Roof Top Tents and Roof Racks!

[bartvonwolf]

Hi all, I'm new here, just joined and finally hit my 15.

I am entering the Toyota world from the old world of Isuzu. This is (was) my main camping/overlanding vehicle until the head gasket blew: 1991 Isuzu Trooper.

Long story short, I am just burned out with wrenching all time to keep my old Trooper going. So I pulled the trigger on a 2016 4Runner Trail Premium. It should be here in 3-5 weeks. Can't wait!

I have a few questions, and I have been searching on here to get answers.
However, I am still wondering about mounting my James Baroud Evasion Evo up top of the new 4Runner. I am thinking of going with this particular rack:

Baja Rack

I am wondering if there is anyone out there with this rack installed who also has a hard shell RTT. I would really like to see photos! If not, I guess I will be the first!

In lieu of the rack, I am wondering also if there are any sources for just roof rack towers. If I could utilize all four of the factory mounting points, I could fab or re-fab my existing rack from the Trooper to fit the 4Runner and save some money and time as well.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Bart

 

[weeeee]

I have a picture of one running the Bajarack with a James Baroud. Not sure who the owner is but it'll give you an idea of how it looks.

 

[bjohnston115]

First of all.. Welcome and i love that Trooper! I looked into getting a trooper big horn for a while but then ultimately stuck to my Toyota roots and now have a Land Cruiser and a 4Runner.

If you are going to definitely mount tents i would go with the Baja utility rack for sure. The Gobi Stealth rack looks much better(cooler) in my opinion which is why i bought one over the Baja Rack. But having said that, I bought mine 95% for the looks and wont be mounting a tent to it. Can you get away with just crossbars for the clam shell tent and not even get a rack?

 

[Taco04]

Here ya go...http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/196690-mods-round-two;-overland-prep.html

 

[-dustin]

This guy, who probably does not know that I look at this thread damn near every day:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/199186-2015-tep-build-complete-now.html

 

[J-BlickPhoto]

Hi all, I'm new here, just joined and finally hit my 15.

I am entering the Toyota world from the old world of Isuzu. This is (was) my main camping/overlanding vehicle until the head gasket blew: 1991 Isuzu Trooper.

Long story short, I am just burned out with wrenching all time to keep my old Trooper going. So I pulled the trigger on a 2016 4Runner Trail Premium. It should be here in 3-5 weeks. Can't wait!

I have a few questions, and I have been searching on here to get answers.
However, I am still wondering about mounting my James Baroud Evasion Evo up top of the new 4Runner. I am thinking of going with this particular rack:

Baja Rack

I am wondering if there is anyone out there with this rack installed who also has a hard shell RTT. I would really like to see photos! If not, I guess I will be the first!

In lieu of the rack, I am wondering also if there are any sources for just roof rack towers. If I could utilize all four of the factory mounting points, I could fab or re-fab my existing rack from the Trooper to fit the 4Runner and save some money and time as well.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Bart

I would stay away from Bajarack. I've had mine for a few years and it's rusting everywhere. It's also bowing in the center from the weight of an RTT. As I can see from the Trooper, you tend to use your vehicle so I would assume that it would see some abuse. I would go with something from EQUIPT or Frontrunner. All in all, the Baja has done it's job, however, it won't last another season.

 

[-dustin]

shit, that's some rust there. damn

 

[bartvonwolf]

Thanks, all, for the informative responses and links! Please see some of my replies below.

I have a picture of one running the Bajarack with a James Baroud. Not sure who the owner is but it'll give you an idea of how it looks.

Hmmm, it looks pretty good up there, not as nice as it did on my Trooper, but still, it works! Interesting that the 4Runner has a narrower roof line than my Trooper, which is overall a bit smaller.

First of all.. Welcome and i love that Trooper!

Can you get away with just crossbars for the clam shell tent and not even get a rack?

Thanks, I love my Trooper too. So bummed about it. And yes, I could do it with just crossbars. What I think the best option is, would be fore me to find a way to either fab, or buy some quality roof rack "towers" and then affix them to the existing tent rack that I fabbed up. Once I get my 4Runner I will be taking a look at how these racks attach to the roof with the factory crossbars removed. I would like to have 4 mounting points per side.

I would stay away from Bajarack. I've had mine for a few years and it's rusting everywhere.

Shit! That looks awful! Do you live in a salty climate? I have had my all steel rack up on my Trooper for a while with just some bedliner paint on it and it's not rusting too bad, but then again, I live in the high desert. I really would like a lighter, aluminum rack. From what I understand though, the Frontrunner racks have a 1.5" or so lip around the outer edge that makes mounting a James Baroud a serious pain. I got this info first hand from Tom at Adventure-Ready where I bought my tent. I think the ideal rack would be a simple aluminum platform or I will just fab something myself.

I have a few more questions maybe you guys can help with:

1) Can someone post some good, close up photos of the Gobi rear ladder and how it is affixed to the rear hatch? This looks like something I could easily fab as well, but I still wondering how the thing is attached firmly. I like a rear ladder because then I don't have to carry the crappy tent ladder that hooks up to the side.

