Roof Rack Options

[1world1love]

Fast forward almost 2 years. I have a 200 series. My local shop that works on all the modded Toyotas in the area recommended going with front runner due to their endless accessories. Thoughts? Also I really like the look of the expedition style rails all the way around. Has anyone put these on? Height is not an issue for me because I don't garage my truck. I also wanna go with round LED spots up front over a light bar for a more classic look. Not set in stone yet though. Any comments would be appreciated

I still love my FrontRunner and I have really been able to utilize it in many different ways. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.

Having said that, if I were doing it all over again, I would strongly consider the new rack from Dissent Dissent offroad 200 series offerings.

The workmanship is amazing.

 

[OregonLC]

FWIW, with FR you’re not limited to the package width. This is the widest (1475?) they have. Allows the Alu-Cab to sit fully on the slats. Gives the best support for the tent as well as lowering stack height (and CG slightly). I did have to flip the front slat to allow the tent to extend a few inches. Works great.

 

[reddog90]

Any drilling required for installing a Frontrunner?

 

[1world1love]

Any drilling required for installing a Frontrunner?

Nope, but you will want to read the thread about safely removing the stock bolts that hold the rails on. The short version is that there are two bolts for each foot. In order to remove it without having the bracket fall into the headliner, you should back out one bolt just a little, then loosen the other bolt just a little. Rinse, repeat, until both are removed.

 

[namers22]

This is a good idea - do I understand this correctly - you leave two of the Prinsu cross bars permanently attached to the tent and then slide the whole thing on, attach 4 torq screws per side and your ready to go? That sounds like a really quick/good way to attach the tent to the rack!

I have been installing my ARB RTT to the yakima bars, a Prinsu rack should be on the way soon. Sliding the RTT on to the rack and bolting it from the bottom is a pain! My RTT hangs from the garage ceiling when not in use.

Was reading through some old threads and saw your comment about haning the RTT from the garage ceiling when you're not using it. Did you build your own system for this or did you order something online? I'd be interested to see pictures of the system if you have them handy.

 

[jbssfelix]

Was reading through some old threads and saw your comment about haning the RTT from the garage ceiling when you're not using it. Did you build your own system for this or did you order something online? I'd be interested to see pictures of the system if you have them handy.

We built our own using an AC powered winch from Harbor Freight, braided cable, and some various other hardware.

 

[Simpleman]

We built our own using an AC powered winch from Harbor Freight, braided cable, and some various other hardware.

Brilliant.

 

[namers22]

We built our own using an AC powered winch from Harbor Freight, braided cable, and some various other hardware.

Thanks for the pics! That’s a pretty sweet set up. Are the cross bars on the bottom of the RTT ones you mount unto the rails or are they purely to lift the RTT?

 

[jbssfelix]

Thanks for the pics! That’s a pretty sweet set up. Are the cross bars on the bottom of the RTT ones you mount unto the rails or are they purely to lift the RTT?

The cross bars are just square steel tubing. I have a 4runner and a Land Cruiser with different cross bar widths, so having the cross bars permanently mounted wouldn't do me much good if I wanted to swap them out.

However, it certainly could be done.

 

[hedd]

Was reading through some old threads and saw your comment about haning the RTT from the garage ceiling when you're not using it. Did you build your own system for this or did you order something online? I'd be interested to see pictures of the system if you have them handy.

I built a simple wood frame of two 2x4's that were longer than the RTT so I could suspend the whole thing from the roof with two straps on the ends of the wood frame. I don't think I have any pictures and don't have the RTT anymore. I used my tractor's front end loader to lift the whole system, disconnect the straps and then transfer it to the roof rack.

My system was very simple but utilized the tractor to allow me to load it myself. With the FEL I would just slide the RTT on to the Prinsu rack, drop it in and connect the Prinsu bars. It worked well but my family grew and so did the camper!

You could use a bicycle lift (if the weight rating is sufficient) and manually lift it off as another idea.

 

[FerzLC]

If anyone is interested in the New ARB base Rack System, just got of the phone with them and said it will be released in the US sometime next year. At which point I asked “by Easter or Christmas” they said closer to Easter. Then I ask why, said “we are waiting on fitment parts”.