Roof Rack and Hitch Setups HERE!

[Quentin]

Just built my Thule 916XT T2 yesterday. I really can't say enough about this rack--I've only used it once but it's amazing! Well built, snug hitch fit, very solid/snug bike fit (I was skeptical pre-purchase), highly (and easily) adjustable for different combinations of bikes, fold-out feature for rear hatch access (I forgot to snap a picture of that, but very convenient), 30 seconds to add/remove from the hitch, 30 seconds to add/remove a bike, and to top it off it comes with a hitch receiver lock to deter theft. Enjoy!

Oh, and the bikes are 2007 Cannondale F3 and 2009 Cannondale F5 Feminine hardtails. Hopefully a 29er in the next year or so :biggrin2:

Looks great! I just ordered my 916XT today. Also got the Thule crossbars for the roof so I can tie ladders, canoes, and god knows what else up there. Should have it by the end of July (through my round-about connection). Hopefully I'll be able to ride at that point (jogging 2.5~3.8 mi/day now) so we can hit up Kanawha State Forest.

 

[FlyNavy]

Does anybody know the part number for the small screw that holds the cross-bar in place?
Just drove from SF to DC and while in Kansas, the crosswind really wrenched my 14' paddleboard around. The result was once of these worked its way out and departed.
While I'm on the subject, here's the setup I'm working. Yakima Holdup and stock rack with pads.

<a href="http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz325/isprenger/?action=view&current=P1010264.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz325/isprenger/P1010264.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz325/isprenger/?action=view&current=P1010418.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz325/isprenger/P1010418.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz325/isprenger/?action=view&current=P1010348.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz325/isprenger/P1010348.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[desertred]

Has anyone thought of or attempted to drill into the roof to establish a mounting point for a crossbar above the front doors? Are there any wiring harnesses that go under the plastic strip on the roof? I carry a couple of 20 foot CF surfski/canoes. Even using the Yakima drydock system, the one half of the length of the canoes hang aft of the vehicle. I really need to establish a forward mounted crossbar to reel the length back in and center the canoes over the truck. 2-3 feet make a LOT of difference. Here's a picture to give an idea of what the concern is:

 

[Egstyle]

Has anyone thought of or attempted to drill into the roof to establish a mounting point for a crossbar above the front doors? Are there any wiring harnesses that go under the plastic strip on the roof? I carry a couple of 20 foot CF surfski/canoes. Even using the Yakima drydock system, the one half of the length of the canoes hang aft of the vehicle. I really need to establish a forward mounted crossbar to reel the length back in and center the canoes over the truck. 2-3 feet make a LOT of difference. Here's a picture to give an idea of what the concern is:

:jaw drop: Wow!

On an unrelated note, here is my upgraded roof rack compliments of rocky-road outfitters:

 

[matt3liv]

quick question about the yakima loadwarrior, can you mount a yakima snowboard rack to the top of the loadwarrior?

Yes, you can attach any of the crossbar mounted accessories. However, the crossbars are fixed at 40". I have the loadwarrior with the extension kit, and two additional crossbars. They come in handy. I didn't see them on the Yakima site, but they have to be there somewhere.

I've been using the loadwarrior on my old suburban for years. It hasn't been needed on the 4r yet.

 

[matt3liv]

Does anyone have a photo of a TE with the Thule 594XT Sidearm tray on the top?

I wish Yakima would hurry up and get their rooftop version together. They only have the sidearm-style for the hitch. :ybrick:

 

[wz507]

My needs relate to transporting canoes, and devising a means of tethering/securing the front of the canoe to the front corners of the vehicle without having ropes rubbing on the plastic front bumper cover. The end of the canoe will be forward of the front bumper, but I see no obvious way to tie onto the vehicles undercarriage without having the ropes grinding their way through the front bumper cover. Attaching at the rear end is easier since I can simply tie to the trailer receiver, but would prefer tying onto the rear corners rather than a central location like the hitch receiver. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Quentin]

My needs relate to transporting canoes, and devising a means of tethering/securing the front of the canoe to the front corners of the vehicle without having ropes rubbing on the plastic front bumper cover. The end of the canoe will be forward of the front bumper, but I see no obvious way to tie onto the vehicles undercarriage without having the ropes grinding their way through the front bumper cover. Attaching at the rear end is easier since I can simply tie to the trailer receiver, but would prefer tying onto the rear corners rather than a central location like the hitch receiver. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Why not put pads between the rope and the bumper skin? For my canoe carrying, I'm also thinking of mounting some nuts behind the grille that large bolts w/ eyelets could be screwed into. My GTI's tow hook for the front requires you to pop the foglight surround off and the large tow hook threads into a hole. Basically, this is how it is set up.

Now, imagine doing that using the lower grille or similar on the 4runner. It depends what sort of radiator supports are back there, but I think it could work.

For the rear, you could just get two pieces of square iron, one piece to fit in the hitch, one to span the width of the bumper, and eyebolts to tie off.

Has anyone carried 2 canoes on the roof of their 4Runner? I'm thinking about getting wider bars on my Thule roof setup just for that purpose. Makes things nicer for using it as the pick-up vehicle at the end of a trip.

 

[matt3liv]

Does anyone have a photo of a TE with the Thule 594XT Sidearm tray on the top?

