Gobi Stealth Rack Install: Problems? Issues? Tips?

W8kbrder

W8kbrder

New member
Got my Gobi Stealth in for my 2011. Quality is outstanding. Any of you guys run into any problems during the install? Tips or pointers for me? Things I should look out for?

My main concern is the possibility of water getting in through the roof. Anything extra you did to prevent water intrusion?

I scoured the archives for awhile but could not seem to come across any photos/write-ups on installing this. It looks pretty straight forward but I figured I would pick everyone's brain regardless.

thanks dudes

 
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To prevent any water leaks or seepage I used a Marine grade silicon around and in the holes where you'll mount the feet of the rack to the truck in, should be a total of 8 holes, then you will be GTG.

Although I have a Bajarack, others with a Gobi said that you want to do some sort of clear vinyl over the area where the wind deflector mounts so it doesn't rub your paint, or you could get some rubber door trim and put it along the edge of the wind deflector so it won't rub the paint.
 
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Need vinyl under wind deflector.

If the wind deflector is like the one that came for my FJ it will have a little bit of a rubber trim on the part that will contact the roof. I would highly recommend putting clear vinyl under that. After only going to the beach a few times and washing the FJ promptly after leaving the beach, the rubber trim had rubbed the paint so much that it was starting to rust in the pits.
 
my14runner said:
To prevent any water leaks or seepage I used a Marine grade silicon around and in the holes where you'll mount the feet of the rack to the truck in, should be a total of 8 holes, then you will be GTG.

Although I have a Bajarack, others with a Gobi said that you want to do some sort of clear vinyl over the area where the wind deflector mounts so it doesn't rub your paint, or you could get some rubber door trim and put it along the edge of the wind deflector so it won't rub the paint.
Click to expand...

Noted. Gonna have to track down some clear vinyl. I have the marine grade silicon so I should be good there.

UDC Mike said:
I did silicon around the mount holes and the vinyl under wind deflector. No big set backs, it was pretty easy especially with an extra set of hands or two. Okki had a section in his build thread where he goes over the install.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/94578-okkis-build-thread-3.html#post1034794
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. Excellent reference build.

MAD 4Runner said:
If the wind deflector is like the one that came for my FJ it will have a little bit of a rubber trim on the part that will contact the roof. I would highly recommend putting clear vinyl under that. After only going to the beach a few times and washing the FJ promptly after leaving the beach, the rubber trim had rubbed the paint so much that it was starting to rust in the pits.
Click to expand...

Yes you are right. Rubber trim for contact to roof. I'll def do the vinyl trick. Any tips on where to find this stuff locally?...or is it something that you have to special order?

Mistaken said:
They definitely dont fit the 2011 4Runners. You should just ship it to me instead... :hungry:
Click to expand...

I mowed 476 lawns for this rack. Its my new most favorite thing in the world. JK about the lawns. But it wasn't cheap. Was able to justify it for discretionary funds with the wife. Figured it would help keep surfboards/beach chairs/kid stuff up on the roof and out of the car when driving back and fourth to the beach.

 
I literally just installed mine, didn't go with the vinyl for now as I already have enough scratches across the top crawling through woods and trees. Working on installing my 42" light bar across the top of it and ran into a few issues that I'll have to modify my mounting clips to the GOBI rack itself. I was incredibly happy with the rack itself and how quickly myself and a my little helper got it installed..You'll love it!
 
I literally just installed mine as well, placed some silicone within the bolt holes, but none around the holes, just washed it, and then it poured (go figure ) and so far so good. Biggest piece of advice is use a friend, doing it by yourself is a pain....
 
Anyone ever use plastidip instead of the 3M vinyl? Or even seal the wind deflector right to the vinyl with marine silicone?
 
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Installed my Stealth a few weeks ago, and like others used silicone around the (8) holes in the roof and placed the rubber gaskets that came with the rack over the top. I drove in torrential rain for multiple hours on end during a 2300 mile road trip about a week ago with no issues whatsoever. Had it loaded up with 96 bottles of water, 4 large canopy chairs and a few other items that would never have been possible to haul with everything else we had inside the cargo area. No leaks, rattles, excessive wind noise, etc. Love the rack and it's worth every penny in my opinion.
 
I did silicon around the mount holes and the vinyl under wind deflector.
3c.jpg
 
W8kbrder said:
I mowed 476 lawns for this rack. Its my new most favorite thing in the world. JK about the lawns. But it wasn't cheap. Was able to justify it for discretionary funds with the wife. Figured it would help keep surfboards/beach chairs/kid stuff up on the roof and out of the car when driving back and fourth to the beach.
Click to expand...

That is how I sold my wife on mine also. We want to keep our dogs in the back and need room up top to take all our stuff with us... :)

Your 4R looks badass btw.
 
Attempted to install the Gobi rack this past weekend. I had the 4 "GOBI" logo-ed brackets pretty snug when we lifted the rack and mocked it up against these brackets. The Rack looked and sat evenly on all 4 brackets. Per the instructions, the front legs are then installed.

When I attempted to install the driver and passenger side front legs, the middle "GOBI" bracket on the driver side did not touch the rack. There was about a 1/2 gap between the middle bracket and the rack with the driver side front leg installed. I can also feel that the majority of the weight of the rack is on the front driver side leg. There are adjustments you can make on the front legs but they are set as low as possible and the rack still does not make contact with the middle bracket (front fixed "GOBI logo-ed bracket).

On the passenger side, the rack seemed to be touching the middle, rear "GOBI" logo-ed brackets and the front leg evenly. The weight of the rack on the passenger side also seems to be evenly distributed. It seems like if the adjustments on the driver side front leg would allow the rack to sit down further, it would then rest on the middle "GOBI" logo-ed bracket and sit correctly.

Did anyone else run into this issue? I'm afraid if I tighten the bolts on the driver side middle "GOBI" logo-ed bracket to the rack, it would pull the bolts holding bracket into the roof, out of the roof.
 
Mine fits the same way. It puts additional pressure on the front legs so that the front of the rack doesn't bounce up and down with some weight strapped to it.
 
Did you have these issues on both sides of the rack? My passenger side seems to fit perfect. With the front passenger side leg installed, the rack touches both rear fixed brackets and front leg is firmly touching the roof. I am only having this issue on the driver side.
 
When you have to clean the front mount spots - do they provide cleaner or is it just soap and water?

I havent gotten mine yet but it ships this week so I am trying to plan everything out. I know what happens when it comes in...
:lookout: me driving home when its delivered.
:frisky: me to the wife when I open it
:ballchain: me having to wait to install it due to prior commitments.
:reddance: me during the install
:bathbaby: me after the install.
 
Snacks said:
Did you have these issues on both sides of the rack? My passenger side seems to fit perfect. With the front passenger side leg installed, the rack touches both rear fixed brackets and front leg is firmly touching the roof. I am only having this issue on the driver side.
Click to expand...

The drivers side had a bit more of a gap, maybe by an 1/8 of an inch. Once everything is tightened up, it all seems fine.
 
WEAK_E90 said:
When you have to clean the front mount spots - do they provide cleaner or is it just soap and water?

I havent gotten mine yet but it ships this week so I am trying to plan everything out. I know what happens when it comes in...
:lookout: me driving home when its delivered.
:frisky: me to the wife when I open it
:ballchain: me having to wait to install it due to prior commitments.
:reddance: me during the install
:bathbaby: me after the install.
Click to expand...


Gobi is shipping the new racks without the large foot mounts. The new mounts are only as wide as the rubber stripping that run along the edge of the roof are are the same width as the 4 "GOBI logo-ed" mounts that you attach on top of the roof.
 
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