Have a Look: Is this a factory rack, or aftermarket?

[marmotan]

Hi all,

I bought the truck used and it has this rack:



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I would like to remove the crossbars and keep the siderails, so I can put on Yakima bars:


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My question is, if this is NOT a factory rack, can the siderails handle the weight of camping gear and/or canoe and/or bikes? I have no idea what the siderail bases are screwed into. I'm hoping someone can spot a 'fake' (ie, cosmetic) rack and let me know if I'm risking catastrophic failure by trusting these siderails. By the way, the 'skid rails' that run down the middle of the roof appear to just be stuck-on; there's no screws holding them to the roof.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Definitely not the factory rack. So there arent ANY markings or brand names on it anywhere?

 

[marmotan]

Absolutely none! I've looked on/underneath every piece of this thing. That's why I wondered if it might be OEM. But the skid rails are poorly spaced, so that made me think aftermarket:


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See how crooked they are?

 

[Mr. Leary]

The factory rack looks similar, but there are no base plates and the crossbars rise in tracks that are located in the space occipied by the blank stripes that you have on either side of the rack.

 

[marmotan]

The factory rack looks similar, but there are no base plates and the crossbars rise in tracks that are located in the space occipied by the blank stripes that you have on either side of the rack.

Ah, now we're getting somewhere... So is it likely that those blank stripes are actually anchored in some frame metal, rather than just the sheet metal roof like my existing siderails are?

 

[MrBobDobalina]

From the looks of it they are probably just screwed into the metal...it doesnt take much. That is definitely not a factory rack IMHO.

 

[marmotan]

Thanks all, that's what I needed to know. I think I'll take off one of these outer plastic strips and see what they are screwed into.

I wish the original owner had installed a real rack. Now, if I take this one off I've got eight holes in my roof to deal with! :ybrick:

 

[the great him]

well its defiantly not a factory rack for the 4runner, but it looks very similar to the factory rack on the Land Cruiser(fjz80) they are set up the same way -cross bars mount into the side of the rails and the rails are raised up...

 

[Qyota]

Thanks all, that's what I needed to know. I think I'll take off one of these outer plastic strips and see what they are screwed into.

Under the black strips there are just 5 threaded holes (each side), that's it. The threaded holes are probably better supported in the roof, but the only way to know that would be to remove the headliner and take a look.

 

[marmotan]

Under the black strips there are just 5 threaded holes (each side), that's it. The threaded holes are probably better supported in the roof, but the only way to know that would be to remove the headliner and take a look.

Ah, I see. So those 5 threaded holes are likely the factory anchors for the factory slider tracks, which the original owner decided to just cover with a trim strip. Thanks!

 

[Qyota]

Ah, I see. So those 5 threaded holes are likely the factory anchors for the factory slider tracks, which the original owner decided to just cover with a trim strip. Thanks!

Exactly. The trim strip is an OEM piece, for 4Runners that were not configured with a rack as an option. So, if you find an OEM rack, it'll bolt right in.

 

[Mr. Leary]

well its defiantly not a factory rack for the 4runner, but it looks very similar to the factory rack on the Land Cruiser(fjz80) they are set up the same way -cross bars mount into the side of the rails and the rails are raised up...

Hmmm... now that you mention it, thats exactly what it is! Good eye! I still have the factory rack on my 80 and its the same thing.

 

[marmotan]

Hmmm... now that you mention it, thats exactly what it is! Good eye! I still have the factory rack on my 80 and its the same thing.

Ha! So whose idea was is to install a LC rack on my 4runner?! Maybe the original dealer just had an extra lying around and didn't think anyone would notice...

 

[the great him]

Ha! So whose idea was is to install a LC rack on my 4runner?! Maybe the original dealer just had an extra lying around and didn't think anyone would notice...

oh thats not a dealer done thing... thats some owner, who thought he would just put a "factory" roof rack up there... im pretty sure its drilled into the sheet metal of your roof, so you might wanta buy some silicone so seal up those holes...

 

[marmotan]

oh thats not a dealer done thing... thats some owner, who thought he would just put a "factory" roof rack up there... im pretty sure its drilled into the sheet metal of your roof, so you might wanta buy some silicone so seal up those holes...

As far as sealing up the holes goes, how about removing the existing rack and then putting the screws back in the holes along with a bunch of silicone? I really can't afford any bondo/repainting work, especially for the roof that hardly anybody sees.

 

[BTO]

My gf has an aftermarket rack. :boink:

 

[the great him]

As far as sealing up the holes goes, how about removing the existing rack and then putting the screws back in the holes along with a bunch of silicone? I really can't afford any bondo/repainting work, especially for the roof that hardly anybody sees.

why would you put screws back in there? id just fill up the holes with silicone and call it good

 

[marmotan]

why would you put screws back in there? id just fill up the holes with silicone and call it good

After some searching I found the end-all be-all thread discussing the various ways to fill roof rack holes. This post in particular was especially useful:

Best way to fill roof rack holes? - Page 2