I wish Yakima would hurry up and get their rooftop version together. They only have the sidearm-style for the hitch. :ybrick:

Found a sweet deal locally, on a barely used Sportworks (thule bought them) T2, with x2 extensions. Its a four tray, wheel grip rack for the hitch. I'll post pics later.

Also, I am drawing up plans for an improved crossbar adapter that will take Yakima sized round bars, or Thule bars, and fit within the side rails. It will completely replace the stock Trail crossbars. I can't put things up there in good conscience, knowing that the crossbars are arched.

 

[SeattleMike]

I got my custom convertible roof rack from Perkins Performance today. I want to stress that this rack was made specifically to meet my needs and is not currently being mass produced. That being said, they did a great job and I highly recommend them.

The rack had to do multiple things: 1) act as a photography/spotting platform for my wife and I, 2) hold a roof top tent, 3) provide a place to attach an awning, and 4) still fit into the garage. It had to sit low, had to be strong, had to have a floor, and it had to have a trap door built in.

Here are some pics...

Old rack:

New rack:

With the door up (and yes, I can climb out onto the roof pretty easily from the driver's seat):

And with her removable top rail section off (this allows a roof top tent to be mounted flush with the rack floor):

I still have 12" of head room:

and it only weighs ~95 pounds.

 

[Quentin]

Seattle - That is ****ing BAD! The trap door is particularly awesome. Do you already have your roof tent or is that something you still need to buy. I love the idea of mounting the tent to the roof for trips out west and such (beats sleeping in a tent on the ground, right?!)

 

[Titanpat57]

ME LIKEY MIKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:dancin:

 

[harper7]

I got my custom convertible roof rack from Perkins Performance today. I want to stress that this rack was made specifically to meet my needs and is not currently being mass produced. That being said, they did a great job and I highly recommend them.

The rack had to do multiple things: 1) act as a photography/spotting platform for my wife and I, 2) hold a roof top tent, 3) provide a place to attach an awning, and 4) still fit into the garage. It had to sit low, had to be strong, had to have a floor, and it had to have a trap door built in.

Very , very nice !!:cheers:
Great Design!
How much $ compared to the Gobi and will they make more?:naughty:
How much wind noise on the highway at ~ 70mph?

 

[SeattleMike]

Seattle - That is ****ing BAD! The trap door is particularly awesome. Do you already have your roof tent or is that something you still need to buy. I love the idea of mounting the tent to the roof for trips out west and such (beats sleeping in a tent on the ground, right?!)

Thanks! I haven't decided on a particular brand yet, but with a simpson-style tent (opening to one side of the 4Runner) I can go as wide as 60" and still open the tailgate. Now I just have to do some research on brand differences and pick one.

 

[desertred]

That looks like an excellent rack! I do have to ask though how the rack attaches to the roof at the forward mounting points. It looks like the mid and aft mounting points were adapted to the mounting points for the factory rails. The forward points are about where I would like to mount a cross bar above the front doors. Is it possible to post a picture of the forward mounting points above the front doors?

I'm very interested in this and am close enough to Seattle to possible give them some business.

 

[SeattleMike]

Very , very nice !!:cheers:
Great Design!
How much $ compared to the Gobi and will they make more?:naughty:
How much wind noise on the highway at ~ 70mph?

I'm sure they will be happy to make more. Prices are comparable, but I spent more to get the extra stuff done. I don't think Gobi takes requests or let you make changes half-way through, like I was doing, but that kind of input adds to the bill. I'm sure the trap door added a few hundred to the total.

The noise is possibly an issue, but it's not a high-pitch whistle or even a howl. It's more like sticking a microphone out into a hurricane; a lot of wind buffeting, starts around 40 mph, very loud with the sunroof open at 70... barely audible with the sunroof and headliner closed. Combined with the sound of the tires on the highway, she sings to me like Etta James sings the blues. I may put up a temporary deflector and wait till I decide on lights to make something more permanent.

 

[SeattleMike]

That looks like an excellent rack! I do have to ask though how the rack attaches to the roof at the forward mounting points. It looks like the mid and aft mounting points were adapted to the mounting points for the factory rails. The forward points are about where I would like to mount a cross bar above the front doors. Is it possible to post a picture of the forward mounting points above the front doors?

I'm very interested in this and am close enough to Seattle to possible give them some business.

It's not attached. There are tabs that fit in the channels, but they just rest on the rubber. When the rack is mounted to the stock mounting points, there is enough pressure to keep them from vibrating or chattering. I'll post some more pics when we get back from this weeks trip.

 

[SeattleMike]

Just a quick note: after an 1100 mile jaunt to Idaho and back, there were no squeaks, no rattles, no problems with both my wife and I climbing out and standing on the rack to take pictures. Perkins Performance did a great job.

 

[reklov]

Put up the new bike rack for 4th of july weekend. Picked up a Sportrack A30901 and lock from Amazon.

 

[Quentin]

Thanks! I haven't decided on a particular brand yet, but with a simpson-style tent (opening to one side of the 4Runner) I can go as wide as 60" and still open the tailgate. Now I just have to do some research on brand differences and pick one.

Very nice. Seems like that would just be the perfect solution for camping in grizzly country.