Frontrunner Slimline II Rack - Drilling vs 3M

[Bay_Runner]

Myself and @1G3runner will be receiving our Frontrunner Slimline II roof racks tomorrow and plan to install together later this week. I'll start by saying 95% of the install is straightforward, the only concerns we have revolve the use of rivnuts for the front mounts. Ample research has been done and we've seen positive feedback from those who use 3M as opposed to drilling into the roof. I'm also interested in exploring the possibility of using plusnuts as opposed to the standard rivnuts, if we decide drilling is the way to go. I'm curious to see if there is any kind of feedback on experiences going either route of drilling vs 3M, and if anyone has used plusnuts in place of the rivnuts that Frontrunner typically advises using. Any and all feedback is appreciated!

 

[chiz45]

Are you a car wash user? This thread is about the pressure-fit Bajarack and an auto car wash. Pics can be found on the second google link.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/gener...$15-carwash-=-$4047-18-damages-repairs-2.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=baj...UICygC&biw=1280&bih=934#imgrc=Ez48cJzihRo3tM:

 

[greatape]

I don't have that rack but have seen a lot of them and all were installed drilled.
[MENTION=166904]Signal[/MENTION] recently installed one and looked like a clean install, maybe he will chime in

 

[TerraCrawler]

What is wrong with just using the Rivnuts? 3M is not going to structurally hold the rack. The rack has potentially hundreds of pounds on it exerting forces. If you ever get rid of the rack, the molding strip covers up the rivnuts just the same as it covers up the other factory holes for the rack if you wanted to.

I installed the rack and used it as a template to find the exact forward hole locations. I then drilled pilots as recommended. If you have never used a rivnut tool you should practice, and I would recommend buying one that works from a top squeeze as opposed to side squeeze, but if you have the muscle either should work. Use ample silicon and easy pressure so when you poke thru you don't go thru your roof. I would use high quality drill bits, the kind that are "no walk" would probably be a good idea. I give the SAE sizes in my build thread as the metrics may be hard to find local.

There is not much that can go seriously wrong if you have the right location. The FR rack is made to allow a bit of wiggle room on the hole location as far as forward to back.

 

[Bay_Runner]

Are you a car wash user? This thread is about the pressure-fit Bajarack and an auto car wash. Pics can be found on the second google link.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/gener...$15-carwash-=-$4047-18-damages-repairs-2.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=baj...UICygC&biw=1280&bih=934#imgrc=Ez48cJzihRo3tM:

No worries here on my end, aftermarket parts or not, I tend to stay away from automatic washes. Thanks for sending!

What is wrong with just using the Rivnuts? 3M is not going to structurally hold the rack. The rack has potentially hundreds of pounds on it exerting forces. If you ever get rid of the rack, the molding strip covers up the rivnuts just the same as it covers up the other factory holes for the rack if you wanted to.

I installed the rack and used it as a template to find the exact forward hole locations. I then drilled pilots as recommended. If you have never used a rivnut tool you should practice, and I would recommend buying one that works from a top squeeze as opposed to side squeeze, but if you have the muscle either should work. Use ample silicon and easy pressure so when you poke thru you don't go thru your roof. I would use high quality drill bits, the kind that are "no walk" would probably be a good idea. I give the SAE sizes in my build thread as the metrics may be hard to find local.

There is not much that can go seriously wrong if you have the right location. The FR rack is made to allow a bit of wiggle room on the hole location as far as forward to back.

There's no real hesitation around drilling for me, I've seen multiple people run the FrO rack with the added weight of a RTT while using 3M instead of drilling, and from the people I've spoken to they haven't encountered any kind of issues with the rack failing. As you referenced, rivnuts are something that I don't have prior experience with, so that is the main source of my inquiry. The rivnuts and tool are both on their way to me in the mail as we speak so upon their arrival I will be practicing before going to work on my roof. Just like you said, rivnuts have gotten the job done for hundreds of people out there, but do you know anything about plusnuts? I read this article yesterday which sparked my curiosity.

Lessons Learned: Rivnuts Vs. Plusnuts - Points Unknown

As you said, I'm probably over complicating things for the install, but I'm purely just looking to educate myself as much as I can before taking a drill to my car. I'll definitely take a detailed look at your thread this evening to learn more. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[TerraCrawler]

I hope you didn't buy the Front Runner rivnut tool, as its no good on our 4runners unless you file away at it.

I say drill away, no way I would trust the 3M, its not designed for that.

Putting the FR rack together will have you cussing a bit, but its very well engineered. I read an article online where one guy spent 12 hours doing the install.

 

[Bay_Runner]

I snagged one at a discount from fr with plans to file it down, @1G3runner was smarter than I was and ordered a tool that will be more user friendly.

I've been eager to get this rack up on the roof so I'm looking forward to the challenge. Should have gotten that bottle opener like you did!

