What straps for roof rack for a strap virgin?
- Thread starter pointman
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Thank you! Found one on Amazon. Looks like its the same one. No real explanation on install and removal, but should be simple enough. Thank you. Another edit: The Stratchets look like they require an eyelet to receive the end. The Pro rack has nothing like that. I'd need something that loops around the bars and locks onto itself.
Awesome. I am going to check those other two out. The more the merrier. Thanks a ton! Edit: The Perfect Bungee sounded familiar. Turns out I have a bunch of those! I wasn't sure they were any good because they're just a hook on each end. Seemed, "unsafe" for a novice like me to do. Thanks!
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Thank you! Are these them?
Rhino USA Soft Loop Tie-Down Straps (4-Pack)
You look around the bars, then put the hooks through both?
ProfessorP
New member
I like the non ratcheting straps. Works for kayaks and lots of other stuff. Amazon.com : VAMO SUP Kayak Surfboard Surf Rack Tie Down Straps - Black Pair (15FT) : Sports & Outdoors
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Sorry for the thread drift - I just ordered a 21 TRD Pro. It should be arriving in about 10 weeks.
It's too tall to fit in my building's garage so the basket will need to come off prior to delivery.
Is it difficult to remove the basket? The dealer said they will be glad to take it off, however, they've never done it before. I don't want to have any water leakage issues in the future...
thanks so much for any insight. I am new to the forum and dont have the necessary thread count to start a new discussion.
Thank again.
It's too tall to fit in my building's garage so the basket will need to come off prior to delivery.
Is it difficult to remove the basket? The dealer said they will be glad to take it off, however, they've never done it before. I don't want to have any water leakage issues in the future...
thanks so much for any insight. I am new to the forum and dont have the necessary thread count to start a new discussion.
Thank again.
JAXJeremy
New member
That sucks...not to be an a**, but why didn't you check your garage height before ordering?? Seems to me you're losing some of the benefit of having a 4Runner if you can't put a rack on it..That aside, there are a couple of threads on here where folks have removed them..If I recall there's some sort of kit you can buy to do it..
the_fornicator
New member
It's easy to take off. A cap and 2 bolts per corner. The main question is, what are you going to do after?
Like, is the goal to permanently delete the roof rack? Find an OEM SR5 rack that's lower profile? After market rack?
Taking the rack off is easy, but what your plans are after will depend on the water sealing answer.
CavPro
Member
You really need to research this on this site, use the search feature.
Two big issues off the top:
1 - you need to understand how these are bolted to the roof, how the bolts and corresponding nuts interface, unless you want to remove the headliner.
2 - you stand a very good chance of denting the roof panel at step one of removing the rack.
3 - If you can search for the details, you will know more than the dealer will on doing this, they even told you that.
DEF4Runner
New member
For this AND for the OP, @Little_tower fashioned a mod that removes the top level on the Pro rack that not only gives you a few inches back but also makes the rack a bit more functional. You'll lose the 'basket' look but the mod is non-destructive. Should you want to get that basket back, just rebuild it.
See #3 on this thread TRD PRO Basket Mods
Yes exactly those. They loop around the bar, you hook the end of the ratchet strap into one and then do the same thing on the other side. Takes the guesswork out of using the pro rack and is the proper way to tie the strap to a round member that the hook won't fit on.
Jetboy
New member
As a general rule - I almost always use typical 2" heavy duty ratchet straps. Most 1" width straps are garbage. I'm sure there are some good ones, but most are crap. The ratchet mechanisms are usually just not very good and dont' last a long time.
However - the standard hook end on a common 2" ratchet strap like this is too large to physically fit under the OEM cross bar.
So you need to find straps with ends that look like this if you want them to be easy to use on the OEM rack.
The biggest mistake people frequently make tying down stuff is to wrap the strap around the object in a loop. Don't do that. You go over the top and use the strap to hold the object down against the rack and friction between the object and the rack is what keeps it in place.
NO:
Yes:
However - the standard hook end on a common 2" ratchet strap like this is too large to physically fit under the OEM cross bar.
So you need to find straps with ends that look like this if you want them to be easy to use on the OEM rack.
The biggest mistake people frequently make tying down stuff is to wrap the strap around the object in a loop. Don't do that. You go over the top and use the strap to hold the object down against the rack and friction between the object and the rack is what keeps it in place.
NO:
Yes:
Most dealers sell a roof rack delete kit, or you can find them on Ebay or Amazon. The old roof rack is worth gold. The going prices on Ebay are about $700 to $800 plus shipping. Shipping is expensive though and it is hard to package even when disassembled.
I bought mine on Ebay for $400 only because the seller didn't know what she had; advertised it as after market, not OEM.
If you still want a roof rack, go as suggested earlier: an SR5 rack which is much lower profile, but beware that most cargo boxes will not fit for the cross bars are too near the roof.
Thanks for the link! I am going to find something comparable to try out. I like having options. Appreciate it!
Thanks for making this thread about you. May your rack rub! lol jk. Good luck with it.
Thanks for confirming! This seems like what will work best for me. What straps do you use, if I may ask?
Incredibly helpful post! Thanks for that. I admit, I was going to do the no-no and wrap around the object prior to around the rack. Thanks again for all the tips. 2" it is, with the proper ends. Awesome. Thank you!
CavPro
Member
As a general rule - I almost always use typical 2" heavy duty ratchet straps. Most 1" width straps are garbage. I'm sure there are some good ones, but most are crap. The ratchet mechanisms are usually just not very good and dont' last a long time.
However - the standard hook end on a common 2" ratchet strap like this is too large to physically fit under the OEM cross bar.
So you need to find straps with ends that look like this if you want them to be easy to use on the OEM rack.
The biggest mistake people frequently make tying down stuff is to wrap the strap around the object in a loop. Don't do that. You go over the top and use the strap to hold the object down against the rack and friction between the object and the rack is what keeps it in place.
NO:
Yes:
Pretty safe bet that your "no-no" example is actually the best way to attach a bunch of bamboo sticks to a roof rack.
I've got a variety of 1" straps, and yes they work just fine, the ratchets hold up after many trips in the desert on multiple rigs etc.
No specific brand although they definitely vary in quality and there are some that I only use inside the vehicle to tie down pelican cases with camping gear and there are some that I use outside to tie down firewood, jerry cans, toolboxes etc. The outside use ones definitely have a higher quality fabric for the straps, it's thicker, nicer weave, higher working load rating. I believe I bought those at a local hardware store vs hazard freight.
Jetboy
New member
It's wrong for a variety of reasons. Wrapping the strap around the bundle will result in any movement of the bundle leading to a lower strap tension and the potential for the sticks to fall out. It's also not centered - so as the roll moves to the middle of the rack - it will get looser. The safe way to tie something like that down would be to bundle the sticks with one set of straps and then attach the secured bundle to the roof rack correctly.
The other alternative would be something like this that would naturally compress the bundle in away that both secures it properly to the roof rack and compresses the bundle to its self so that individual sticks won't come out (not my drawing, but the strap routing shows how it should be done):
Jetboy
New member
I'm sure there are some really good quality 1" straps. I've just never found them at a reasonable price. A typical all metal ratchet with a 30' 2" strap is around $15 and lasts for - basically forever. I've yet to find a decent 1" strap with a high quality ratchet mechanism that's similar in cost.
There's nothing you could ever haul on the roof given the 200lb weight limit that would justify a 2" strap for strength. It's mostly just the availability of quality ratchet mechanisms and strap materials on 1" size that is the deal breaker. I have half a dozen 1" ratchet straps around. They all end up not working very well after a few years.
