Yakima Skybox 16S Fitment

06NWT4R

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I have a Yakima Skybox 16S, and have tried to put it on my '15 4Runner TRD Pro, but it seems as if the clamps on the box are a little to big to fit on my 4runner without scratching the shit out of the roof. Any adapters out there?
 
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you need aftermarket crossbars for the 16s.

not my pic

125375d1405985797-yakima-skybox-16s-img_2105.jpg
 
It will fit with about 3/8" to spare from the top of your roof to the bottom of the clamps. I have the same box and it fits perfectly.
 
It will fit with about 3/8" to spare from the top of your roof to the bottom of the clamps. I have the same box and it fits perfectly.


Yeah and how scratched up is the roof on your car near the area the clamps are? And when those bars flex in the wind, will 3/8" be enough room?
 
Yeah and how scratched up is the roof on your car near the area the clamps are? And when those bars flex in the wind, will 3/8" be enough room?
It's not scratched at all. I believe the crossbars can only support 130lbs so I never packed the box to the max. I'll try to take a video with my go pro to see how much the bars flex at highway speeds.
 
It's not scratched at all. I believe the crossbars can only support 130lbs so I never packed the box to the max. I'll try to take a video with my go pro to see how much the bars flex at highway speeds.


Mine is way too close, no matter what the clamps drag on the roof when sliding onto the rails. Yakimas catalog lists the 16s as not compatible with 4Runner stock rails.
 
I put Yakima Railgrabs, 66" crossbars, and a fairing on mine. And I don't have the factory crossbars. The setup is way more practical for the things I do. I have a Skybox 18 that will go on when necessary and bike trays that stay up there all the time.

I would be really uncomfortable with the little to nonexistent clearance between the box clamps and the roof with the factory crossbars.
 
I have a Yakima Skybox 16S, and have tried to put it on my '15 4Runner TRD Pro, but it seems as if the clamps on the box are a little to big to fit on my 4runner without scratching the shit out of the roof. Any adapters out there?

I had the same issue; I'm not sure how anyone is getting the Skybox 16 on with the factory crossbars. Time for aftermarket crossbars. Here is my thread on the topic.
 
Has any one tried to raise their factory rails? I have the rail grabs on my wife's escape w/ 44" cross bars and it set my back over $300. Raising the OEM rack for more clearance on my 2015 sounds like a sleeker/ cheaper option.
 
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Old thread but I thought I'd add my input to add to the data. I gave the Yakima Skybox 16 Carbonite a go on factory rails based on input from this forum. It worked fine.

Clamps fit with 1/4-1/2" roof clearance. To install I put a yoga mat down to protect the roof (don't make fun - it's my wife's). But I probably didn't need it. The clamp plastic is pretty smooth and wouldn't have done much. Clears the fin but does barely contact the hatch. I just put some clear protective tape down in case. Not worried.

I have a 2010 SR5 if that matters.
 
Also using the 16 skybox on the factory bars of my 2017 4runner.
The clamps have to be moved close to the front of the cargo box but the rear door opens fully and it's not hitting the rear antenna. Clamps are close to the roof but it's not touching even when fully loaded.

17e0154b7a199c3c4ef79a53a07fc1d3.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
This post comes up now and then. A few year ago I was faced with the same question. I put the Yakima cross bars system on my 4R mostly for easy of installing the box. I also read other post about clearance issues and did want to take a chance using the factory cross bars. I figured if I hit a low tree branch or had snow on the box it would force the box down and hit the roof of the truck causing damage to the paint. The Yakima cross bars are a lot stronger than the factory bars and can take more weight.
I have another SUV with the Yakima system with the larger old "Rocket box" and all the bike "Steel Heads" and a cargo rack. it just made sense to have an interchangeable system between the two SUV's. The" Rocket Box" is too long for the 4Runner. This is why I got the "Skybox 16".
The one thing that I added later is the Yakima Fairing (air spoiler) that attaches to the front cross bar. This fairing got rid of the wind noise created by the Yakima cross bars when the box is not attached. Money well spent.
Note the Sky box 16 will fit my wife's Outback on the factory cross bars because Subaru allows for clearances.
 

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This looks like a good solution for me. Can you explain more about your comment “The clamps have to be moved close to the front of the cargo box”. Is this a modification or simply using the most forward position as allowed with factory build for both the rack and the box?

Thanks in advance if you are still monitoring this post.
Malcolm
 
Also using the 16 skybox on the factory bars of my 2017 4runner.
The clamps have to be moved close to the front of the cargo box but the rear door opens fully and it's not hitting the rear antenna. Clamps are close to the roof but it's not touching even when fully loaded.

17e0154b7a199c3c4ef79a53a07fc1d3.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This looks like a good solution for me. Can you explain more about your comment “The clamps have to be moved close to the front of the cargo box”. Is this a modification or simply using the most forward position as allowed with factory build for both the rack and the box?

Thanks in advance if you are still monitoring this post.
Malcolm
 
[MENTION=140863]iCrawl[/MENTION] the poster you quoted seems to be long gone from the forum. but having just gone through the whole roof box thing myself and purchasing a skybox18, i do believe he meant positioning the front clamps as forward as possible in the built in slot and not modifying anything to do so. the skybox offers a pretty decent amount (maybe 6-8" don't have to box with me to vefiry) of fore/aft adjustment of all the mounting feet.
 
It absolutely will fit any Toyota 4Runner OEM roof bars

Mine is way too close, no matter what the clamps drag on the roof when sliding onto the rails. Yakimas catalog lists the 16s as not compatible with 4Runner stock rails.

I just bought a used one from some guy who's using a metal bar from Lowes or Home Depot to secure the rack. So now I'm doing the same.
T5jLmFDR
 
You can totally fit even a Skybox 21 on OEM crossbars

I drilled new holes for the front side, and had to cross the bulge in the box, so I found some nuts to pad each side of the screw so I can lock the bump in the plastic.

I used flat U-bolt hardware from Home Depot instead of original mounting claws because it's safer and thinner.
 

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