Prinsu 200 Series Rack INSTALLED

[RiDE]

Can anyone confirm the dimensions of this rack? Everything online just shows shipping dimensions. Please and thank you.

While we’re here, for those that have had a Prinsu for a while, how do you like it? Would you buy it again? I’m torn between Prinsu, Front Runner and Rhino Rack.

I haul 4x8 sheets and lumber pretty regularly so that is an important factor for me.

 

[stayalert]

 

[stayalert]

I've had a prinsu on my 2013 for a few monthes and really like it.

 

[Tex68w]

While my Prinsu is on a 5th Gen 4Runner, I think that FrontRunner and Rhino make a better rack. The Prinsu is hands down one of the best looking and most streamlined, that's where the FR and Rhino fall behind. The FR sits up too high.

I've had mine on my 4Runner for a year now and its held up well, but there's a lot of hardware and that's what is oxidizing.

 

[Volunteer]

Can anyone confirm the dimensions of this rack? Everything online just shows shipping dimensions. Please and thank you.

While we’re here, for those that have had a Prinsu for a while, how do you like it? Would you buy it again? I’m torn between Prinsu, Front Runner and Rhino Rack.

I haul 4x8 sheets and lumber pretty regularly so that is an important factor for me.

I'm very happy with the Prinsu and would purchase it again. I like that I can easily move the bars around to fit my needs for whatever I'm hauling on it and I've hauled plywood on mine and can confirm a sheet will fit between the rails and loads nicely.

 

[FDMD]

@Yossarian @619TOY

Does this look right? This is the drop-in nut with bead. Looks too small for the slot, not sure how I feel trusting this as an anchor point for gear on my roof rack. I notice that the nut turns a little bit in the track as I tighten everything down.

 

[Cruisin911]

Yes, completely normal. Look at the way its shaped. As you tighten it, it locks into the channels on the rails. Just don't over tighten it and damage the channels.

 

[FDMD]

Yes, completely normal. Look at the way its shaped. As you tighten it, it locks into the channels on the rails. Just don't over tighten it and damage the channels.

Hey guys, tried to secure those USCC quick release tie downs. Ordered the 1/2” black anodized flat head hex bolts from McMaster/Carr to fit the countersunk hole on the plates. Damn things don’t quite sit right in the countersunk holes. When I had them all tightened, the quick release ring assembly couldn’t fit into its slot. Would you guys mind posting the exact vendor and part numbers of the bolts and track nuts you’ve had success with?

 

[visioncasting]

How much taller is this than the stock rack? Does it fit in your garage? What is height from ground to top of rack?

I'd like to know as well. 6'4" parking garage @ work and I don't have a lot of room to spare.

 

[radman]

I'd like to know as well. 6'4" parking garage @ work and I don't have a lot of room to spare.

This is how much room I have to spare with the AHC in Hi (I’m on 275/70/18), and that pole is marked as 6-5”.

I haven’t taken a tape measure to it, but you should be fine with 6’4”; however, I wouldn’t trust all of the signs until I measured every obstacle.

 

[Higgin]

Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents here on how I like my Prinsu. I've had mine for about 7 months now. Overall, I'm very happy with it, but it's not without a couple drawbacks and had I known those ahead of time, I might of went with a different rack just because of my particular set-up. It looks great and functions fine for most things. My 2 gripes are this.... #1. Wind noise This thing is Loud. It's almost not noticeable with the sunroof and sunroof cover closed because of the excellent LC insulation, but forget ever driving around with your sunroof open again. At anything above about 35 mph the wind noise with the sunroof open is deafening. And that is with the wind deflector part in place. Now, I haven't had an aftermarket rack before, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but wow, it is crazy loud. It seems to me the fairly large gap between the bottom part of the air deflector and the roof of the truck causes some weird turbulence at anything over 35 mph. I might try to come up with something to help with that this year, maybe make a larger defector....I'm not sure. I miss being able to use my sunroof #2. The top of the cross bars do not sit flush with the top of the side rails of the rack. The cross bars sit about 1/4 inch lower than the top of the side bars. If you look at @stayalert 's pictures he posted up above, you can probably see what I'm talking about. For most people, this is probably not an issue, but it you plan on mounting or hauling anything on top of the rack that is wider than the rack itself, a lot of pre-planning may be in order to make it work correctly. I have an Alu-Cab RTT and I'll admit, it does have some weird mounting brackets compared to most RTTs, but it was a royal PITA to get that thing mounted correctly the first time. I ended up having to order 3 new taller cross bars from 80/20 so that the Alucab mounting brackets could get over the sides of the prinsu rack. Once I got it all figured out and mounted up the first time though, it actually makes removing and re-installing the Alucab RTT pretty easy. I just take the screws out from the 3 new crossbars that the tent is attached to, and lift the whole thing, bars and all off the roof and just replace the bars with the original bars when I dont have the RTT installed. HArd to explain, but it actually works well now.

 

[radman]

It seems to me the fairly large gap between the bottom part of the air deflector and the roof of the truck causes some weird turbulence at anything over 35 mph.

I drilled 2 new holes about 3/4” below the bottom of the slot to lower the wind deflector, and it helped tremendously.

 

[hedd]

@Higgin re: wind noise I have my wind deflector set in the lowest position without the noise reducing trim. I have not noticed the deflector to be the problem as much as the first bar in the rack. I can't put a bar in the furthest forward position without noise. I removed that bar and moved it back and now the rack is quiet. I haven't played with adding a t-slot cover to the forward end of the bar but thought about it since it could help better deflect the air.

