Gobi Rack - Issue with mounting brackets and loosening bolts?

[t-rex grrr]

Gobi Rack - Issue with mounting brackets and loose bolts?

Hi All,

After I installed my rack, I noticed that my mounting bracket bolts were slightly loosened, so I tightened them back up and called it a day.

Yesterday, I checked on the bolts again and they still seemed loose, so I tightened them till the point where my thumb couldn't push the wrench anymore (so definitely not forcefully tightening them) and called it a day.

Well tonight I just checked on them again, and they're loose again! Not like super loose, but I had to tighten them back up again maybe a full turn?

I do have some thread sealant on the bolts, but has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks!

 

[riceandpho]

maybe add some locktite and lock washers to help? i think the blue is what you want to use, the red is a more permanent solution.

 

[brett_murphy]

I second the lock washer idea, or maybe using self-locking nuts.

Has there been a huge difference in the high and low temperatures?

 

[chmura]

Which bolts? The allen bolts or the bolts that bolt to the rack and connect to the Gobi's feet? I tightened the regular feet to rack bolts really really tight. The allen bolts that bolt to the roof of the 4runner I just put some silicone on the threads and tightened them tight but made sure not to over tighten them.

I never used any locktite with my Gobi and never had an issue.

 

[truckhigh]

throw it in the trash!!!

i wouldn't use a split lock washer it would et water in. Get the one that looks like a cog and use some silicone to seal around it too. So, lock washer, washer and some silicone is what i would do. if its loose then water is getting in for sure.

 

[t-rex grrr]

I second the lock washer idea, or maybe using self-locking nuts.

Has there been a huge difference in the high and low temperatures?

The 4runner has been in the garage for the past few days, so the temp hasn't fluctuated too drastically.

 

[t-rex grrr]

Which bolts? The allen bolts or the bolts that bolt to the rack and connect to the Gobi's feet? I tightened the regular feet to rack bolts really really tight. The allen bolts that bolt to the roof of the 4runner I just put some silicone on the threads and tightened them tight but made sure not to over tighten them.

I never used any locktite with my Gobi and never had an issue.

The allen bolts that bolt the mounting brackets to the roof. I don't think I over tightened them at all, but I'll check again tonight to see if they loosened a bit.

 

[t-rex grrr]

throw it in the trash!!!

i wouldn't use a split lock washer it would et water in. Get the one that looks like a cog and use some silicone to seal around it too. So, lock washer, washer and some silicone is what i would do. if its loose then water is getting in for sure.

I'm using a sealing washer with some silicone.

 

[RonJR]

Just to verify what's really going on, you might want make a small mark on the allen heads with a permanent marker to see if they're really turning and backing out, or perhaps you have an issue with whatever they're threaded into, that is slowly pulling out of the roof. I don't know how much structure is under the roof to hold those bolts - my guess is less than you'd hope for.

 

[t-rex grrr]

Just to verify what's really going on, you might want make a small mark on the allen heads with a permanent marker to see if they're really turning and backing out, or perhaps you have an issue with whatever they're threaded into, that is slowly pulling out of the roof. I don't know how much structure is under the roof to hold those bolts - my guess is less than you'd hope for.

That would suck if it was the latter!

Basically I installed the roof rack and tightened all bolts. Then I went to check on the bracket bolts again a day later only to find that they weren't tight like how I left them the previous day.

I'll check again tonight.

 

[bagelsjustbagels]

I've had the same problem with mine. Locktite is not a bad idea. I'm going to give that a try as well, (even though when I installed it- I'm pretty sure I already put some.....?)

As for the split washers etc. I was in disagreement with my friends during the install, i thought the order Gobi suggested was odd...

 

[t-rex grrr]

Bolts seem to be just as tight as last night, so maybe I didn't tighten them up enough from the beginning.

I'll continue to check periodically.