Gobi Rack - Advantage and disadvantages

[singletrackftw]

Thanks. No drilling what so ever on anything. The feet up front sit mainly in the water gutter area. I did get it set up for a 40 inch light bar but I temporarily removed the mounts because I don't have a light right now. Love the no riser. Hope it offers less wind noise than the standard.

Thanks for sharing, congrats on your new rack! This makes me even more excited for my no rise stealth rack that's on order. I'm still about 8 weeks out though (at least). Looks amazing!
When did you order?


Instagram @tcr_89 2016 SR5P 4wd 3rd row - FN wheels countersteer X - 265 KO2 - Bilstein 5100 (1.75 setting) - NFab side steps - TRS Morimoto 4300k HID - NOKYA yellow fogs & DRLs - AVS hood visor

 

[jrob]

I got mine second hand and I'm stoked that I at least didn't buy the rack directly from them.
I bought a crossbar from them in store, and they were really rude.

Build quality is meh, especially compared to an actual metal fabricator like Shrockworks. Gobi quality is most certainly not "high"
Powder coat quality is less than meh, several rust spots even after treatment, and mounting bases are bubbling.


The fact that they sued this Whitson over his design to me was sickening.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/203660-roof-rack-controversy-gobi-vs-whitson.html

And now I see that they are producing this "slick top" design, but I guess that's cool even though it's basically a ripoff of Drabbits design??

As a rack, it's functional, and does what it needs.

As a company they're scum in my opinion.

 

[4RunnerPro]

Gobi NoRise

Thanks for the props singletrackftw. I ordered the rack on March 15th so I hate to say it but you've got a long wait ahead of you. The good news is that it's very well worth the wait! This thing is awesome! I can't wait to get an awning and a couple other accessories up there. The build quality looks great and the powder coating is solid. No gaps or bad spots could be found. My 15 year old has already been up and down the ladder 20 times and played around up top. He said it felt very solid and sturdy up there.

 

[nglayton]

For those that have or have had the Gobi; what has been your experiences?
I have read about reduced mileage and wind noise. Reality is 99% of us are not full time in the outback. How do you justify the purchase?

Would you do it again?

I would do it again, only this time with no cross braces or perhaps removable braces.

I still get 18+ mpg with 70% city driving. Way better than my 3rd gen...with no rack.

If you have to justify it, then you don't need it.........

 

[bryantd85]

I got a little delivery today... It's raining outside, but I HAD to unpack it so into the house it came! It is going on tomorrow bright and early!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

I have a new 2016 TEP and I'm jealous. Just jealous about how long it would be before I could have a rack!

 

[carlos.elmotor]

I got a little delivery today... It's raining outside, but I HAD to unpack it so into the house it came! It is going on tomorrow bright and early!

Congrats!

As timing will have it, mine arrived on Tuesday of this week. Still need to install the fairing and ladder, but here's a pic to encourage you to get out there and get it on!

 

[CF_Machete]

Not sure if this is the right spot, so flame away, but are the gas strut upgrades necessary for the ladder? an extra $100 seems like a con.

 

[4RunnerPro]

Maybe

Not sure if this is the right spot, so flame away, but are the gas strut upgrades necessary for the ladder? an extra $100 seems like a con.

Right now my stock struts are working ok but over time this may not hold true. I agree with you though, that seems a bit steep. When the time comes I will search around this site and the interweb for a better price. There are some threads on this site that mention strut upgrades.

 

[Simpleman74]

Not sure if this is the right spot, so flame away, but are the gas strut upgrades necessary for the ladder? an extra $100 seems like a con.

I bought 3rd party HD struts for $25

 

[blacksheep4]

Not sure if this is the right spot, so flame away, but are the gas strut upgrades necessary for the ladder? an extra $100 seems like a con.

I've kept my stock struts for about a year. It's definitely an annoyance when it's cold and the gas is more compressed. When it gets cold enough (maybe 40-45 degrees) the stock struts might as well not even be there. That being said, apparently it hasn't bothered me enough to upgrade them, although I do think about it every once in a while.

 

[jwkilgore]

If you're looking for a rack, go to the for sale/wanted thread. Someone is selling a one off, so the only one produced, rack from whitson metal works. The 3rd gen guys always had liked his racks so much better. It's unfortunate that Gobi did what they did to him. Here nor there, but probably the best rack you'll get your hands on, with a ladder.

