Non Drill roof rack (no silicone)

I just installed my Prinsu full length no drill yesterday. I used silicone underneath the 8 supplied black round spacers and am hoping that is enough. I am thinking of pouring water on it to test and see later today. My question is the front mounts are secured by 3M tap that you have to cut away the weather stripping to place. Has anyone had any issues with this? Seems like now that the weather stripping is cut and there is no continuous seal, water is going to get in and not drain properly. Not sure how everyone else's Prinsu racks have held up.
 
On the whole rack or sealing/mounting feet?

I basically looked at all the systems available and blended a bunch of them (for the rack and mounting system).

It’s not done yet, still have to make the faring and get some stuff powder coated but it’s close!

The whole rack. Those spacers look legit.
 
This is why I made my own rack :bounce:

This is exactly how I'll be doing my rack next year. I have the RA rack, but I'm still uncomfortable with the mounts even though they seem pretty solid (it's still essentially a cup so if any moisture gets into the spacer, it just sits there which I'm not comfortable with). To be 110% sure about leaks, I want to get aluminum spacers fabbed up.

Would you be willing to share the dimensions/measurements by chance? I found a fabrication shop, but wasn't planning on getting aluminum blocks fabbed up until the spring.

Thanks!!
 
This is exactly how I'll be doing my rack next year. I have the RA rack, but I'm still uncomfortable with the mounts even though they seem pretty solid (it's still essentially a cup so if any moisture gets into the spacer, it just sits there which I'm not comfortable with). To be 110% sure about leaks, I want to get aluminum spacers fabbed up.

Would you be willing to share the dimensions/measurements by chance? I found a fabrication shop, but wasn't planning on getting aluminum blocks fabbed up until the spring.

Thanks!!

As of right now I am not going to share dimensions. Couple reasons...

1) I want to finish the rack and use it for a while (and test water intrusion)

2) I used greenlane offroads idea they termed "gutterblock"

Its 100 percent my own measurements and made to my own CAD models, but still their original design idea.

The whole rack. Those spacers look legit.

I'll share some photos when the rack is finished!
 
As of right now I am not going to share dimensions. Couple reasons...

1) I want to finish the rack and use it for a while (and test water intrusion)

2) I used greenlane offroads idea they termed "gutterblock"

Its 100 percent my own measurements and made to my own CAD models, but still their original design idea.


I'll share some photos when the rack is finished!

Gotcha. Greenlane is where I got the idea from as well. Unfortunately they don't sell just the spacers.

That's cool, I'll let the fabrication guy figure it out.

On either side of the silicone sheet, it might be advisable to slap a bit of butyl rubber on either side to really make things stick. I'd also dab a bit on top of the heads for the bolts that are holding the spacer.
 
For those with the prinsu rack.. Did anyone try installing the front mount underneath the weather strip instead of cutting it? Possible ?
 
I feel like my research keeps going in circles.

Do you guys think the Sherpa Crestone or the Greenlane Offroad rack is "better"?

They both went with novel approaches to the mounting, though greenlane still uses silicone. Sherpa includes more crossbars.

Otherwise they sorta seem so similar... and I haven't seen either in person.
 
I feel like my research keeps going in circles.

Do you guys think the Sherpa Crestone or the Greenlane Offroad rack is "better"?

They both went with novel approaches to the mounting, though greenlane still uses silicone. Sherpa includes more crossbars.

Otherwise they sorta seem so similar... and I haven't seen either in person.

Unless someone here has experience with both racks, it’s going to be hard to say one way or the other. What I can say is that, so far, I do really like my Crestone and would purchase again if I had to do it over.
 
Great thread. I’ve been spending hours on YouTube watching installation videos and some of them
Look horrible. Glad people are starting to notice this.
 
Just installed the Sherpa Crestone on my 21 TRD PRO, simple install and fully seals the factory mounting points..
 
While I'm in this thread, why is it that the factory racks don't seem to have these issues? I hear this sort of thing all the time with aftermarket racks, but that the OEM racks from the factory are GTG.

Why is that? Do they do an amazing job of sealing them or something? IIRC, the TRDP racks are port-installed, so they can't even be factory...

