Thrasher_S
New member
How was the install?
Prinsu roof rack...any issues or regrets?
- Thread starter robbymartin
- Start date
How was the install?
I bought the full length and install was pretty straight forward.
I followed the install from this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eRCqz_XU_o
The only pain points are the screws itself when attaching the windscreen to rails. It is a super tight fit. If you screw in the bolt to the nut even slightly too much, the windscreen won't slide in. Also make sure the side you slide the windscreen through is not the side that has the eye inlets for tying things down. The bolts will come out through the gaps and fall off.
If you do drill, get a drill step. I forgot the dimensions of how far but I used a smaller pilot drill first to make the hole, and then the drill step to get it to size.
Lastly, its up to you regarding the silicone, but the more the better. The last thing you want is water leaking through because you didn't cover the entire surface area enough. Personally for me, I like it because its the lowest profile rack, almost exact to the stock rails so you shouldn't have issues with getting in and our of standard height garages. Frontrunner and Gober ladders are a bit taller.
I followed the install from this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eRCqz_XU_o
The only pain points are the screws itself when attaching the windscreen to rails. It is a super tight fit. If you screw in the bolt to the nut even slightly too much, the windscreen won't slide in. Also make sure the side you slide the windscreen through is not the side that has the eye inlets for tying things down. The bolts will come out through the gaps and fall off.
If you do drill, get a drill step. I forgot the dimensions of how far but I used a smaller pilot drill first to make the hole, and then the drill step to get it to size.
Lastly, its up to you regarding the silicone, but the more the better. The last thing you want is water leaking through because you didn't cover the entire surface area enough. Personally for me, I like it because its the lowest profile rack, almost exact to the stock rails so you shouldn't have issues with getting in and our of standard height garages. Frontrunner and Gober ladders are a bit taller.
honda250xtitan
New member
I still love it. No leaks either. We hardly use it anymore since i built a trailer for camping but aesthetically it's still worth it IMO. lol.
sn_85
Senior Member
I previously had the 3/4 rack and never noticed any wind noise nor impact on MPG. It's a pretty sleek and low profile rack.
2flyfishin
New member
Install on the Prinsu 7/8’s rack is pretty easy. You do need two people to lift it on to the roof, not because of weight, just to keep from scratching the roof.
Thank you!
genesis712
New member
I have a full length rack with a cutout for a 40" light bar. So far no additional noise or anything. I am planning on adding a slim line light bar--hopefully that doesnt increase the noise.
Gwain
New member
Same here. Real easy install. Also easy to use.
dot_tom
New member
Bought one to try something different than my gobi. All my Tacoma friends have Prinsu so i wanted to join the club. Good quality. Light weight. Easy assembly.
My issue is it just looks cheap. Looks like you went to Home Depot and built a cheap
rack to put on your $40k suv.
I sold it after a week and went back to Gobi.
Plenty of function and well built. I just don’t think it looks right on a 5th gen.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My issue is it just looks cheap. Looks like you went to Home Depot and built a cheap
rack to put on your $40k suv.
I sold it after a week and went back to Gobi.
Plenty of function and well built. I just don’t think it looks right on a 5th gen.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jeffy
New member
Huh. I have the opposite opinion of mine, I think it's the best looking rack for the 5th gen and fits the car well. To each his own.
I absolutely love mine. You can attach anything to it, anywhere you want. Plus I think it has the lowest profile, which was intriguing to me since a lot of the parking garages out here have clearances less than 7'. It was shorter than the stock rack, I know that for sure. I love mine and I haven't regretted anything about it.
dot_tom
New member
Definitely to each his own. i'm happy to see plenty of options out there. I enjoy seeing different rigs on the road instead of the same Gobi every time. I do see the value in the lower profile. I'm going up to 35's next month and I'm hoping I can still fit this beast in my garage. Might need some 9' doors soon, or another Prinsu rack
swim.bike.run
New member
Love my prinsu just wished I had bought the 7/8.
warhound
New member
I've got the 7/8ths rack. It's fine for weekend warrior stuff with light loads and it looks amazing. When fully loaded however, we've run into the problem of the bolts holding the crossbars eating into the aluminum. With 3 gas cans on the roof after around 1000 miles offroad it got so bad that the washer was no longer large enough to hold the crossbar in place so that hole is no longer useable. I'm not so sure 80/20 supported this way is the best idea for a very durable rack, it needs to be supported from the bottom somehow.
Another minor gripe is that the top surface is not fully flat as the front bar is slightly higher than the rest so if you have loads longer than the roof rack, the rack will start to eat into whatever you're hauling.
Another minor gripe is that the top surface is not fully flat as the front bar is slightly higher than the rest so if you have loads longer than the roof rack, the rack will start to eat into whatever you're hauling.
Gwain
New member
:iagree: These are all the things I like about mine too.
Haven't had any issue with the bolts, but I'm more of a weekend warrior and mainly just put Front Runner boxes and camping equipment up there. Also, agree with the front bar being a minor issue. While I like the lip as something to help hold my boxes in place, it is annoying if I have to throw lumber or something long up there.
Thrasher_S
New member
Low profile is good, but too low can be an issue. How much space is there between the roof and the bottom of the crossbars? I ask because I have a pair of bike racks that need to clamp on, and I'd like to reuse them. Yakima FrontLoaders, for reference. They are fantastic, but the clamps are bulky.
Scharfschütze
New member
there is enough clearance to put on an RTT, youll be fine. You can always drop the cross bars, hook up your rack, then drop them on though if needed.
I self installed my full rack and for whatever reason developed a small leak on the passenger's side above the seatbelt, small drops were soaking the belt so I resealed it, 8 months later, dry as a bone. Lesson: Be liberal with the sealant! I slathered all of them when i re-did this one just to be safe. Very happy with the rack and wouldn't change!
kevsMAGNETO4R
New member
Researched roof racks for months. Looked at ones from Gobi, Baja, Prinsu (and similar), SSO, Frontrunner etc. Ended up with the Gobi and although it took 16 weeks, I freekin love it. I may of gone Frontrunner if you didn't have to drill and because they offer so many accessory mounts but I also wanted a tubular "basket" type rack. Solid build and IMHO "fits" the 4runner platform. Rago also makes an interesting modular rack that I looked at but again wasn't a basket form.
Agent_Outside
New member
Lots of issues and regrets, I should have bought the SSO rack.
