How to install roof rack crossbars

[kowski49]

I don't think this particular issue has been mentioned in this thread...
I don't know if this only applies to trail editions, 2010 TE's or what. I took the crossbars off my ride a while back, and about a month ago I wanted them back on to tote my kayak. Removal was easy, but getting them back on was anything but. The rails on my truck were different lengths. It seemed like I would have to rip the side rails off the roof to get the longer crossbar to slide in the tracks. Even with the thumbscrews loose on the crossbars, the longer one would not fit. I found a post by Quietco on another thread that matched my exact problem. I PM'd him and he quickly replied with the solution (which worked perfectly and was super easy) so I wanted to share his reply in case there's anyone having a similar problem.

Kowski,

I did finally figure this out, and there is a trick! I actually started talking to the dealership tech about this during my 5k service, and he showed me the trick, which is:

Remove the rear rail covers and just slide the feet in - WITHOUT the bars. With all four feet in the tracks, reinstall rail covers. Then slide the feet to wherever you want the bars. The bars have a notch on one side, set that onto the feet, and then rotate the bars down and install the screw. Works like magic.

I believe the long bar was in the front, and the feet are marked pointing to the front. The second part of the trick is to leave the small metal plate in the feet, gently slide the feet in so that the plate is still in place to catch the screw.

It seems simple once you get it. But you'd think the rails would be parallel, which obviously isn't the case.

Let me know if this helps.

Dan

The solution did seem like magic after having my ass kicked for 45 minutes by a factory roof rack. Thanks again Quietco!

 

[TOYSTRY]

Just installed mine, however I don't feel that you need to pry anything besides the "inner cap" that's located underneath the rail. Once you pop that out you (it will pop out easily with a flathead screwdriver), simply use your finger tips on the inside of the "long gray end cap" to squeeze, while wedging your finger in the spot you removed the "inner cap" and pull outward, then it will pop right off. DO NOT TRY TO PRY THE BIG END CAP with anything, use your finger strength to do as I mentioned above.

HTH

 

[NoWake]

Great help on my install

Thanks to those photos and all the tips that you all posted , I was able to do my install in less than an hour on my 2010 TE.

*For people wondering how to tell front and rear bars apart, that info is now moulded into the sliders, as well as slickers out of box. (hook loops to the inside)
*Those 2 rubber stoppers that are supplied... I trimmed mine to 1/2" so I wouldn't lose 2 1/2" per end! They pop in and out easily , no need to slide them down track. Just use some spit.
* I used a paint can opener,( with duct tape on it as not to scratch anything) to pry up the outside edge of rail end covers. Pry outside edge and roll cover away from you to center of truck. Slowly

Everything you need to know can be found in these post.
Again thanks for all the info.

 

[Sandhopper]

Received and installed my new cross rails today... Was rather easy once I found these instructions! Thank you!

 

[Rock-N-Ruin]

Thanks to all for the info in this thread, I was able to install mine in only a few minutes..

 

[jmarthsr]

Literally a 20 min install today. The paint can lid tool inserted on the outside of the end caps to release the tabs and the end cap roll to the middle of the vehicle is the trick.

 

[Jaxoncb]

Great instructions!

I just put the new OEM crossbars on my 2015 T4R and your instructions were right on target! I appreciate you taking the time to document the process for the rest of us. Excellent resources on this forum. Install only took about 25 minutes. Thanks again!

 

[Striker4hire]

Crossbar installation on T4R 2014 TE

Hi, I am new to the forum and find the information here very helpful. I am trying to install crossbars on my 2014TE and running into issues getting the rear caps off. I have gone through the form posts but still cannot get the rears caps to pop. The outside latches let go but I can’t seem to unlatch the interior two latches :ybrick:. Any advice? Thx

 

[mrt6644]

Can you install more than 2 crossbars?
I carry kayaks and fishing rods and need different mounts.
Plus, it would distribute the weight better with 3 or more.

 

[96r50]

I don't see why not. You might be better off getting a set of Yakima or Thule bars for the kayaks though and then you could use the OEM crossbars for the fishing rods.

 

[mrt6644]

I don't see why not. You might be better off getting a set of Yakima or Thule bars for the kayaks though and then you could use the OEM crossbars for the fishing rods.

I guess I need to search and see how the Yakima setup looks on the factory rack.
I like the stock look and don't want to increase the height of the vehicle too much, when not loaded.

