Honest Opinions about this luggage Rack MOD

[tank72]

OK I found these totes at my work and thought to myself....hey if I cut one of those down it would make a good luggage rack.

I can't decide if I like it or not and want your honest opinion before I spend the time to prime and paint it.

(1)
These are totes. Metal Pallets that carry liquid.

(2)
I removed the plastic liner and cut the bottom section off. I love sawz-all

(3)
Here's what it looks like on my T4R

What do you think? How does it look?
:lookout:

 

[BrianSD_42]

Where did you get that thing? I was wondering if you are in the military but I guess it is just industrial crate metal.

If it weighs more than 75 lbs don't use it for safety reasons.

 

[tank72]

Nope. Not in the military. its less than 50 lbs. I lifted up there myself.

 

[CanadaEh]

Nope. Not in the military. its less than 50 lbs. I lifted up there myself.

Looks a bit high but not alright. How big is the gap at the bottom?

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I'd cut it down more, cut the "legs" off it if that makes sense. Good idea just sits way too high IMO.

 

[tank72]

The bottom gap is about 4 1/2 inches. Top section is 6 in.

 

[BeachWagon]

Yea, cut those legs down. And if you can get yourself another one of those, you might have something I would want if you were close to the panhandle of Florida.

 

[tank72]

How tall should it be, total?

 

[BrianSD_42]

Personally I don't think it looks good on your truck. For one thing it is too tall but mainly it looks cheap on an otherwise "clean" looking 4Runner. Your 4Runner does not have major dents or damage and this 'home brewed' mod just looks tacky and takes away from the clean look.

Now I am slightly biased because I don't like roof racks in the first place. IMO for most members they are a waste of $1000. Why do I say that? Well simply browse through the forum pictures and all you will see is unloaded roof racks. It is so rare to see a 4Runner's after market roof rack actually loaded up for a trip. If you buy one, even when you do take a trip, the roof rack is the last thing you will want to load up because adding extra weight up top makes it more likely to flip.

My conclusion is that they do not add as much style as an after market bumper. They don't add *any* off-road capability. They cost a cool $1000 (not applicable in this post I realize) and they cost you ~ 2 MPG from the day you install them, especially if you add lights.

I know there are many guys that love the look and I am sorry to have to disagree but I just don't feel them.

:hatsoff:

 

[tank72]

No, I appreciate your input. I never thought of those things. Thanks

 

[jham]

Have you decide against using it? If not, maybe this will be the last straw - hell no. It looks hideous.

I say that for your own good

 

[Stick Figure]

you probably could have sold those crates for enough to buy some metal to make a rack that fits better.

brianemc2_42

I agree with a lot of what you said, but it really depends on what the vehicle is being used for. I ended up moving the jack and shovel to the stock rack just to make room inside that was again swallowed by the fridge/freezer. I may still do something up top for fuel storage (to be used on some longer trips) until I finally get off my ass and build a rear bumper.

Looking at expedition rigs that carry two spares on the rear, the rack becomes a beautiful thing.

 

[Hepar]

I agree that it definitely would need to be cut down a bit and that it does look a little cheapy on a super clean Runner. That being said, if you do cut it down and maybe add a nice coat of paint, I might sing a whole new tune.

 

[brian2sun]

You wanted honest, so...

it's pretty f*#@in ugly dude.

Brian, I totally agree. Besides MR. Leary and maybe 1 or 2 others on here, they are always empty when you see pics. They're just really big, expensive light racks to most people. My truck sits pretty high with no roof rack, I'm sure if I had one I would have torn it off in an underground parking lot, a drivethru, or something by now. I whack my CB antenna on stuff all the time.

Even as light racks, I think they still kinda suck. If it's a "half" rack, the light will usually be blocked by the roof and not shine on the road anyways. And on a full rack, "hood splash" (light reflecting off the hood) makes it hard to see and annoying. The best spot for off road light (at least on a 4runner) is on a front bumper IMO.

 

[Singtoe]

It looks like you put a metal pallet on your roof. Your truck doesn't beep when it backs up does it?



If was more rectangular instead of square, it probably look better.

 

[fightman80]

Besides a couple of opinions, looks pretty one sided! I'll be completely honest with you as well:

I once had a rack that I fabricated, but found that I didn't use it much. In fact, the only thing it was good for, was holding up my roof lights, and sucking up my gas mileage.

I took it off in the fall last year, and never looked back! Hope we didn't crush your heart too bad man....just would hate to see you mess up the look of a already clean looking truck!

 

[tank72]

Thanks everyone who posted. I'm a "hit me on the chin with it" kind of guy and I appreciate all the comments. And big thanks for the comments on my Runner.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Boy,harshing on the roof rack crowd.:roadkill:


I know there's a lot of people that put those things up there and simply never use them but some do and just because you see empty racks in pics doesn't mean they aren't used,it's just not generally full of stuff when photographed.
I use mine alot during the summer but even at the campsite it's emptied for the wheeling portions and it stays on all summer since why would I keep taking it on and off for the season? In winter mine does get removed and stored away but as soon as warm weather hits it's back on. Taking it on and off is one of the reason I've avoided putting lights up top since with the rack on all winter it just holds more snow and has no usefulness till camping season.

The rack frees up so much space it would be a shame not to use it and now I'm starting to miss summer real bad. :tongue:

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Imagine your 4Runner is the grass under that dogs butt. Yeah... looks like that.

 

[theizzardking]

Ditto on it being to tall and double ditto to what ron said , i sleep in the back of my truck when camping and on road trips , i store everything on the rooftop except my clothing which is only 1 backpack, which means i can always see out the back window and if i want to sleep i don't have to unload the whole truck to get some kip, i can deploy the bed in about 3 mins with my head on the pillow , great for those 30 hour drives or long hikes that require 4 am starts , i love my rack and is very very useful, that said I'd like to point out on average when driving down the freeway most pick up beds on trucks are empty, does that mean having a pickup is useless or never gets used, strange logic there and to be honest i like tge way they look in general, try cutting it flush with the bottom plate and use a few holes and a u bolt to secure through the floor plate of the rack, just make sure the aluminum...or steel is thick enough not to deform and pull through when the rack is loaded and taking a few turns ,catch my drift ,that would be a bad scene!