Roof rack which model works best?

[dealy663]

I'm going to be buying a new 4Runner soon. On my current SUV I already have a Yakima system with crossbars and towers. Now I know that my towers won't work on the 4Runner so I'll either have to get new ones or use mighty mounts on the stock crossbars.

I used to run mighty mounts on my Jeep's stock crossbars, but eventually gave up on them because the stock (aero) cross bars were too flexy and my bikes bounced. I expect the 4Runner aero crossbars will be flexy also - is this correct?

I'm leaning towards getting the Sport Edition 4Runner because of the XREAS suspension upgrade. However the rack on the sport model looks like it will be the most difficult to find new towers for. Currently Yakima's web site doesn't list the 2007 4Runner as an option, so I can't tell if anything will mount to those round tubes on the Sport Edition.

Does anyone have bikes mounted to this type of rack? Or does anyone know if there is a way to get my Yakima crossbars attached to the rack on the Sport Edition? Or is the SR5 rack simply an easier system to deal with?

Thanks, Derek

 

[jsarche]

I use Yakima equipment two ways on my 2004 Sport Edition. I have the MegaWarrior roof rack that I attach directly to the factory crossbars -- which I've found to be sturdy enough for lighter loads. I also have LowRider towers, which attach to the north-south portions of the factory roof rack with Yakima crossbars running through them.

I think the LowRider-crossbar system is stronger than the factory crossbars, but I've never had problems either way. And I've been really, really happy with my MegaWarrior.

I don't know if the 2007 factory rack is any different from earlier 4th generation models, but if it is, you can bet Yakima will come up with something for it very soon.

I don't think you can go wrong with Yakima stuff. I've owned some components of my system for upwards of 10 years, and they're still working great.

(had to edit this post after I realized I called the towers RailRiders rather than the correct LowRiders.)

 

[MW 4Runner]

The '06 and up Sport model's roof rack is different than the previous years of the 4th gen ('03-'05). They have the tubes instead of the silver rails on the previous years. The cross bars appear to be the same but I havent actully checked to see the differences in person. I like the new ones better.

Check out THIS THREAD ... It appears they came up with the solution you need.

 

[JungleJim]

I like the looks of the newer round SE racks, but they don't seem as sturdy. I compared them at a Toyota dealership. When I pulled on the newer round rack, there seemed to be a lot of give to them.....not so with the SR5 and Limited rack.