Roof Rack Type Opinions

[el_kab0ng]

Universal Roof Rack or Specifically for the T4R Opinions Wanted

With my new 16 T4R TE coming in next week, I've been planning what I should do first from a mods perspective. I need to be able to haul fuel out to my ranch for the genny and was looking into using a roof rack to accomplish this. I like the way the Baja Racks look, but noticed there were a couple of different options. I could either do a universal basket which sits on top of the factory rails or a standard basket rack designed specifically for the T4R 5th gen which fits by removing the rails and mounting the basket directly to the attachment points.

I'm leaning towards the universal basket so I don't have to remove the factory rails, but wanted some opinions from the community on which direction you went with and why. Any insight is always appreciated!

 

[3wbdriver]

Just my opinion, but if you're talking about hauling fuel I would go with the full replacement rack. They have a higher weight capacity over the factory rails. The factory crossbars are only rated for something like 125 lbs. Most of the aftermarket racks are rated for 300+. And weight of fuel adds up if you're talking about any quantity over 5 or 10 gallons.

Love the name! I miss those older cartoons.

 

[Ducmonsta]

With my new 16 T4R TE coming in next week, I've been planning what I should do first from a mods perspective. I need to be able to haul fuel out to my ranch for the genny and was looking into using a roof rack to accomplish this.

How much fuel and how often? I'd have to justify the cost of either rack with your particular situation. And is there anything else you need the rack for?

 

[Raven]

Love my full length BajaRack, but for your intended use, I would think a nice, solid little trailer would be more useful, and easier to load and unload the fuel.

 

[delloro]

Harbor freight sells hitch carriers fairy cheap when on sale ( $69.99 right now ). That's your cheapest and easiest way out.

If you are set on a rack, then don't go off half-cocked and spend $500 on something less than half as good as a full-length roof rack. I LOVE my drabbits rack.

As posted above, we need to know your budget, intended use, etc first. If you are not a trophy husband with the associated unlimited budget, and you don't haul fuel that often, then I would look at the hitch carrier.

I would not make a rack my first mod. I would go with HIDs, tires, and Weathertech or Husky floor mats first. You will use those all the time.

My first mod was tires, do it right away so you get the max value for the take-offs. The newer they are, the more you get for them.

 

[el_kab0ng]

Thanks for the quick replies. My budget is pretty open right now, so I just want to make sure I get the right set up. I don't intend to do anything extreme with my T4R, but I needed the 4WD for my ranch (mostly), so lifts, extreme tires, etc aren't really practical for me.

My ranch has zero facilities (other than 4G service since there's a tower 6 miles from my property), so I have to haul water and fuel if I plan for any sort of extended stay (I put a 30' travel trailer on it so I have some semblance of home). On average, I bring 15-20 gallons (120lbs) of gas and another 15-20 gallons of water in the summer for each trip (I usually do 3 day weekends to get away from the rat race for a bit).

I also plan to get a set of MaxTrax to take with me for the silliest reason you could possibly imagine: the county road leading up to my property is unimproved sandy loam. When it rains for any significant amount of time (like the 26 days of rain we got last May), it becomes a quagmire for anything 2WD.

I do intend to get a trailer to haul my lawn tractor and building supplies out, but I don't want to have to tow it out there only to bring gas/water, hence why the roof rack made more practical sense to me.

The more I look at the Bajas, the more I like the hard mounts rather than the rack mounted ones. My T4R TE doesn't have the sun roof, so a full length rack is definitely in the cards.

 

[delloro]

The baskets which mount to the factory rails never made much sense to me. Limited weight capacity, high profile, and not exactly cheap.

If you want the full-length Baja rack, it sounds like you can justify it and afford it too.

 

[SirBarton]

looking to hold a lot of weight

I'm also reading all the various threads about racks as I try to decide which one I want. My main usage is to carry fuel and water like the OP.

But my secondary use is to be able to stand on top of my truck with a tripod and camera. I am looking for something solid and with a heavy duty grate so I don't worry about walking on it.

I know I can't accomplish anything like that with the factory roof rails so those are coming off right away.

 

[salong53]

OP if price is no object, you could consider a rear bumper with a jerry can rack for the fuel and a swing-out tire carrier. You could carry the maxtrax on the spare tire with a bag, and fabricate a water tank to go in the factory spare tire location. That would prevent you from ever having to climb to the roof. Just an idea :noidea:

 

[weeeee]

Harbor freight sells hitch carriers fairy cheap when on sale ( $69.99 right now ). That's your cheapest and easiest way out.

If you are set on a rack, then don't go off half-cocked and spend $500 on something less than half as good as a full-length roof rack. I LOVE my drabbits rack.

As posted above, we need to know your budget, intended use, etc first. If you are not a trophy husband with the associated unlimited budget, and you don't haul fuel that often, then I would look at the hitch carrier.

I would not make a rack my first mod. I would go with HIDs, tires, and Weathertech or Husky floor mats first. You will use those all the time.

My first mod was tires, do it right away so you get the max value for the take-offs. The newer they are, the more you get for them.

Those hitch mounted carriers may be good for highway trips and tailgating, but since OP mentioned needing 4WD in some areas you might want to consider the greatly reduced departure angle when you run one of these.

 

[el_kab0ng]

OP if price is no object, you could consider a rear bumper with a jerry can rack for the fuel and a swing-out tire carrier. You could carry the maxtrax on the spare tire with a bag, and fabricate a water tank to go in the factory spare tire location. That would prevent you from ever having to climb to the roof. Just an idea :noidea:

The set up like that I've seen around here was a custom job. Do they make those commercially somewhere? Also, installing something like that compared to the roof rack sounds like something I'd have to have a shop handle.

 

[Miguelon]

Several options. I would recommend Drabbits Camel Back rack or replacement bumper from Shrockworks a tire swingout carrier. Both pictured below. Congrats on the new ride.