I have read several threads over the years (I found this one very informative and helpful: Roof Rack Delete - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/roof-rack-delete.1045183/page-2) about rust under the factory roof rack and always said: "Mine can't have rust, it's lived in the PNW all it's life or Even if there is some rust it shouldn't be that bad". well, I was wrong. I am picking up a roof rack this weekend and needed to remove the factory rack so yesterday at lunch I went out and started to remove the factory rack and low and behold what I thought would be a 20 minute job (tested the screws at home the night before and all turned) turned into a job that last the course of 1.5 hrs (necessitated by having to take trips to the hardware store and finding a ride to and from said store).
I have a huge project in the near future but in the interim I used a commercial flashing sealing tape till I can either get a dry workspace or find a body shop to take on the work. Attached are pictures of what was under me rack.
As you can see from the photos, the drivers side was by far the worst, turns out the rear screw turned because the nutsert was rusted out. I am also wondering if this was were I was seeing some water that I had previously attributed to the sunroof pan overflowing due to clogged or partially clogged drains.
At this point I think I am going to strip down the whole roof do the repairs and paint. I have been entertaining the idea of doing a white top (down to the window sill) and leaving the stock red on the lower section. I will play with this more as I get further into the repair.
I have a huge project in the near future but in the interim I used a commercial flashing sealing tape till I can either get a dry workspace or find a body shop to take on the work. Attached are pictures of what was under me rack.
As you can see from the photos, the drivers side was by far the worst, turns out the rear screw turned because the nutsert was rusted out. I am also wondering if this was were I was seeing some water that I had previously attributed to the sunroof pan overflowing due to clogged or partially clogged drains.
At this point I think I am going to strip down the whole roof do the repairs and paint. I have been entertaining the idea of doing a white top (down to the window sill) and leaving the stock red on the lower section. I will play with this more as I get further into the repair.