Prepping for the BajaRack install (Painting, sealing?)

[jross20]

All right, so the roof rack came in Monday and it looks awesome.

Originally I was not aware that you had to remove the roof rails in order to install it so I figured I might as well paint the things while I have them off. So then that brings me to three important questions:

1.) Is there any kind of paint you guys suggest that will not fade in the Sun? (Are the rails metal?

2.) Is there a write-up for how to properly remove and install the rails without inducing leaking?

3.) Is there special anything I need to know about removing or installing the rails? As in if I take out the bolts of a rail do I have to worry about anything falling off in the cab, etc.

 

[audiness]

I dont know the answers to your questions, but be very careful when taking the bolts out, use lots of WD-40. I did this one time long ago, and the bolts were very rusty and one of them broke. If I were to do it again, I'd have a new set of bolts and some sort of sealer ready to go for the re-install.
This was on a rust-free southern truck too.

 

[Unner]

The rails are plastic, at least the outside that you see. SEM paint has a good reputation for painting exterior plastics, but it's pricey. Make sure you prep correctly for good adhesion.

Make sure to seal up the bolts you use to reinstall into the roof really good with some sort of silicone. If they're not sealed they will leak into the inside of the truck.

 

[jross20]

I dont know the answers to your questions, but be very careful when taking the bolts out, use lots of WD-40. I did this one time long ago, and the bolts were very rusty and one of them broke. If I were to do it again, I'd have a new set of bolts and some sort of sealer ready to go for the re-install.
This was on a rust-free southern truck too.

Oh wow okay thanks for the heads up. Sounds like it might be a good idea to just replace the old bolts during the swap.

Hey you don't know what happened to know what size torx I need for those do you?

The rails are plastic, at least the outside that you see. SEM paint has a good reputation for painting exterior plastics, but it's pricey. Make sure you prep correctly for good adhesion.

Make sure to seal up the bolts you use to reinstall into the roof really good with some sort of silicone. If they're not sealed they will leak into the inside of the truck.

Well originally I was just thinking of hitting them with some black paint just so they wouldn't look so faded, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to actually hit them with primer first.

Yeah I think the instructions called for RTG silicone. At least I think that's what it said, I'll have to check.

And cool I'll check out that sem paint.

 

[GhostRing]

The Torx bolts on my '98 are T20, I don't think there were any variances throughout the model run.
The rivnut/insert should stay put for the removal and re-install - assuming nothing gets jammed and spins it in the sheetmetal.
That's somewhat rare and you'd likely see it coming before you went to town on the bolt.

 

[GhostRing]

I just read the Baja Rack instructions and it seems to me that you only need to remove the endcaps
to slide the any factory crossbars/accessories out, and slide the 3 rectangular plates in per side. Does that sound correct?
If so, I can't really see a reason to undo any of the other OEM fasteners, as the plates "should" easily slide over them.
We slide Yakima "A" Plates & Rhino Rack hex plates into the factory track all the time and only (carefully!) remove 1 endcap per track.

 

[Bad Luck]

I just read the Baja Rack instructions and it seems to me that you only need to remove the endcaps
to slide the any factory crossbars/accessories out, and slide the 3 rectangular plates in per side. Does that sound correct?
If so, I can't really see a reason to undo any of the other OEM fasteners, as the plates "should" easily slide over them.
We slide Yakima "A" Plates & Rhino Rack hex plates into the factory track all the time and only (carefully!) remove 1 endcap per track.

You beat me to it! I second your statement.

 

[Ghostrider]

be very careful removing the endcaps. They are really fragile. Snapped at least 2 when I removed them to powercoat my frame

 

[jross20]

@%1;

I just read the Baja Rack instructions and it seems to me that you only need to remove the endcaps
to slide the any factory crossbars/accessories out, and slide the 3 rectangular plates in per side. Does that sound correct?
If so, I can't really see a reason to undo any of the other OEM fasteners, as the plates "should" easily slide over them.
We slide Yakima "A" Plates & Rhino Rack hex plates into the factory track all the time and only (carefully!) remove 1 endcap per track.

You know I actually thought about that last night. The instructions I have to me make it sound like you need to remove the whole rail, but I was wondering if you really needed to do that... So maybe I can just get two extra bolts and two extra plastic end caps.

be very careful removing the endcaps. They are really fragile. Snapped at least 2 when I removed them to powercoat my frame

Yeah I think I'll get two extra end caps and two extra bolts.

Do you guys happen to know what the part numbers are for those? I've been searching for about 10 minutes but I don't know if I'm just not searching the name correctly or what but I can't find them. Lol

 

[WeAreSLO]

@%1;

You know I actually thought about that last night. The instructions I have to me make it sound like you need to remove the whole rail, but I was wondering if you really needed to do that... So maybe I can just get two extra bolts and two extra plastic end caps.



