Gen1 fiberglass photo w/o headliner

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WarDamnEagle

WarDamnEagle

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Anyone have a Gen1 roof with the headliner out? If so, can you post a photo or give me an idea of what's under the liner and, in particular, the trim piece in this photo? If one bolted a roof rack by drilling in nutserts (for example) to the fiberglass top, you would likely be drilling between the trim piece (see photo) and the edge of the roof (at least in the area of the rear side windows). The distance is much further than I realized and unfortunatley I didn't take the trim off to explore while I was home. Obviously there is something in there but I don't know what. It almost looks like the shell is double walled in this area.
Roof inside small.webp
 
KLF said:
My input: I wouldn't trust that roof to hold a rack. Too flimsy.
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We usually agree but I have to respectfully disagree this time. Now I only weigh 150 at the moment but I have walked down the middle of this roof when I was more like 165 many times and it flexs a bit but not that much. When you spread the load at the edge from front to back, I think it will hold quite a bit of weight.

I don't plan on putting 500 pounds up there anyway. Just the rack, some lights, and maybe the spare tire for the most part.
 
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I guess I need to see your plans for how you're gonna mount it.

But, keep in mind that a static load is very different than an impact load, which is what effectively the rack will be each time you hit a bump. Fiberglass is pretty resilient, but eventually it will start to delaminate and fatigue from the flexing, especially when the load is in a small area.

I remember walking on the roof of my '85 a couple of times when I had it, it felt flimsy to me, and I barely hit 140 lbs soaking wet.
 
KLF said:
I guess I need to see your plans for how you're gonna mount it.
Click to expand...

2ndGenToyotaFan said:
On road use, I'd say rack it up!

Offroad, it better have runners down either side and lots of mounting bolts to spread out the shock.
Click to expand...

I guess you guys missed this earlier thread with mounting ideas/details.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/79-95-toyota-truck-tech/243059-roof-rack-gen1-4runner.html

FWIW I found several guys over on Yotatech that have drilled and mounted roofracks to their fiberglass tops.
 
I don't know...that hollow space sure looks like a good place for some Great Stuff....


GREAT STUFF?
 
NEVER.

EVER.

EVER.

...put GreatStuff in your vehicle.

EVER.

It's corrosive, it holds moisture, and it's not structural. Recipe for disaster, even on fiberglass that doesn't rust.
 
I drilled my roof for the roof rack under the corners of the liner, about 1 inches from either side. The liner is vinyl covered foam glued to the fiberglass, and for most that I've seen the glue is getting old and is letting go, so on mine it was easy to pull it back a few inches.

I was going to glue it back after I was sure the holes were going to leak, but with the fiberglass edge in the front and the metal track piece on the side it's stayed in place for the 8 years since I installed it.
 
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