Whitson Metalworks
New member
Looks great Matt! Is it painted or finished yet? Looks bare, don't let it rust up man lol.
Group Buy; Whitson Metalworks Full length rack!
- Thread starter Scat Adams
- Start date
WastedAccount
New member
It's painted. Hammered Black. Here's all the photos I took during the install. I'll write up my thoughts on it later. Overall I'm very happy though and I think it looks great. It's so low profile that it doesn't really stand out at all. I put on sliders and a roof rack today and both almost disappear cause they're both so slick.
Roof Rack Paint and Install
Here's a video walkaround
Roof Rack Paint and Install
Here's a video walkaround
Last edited:
Whitson Metalworks
New member
matt i just noticed you mounted this directly to the roof. hows the clearance between the rack and the roof? i build them to mount to the factory rails but its certainly sleek(er) without them. cant wait to see it with some lights in there.
WastedAccount
New member
The factory rails you say..... my truck only had two plastic strips bolted to the roof. Are these the rails you're talking about? I just pulled them and put that foam tape on the feet and bolted it down. It didn't look like it would sit on those rails very nicely.
It did feel a bit low and it was suggested that a 3/8" spacer would be nice by my father as we installed it.
Also, you sent two different sets of screws, I used the 4 short ones to bolt the feet down. I'm going to get washers for them though since the heads on them aren't much bigger then holes they go through.
And yes, it is super slick where it is. It does touch the roof on the bottom of a few of the cross bars. It doesn't bother me though but someone might not be happy about that. You can see this in the video walk around. The front of the rack was really close to the roof too. I had to cut the rubber pieces to get them to fit between the rack and roof. I also had to loosen the screws in the front feet and then put the front mounts in. No bigger but if you cranked them down they would cause the roof to start to bow in under the feet.
I'm a little hung up on what lights to get now. The front light spots are fairly small. 13"W x 3.25"H x 3"D. So it's not a big space. I've been looking at 10" LED light bars since they'll fit in the rack but haven't decided yet. I'll start a new thread for that discussion.
Also, it does start to whistle at 65 but that was expected. It's not very loud and I had the windows down. I'm sure if I closed it up and turned up the radio I wouldn't have noticed. Also, it must have stiffened the roof a lot cause my aftermarket sunroof now rattles even more. Neither off these are complaints about the rack.
I cold surely go on. If any one has any questions feel free to ask. I'll get a picture if requested and I'll answer whatever I can.
Over all though this is an awesome rack that changes the look of the truck nicely. I should still fit in the garage too but i haven't tested that yet.
It did feel a bit low and it was suggested that a 3/8" spacer would be nice by my father as we installed it.
Also, you sent two different sets of screws, I used the 4 short ones to bolt the feet down. I'm going to get washers for them though since the heads on them aren't much bigger then holes they go through.
And yes, it is super slick where it is. It does touch the roof on the bottom of a few of the cross bars. It doesn't bother me though but someone might not be happy about that. You can see this in the video walk around. The front of the rack was really close to the roof too. I had to cut the rubber pieces to get them to fit between the rack and roof. I also had to loosen the screws in the front feet and then put the front mounts in. No bigger but if you cranked them down they would cause the roof to start to bow in under the feet.
I'm a little hung up on what lights to get now. The front light spots are fairly small. 13"W x 3.25"H x 3"D. So it's not a big space. I've been looking at 10" LED light bars since they'll fit in the rack but haven't decided yet. I'll start a new thread for that discussion.
Also, it does start to whistle at 65 but that was expected. It's not very loud and I had the windows down. I'm sure if I closed it up and turned up the radio I wouldn't have noticed. Also, it must have stiffened the roof a lot cause my aftermarket sunroof now rattles even more. Neither off these are complaints about the rack.
I cold surely go on. If any one has any questions feel free to ask. I'll get a picture if requested and I'll answer whatever I can.
Over all though this is an awesome rack that changes the look of the truck nicely. I should still fit in the garage too but i haven't tested that yet.
