Gobi Rack GROUP BUY. Stealth Rooftop Rack. Free ladder or sun roof insert

[DHeuschele]

All received

I received my package yesterday afternoon and it had the rack, ladder, and sun roof insert.

I installed the ladder today. The instructions led me to believe that there should be double stick tape on part B (bracket for bottom of door). I called Gobi and got Sandra who put me through to someone else (forgot his name) who indicated the part does not have double stick tape and that the instructions are not perfect in that section. He then called me back to verify that the bottom of the ladder had double stick tape (it did).

I think in this case their customer service was very good.

The ladder is installed and seems very secure. It is a little thinner than I expected but the 4Runner is not a camper or nitirhome so it may be the perfect size. Tomorrow I hope to install the actual rack.

 

[Grape Ape]

I received my package yesterday afternoon and it had the rack, ladder, and sun roof insert.

I installed the ladder today. The instructions led me to believe that there should be double stick tape on part B (bracket for bottom of door). I called Gobi and got Sandra who put me through to someone else (forgot his name) who indicated the part does not have double stick tape and that the instructions are not perfect in that section. He then called me back to verify that the bottom of the ladder had double stick tape (it did).

I think in this case their customer service was very good.

The ladder is installed and seems very secure. It is a little thinner than I expected but the 4Runner is not a camper or nitirhome so it may be the perfect size. Tomorrow I hope to install the actual rack.

I'm guessing you asked nicely and were treated accordingly. Glad to hear someone else is happy with everything.

 

[Okki]

I'm on the fence on this one.... I got an email from Sandra saying they would start shipping Tuesday and that lots of people would be very happy by Thursday. I took that as meaning that I would have my ladder by the weekend... So far I've not received any calls from the shipping company to schedule delivery.

I love the rack and have been keeping busy wiring for the lights, but I agree that as a small company, Customer Service is vital. The quality of the product may be good, but that's not going to matter when you piss off enough clients and as a result ruin the reputation that your product built.

Okki

 

[phillyd2]

I'm guessing you asked nicely and were treated accordingly. Glad to hear someone else is happy with everything.

Are you hinting that those who don't get a reply have not asked nicely?

 

[Antman]

Are you hinting that those who don't get a reply have not asked nicely?

:snacker::snacker::snacker:?

I sure would hate to piss off a company that I just paid $1200.00 for an incomplete order. Trust me- my next phone call will not be "nice" if my ladder doesn't arrive next week.

 

[Grape Ape]

Wasn't trying to offend anyone. I guess I just look at voluntary purchases a little different than something that is truly necessary.

 

[DHeuschele]

Everything installed

My ladder, rack, and sunroof insert are installed. I was pleasantly surprised that the sunroof is fully functional with the sunroof insert in place.

I already noted in a previous post a confusing part of the instructions on the ladder.

There were two things that hindered my installation of the rack:

1) the brackets that attach onto the roof have 2 different bolt hole widths (front and back) but are both called the same. Of course I could not get lucky enough to have gotten it correct by chance and had to shuffle the brackets a little after the rack was partial bolted down.

2) One of the factory installed allen screw/nuts on the wind vallance could not be loosened or tighted. It did not look cross threaded but I suspect that it was. I had to cut it off to properly adjust the wind vallance snug with the roof. I went to my screw bone pile and picked out a temporary (I am sure it is not stainless and will rust).

Because of these 2 issues it took longer than it should have to install (the stuck screw added close to an hour as we fiddled with it for ~15 minutes before trying to drill it out and then eventually just cut it with a Rotozip - if I had gone straight to the Rotozip it would have been 5-10 minutes), but the entire setup looks awesome (I liked the TE stock rack looks) and is functional (this is were the stock TE rack failed IMHO).

 

[coleonyx]

I have a completely flat BajaRack (not a basket, but a utility rack) and a Yakima Loadwarrior stretch net works well to keep ±300lbs in place for over 5,000 miles. You'd be surprised how much gravity gives you. Any quality stretch net should be fine on the Gobi basket.

Thanks for the advice limamike, joneseyyy and adio3x. :thumb3: Ordered my loadwarrior stretch net today! can't wait to use it.

 

[DHeuschele]

What lights????

Now that most of us have our Gobi rack installed I was wondering what people were choosing for lights.

I like the high wat LED light bars but am not willing to spend ~$1K on those lights (I suspect they light super and I know they look super, but my use would not justify this cost).

So I am looking for something that looks good and lights good, but it does not have to be the latest and greatest.

Pictures of lights mounted on the Gobi along with light details would be super.

It can save a lot of looking around for the best lights for each of us.

 

[Okki]

Pictures of lights mounted on the Gobi along with light details would be super.

It can save a lot of looking around for the best lights for each of us.

I've got 4 Hella Micro FF driving lights on mine. they are 55watt each.

http://www.amazon.com/HELLA-007133831-Micro-Halogen-Driving/dp/tech-data/B002MOAHO6
$55 per set, so not bad. Not my dream lights, but in reality I don't race the Baja either, so it serves my purpose very nicely and cost effective

I've got pics of them with the covers on, but haven't uploaded those yet from the camera.

Okki

 

[IsItMe?]

My ladder, rack, and sunroof insert are installed. I was pleasantly surprised that the sunroof is fully functional with the sunroof insert in place.

I already noted in a previous post a confusing part of the instructions on the ladder.