Yeah I think I'll get two extra end caps and two extra bolts.

Do you guys happen to know what the part numbers are for those? I've been searching for about 10 minutes but I don't know if I'm just not searching the name correctly or what but I can't find them. Lol

Rack looks good! I'm waiting for my Baja Rack to arrive in a couple weeks here. I special ordered the flat rack without the wind deflector so it's completely flat. I was looking at the instructions and thought the whole taking the rail off part looked unnecessary too.

 

[jross20]

Rack looks good! I'm waiting for my Baja Rack to arrive in a couple weeks here. I special ordered the flat rack without the wind deflector so it's completely flat. I was looking at the instructions and thought the whole taking the rail off part looked unnecessary too.

Radical. Are you getting a ladder? I guess our only option now is the Gobi one unfortunately... I actually spoke briefly with him yesterday about getting the one they sell customized a little bit. Basically I want to add an extra rung at the top so you can't accidentally step on the wind deflector and break it lol.

 

[WeAreSLO]

Radical. Are you getting a ladder? I guess our only option now is the Gobi one unfortunately... I actually spoke briefly with him yesterday about getting the one they sell customized a little bit. Basically I want to add an extra rung at the top so you can't accidentally step on the wind deflector and break it lol.

It looks like there's a support welded behind the wind deflector running the width of it, no? Showing through the two cut outs? For the flat rack I was asking Baja if the wind deflector and support were welded or bolted since I wanted something flat and they weren't really clear so I special ordered.

 

[jross20]

Rack looks good! I'm waiting for my Baja Rack to arrive in a couple weeks here. I special ordered the flat rack without the wind deflector so it's completely flat. I was looking at the instructions and thought the whole taking the rail off part looked unnecessary too.

It looks like there's a support welded behind the wind deflector running the width of it, no? Showing through the two cut outs? For the flat rack I was asking Baja if the wind deflector and support were welded or bolted since I wanted something flat and they weren't really clear so I special ordered.

Oh sorry I was talking about the deflector on the top of the 4runner's hatch. I'd like to have an extra ring to prevent accidentally stepping on the deflector.

 

[WeAreSLO]

Oh sorry I was talking about the deflector on the top of the 4runner's hatch. I'd like to have an extra ring to prevent accidentally stepping on the deflector.

Ahh got you now, yea I hadn't thought about that. I do plan on standing up there to get a different perspective when doing photography but not sure I'll get a ladder. Will also use to haul the canoe, firewood, pop-up canopy and what not.

 

[jross20]

Ahh got you now, yea I hadn't thought about that. I do plan on standing up there to get a different perspective when doing photography but not sure I'll get a ladder. Will also use to haul the canoe, firewood, pop-up canopy and what not.

Oh I gotcha. Yeah I would totally get a ladder as to me it would make the rack so much easier to use vs having to get an external way to get up there. Plus the gobi ladder doesn't require drilling which surprised me.

 

[WeAreSLO]

Oh I gotcha. Yeah I would totally get a ladder as to me it would make the rack so much easier to use vs having to get an external way to get up there. Plus the gobi ladder doesn't require drilling which surprised me.

I do like the gobi ladder, would fill in their name on the top though lol. I always liked the quarter panel ladders people do on the side from the bumper too but I have stock bumper.

 

[jross20]

I do like the gobi ladder, would fill in their name on the top though lol. I always liked the quarter panel ladders people do on the side from the bumper too but I have stock bumper.

Hey I've seen those! Does anyone still make them? And yeah I'd also remove the Gobi logo.

 

[Endlessblockades]

If anyone plans on getting a Gobi - plan on a long wait. I bought one on a whim because I have a plywood kick-back platform on my rack - paid 6 months ago (Feb 3rd) and not a peep out of them yet. Gonna call them next week. Looks like the price has increased $50 but 'free' shipping in still in effect.

Edit - you don't pay til it ships - I meant 'ordered' on Feb 3rd.

 

[WeAreSLO]

Hey I've seen those! Does anyone still make them? And yeah I'd also remove the Gobi logo.

All the quarter panel ones I have seen were custom made by the owners. Mine arrived today and minus one little chip on one corner it came in good condition. However, the brackets labeled "Middle" have a good 3/8"-1/2" gap between the rack and the bracket so I need to contact them. How did your install go?

 

[jross20]

All the quarter panel ones I have seen were custom made by the owners. Mine arrived today and minus one little chip on one corner it came in good condition. However, the brackets labeled "Middle" have a good 3/8"-1/2" gap between the rack and the bracket so I need to contact them. How did your install go?

I couldn't find the silicone RTV anywhere nearby so I had to order it. Same goes for the 3/8 t20 torx socket. It will all be here Saturday I think so assuming the weather is not garbage I'll be trying to put it on then.

Are the bracket side-specific? I feel like I remember reading that in the instructions. I have to take a look at my parts again.