Whitson Metalworks Full Length Rack

Rock_Rat

Rock_Rat

Senior Member
Does anyone have a full length Whitson Rack with bolt-in sun roof insert?

BTW I did a search and came up with a number of you with the rack. Looks nice. I have a sliding sun roof and want to still have the option of using it along with the mesh on the back half of the rack. I also like the fact that it replaces the OEM rack and doesn't bolt onto it. It's pretty sleek and has a "clean" look to it.

Whitson Metalworks | Full Length 3rd Gen Rack


If so I have a couple of questions:

  • Can you mount up a pod for securing gear in the winter?
  • Will a kayak carrier bolt on OK?
  • How's the quality and craftsmanship? Reviews on here say awesome so far.
  • Easy enough to add lights on the front, sides and back?
  • If you have lights were you able to hide the wires through the tube?
  • Is the rack adjustable on top?

Thanks in advance = I'm seriously considering.
Mike
 
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yep the gobi/whitson thing stinks.
there are lots of good racks out there and others on this site making them
I could not wait around this summer so ended up going cheap with a Curt with an extension. so its a 3/4 rack. Didn't use the curt mounts so the rack sits low, at just the right point so when sunroof is up it just clears the underside of rack by about 1/4 inch or so
I had to fab some cross bars to mount my kayak carriers to it

maybe next summer ill get a real rack
 
So 3rd gen full length whitson rack

Great rack, I have the full length with sunroof insert and 2 adjustable cross bars.


Can you mount up a pod for securing gear in the winter?
-Yes any of the Yakima stuff mounts to the cross bars. Although I got security screw to replace the cross bar adjusting handles for extra security

Will a kayak carrier bolt on OK?
-Not sure if Yakima make it, it should work

How's the quality and craftsmanship? Reviews on here say awesome so far.
-Love the workmanship, whitson Is a true metal craftsman, compared it to a rack my brother, who has on his fjc a rack by a G-named company and I would take whitson again hands down. His attention to detail was boarder line OCD.

Easy enough to add lights on the front, sides and back?
-the One whit son shipped out to me had spots for side lights and he custom fitted led light bars for the front and back. Also a nice touch was he added load rings for tie downs so you could mount side lights close to those reinforced flat metals if you wanted to go light crazy.
Also they came bare metal and if I thought about it at the time I would have asked for 2 more mounting feet for the roof channel since I load a rtt on it once in a while for longer trips.

If you have lights were you able to hide the wires through the tube?
-Probably could have ran the wire in tubes but since I powder coated before I thought about it and was am close to the ocean figured it's just as easy to tuck under with zip ties, plus the rack sits so low you hardly notice the wires.

Is the rack adjustable on top?
-Adjustable as in the cross bars move if you order the removable ones. So you can use the full length of the rack for cargo, 3/4 cargo with with removable sun roof insert using a cross bar to block. Or 2 cargo cross bars for bike mounts. Also if you have rotopax, mount them before mounting the rack on the 4Runner. It's a pain to remove the rotopax mounts so I just leave them on now with tape up to protect the threads.
As in placing the rack on the roof, there is like a sweet spot for mines because of the fitted rear led light and clearance needed for the factory rear diffuser.

Also people complain about wind noise but it's minor, you could always get a front wind deflector, I have been lazy about it.
 
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Fantastic Feedback - Hoping for the best

Aznwolf118 said:
So 3rd gen full length whitson rack

Great rack, I have the full length with sunroof insert and 2 adjustable cross bars.


Can you mount up a pod for securing gear in the winter?
-Yes any of the Yakima stuff mounts to the cross bars. Although I got security screw to replace the cross bar adjusting handles for extra security

Will a kayak carrier bolt on OK?
-Not sure if Yakima make it, it should work

How's the quality and craftsmanship? Reviews on here say awesome so far.
-Love the workmanship, whitson Is a true metal craftsman, compared it to a rack my brother, who has on his fjc a rack by a G-named company and I would take whitson again hands down. His attention to detail was boarder line OCD.

Easy enough to add lights on the front, sides and back?
-the One whit son shipped out to me had spots for side lights and he custom fitted led light bars for the front and back. Also a nice touch was he added load rings for tie downs so you could mount side lights close to those reinforced flat metals if you wanted to go light crazy.
Also they came bare metal and if I thought about it at the time I would have asked for 2 more mounting feet for the roof channel since I load a rtt on it once in a while for longer trips.

If you have lights were you able to hide the wires through the tube?
-Probably could have ran the wire in tubes but since I powder coated before I thought about it and was am close to the ocean figured it's just as easy to tuck under with zip ties, plus the rack sits so low you hardly notice the wires.

Is the rack adjustable on top?
-Adjustable as in the cross bars move if you order the removable ones. So you can use the full length of the rack for cargo, 3/4 cargo with with removable sun roof insert using a cross bar to block. Or 2 cargo cross bars for bike mounts. Also if you have rotopax, mount them before mounting the rack on the 4Runner. It's a pain to remove the rotopax mounts so I just leave them on now with tape up to protect the threads.
As in placing the rack on the roof, there is like a sweet spot for mines because of the fitted rear led light and clearance needed for the factory rear diffuser.

Also people complain about wind noise but it's minor, you could always get a front wind deflector, I have been lazy about it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your very detailed feedback. I managed to read the entire thread that [MENTION=92884]snivilous[/MENTION] mentioned above and it's pretty unfortunate about the legal issues going on with him. I hope he manages to pull through this with some sort of a settlement without being forced into permanent closure.

I remember years ago Yvon Chouinard, original founder of "Chouinard Equipment" back in the 50's went under due to a number of lawsuits in 1989. (I still have an original Chouinard tank top). He used to make pitons and such for Yosemite climbers. December of 89 (I think) He ended up changing the name to Black Diamond and it's a very successful company with some of the best mountaineering equipment made. Most know him as the founder of Patagonia.

With that said, if Whitson's rack is made as good as everyone who owns one says it is, I'm going to hold out and hope for the best. I would rather bring my business to the "little guy." I've had the OEM rack on since new so another couple years won't hurt!

On a side note, I've always heard it's best to not use your name in your company. Your company can get sued and your company can go under, but your assets are safe. I'm not in the legal field so I don't know how much truth there is to that.
 
I'd be real curious to know the scope of the patent infringement, if one even has standing or merit. To protect himself Josh should have filed a patent early on, and incorporated himself. Gobi has every right to file, but if they sold enough racks and their product was superior, then they would have no reason to worry about Josh. I wish him the best.

People often reflect on companies that started small, like Apple out of a garage. Those days are long gone, born before cease and desist letters along with the lawyers with teeth that serve them. The consumer is the one who really loses out, with a lack of choice:
10 World Famous Companies that Started in Garages
 
[MENTION=69868]LittleCaesar[/MENTION]

There is a bunch of info in the off topic thread including the patent printout. Just fyi.
 
Wow, that was a glossy read. I think I will start throwing some chairs now.

For both parties, with whom I have never had any business with, I hope they can reach an agreement in mediation that is conducive on all if not most accounts and avoid a trial.
 
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