Ditch moulding look right to you (Front Runner Slimline II install)

[KBO in NC]

Hello team, I'm working on getting this thing on my 2005 LC. I noticed after taking off the plastic covers, this is what I have. Should the moulding/trim run all the way up to the area with the bolts? Worried about water infiltration. Do I need to order new gasket?

Thanks

 

[jaewastooshort]

so long as you've got your rack bolts sealed you shouldn't have an issue with water intrusion. there were several different moldings designed to fill that gutter depending on which factory rack was installed, and from what I can tell after installing my Prinsu rack, it doesn't make a difference whether or not they're installed at all except for cosmetics. Mine were nowhere near fitting as my LX had a short factory rack and I had to remove those gutter moldings entirely to expose two different sets of mounting bolts to install my rack.

 

[KBO in NC]

so long as you've got your rack bolts sealed you shouldn't have an issue with water intrusion. there were several different moldings designed to fill that gutter depending on which factory rack was installed, and from what I can tell after installing my Prinsu rack, it doesn't make a difference whether or not they're installed at all except for cosmetics. Mine were nowhere near fitting as my LX had a short factory rack and I had to remove those gutter moldings entirely to expose two different sets of mounting bolts to install my rack.

Thanks! That makes me feel better about the rack. Here's a couple more pics. So should I seal this circled area on the trim. It literally was just barely covered over by the plastic cover I removed. I feel like water had to be getting in there sometime. Does it just drain to the bottom like I circled in the other pic? I also noticed the edges of the trim are rough on both sides. The windshield was replaced by the previous owner. Wondering if the guys just ran the moulding to the roof rack covers and trimmed it there with a hacksaw!

 

[GerLC100]

The way you show it is as I have mine. Also needed to take off the long metal thingies when mounting my rack. The whole length is fully open on mine and I just sealed the bolt/ holes and done.
Cover is aesthetics and wind noise.
The plastic trim piece you took off will never ever be sealing as you can see by the dirt and the 1.000 pictures online of rusted bolts :-D

The "trench" there will guide the water down the A pillar. Neither the part you show nor the long metal part across the whole length is tight.
Therefore seal up the bolts/ bolt holes for the roof rack and you're good to go.
And clean the drain down the A Pillar (circled area in your second post) with a stiff plastic wire or so, make sure the water flows down. And then you're good to go.