 

[Tex68w]

Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents here on how I like my Prinsu. I've had mine for about 7 months now. Overall, I'm very happy with it, but it's not without a couple drawbacks and had I known those ahead of time, I might of went with a different rack just because of my particular set-up. It looks great and functions fine for most things. My 2 gripes are this.... #1. Wind noise This thing is Loud. It's almost not noticeable with the sunroof and sunroof cover closed because of the excellent LC insulation, but forget ever driving around with your sunroof open again. At anything above about 35 mph the wind noise with the sunroof open is deafening. And that is with the wind deflector part in place. Now, I haven't had an aftermarket rack before, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but wow, it is crazy loud. It seems to me the fairly large gap between the bottom part of the air deflector and the roof of the truck causes some weird turbulence at anything over 35 mph. I might try to come up with something to help with that this year, maybe make a larger defector....I'm not sure. I miss being able to use my sunroof #2. The top of the cross bars do not sit flush with the top of the side rails of the rack. The cross bars sit about 1/4 inch lower than the top of the side bars. If you look at @stayalert 's pictures he posted up above, you can probably see what I'm talking about. For most people, this is probably not an issue, but it you plan on mounting or hauling anything on top of the rack that is wider than the rack itself, a lot of pre-planning may be in order to make it work correctly. I have an Alu-Cab RTT and I'll admit, it does have some weird mounting brackets compared to most RTTs, but it was a royal PITA to get that thing mounted correctly the first time. I ended up having to order 3 new taller cross bars from 80/20 so that the Alucab mounting brackets could get over the sides of the prinsu rack. Once I got it all figured out and mounted up the first time though, it actually makes removing and re-installing the Alucab RTT pretty easy. I just take the screws out from the 3 new crossbars that the tent is attached to, and lift the whole thing, bars and all off the roof and just replace the bars with the original bars when I dont have the RTT installed. HArd to explain, but it actually works well now.

I had one on our 4Runner. I loved the looks and design (it is the most streamlined and best looking rack on the market) but in actuality it had some drawbacks. The crossbars would flex under minimal load, the side rails were taller than the tops of the crossbars and on the older original models like we had, there weren't any recessed holes in the t-tracks which forced you to remove the end bolt in order to lift the crossbar to install any hardware or brackets. That has since been rectified, but for a few years it was a huge issue. Our hardware corroded in under a year and started to look weathered and old in short order.

It's hard to win really when it comes to a flat roof rack, they all have their drawbacks, from looks to weight, expensive proprietary mounts and odd mounting heights, and of course the crazy prices. You really have to pick one that best suits your needs. As much as I enjoy the looks of the Prinsu I'd have a hard time picking one up again in the future.

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

@Higgin re: wind noise I have my wind deflector set in the lowest position without the noise reducing trim. I have not noticed the deflector to be the problem as much as the first bar in the rack. I can't put a bar in the furthest forward position without noise. I removed that bar and moved it back and now the rack is quiet. I haven't played with adding a t-slot cover to the forward end of the bar but thought about it since it could help better deflect the air.

I bought some of these, and placed them in the forward and downward facing channels of the the two front crossbars (right above the sunroof) Seems to help a bit with the wind noise.
80/20 Inc, 2820, 10 Series, Black Economy T-Slot Cover Amazon product ASIN B00EZVOZYC

 

[Txoverland]

Is the current version of this rack is still using the round spacers with sealant to stop water intrusion? Any newer owners having water issues, or mounting problems? Looked on there site and flipped through the lx570 install guide, no guide was listed for lc200

 

[Tex68w]

Is the current version of this rack is still using the round spacers with sealant to stop water intrusion? Any newer owners having water issues, or mounting problems? Looked on there site and flipped through the lx570 install guide, no guide was listed for lc200

I believe they are still using the thick spacers and RTV sealant/silicone to seal up the mounting areas. I ran a Prinsu on our 5th Gen and while I think it's one of the most aesthetically pleasing racks I just don't care for the design. The hardware corrodes, the crossbars flex under even the lightest loads and I was never much a fan of how the side rails sit up higher than the crossbars in effect making a railing around the edges of the rack. If they would come out with a better mounting system, more rigid cross bars and allow the crossbars to sit flush with the side rails I would consider installing one again. The pricing is reasonable especially when you compare it to that of the Rhino Rack and Frontrunner.

 

[radman]

Is the current version of this rack is still using the round spacers with sealant to stop water intrusion? Any newer owners having water issues, or mounting problems? Looked on there site and flipped through the lx570 install guide, no guide was listed for lc200

yes, 16 round aluminum spacers. I researched the crap our of rtv vs non-hardening form-a-seal, and ended up going with the non-hardening stuff. Everything Tex68w said is accurate about the design, but it works for my needs and looks are killer...

 

[Volunteer]

I used the non-hardening sealer recommended in one of the original install threads I ran across. So far 3 years no leaks and no complaints. I do want to have the local machine shop make me some one piece spacers to pull out the round ones it comes with but I've been lazy and haven't wanted to pull it off and reseal it. Its on the to do list but low on the list. Some of the hardware is starting to weather as to be expected but easily replaceable with some stainless.

 

[sdnative]

Hey guys, tried to secure those USCC quick release tie downs. Ordered the 1/2” black anodized flat head hex bolts from McMaster/Carr to fit the countersunk hole on the plates. Damn things don’t quite sit right in the countersunk holes. When I had them all tightened, the quick release ring assembly couldn’t fit into its slot. Would you guys mind posting the exact vendor and part numbers of the bolts and track nuts you’ve had success with?

Not sure if you got an answer to this. I have USCC L-track on my drawers. The taper angle on the slot holes are odd and it is difficult to find tapered machine screws with the same angle. This results in the head not sitting flush in the track and interfering with the attachments.

Were you able to source compatible screws?