Intro thread & questioning the strength of the stock roof rails (1 Viewer)

[thirdvector]

Hey 100 series peeps. I've been a lurker since we got our 03 a couple of years ago so this is overdue. We bought it stock and started having enough fun to become a little obsessed. I've probably spent too much money on it, but I tell myself "it's for the whole family!" We live in the southeast so lots of narrow trails and red clay to deal with. So far we've been really impressed with what it can do with 34" Wildpeaks, a lift, and just the center diff lock.

Here we are after a day at Durhamtown in GA. I was thankful for the available pressure washers at their facility.

That said, on to my question. Would you guys trust the stock roof rails to hold an Ironman 270 Deltawing awning (44lbs)? I've replaced the stock cross bars with three 80/20 extruded aluminum bars like you see on the Prinsu racks so I at least have a place to bolt the brackets on. I wouldn't worry about putting that kind of weight on top where it's evenly distributed, but cantilevered over the side while wheeling has given me some pause before installing. I've seen the stock rack has a 150lb rating even with the stock cross bars, but that assumes an even distribution of weight. What say you?

 

[ranchero7]

I put two bike racks up there for a cross country trip. I didn't trust them with those. Two sub 30lb bikes. There is so much flex. Maybe the 80/20 bars are better?

 

[excessive]

Welcome. Black is the best color available on the 100 series, but I'm a bit biased.

The stock roof rack is stronger than you think. It can hold 200-300 lbs, loaded correctly. If you mount it correctly, it can easily support an awning

 

[Exiled]

I'm not as confident that it can hold one of the big 270 awnings but maybe if you reinforce it with a couple of additional crossbars to spread out the load? When fully deployed ad especially in windy conditions, those big awnings put a lot of strain on the mounts.

 

[hoser]

There were different racks over the years. The ones with 6 supports/feet total (3 per side) would be the strongest. Gamiviti makes awning mounts that work on the Toyota rack.

 

[thirdvector]

I put two bike racks up there for a cross country trip. I didn't trust them with those. Two sub 30lb bikes. There is so much flex. Maybe the 80/20 bars are better?

Was the flex in the crossbars or did you also notice it in the rails? The 80/20 extrusions are incredibly strong (pic below).

For reference, I've got 3 of these between the stock rails. The awning only has two attachment points of course.

Welcome. Black is the best color available on the 100 series, but I'm a bit biased.

The stock roof rack is stronger than you think. It can hold 200-300 lbs, loaded correctly. If you mount it correctly, it can easily support an awning

That's what I was thinking. The awning is only 44lbs by itself and I have no plans for a RTT.

I'm not as confident that it can hold one of the big 270 awnings but maybe if you reinforce it with a couple of additional crossbars to spread out the load? When fully deployed ad especially in windy conditions, those big awnings put a lot of strain on the mounts.

I was worried about wheeling, but you may have a point about windy conditions.

There were different racks over the years. The ones with 6 supports/feet total (3 per side) would be the strongest. Gamiviti makes awning mounts that work on the Toyota rack.

Oooooooo. This might be the answer. I just so happen to have the rack with 3 mounting points per side. This also solves a side problem with positioning the Ironman awning brackets, which was not ideal with the stock rails.

 

[open country]

I wouldn't worry with the Gamiviti mounts and your 8020 crossbars.

 

[Mike NXP]

Those side mounting rails are solid, and like mentioned above some have three mounting feet. Before I removed my stock rack I jumped up and down on the cross bars. The flex a lot but didn't break . Mounting the awning to the side should be fine if you pair it with the appropriate mounting solution from gamiviti @nakman and use the right hardware

 

[Super77]

Is you’re taking about the rails, which are the parts of the rack that run lengthwise with the car, you’ve got nothing to worry about with a 44lb awning, especially if you have a 3-point rail. The rack is rated at 150 lbs, which almost certainly is the dynamic load rating and has plenty of safety factor. I’d worry more about a giant roof box at 80mph that gets subjected to buffeting forces.

If you’re taking about the factory crossbars, which run cross-wise, those are a little sketchier but I would not hesitate to spread 44 lbs across 2 of them.

You may want to just do a close inspection, the whole connective structure on the OE rack is glass-reinforced plastic, which while strong, is still vulnerable to 20+ years of wear and stress. I’m currently in the process of refurbishing mine.

 

[Bisho]

I have a 270 awning mounted to my factory rack, and I think its heavier than what you are quoting. I was worried about the moment arm when wheeling, but its been on there for two years and a lot of wheeling with no issues. I did some "custom" mounting with ubolts. I'll look for some pictures.

 

[nakman]

There were different racks over the years. The ones with 6 supports/feet total (3 per side) would be the strongest. Gamiviti makes awning mounts that work on the Toyota rack.

Hey thanks again for the kind mention!

Yes that one pictured above is the Multi Bracket, intended to bolt a smaller awning like the Sunseeker shown in the photo to an OEM rail. The other bracket we make for this purpose for the Ironman Deltawing is called the Miti Bracket, it can do the Batwings, Iron Mans, OVS, 23Zero, etc here's a picture on a hunk of OEM rack...

installed:

These should work well for the Deltawing, also the smaller OVS (LT Awnings) and others of that size. I don't like this solution though for the bigger ones, like the Nomadic OVS with the added bars to shade the front fender- feels too heavy for this, but I know some have done it anyway despite that recommendation...

In the OP's case with extruded cross bars, you can likely go even bigger as the cross bars being tied into the other side goes a long way towards support, more than just one of the rails with the factory cross bars, almost like a real roof rack at that point. You'll just bolt the brackets that came with the awning directly to your cross bars... and yes ftr we stock the parts you need to add those extrusion cross bars to OEM rails also, even supply the cross bars here are those pages...

Multi Brackets — Gamiviti

Your solution for adding accessories to any roof rack. Mounts to Gamiviti rack plates, OEM racks, extrusion racks, or any 1” cross bar.

www.gamiviti.com

Miti Brackets — Gamiviti

Add an small to medium-sized awning to the factory side rail of your 4Runner, Land Cruisers, Lexus GX and LX, or any other OEM rail with the internal slot.

www.gamiviti.com

wing brackets — Gamiviti

Add an extrusion cross bar over the top of the factory rail of your 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Lexus GX or LX, or any other OEM rail with the internal slot.

www.gamiviti.com

Cross Bars — Gamiviti

Bolt-on cross bars provide even more mounting options for accessorizing your Gamiviti rack.

www.gamiviti.com

I don't often check every thread here, unless someone tags me (thanks, Mike!) but feel free to email/PM/call with any questions. Contact — Gamiviti - https://www.gamiviti.com/contact

 

[thirdvector]

Thanks for the clarification Mike! I actually ordered the Miti brackets this morning so glad to hear it was the correct choice.

 

[Bisho]

Just to close the loop, this is my redneck setup.

 

[thirdvector]

Just to close the loop, this is my redneck setup.

View attachment 3896688

View attachment 3896689

Thanks for the confirmation that I'm overthinking this.

 

[Tentsontop]

That's what I was thinking. The awning is only 44lbs by itself and I have no plans for a RTT.

No-one has plans for a RTT until... Tim's brackets will be fine on your stock rack. But there will come a day when you unfurl that 270 and suddenly get the feeling something is missing. No, it's not a dorkel.