

I ended up returning it, it was that bad. They exchanged it for the LFD 3/4 rack and I couldn't be happier.