There were two things that hindered my installation of the rack:

1) the brackets that attach onto the roof have 2 different bolt hole widths (front and back) but are both called the same. Of course I could not get lucky enough to have gotten it correct by chance and had to shuffle the brackets a little after the rack was partial bolted down.

2) One of the factory installed allen screw/nuts on the wind vallance could not be loosened or tighted. It did not look cross threaded but I suspect that it was. I had to cut it off to properly adjust the wind vallance snug with the roof. I went to my screw bone pile and picked out a temporary (I am sure it is not stainless and will rust).

Because of these 2 issues it took longer than it should have to install (the stuck screw added close to an hour as we fiddled with it for ~15 minutes before trying to drill it out and then eventually just cut it with a Rotozip - if I had gone straight to the Rotozip it would have been 5-10 minutes), but the entire setup looks awesome (I liked the TE stock rack looks) and is functional (this is were the stock TE rack failed IMHO).

I noticed only one bracket off but got the bolts through anyway. the d__m directions said nothing about them being different. I'm not taking it off again so I hope its ok. The holes on the rubber spacer/gasket things were not cut right either which was a major pain.

 

[adio3x]

Still waiting on my ladder, called sandra twice, no answer or return call. Emailed a handful of times and still no response.

 

[Antman]

I spoke with Sandra Monday regarding my ladder. Her words "I will E-Mail you the tracking # TODAY." Then she verified my Email address.

No Email. Nice.

Gobi- are reading this??? :redbrick:

 

[DHeuschele]

Day not over

Maybe they are still working in Colorado (Gobi).

Gobi was slow to respond to some of my emails. They mostly have answered their phones. Also they have been responsive to my issues with the instructions and are sending me a new allen screw, washers, and lock nut that I needed to cut off.

I am happy with my product but I agree their customer service could be better but it has been good in some areas.

I hope when you receive the ladder you like it so much that you forget about any frustrations receiving it.

 

[Grape Ape]

Sucks that some of you are having a bad go with this. I got my email with tracking number on the day I was promised and my ladder is now en route!

 

[iFlyUSCG]

I spoke with Sandra Monday regarding my ladder. Her words "I will E-Mail you the tracking # TODAY." Then she verified my Email address.

No Email. Nice.

Gobi- are reading this??? :redbrick:

Called her last Thursday. She swore up and down it would ship Friday and at the latest Monday. She said i would get a tracking number via email to confirm. One week later.... and no email.

 

[Okki]

Same here.. got an email saying indicating a thursday delivery last week, no call from the trucking company as yet... called Gobi twice... left a message no return call. Talked to "Alexis" who took a message.. no return call yet...

Seems so far my rack is only being loaded with annoyance of not having my ladder yet and not with camping gear!

Okki

 

[reklov]

Okay once again I have to remind you guys that GOBI is a small company. The reason this thing got backed up was because 95% of you did not go with just the standard rack. They wanted tweaks here and there. Like the crossbars somewhere else or not on there, or hoops and loops for other things. This delays the process, so blame the other members on here, not GOBI. There are only 14 employees that work there and manufacturing things is sometimes a hard business. This is not Yakima. If you wanted a Yakima rack that is mass produced in China then you can go ahead and buy one and cancel your order with Gobi. I am not affiliated with GOBI in any way, but I do understand the wait of this. GOBI sandblasts outside and they are in Colorado. This means that when it rains like it has been raining there, they cannot sand blast. It's sad to see that a lot of you are upset about this and it's understanding that you can be upset due to a longer wait. Group buys are very stressful on small companies. They aren't only making racks for us, but they are making racks for other customers and for other makes and models.

Everyone's rack should be sent out by the end of next week. I arranged this group buy and I told them to send out everyone else's rack before mine to make you guys happy.

Just wait a bit and you will be happy with the end result.

 

[Antman]

Reklov-
I think you are missing the point. My ladder came today. Like all Gobi products, it is awesome. The wait was not the problem. I understand they are a small company. The problem is being told you will be Emailed and never being Emailed. Being told you will be called back and never being called back. There is no excuse for that IMO for any business. Customer service is just as important as your product.

I am grateful for your efforts and Gobi's quality product. Thank you! Please don't confuse my irritation with impatience. I think most that have complained feel the same way.

Now, onto the ladder. I had to modify it slightly so the upper bracket didn't hit the hinge- see this thread for the problem in alvorbn's writeup.
BUT- I didn't bend the bracket- just trimmed it a little...

I will hopefully get to post some pics tonight in my build thread for everyone.

I will say it again- thank you Reklov and Gobi! I absolutely love this rack and ladder!

 

[phillyd2]

Crappy Customer Service EQUALS Crappy Customer Service plain and simple. No amount of lipstick or silly excuses changes this. I have not even received my rack - you know, the completely standard one. I have emails and phone messages (oldest is 2 weeks old) with them now asking for its status.

But as stated, you completely missed the point. Its NOT the lead-time. In this day and age there is ZERO excuse for any company no matter the size or location not to answer emails or return phone calls. And not for nothing but I am beyond sick and tired of anybody tiring to ram down my throat that ignoring customer questions is anything but Crappy Customer Service!

What the hell happened to us that Crappy Customer Service is not only acceptable but explained away as ok? How far have we fallen that those demanding to be treated with the slightest bit of respect as customers are the ones needing the lecture?

My only hope is that when I finally get mine there will not be any issue requiring me to beg the busy folks at Gobi for any sort of support.