What to search for in a roof rack.

[Menace Kustoms]

So, I want to put a roof basket on my truck, for some lights and spares and such. I'm new to the 4Runner thing and I'm not sure what to look/search for. I'd love to find something on Craigslist, but I'm not sure as to the terms to use to look for one. Any suggestions?

 

[packweco]

So, I want to put a roof basket on my truck, for some lights and spares and such. I'm new to the 4Runner thing and I'm not sure what to look/search for. I'd love to find something on Craigslist, but I'm not sure as to the terms to use to look for one. Any suggestions?

Two of the commercially available baskets are made by Thule and Yakima. Gobi makes a more fitted rack, as well as Baja Rack. Then there are a couple guys on the forum that make custom for our trucks by hand. One is Whitson Metalworks, and I unfortunately can't remember the other.

As you get more custom/hand made, your cost is gonna go up. Though, the more fitted racks look better and to get the rack space of the fitted racks, you have to spend quite a bit of money on a Thule or Yakima rack (for extensions and hardware).

I tried to keep that pretty unbiased so you know all the options, and the only opinion I'll give is that I have a Whitson rack and love it. A quick search will reveal a lot of threads on the roof rack topic.

 

[Jon]

I'm a big fan of full length and low profile racks so if I were to purchase one it would be from WMW Full Length 3rd Gen Rack - Whitson Metalworks

It's the best looking IMHO.

 

[red-runner]

The Curt roof rack is also a lower-cost option. I know a few folks around here have them. They aren't sexy, but they cost about half the Yakima or Thule racks, and are virtually the same thing. I got mine from Amazon. Probably will upgrade sooner or later, but the Curt is functional.