Roof rack advice?

[Jetboy]

IMO T-Slot (8020 inc.) bars are the best option at any price. And they're probably the cheapest option too!

You can mount anything anywhere quickly and easily.

For example I typically use nothing on the roof. But when I'm going for longer backcountry trips I have a basket, an awning, solar panel, and I mount my high lift up there sometimes too. In less than 10 minutes I can put on the awning/solar/high lift.

And my bars are 48" wide. So you can haul 4x8 sheets. Yeah, you can carry them on narrower bars... but good luck tying them down.

 

[007Tacoma]

...my experience so far...

Evolution of my roof rack situation/capacity...

Thule Roof Box on Stock Rails and Crossbars...
Pros: light, lockable, and good looking
Cons: flimsy (light plastic), small capacity, and expensive

T-Force Rack on Stock Rails...
Pros: looks fantastic, low profile, light aluminum, and inexpensive (got it used)
Cons: capacity (small and thin aluminum), design (more for looks than function), and wind noise.

Rhino Rack Medium Mesh and Fairing on Stock Rails and Crossbars...
Pros: low profile, no noise, great looks, great size, and versatile.
Cons: weight capacity limited by stock crossbars.

Rhino Rack Medium Mesh and Fairing on Stock Rails and LFD Offroad Ruggedized Crossbars...
Pros: low profile, accessories bolt straight on (including RTT), no noise, great looks, great size, great weight capacity, and versatile.
Cons: limited by size of the stock side rails

BONUS! with the mesh off, my RTT bolted right on!!!

FINAL SETUP:
LFD Offroad 7/8ths Roof Rack...
Pros: utilizes previously owned LFD Crossbars, adds roughly 40% more capacity to the previous setup, slightly higher off truck roof (easier to bolt stuff on), still fits in 7’ garage with 3” lift, little to no noise (close sunroof shade for none), LOOKS FANTASTIC, and total weight is 65lbs.
Cons: none so far (2 weeks in)

 

[c10bonanza]

IMO T-Slot (8020 inc.) bars are the best option at any price. And they're probably the cheapest option too!

You can mount anything anywhere quickly and easily.

For example I typically use nothing on the roof. But when I'm going for longer backcountry trips I have a basket, an awning, solar panel, and I mount my high lift up there sometimes too. In less than 10 minutes I can put on the awning/solar/high lift.

And my bars are 48" wide. So you can haul 4x8 sheets. Yeah, you can carry them on narrower bars... but good luck tying them down.

Do you have any pics of your setup? Very intriguing. Thanks.

 

[tristero]

hoto:

I laughed way too hard at this photo.

LFD rack looks really good btw.

 

[007Tacoma]

hoto:

I laughed way too hard at this photo.

LFD rack looks really good btw.

I am always sure to test my cargo options in every way possible. The Rubber Ducky Test is the latest in our state-of-the-art testing procedures. The LFD 7/8ths Rack passed with flying colors (pun intended). We even had room to strap some chairs behind the duck.

...also, you should see the faces of people as I drive across town to the lake like that. :rofl:

...worth it... :thumb:

 

[Brian3676]

I have no wind noise with my LFD cross bars. Even when sunroof is open I dont notice them.

 

["krax"]

...

Did you have to fab the extra-long awning brackets?

 

[Jetboy]

Do you have any pics of your setup? Very intriguing. Thanks.

Here's a quick writeup.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/252856-low-cost-80-20-t-slot-crossbar-diy.html

 

[007Tacoma]

Did you have to fab the extra-long awning brackets?

Actually, I worked with LFD Offroad to make some for me before I bought this rack. I have used them for a few months on just the crossbars. Now I am in the process of repainting them right now since I did a crap job my first go around, but they are burly!

 

[007Tacoma]

Actually, I worked with LFD Offroad to make some for me before I bought this rack. I have used them for a few months on just the crossbars. Now I am in the process of repainting them right now since I did a crap job my first go around, but they are burly!

 

["krax"]

Those look great.

 

[redneckcrawler]

Does your sunroof clear the 7/8ths rack?

 

[007Tacoma]

Does your sunroof clear the 7/8ths rack?

Yep! Fully functional. I think the 3/4 rack is much closer than the 7/8ths rack.

 

[redneckcrawler]

Yep! Fully functional. I think the 3/4 rack is much closer than the 7/8ths rack.

Thanks. I just ordered some bars and will eventually upgrade to a rack. Just wanted to be sure before I committed to anything.

 

[flyrv9]

No matter what roof rack I had - I don't think I would want to muscle a tire on a rim up there and then get it back down when I needed it. Since I'm getting up there in years - I'd probably go for a hitch mount if I wanted to carry an extra spare.

 

[bigguy02]

For anyone considering the LFD bars, they are having a 30% off “Blems” sale right now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bill_B]

I'm having this same dilemma right now. We want a roof box to haul my daughter's Burley trailer, stroller, and a piece or 2 of luggage.

My first world problem begins with that I would like to be able to pull our 4runner in through the 8' garage door with the box on so that I can suspend the box from the ceiling when not in use, and load up in the garage when in use :tsk:

I suppose I could always just load it in the driveway lol.

 

[TwistedJake]

For anyone considering the LFD bars, they are having a 30% off “Blems” sale right now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the heads up. Just ordered a few of the demo units for 50% off. Hard to beat that price. I'm sure they can be cleaned up and painted to look like new.

 

[bigguy02]

Thanks for the heads up. Just ordered a few of the demo units for 50% off. Hard to beat that price. I'm sure they can be cleaned up and painted to look like new.

I bought mine 2 months ago other wise I would of loved this sale.

 

[T4 Leaf]

I'm having this same dilemma right now. We want a roof box to haul my daughter's Burley trailer, stroller, and a piece or 2 of luggage.

My first world problem begins with that I would like to be able to pull our 4runner in through the 8' garage door with the box on so that I can suspend the box from the ceiling when not in use, and load up in the garage when in use :tsk:

I suppose I could always just load it in the driveway lol.

Bill B.... I got a 500lb capacity trailer hitch loaded cargo basket for xmas (right when I installed my Prinsu up top...parents didn't know I got the roof rack)... at any rate, the cargo basket works great for strollers and a few pieces of luggage. One note, if you really load it up, you can feel a slight wag back there...but that would likely not be an issue for luggage