 

[96r50]

The Yakima Rail Grabs are very simple to install and remove, about 5 minutes at most once the initial install is complete. I take mine off when I'm not carrying my boats around. I don't have any photos of them installed but they add about 3" to the overall height of the truck when installed.

 

[marknj]

How to install roof rack crossbars-Modified To Fit Highlander

Thanks for the advice. It was easy to remove the bars. I want you to know that I removed the bars and elongated the sleeve's torx screw slots to increase length of bars to fit my wife's 2012 Highlander by 1". The rail systems are the same so with the modification one set of bars can be used on both vehicles to mount our cargo carrier.

 

[marknj]

Thanks for the advice. It was easy to remove the bars. I want you to know that I removed the bars and elongated the sleeve's torx screw slots to increase length of bars to fit my wife's 2012 Highlander by 1". The rail systems are the same so with the modification one set of bars can be used on both vehicles to mount our cargo carrier.

 

[LNBright]

hi all - good thread. helped considerably, especially knowing to be careful so as not to break off the tabs.

my suggestion: BIKE TIRE LEVERS.

Anyone who's ever changed a tire on their own bicycle will appreciate that they:

1. Are plastic (won't scratch)
2. Come in 3's, which allows you to pry from several locations at once. I used two.

With bike tire levers the whole thing took 10 minutes, and no damage done.

Cheerio

I'd like to reiterate this piece of advice: this was a great tip. I ordered mine from Brunswick Auto Mart's website (Discount Factory Genuine OEM Parts and Accessories at Wholesale Prices | BamWholesaleParts.com), for just under $100 (shipping was cheap, too, just a few bucks).

Having read through several posts, and the factory instructions, several times before they arrived, I knew the 'tricky' part would be the removal of the end caps w/o breaking tabs. I have a set of Park bike tire levers, and having three of them to gently pry with and apply pressure really helped.

Also, after getting the caps off, and was sliding the rails in: you need to loosen the knobs, but, not remove the knobs, of course: but what I was having a bit of an issue with was getting the metal plate that the knob screws into, to get into the inside of the rail... it is key to keep the torx screws a bit loose so you have enough play to get things to jiggle around, to get them to go.

Have to admit, glad I only spent $99, instead of the $199 the dealership wanted for them. They're nice, and will do what I need, but, if they were only available at ~$200, I'd have gone w/ the Yakima, even though they would stand up higher...

 

[SuboptimusPrime]

Agree that the bike tire levers are the way to go. I was a little too ginger with the end cap at first but eventually it popped off--you do have to be kinda firm with them to get the second set of tabs to come loose.

The other issue I ran into is that one of the screws attached to the little knob had a big goober of yellow threadlock which made it impossible to tighten up sufficiently by hand. Of course it was on the front crossbar which was the last thing I tightened down so I had to pull everything out, then go clean the threads of the screw then reinstall. After that everything was a piece of cake.

 

[KENGNJ]

Thanks, the instructions worked great.
I used a paint can opener and popped the covers right off. I picked up my bars on ebay for $75 shipped from partsbrokersllc. Looked like new to me.

 

[Welkin4R]

Does anybody know if the cross bars from a 2006 would fit the newer generation 2010 - 2016?

 

[Cymon]

Does anybody know if the cross bars from a 2006 would fit the newer generation 2010 - 2016?

As far as I know they will not. Different part #'s and roof width.

 

[Welkin4R]

I don't think this particular issue has been mentioned in this thread...
I don't know if this only applies to trail editions, 2010 TE's or what. I took the crossbars off my ride a while back, and about a month ago I wanted them back on to tote my kayak. Removal was easy, but getting them back on was anything but. The rails on my truck were different lengths. It seemed like I would have to rip the side rails off the roof to get the longer crossbar to slide in the tracks. Even with the thumbscrews loose on the crossbars, the longer one would not fit. I found a post by Quietco on another thread that matched my exact problem. I PM'd him and he quickly replied with the solution (which worked perfectly and was super easy) so I wanted to share his reply in case there's anyone having a similar problem.



The solution did seem like magic after having my ass kicked for 45 minutes by a factory roof rack. Thanks again Quietco!

I just bought a 2016 Trail Edition and it didn't come with the cross bars, I'm just going to have the dealer throw them on, so hopefully they should be able to do it correctly.

However, after reading all this stuff about the roof rails being different on the Trail Editions, what parts do I need specifically to get stock cross bars onto my 2016 Trail Edition?