Whitson Metalworks
New member
it sounds like your truck didnt have the factory tracks. the tracks work great for mounting it and thats what the two sets of screws were for, one to reach down through the track into the holes you used and the shorter one to catch the sliding insert inside the track. a spacer or even some good thick rubber cut to the shape of the mounts would work great. mine starts to howl too around 60-65 but recently i put some clear pvc hose (split and zip-tied) around the top front bar for the kayak and somehow the wind noise is cut in half or better, very trippy but i'll take it. thanks for the follow ups and pictures.
WastedAccount
New member
I managed to get on the highway today. According to my ScanGauge the rack costs me about 2mpgs at anything above 65mph. So that sucks but it looks awesome and I feel really cool with it on there. And that's what really matters to me, well that and the extra space for camping gear. Also, with it mounted to the roof directly like I have it I don't hear any extra wind noise on the freeway.
Around town, I can still get over 20mpg so no change there. All of this was expected though so I don't really care.
I did weld on sliders too over the weekend but I don't believe they affected my mpgs all the much
Around town, I can still get over 20mpg so no change there. All of this was expected though so I don't really care.
I did weld on sliders too over the weekend but I don't believe they affected my mpgs all the much
surf185
New member
This is OUTSTANDING! Exactly what I have been looking for in a roof rack; something that sits low, full length, and looks great doing it.
I too have financial commitments that are getting in the way of me just pulling the trigger on it but expect to hear for me in the near future on a potential order to sunny SoCal!
Correct me if I assumed wrong but the option to purchase a powdercoated one is out of the question?
Thanks and great job on the rack!
I too have financial commitments that are getting in the way of me just pulling the trigger on it but expect to hear for me in the near future on a potential order to sunny SoCal!
Correct me if I assumed wrong but the option to purchase a powdercoated one is out of the question?
Thanks and great job on the rack!
Whitson Metalworks
New member
Your option to purchase a powdercoated rack is still there, it would just be at whatever rate he charges for one rack, which would be around 100-150 I would guess. For you socal guys though, I can't imagine there being any shortage of powder shops out there that may be cheaper. There's only two outfits near here so their rates are what they want them to be for the most part. Matt, thanks again for the follow ups, I noticed about the same mpg ding but also did a little towing around the time I put it on.
waketek516
New member
What kind of shipping are we looking at for Socal?
Whitson Metalworks
New member
good question waketek. i did a quote through southeastern freight (whom i use) and for one rack-approx 65lbs it would be about 160, for two racks-approx 130lbs its 175 and for 3 racks around 210lbs it went to $260. obviously the math favors the weight of two racks if theres another interested member in socal.
waketek516
New member
Well if me and COB can coordinate something - that would definitely help both of us out. I have my wedding in July, so this would be an August purchase for me. :dammit:
Whitson Metalworks
New member
What? After the wedding? Think of how many cans and streamers that could be tied to a full length rack... Would look beautiful in the wedding album lol. That's cool, and Congrats in advance. No worries I'll keep the jig and can build any time.
ChildrenOfBodom
Moderator
Got your PM, waketek516.
I'm in no rush so August sounds like a good goal. I'm more than happy to split shipping.
I'm in no rush so August sounds like a good goal. I'm more than happy to split shipping.
waketek516
New member
:hatsoff::hatsoff:
4Running Daily
New member
I may think about hopping on this as well. We'll see depending on funds.
waketek516
New member
Keep me and COB in the loop - splitting shipping 3-ways will be even cheaper! :bigok:
ChicagoT4R
New member
Just sent you a PM about incorporating fork mount bike racks into the build.
I will be in for one if we can make that happen!
I will be in for one if we can make that happen!
Scat Adams
New member
Im still very interested in buying a rack as well, just may wait another month to pull the trigger.
Qyota
New member
Hey Whitson, would you consider building a flat rack like this?
More info here: http://www.bajarack.com/fj-ut-rack
This would allow the attachment of wider-than-4runner items, like 4x8 sheets of material.
Should be a bit cheaper to produce as well, with a lot less material.
Let me know!
Thanks
More info here: http://www.bajarack.com/fj-ut-rack
This would allow the attachment of wider-than-4runner items, like 4x8 sheets of material.
Should be a bit cheaper to produce as well, with a lot less material.
Let me know!
Thanks
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