Yakima Skybox 16S Fitment

[Kcf316]

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.

Hello, I am looking to purchase a Yakima roof rack for my 2020 TRD Off Road. I incorrectly assumed that the factory crossbars, that I just bought and installed, would work for my Yakima Skybox however I am having the same clearance issues that everyone else seems to have when trying to attach to the OEM crossbars.

Can you tell me what model of Yakima crossbars your are using? Have you had any issues with them attaching to your factory rails? Have they damaged your factory rails at all? Any issues with the Yakima rails coming loose and needing to be retightened during use?

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

[fkheath]

Hello, I am looking to purchase a Yakima roof rack for my 2020 TRD Off Road. I incorrectly assumed that the factory crossbars, that I just bought and installed, would work for my Yakima Skybox however I am having the same clearance issues that everyone else seems to have when trying to attach to the OEM crossbars.

Can you tell me what model of Yakima crossbars your are using? Have you had any issues with them attaching to your factory rails? Have they damaged your factory rails at all? Any issues with the Yakima rails coming loose and needing to be retightened during use?

Thank you for your time and consideration.

I used some OMAC cross bars that just a little bit higher than the factory cross bars. Much cheaper than the Yakima and Thule bars.

 

[Rack]

Hello, I am looking to purchase a Yakima roof rack for my 2020 TRD Off Road. I incorrectly assumed that the factory crossbars, that I just bought and installed, would work for my Yakima Skybox however I am having the same clearance issues that everyone else seems to have when trying to attach to the OEM crossbars.

Can you tell me what model of Yakima crossbars your are using? Have you had any issues with them attaching to your factory rails? Have they damaged your factory rails at all? Any issues with the Yakima rails coming loose and needing to be retightened during use?

Thank you for your time and consideration.

As I stated I used the Yakima towers and round Yakima bars so I could interchange equipment between my two SUV's. with the Towers.
If I was only installing this on one vehicle I would go with the aero cross bar to deduce noise.
My towers have not damaged any of my roof rails. They have been on my Suburban for many years and on my 4Runner for 6 years. I have check the torque on them and they haven't moved. I'm assuming you have the standard roof rack and not the one from the FJ.
I bought the second set up at REI. along with the skybox. They seem to have the best assortment. If you stay with the sky box sixteen you should be ok with the hatch and sunroof openings.
Go into my album pages and check out the rest of the photos..

 

[vitto]

Im gonna try to fit a yakima skybox 18 on factory cross rails (2019 trd offroad) in next few days and try to take some pictures.

Looks like the rails came broken in a box, gonna get another set tomorrow. Anybody have these break while on the roof ?

 

[KingPrat]

Im gonna try to fit a yakima skybox 18 on factory cross rails (2019 trd offroad) in next few days and try to take some pictures.

Looks like the rails came broken in a box, gonna get qnother set tomorrow. Anybody have these break whioe on the roof ?

Have fun with that. Very little clearance for the clamps (I scratched the shit out of my roof...) I have the Timberline system on mine now. I will be working on setting up a rack system that will give me full roof functionality this spring.

I'd ordered a set of stock crossbars and they showed up broken. Not that badly, but broken. Unless they're severely overloaded, they shouldn't break while installed.

With the 18 you also won't be able to open your liftgate fully with the box installed, just so you're not ripping your hair out trying to figure it out...

 

[vitto]

How did yours get scratched ? While installing or do the rails sag at times ?

 

[Deuxdiesel]

I learned the hard way that you should always put a moving blanket on top of your roof when ever you are installing racks, pods or crossbars.

 

[vitto]

Finished the installation today, it was really easy and only took about 20 minutes. After that i spent another 30 minutes peeing off the sticker. Yakima if you are out there, please make better peeling off stickers.
I had to make one small modification - drill 2 holes (1 each side) to allow the front clips to move back by 9cm. Make sure to only drill through the first layer of plastic, second layer is sliding mechanism (as per picture).
When installed there is about 5mm space between the clips and the roof, when applying some force from the top it doesn't look like it will be touching the roof when driving as the toyota crossbars dont flex that much, however as a precaution to avoid scratching the roof i will be putting some thick transparent anti slip pvc tape under those spots.
So to summerize, it is possible to install Yakima skybox carbonite 18 on a 2019 4runner trd offroad using stock toyota cross bars. Trunk opens up fully and there are no issues with touching. But as precaution i would suggest putting some tape to protect your paint if it doesn't manager to touch.
As others suggested, put a towel on the roof when installing the box as you may scratch it while aligning the box on the roof.
Sat/nav antenna doesn't touch the box either, lots of space.

Im gonna try to fit a yakima skybox 18 on factory cross rails (2019 trd offroad) in next few days and try to take some pictures.

Looks like the rails came broken in a box, gonna get another set tomorrow. Anybody have these break while on the roof ?

 

[KingPrat]

How did yours get scratched ? While installing or do the rails sag at times ?

One of the clamps was open when I got it up on the roof, and when I slid it into place it scratched the roof. Never been an issue on any other vehicle I've put a roof box on.

So to summerize, it is possible to install Yakima skybox carbonite 18 on a 2019 4runner trd offroad using stock toyota cross bars. Trunk opens up fully and there are no issues with touching. .

My Carbonite Lo shakes like crazy with that front mount all the way back, especially unloaded. I can't imagine how much more that will shake with that mounting point another 4" back.

 

[vitto]

Maybe im lucky, but i just went for a quick drive, only went as fast as 90km/h and so far so good, no noticeble noise or vibration.
If i shake rhe front up and down by hand, it does wobble, i think im gonna run a strap from the front down to the cross bars to pull it down a bit just in case.

 

[username1]

Finished the installation today, it was really easy and only took about 20 minutes. After that i spent another 30 minutes peeing off the sticker. Yakima if you are out there, please make better peeling off stickers.
I had to make one small modification - drill 2 holes (1 each side) to allow the front clips to move back by 9cm. Make sure to only drill through the first layer of plastic, second layer is sliding mechanism (as per picture).
When installed there is about 5mm space between the clips and the roof, when applying some force from the top it doesn't look like it will be touching the roof when driving as the toyota crossbars dont flex that much, however as a precaution to avoid scratching the roof i will be putting some thick transparent anti slip pvc tape under those spots.
So to summerize, it is possible to install Yakima skybox carbonite 18 on a 2019 4runner trd offroad using stock toyota cross bars. Trunk opens up fully and there are no issues with touching. But as precaution i would suggest putting some tape to protect your paint if it doesn't manager to touch.
As others suggested, put a towel on the roof when installing the box as you may scratch it while aligning the box on the roof.
Sat/nav antenna doesn't touch the box either, lots of space.

Ah ha! This drill approach might solve my lift gate issue. Thanks!

 

[northernexposure]

Second the factory bars. It fits just fine. The clearance is small, but adequate under the front clips. Rear hatch opens. No issues with the satellite antenna or reception.