 

[greatape]

I snagged one at a discount from fr with plans to file it down, @1G3runner was smarter than I was and ordered a tool that will be more user friendly.

I've been eager to get this rack up on the roof so I'm looking forward to the challenge. Should have gotten that bottle opener like you did!

Good luck and look forward to see how it comes out..If you need any tech advice just PM me and I can put you in contact w/someone that has installed a boat load of these.

 

[kevinmai712]

dont have the rack, but I got the Prinsu and drilled and use the plus nut. If the rack is design to drill an extra hole, then I would drill it. On my end I caked a lot of silicone all around, thru the tread and on top. So far after 8 months no leak at all

 

[Bay_Runner]

Good luck and look forward to see how it comes out..If you need any tech advice just PM me and I can put you in contact w/someone that has installed a boat load of these.

Hopefully you won't have to hear from me and you'll be able to see some photos of a clean install up here come Saturday evening. Much appreciated.

 

[Bay_Runner]

Got everything done this weekend with the help of @1G3runner who was kind enough to help with the drilling and rivnuts. The rack itself was a little bit of a PITA to assemble but the final product is awesome. Very pleased with how things turned out, apologies for the photo quality.

 

[Thirty4]

This is why I hate looking at everyone's rig's LOL. Rack looks GREAT!!! One of my favorites for the 4runner. I just couldn't trust myself to drill holes in the roof. I wish that I could have seen someone do it first, then I would have been much more inclined to do so myself. I love the Baja Utility Rack as well, but went with the Gobi. Every time I see one of the two of those (Baja and FrontRunner) racks....I wish that I would have gone in either direction instead of the Gobi. Everyone has the Gobi. It's nice looking, but I prefer the flat base instead. Again....looks great!

 

[TerraCrawler]

Drilling the hole is easy, you just have to make sure your drilling in the right place, which is also easy to determine if you're careful. There is no reason a mistake should be made. Possible things that go wrong are your drill too far and puncture the headliner. But honestly anyone can do this.

Now, when it comes to cutting a Snorkel with a Saws-all, I don't know, not sure I would tackle that having never used one before. Seems like an easy job for a body shop

 

[greatape]

Got everything done this weekend with the help of @1G3runner who was kind enough to help with the drilling and rivnuts. The rack itself was a little bit of a PITA to assemble but the final product is awesome. Very pleased with how things turned out, apologies for the photo quality.

QUOTE]

Looks great! Rig as well

 

[evgeniml]

Got everything done this weekend with the help of @1G3runner who was kind enough to help with the drilling and rivnuts. The rack itself was a little bit of a PITA to assemble but the final product is awesome. Very pleased with how things turned out, apologies for the photo quality.

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I hope my question is not stupid.
What is the opening in the front cover.
The picture is visible.
No diesel has no intercooler there.
thanks

 

[ajwhitt44]

Is there a wind deflector that comes on it? Looks great

 

[TerraCrawler]

Is there a wind deflector that comes on it? Looks great

There is, you can see see some pictures in my build thread at the end of the deflector. It may be in the way, like it was for me if you do a lower mounted light bar. I recall it did a pretty good job of cutting the wind noise when I had it.

 

[Bay_Runner]

This is why I hate looking at everyone's rig's LOL. Rack looks GREAT!!! One of my favorites for the 4runner. I just couldn't trust myself to drill holes in the roof. I wish that I could have seen someone do it first, then I would have been much more inclined to do so myself. I love the Baja Utility Rack as well, but went with the Gobi. Every time I see one of the two of those (Baja and FrontRunner) racks....I wish that I would have gone in either direction instead of the Gobi. Everyone has the Gobi. It's nice looking, but I prefer the flat base instead. Again....looks great!

Got everything done this weekend with the help of @1G3runner who was kind enough to help with the drilling and rivnuts. The rack itself was a little bit of a PITA to assemble but the final product is awesome. Very pleased with how things turned out, apologies for the photo quality.

QUOTE]

Looks great! Rig as well

Thanks guys! Stoked on how it turned out. I will agree that I think I over anticipated how difficult the drilling would be, the longest part of the install was the physical assembly of the rack itself. When drilling you just need to make sure you don't drill too deep through since we realized the airbags are almost directly underneath the drilling points. Again, I lucked out and [MENTION=130461]1G3runner[/MENTION] was able to help with the drilling and rivnuts since he had just knocked his rack out before mine - made things go a lot more smooth for me and gave me more peace of mind. :fro:

 

[Bay_Runner]

Is there a wind deflector that comes on it? Looks great

There is a wind deflector that came with the rack - I'll try to snag a better picture today from head on. For those who have a sunroof like me, you can actually install the wind deflector from inside the vehicle once the rack is on the roof. Thanks for the compliment!