Removing factory roof-rack cross bars.

[NAdams65]

I want to install my Thule rack on top of my 2008 4Runner.
The Thule mounts on the factory rack but has it's own cross members that different accesories mount to. My question is how do I remove the factory cross bars so I don't have 2 sets of cross bars up there?

I looked in the owners manual but they only discuss adjusting the cross bars not removal of them.

Thanks.....

Nate

 

[hemitruk]

You need to remove either the front 2 mounts or 2 rear mounts.Rear would be easier.Its has 2 torx bolts on bottom and 1 onside that mounts to side rails Then loosen and slide cross bars out.will need 2 people so you dont scatch roof.Note when you remove mounts where it mounts onto roof theres a little sealer around nylon like bushing.Its like putty.Good to seal it back up.

 

[NAdams65]

Great....where did I put my 90-degree Torx head wrench?

I figured once I got rid of the Jeep my Torx bolt worries would be over!! No such luck.

Nate

 

[hemitruk]

Its not a wrench its a socket type or screw driver type tool.Its sort of like a phillip scewdriver point except its sort of star shaped and comes in different sizes. Example of sizes is T10,T15,T20 etc.Go to sears and asked them to see torx sockets or torx screw drivers.You will need the torx sockets.

 

[Will816]

I want to install my Thule rack on top of my 2008 4Runner.
The Thule mounts on the factory rack but has it's own cross members that different accesories mount to. My question is how do I remove the factory cross bars so I don't have 2 sets of cross bars up there?

I looked in the owners manual but they only discuss adjusting the cross bars not removal of them.

Thanks.....

Nate

I have the Thule basket and it mounts up to the factory cross members. The cross members that it has with it mount on the top of the basket itself so you don't need to take it off to mount ski racks and stuff. These members are NOT for the factory rails. Check this out before you go through all the effort of taking the factory ones off and then realize you have to put them pack on.

I'm holding mine right now, they are black square tubes packaged together, right?

 

[NAdams65]

Sorry...I misspoke when I said Torx "wrench". I do have a set of Torx sockets.....I was just joking that it might be hard to get at those 2 screws since they are under the bars.

Thanks I will give it a try this morning.


Nate

 

[NAdams65]

Re: Re: Removing factory roof-rack cross bars.

I have the Thule basket and it mounts up to the factory cross members. The cross members that it has with it mount on the top of the basket itself so you don't need to take it off to mount ski racks and stuff. These members are NOT for the factory rails. Check this out before you go through all the effort of taking the factory ones off and then realize you have to put them pack on.

I'm holding mine right now, they are black square tubes packaged together, right?

Thanks.....

I realize alot of Thule/Yakima components at intended to mount to the factory cross bars. Problem is, I already own a full Thule set-up (from a previous vehicle) and would like to use it on my Runner.

Also, I'm looking into a roof-top cargo box and would feel better if it was mounted to the more rugged Thule bars.

 

[NAdams65]

Okay.....I'm sort of answering my own post here but I'll share what I found this morning.

Prior to removing the Torx head screws on the underside of the fore/aft rail, I decided to try and get the aft dust cover off and see if that shed any light on the issue. I gently removed the plastic cover and was able to just slide the cross bars out of the end of the track without a problem.... no need to remove any screws.
So after church this morning, I will mount up my Thule and maybe snap a couple pics of my new ride with her new roof-rack set-up.

Thanks again....

Nate

 

[climb.on]

Re: Re: Re: Removing factory roof-rack cross bars.

Thanks.....
Also, I'm looking into a roof-top cargo box and would feel better if it was mounted to the more rugged Thule bars.

When I got my 4Runner, I tried my Yakima Rocket Box on the factory rails. We took a trip from Minnesota to Colorado with it set that way, and although it works, it is not real sturdy. The box sits up there and just wiggles in the wind. It was kind of unnerving. I was quickly reminded why I have purchased Yakima Racks (pretty much the same as Thule, I think) for 3 toyota trucks I have owned and even my Honda Civic...because they are BOMBER! I freakin' love these racks! So I went ahead and got the Yakima Rail Riders and crossbars to replace the factory crossbars. On the next trip I took to Colorado that box was up there super solid. Nice!

Thanks for the tip on how to get the factory bars off. I had just left them up there, since I didn't have the time before my last trip, to figure out how to get them off...it wasn't too obvious just looking at it.

 

[NAdams65]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Removing factory roof-rack cross bars.

When I got my 4Runner, I tried my Yakima Rocket Box on the factory rails. We took a trip from Minnesota to Colorado with it set that way, and although it works, it is not real sturdy. The box sits up there and just wiggles in the wind. It was kind of unnerving. I was quickly reminded why I have purchased Yakima Racks (pretty much the same as Thule, I think) for 3 toyota trucks I have owned and even my Honda Civic...because they are BOMBER! I freakin' love these racks! So I went ahead and got the Yakima Rail Riders and crossbars to replace the factory crossbars. On the next trip I took to Colorado that box was up there super solid. Nice!

Thanks for the tip on how to get the factory bars off. I had just left them up there, since I didn't have the time before my last trip, to figure out how to get them off...it wasn't too obvious just looking at it.

Same here......I have a full Yakima set-up that fits my Burb and a Thule set-up that I had on a Jeep Liberty I used to own. I plan to use the Thule on the T4R since it is the type that is designed to grab on the factory rails regardless of what shape they are.
One nice thing about Yakima stuff is the mounds usually work on the square Thule bare too.....so I can cobble together a set-up on the Runner that will work for the specific season/outing.


Nate

 

[hemitruk]

Okay.....I'm sort of answering my own post here but I'll share what I found this morning.

Prior to removing the Torx head screws on the underside of the fore/aft rail, I decided to try and get the aft dust cover off and see if that shed any light on the issue. I gently removed the plastic cover and was able to just slide the cross bars out of the end of the track without a problem.... no need to remove any screws.
So after church this morning, I will mount up my Thule and maybe snap a couple pics of my new ride with her new roof-rack set-up.

Thanks again....

My bad. Mine is the sport edition tubular roof racks .I assumed you had tubular roof rack. You know what they say about when you assume. make ass u me. In this case me:

 

[climb.on]

My bad. Mine is the sport edition tubular roof racks .I assumed you had tubular roof rack. You know what they say about when you assume. make ass u me. In this case me:

Yes, I'm sure that make a difference. Thanks for the heads up. I was going to do this this afternoon but I didn't get to it. Glad I saw the update. Thanks!

 

[AdoboRunner]

I want to install my Thule rack on top of my 2008 4Runner.
The Thule mounts on the factory rack but has it's own cross members that different accesories mount to. My question is how do I remove the factory cross bars so I don't have 2 sets of cross bars up there?

I looked in the owners manual but they only discuss adjusting the cross bars not removal of them.

Thanks.....

Nate

You wouldnt happen to have these cross rails for sale would you?