2) Does anyone know of a company selling roof rack "towers" or mounting hardware for the mounting points? If not, can someone post a close up photos of the rail mounting points?

Thanks!

Bart

 

[bjohnston115]

Thanks, all, for the informative responses and links! Please see some of my replies below.

Thanks, I love my Trooper too. So bummed about it. And yes, I could do it with just crossbars. What I think the best option is, would be fore me to find a way to either fab, or buy some quality roof rack "towers" and then affix them to the existing tent rack that I fabbed up. Once I get my 4Runner I will be taking a look at how these racks attach to the roof with the factory crossbars removed. I would like to have 4 mounting points per side.

Thanks!

Bart

The 5th gen only has two mounting points per side and no rain gutters. The factory mounting locations have two 8mm bolts per mount point so technically you have four mounting points if you consider each bolt a mounting point. The rear points are about a foot from the back of the truck and the front points are around the B pillar on the roof.

 

[bartvonwolf]

The 5th gen only has two mounting points per side and no rain gutters.

OK, so here's where I am confused then. In this photos, you can see the two per side mounting points you are talking about:

However in this photo, I see three per side, looks like the there are mounts pretty far forward, which is great.

And in this photo, it looks like five!

So what am I not understanding here? Is there some additional piece that these have that "sits" inside the vertical roof channels that allow for additional mounting points?

Thanks - Bart

 

[bartvonwolf]

Also, regarding the Gobi ladder, I found this photo in one of the threads posted above:

So, this wonky looking bottom mount, is that just so you do not have to drill through the hatch to mount the ladder? How does it mount on the top exactly?
Thanks again,

Bart

 

[Lugboot]

That's a Baja Rack ladder in your pic showing the bottom mounting point.

Keep searching--you'll find it. The answers to your questions are already here!

 

[MTN4RNR]

I have a picture of one running the Bajarack with a James Baroud. Not sure who the owner is but it'll give you an idea of how it looks.

Goddamn...... :wow2:

 

[nmertz1]

Pretty sure those are just sticky feet in the front of the rack, it doesn't actually screw in or mount to the truck.

 

[coulter6]

I know you're talking about getting a rack for your RTT, but I just use the factory rails. If I were to get a rack, it would be the K9 Eezi-Awn.

I have an Autohome AirTop mounted to the factory rails with Yakima Rail Grab towers. The reason I went this route instead of the new roof rack route was because it's much easier to remove the RTT for storage. I just loosen the 4 bolts on the Yakima towers and lift it off the rails, Yakima bars and all. It's kind of a pain to remove/install the RTT using the RTT mounting hardware since there are 8 bolts and very little room to maneuver your wrenches under the rack.

As it sits now, all I have to do is drive under the RTT, lower it, position it, and tighten the 4 Yakima bolts. Takes about 15 minutes.

 

[NoOneBetter]

I would stay away from Bajarack. I've had mine for a few years and it's rusting everywhere. It's also bowing in the center from the weight of an RTT. As I can see from the Trooper, you tend to use your vehicle so I would assume that it would see some abuse. I would go with something from EQUIPT or Frontrunner. All in all, the Baja has done it's job, however, it won't last another season.

Jeez, thats making me reconsider getting the utility rack.

 

[bartvonwolf]

coulter6, that is a sweet setup! You must have a tall garage door. This is exactly what I plan to do when we move and I (hopefully) have a taller rollup to drive under. I think a lot of my options will become more apparent once I get the rig in my driveway.

Thanks for these pics,

Bart

 

[bjohnston115]

OK, so here's where I am confused then. In this photos, you can see the two per side mounting points you are talking about:


However in this photo, I see three per side, looks like the there are mounts pretty far forward, which is great.


And in this photo, it looks like five!

So what am I not understanding here? Is there some additional piece that these have that "sits" inside the vertical roof channels that allow for additional mounting points?

Thanks - Bart

There is nothing you are not understanding, you are just hoping its not true! As i described and as you saw in the first picture, there are only two mounting points per side. The full length racks have "feet" that simply rest on the roof and this makes it seem like a third mounting point. The other one with seemingly 5 mounting points is a track system that is more than likely only mounted to the two factory points per side. Per large rack manufacturers (gobi, baja) the roof is good for 800lb ish static load (vehicle parked) and 300lb ish load while driving.

 

[bartvonwolf]

There is nothing you are not understanding, you are just hoping its not true! As i described and as you saw in the first picture, there are only two mounting points per side. The full length racks have "feet" that simply rest on the roof and this makes it seem like a third mounting point. The other one with seemingly 5 mounting points is a track system that is more than likely only mounted to the two factory points per side. Per large rack manufacturers (gobi, baja) the roof is good for 800lb ish static load (vehicle parked) and 300lb ish load while driving.

OK I see. And thanks for the load limits. 800lbs is pretty good. That makes me feel a lot better.

Bart