This got me curious, so I did a little research.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/203660-roof-rack-controversy-gobi-vs-whitson.html

Looks like Gobi (a.k.a. Intelligent Designs 2000) had the brilliant idea a few years back to patent the very concept of a direct bolt-on roof rack for an SUV where it attaches to the factory mount points. Any design, any look, any configuration. And then sue any small shop making inexpensive versions to put them out of business.
:wtf:

I understand patenting a new or novel concept, say a specific feature in your rack that you developed. But people have been building aftermarket roof racks for SUV's for decades.

I don't care if they're a good quality rack or not; any company with that tactic (patent trolling) as their business model won't get a dime from me if I can help it.

 

[wadle5]

This got me curious, so I did a little research.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/203660-roof-rack-controversy-gobi-vs-whitson.html

Looks like Gobi had the brilliant idea a few years back to patent the very concept of a direct bolt-on roof rack for an SUV where it attaches to the factory mount points. Any design, any look, any configuration. And then sue any small shop making inexpensive versions to put them out of business.
:wtf:

I understand patenting a new or novel concept, say a specific feature in your rack that you developed. But people have been building aftermarket roof racks for SUV's for decades.

I don't care if they're a good quality rack or not; any company with that tactic as their business model won't get a dime from me if I can help it.

Thats just the tip of the ice berg. The actual owner and employee got on here pretending to be innocent bystanders and stuck up for Gobi. The way the company behaved was beyond pathetic. They also have several other current pending lawsuits. BajaRack has pretty much embarrassed them, but Gobi's has some good lawyers as they keep pursuing them. It was a clear case of patent trolling, and the owners are liars. Let me know about how the corrected the rust, or the most recent group buy where yet again they lied about lead times and progress of the racks. Basically if you want one expect the run around and about a 6 month time frame.

 

[DisPhu]

I just saw that Trail Duty is including free upgraded gas shocks with purchase along with free fairing, ladder, and shipping. I sure wish I chose the no rise option when I ordered mine. Oh well I still love the rack.

 

[CF_Machete]

I just saw that Trail Duty is including free upgraded gas shocks with purchase along with free fairing, ladder, and shipping. I sure wish I chose the no rise option when I ordered mine. Oh well I still love the rack.

I saw the free ladder, shipping and fairing... where did you see the free gas springs?

 

[e60ral]

This got me curious, so I did a little research.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/203660-roof-rack-controversy-gobi-vs-whitson.html

Looks like Gobi (a.k.a. Intelligent Designs 2000) had the brilliant idea a few years back to patent the very concept of a direct bolt-on roof rack for an SUV where it attaches to the factory mount points. Any design, any look, any configuration. And then sue any small shop making inexpensive versions to put them out of business.
:wtf:

I understand patenting a new or novel concept, say a specific feature in your rack that you developed. But people have been building aftermarket roof racks for SUV's for decades.

I don't care if they're a good quality rack or not; any company with that tactic (patent trolling) as their business model won't get a dime from me if I can help it.

I'm all about patent stopping patent trolling, but you are misrepresenting their patent.

Here are their relevent patents from the whitson case:
https://www.google.com/patents/USD578952
https://www.google.com/patents/USD520938

Here are the claims:
"The ornamental design for a sport utility vehicle rack, as shown and described."
and
"The ornamental design for a multi-purpose storage rack for a sport utility vehicle, as shown and described."

the "as shown and described" part references the images that they have showing their design. Their patent is not for any any design or look, only what looks like their figures. their ladder design is also an ornamental design patent.

they do not have any patents that i can find that pertain to how the rack attaches (in fact they don't even claim the foot tabs in their patent), their patent is about how racks look. they own that rack design.

that doesn't look like patent trolling to me, it looks like them protecting their design

 

[aspec44]

I saw the free ladder, shipping and fairing... where did you see the free gas springs?

https://www.trailduty.com/product_info.php?cPath=530_533_549&products_id=1673

It is a "limited time offer"

 

[CF_Machete]

https://www.trailduty.com/product_info.php?cPath=530_533_549&products_id=1673

It is a "limited time offer"

And sold! Fyi, there is a $100 off gobi rack coupon for tailduty.com check retail me not.

 

[mcarey86]

You can get the gas struts for significantly cheaper. Do enough snooping around here and you can find posts with product numbers and whatnot.

 

[DisPhu]

I saw the free ladder, shipping and fairing... where did you see the free gas springs?

Looks like it is only on the 5th gen.

You will see it if you scroll down further in the product page. Also code "Gobi100" is still working to save an additional $100 off.