If you look at the RA mounts they have this spongey looking rubber foam seal; that's basically what Toyota uses on most if not all their roof racks. Basically rubber foam washers that compress a lot and fill the nooks and crannies; they work pretty well. Though we have seen some issues with the new Rav4s leaking from the front "clips" because Toyota went to a, IMHO stupid way to mount the roof rack to the vehicle compared to how they did it on every other Toyota.

I have the Victory rack waiting or go on. With all of the people running racks how come there aren’t more posts of this kind of corrosion taking place?

I’ve seen the one or two mentioned but not outside of that.

Really want to avoid leaking and rust living in the salt belt.

Honestly? Same reason a lot of customers get shocked when I show them how extensive rodent infestation gets in their cars sometimes. Any/all the water will for the most part follow the curves of the body and headliner, being shuttered to the A, B, C, and D pillars where they'll likely just drain down out of sight and out of mind.

I have seen entire junction blocks ruined by poor windshield sealing after a replacement (usually the upper corners & top edge), it just flows along the A-Pillar, down the open corner in the dash and drips on-top of the junction blocks. Most people won't notice unless the leak is bad enough to make the carpet squishy/soggy or when they start noticing a moldy/musty smell (even then some people don't even notice it).

Basically it's one of those things that unless it's dripping on you or in your field of vision or causes an electrical or functional issue, most customers/owners won't notice or complain about it.
 
So I have a Prinsu full rack, non drill, showing up next week. I think what I am going to do is use the Permatex Ultra Black + the rubber chemical washers from McMaster Carr and I think I will be good to go. I'm going to use the washers around the white plastic pieces on the roof and where the top screw/bolt attaches to the bracket.

If anyone needs the P/N for the McMaster Carr washers, see below. These are the "weather resistant" red washers.

P/N 99604A123
 
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Prinsu no drill No silicone option. Use a gasket under a custom spacer, and two o rings on the bolt shank to stop water intrusion down the threads. All McMaster Carr stuff.

1/16 thick x 0.75 EPDM gasket
0.75 wide x 1.00 high Delrin spacer. Cut to 4.25 long
Drilled thru holes 35/64 inch diameter
1/8 buna o rings -203 size
 

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Prinsu no drill No silicone option. Use a gasket under a custom spacer, and two o rings on the bolt shank to stop water intrusion down the threads. All McMaster Carr stuff.

1/16 thick x 0.75 EPDM gasket
0.75 wide x 1.00 high Delrin spacer. Cut to 4.25 long
Drilled thru holes 35/64 inch diameter
1/8 buna o rings -203 size

This is great! What did you search for to find the derlin sheet? Also are the prinsu spacers 1” tall? I can’t get to mine to measure, but I love this idea.
 
The delrin comes in .75 x 1.0 part number 8662K52, you pick the length. Had to sand the sealing side to take out the grooves.

The prinsu spacers are 1.0 x .75 OD X .50 ID.

Standard 1/8 o rings ID of .296 fit great on the .308 bolt shank from prinsu, but are too thick (0.574) for the .5 ID of the prinsu spacer, so one needs a slightly larger bore diameter. Hence the 35/64 drill at .547 dia. This is a good amount of o ring compression but not too much that it can’t be assembled. One would be fine but you get a pack of 50 so double up.

Used a 1/16 epdm sheet for the bottom. PN 8990K71
 
The delrin comes in .75 x 1.0 part number 8662K52, you pick the length. Had to sand the sealing side to take out the grooves.

The prinsu spacers are 1.0 x .75 OD X .50 ID.

Standard 1/8 o rings ID of .296 fit great on the .308 bolt shank from prinsu, but are too thick (0.574) for the .5 ID of the prinsu spacer, so one needs a slightly larger bore diameter. Hence the 35/64 drill at .547 dia. This is a good amount of o ring compression but not too much that it can’t be assembled. One would be fine but you get a pack of 50 so double up.

Used a 1/16 epdm sheet for the bottom. PN 8990K71

If I understand correctly, you put the prinsu spacers inside the delrin block? I'm thinking of taking your idea and applying to my UpTopOverland rack when I get it, looks clean!
 

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