Roof Rack Options

[The Crowbar]

I figured that. Looking at putting one on each side of the shark fin under the rack.

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

At the “shark fin” I’ve got about 2 7/8”,
and towards the side about 3 1/4” +. Now, that space narrows considerably as you move towards the front of the vehicle.

 

[The Crowbar]

Ok, the Max trax website says they are 3.5" when stacked. So if split they may work. I figure if you flip two cross bars you can attach some sort of hanger to the underside.

 

[ethernectar]

Wouldn't work for a RTT, but if anyone else is looking I'm selling an ARB alloy version with extra goodies...

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

Ok, the Max trax website says they are 3.5" when stacked. So if split they may work. I figure if you flip two cross bars you can attach some sort of hanger to the underside.

Keep me posted as to your findings. As I don’t have a set of MaxTraxs (yet, but in my cart), I can’t test this out. But I really like this idea and will definitely explore it when I do order some.

 

[The Crowbar]

First I have to get a prinsu rack and that seems like its 8-12 weeks away. But if I get it first I'll let you know.

 

[littlegreenmonster]

I just ordered a Prinsu rack. I am interested to see when i will get it. I would like to have it before summer is over, but not betting on it.

 

[Yossarian]

Does anyone have the distance between the roof of the LC and the bottom of a Prinsu rack. Is there enough room to store your maxtrax? Kind of like front runners table storage pocket. I want to be able to mount an RTT on the top.

Thanks,

TC

The Prinsu is more of a DIY rack, hence you cane make the height whatever you want. The pictures @Tommy Dwyer shows appears to have a spacer and a half. However the spacers included with the Prinsu are of several lengths, and washer are included to fine tune the fit. The install is a bit of a PIA, but can be dialed in if you have the patience.

HTH.

 

[The Crowbar]

That's good to know. Thanks.

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

The Prinsu is more of a DIY rack, hence you cane make the height whatever you want. The pictures @Tommy Dwyer shows appears to have a spacer and a half. However the spacers included with the Prinsu are of several lengths, and washer are included to fine tune the fit. The install is a bit of a PIA, but can be dialed in if you have the patience.

HTH.

Love the rack, but yes the install is a little tricky. And after having it on a few weeks now, I’m gonna pull it and fine tune the spacers, try and get it a bit lower. As I picked it up used I didn’t have instructions for the install. I was flying by the seat of my pants....but have a better idea now. Still, LOVE the rack! I went camping / floating over the holiday weekend, and had two kayaks and all kinds of stuff loaded up...wonderful!

 

[Yossarian]

Love the rack, but yes the install is a little tricky. And after having it on a few weeks now, I’m gonna pull it and fine tune the spacers, try and get it a bit lower. As I picked it up used I didn’t have instructions for the install. I was flying by the seat of my pants....but have a better idea now. Still, LOVE the rack! I went camping / floating over the holiday weekend, and had two kayaks and all kinds of stuff loaded up...wonderful!

FYI. Did @codyaustin5 install last summer. We sourced rectangular spacers to go under the round ones Prinsu supplies. We did this for several reasons but the biggest was to have a larger contact patch on the roof. I just don't like all the weight and pressure focused on such a small area on the roof using the supplied spacers.

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

FYI. Did @codyaustin5 install last summer. We sourced rectangular spacers to go under the round ones Prinsu supplies. We did this for several reasons but the biggest was to have a larger contact patch on the roof. I just don't like all the weight and pressure focused on such a small area on the roof using the supplied spacers.

I did purchase the rack from @codyaustin5 , but not familiar with the details of his install. But please, tell me more about the rectangular spacers. Where were you able to source them, how much were they, photos?
Thanks in advance for the info!

 

[DirtNap]

Ok, the Max trax website says they are 3.5" when stacked. So if split they may work. I figure if you flip two cross bars you can attach some sort of hanger to the underside.

I believe the Prinsu cross bars have the t-slots on all four sides, so no need to flip them to attach a hanger underneath.

 

[Yossarian]

I did purchase the rack from @codyaustin5 , but not familiar with the details of his install. But please, tell me more about the rectangular spacers. Where were you able to source them, how much were they, photos?
Thanks in advance for the info!

Sorry no photos. I do plan on removing my rack this summer and rethinking/redoing the spacers supplied by Prinsu. I have looked at the installation instructions that are online for other roof racks for ideas. I also called CBI, the new owners of Prinsu seeing if they can come up with a better spacer solution, not holding my breath.

The issue as I see it is the side rails and feet are not in the same arc as the 200 roof. Therefore it's up to you to pick and choose spacers to get the rack at a height that works best. To low and you are in danger of the feet resting on the roof and causing damage over time. Another Mud member had this happen with another brand, don't recall who though. To high and you'll have a significant gap between the fairing and the roof, even at it's lowest position. Also stacking spacers to high might result in less lateral strength of the whole rack with loads. Rectangular blocks of aluminum made to fit the width of the roof channel, and the curvature of the roof/rack, and the height differences between the feet would make for a much better and solid interface. These would have to be made, and each spacer or at least a pair, would be different complicating things.

HTH.

 

[The Crowbar]

I think the Peinsu was originally for the Tacoma. I learned about them over at Tacomaworld.

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

Sorry no photos. I do plan on removing my rack this summer and rethinking/redoing the spacers supplied by Prinsu. I have looked at the installation instructions that are online for other roof racks for ideas. I also called CBI, the new owners of Prinsu seeing if they can come up with a better spacer solution, not holding my breath.

The issue as I see it is the side rails and feet are not in the same arc as the 200 roof. Therefore it's up to you to pick and choose spacers to get the rack at a height that works best. To low and you are in danger of the feet resting on the roof and causing damage over time. Another Mud member had this happen with another brand, don't recall who though. To high and you'll have a significant gap between the fairing and the roof, even at it's lowest position. Also stacking spacers to high might result in less lateral strength of the whole rack with loads. Rectangular blocks of aluminum made to fit the width of the roof channel, and the curvature of the roof/rack, and the height differences between the feet would make for a much better and solid interface. These would have to be made, and each spacer or at least a pair, would be different complicating things.

HTH.

My plan is to unbolt my rack, and temporarily insert M8 studs in place of the bolts. Then I can lift the rack up and support it above the roof with foam blocks or something. Clean everything up (again) sort the spacers by size, and then I can slide them over the studs and test for fit before applying sealant and bolting it back down. I “should” be able to get it a little more to my liking, will report back once I find time to mess with it. One question....what size washers were included for fine tuning....only washers I received were the large-ish washers for bolting it down, nothing closer to the outer diameter of the spacers for additional shimming.

 

[codyaustin5]

My plan is to unbolt my rack, and temporarily insert M8 studs in place of the bolts. Then I can lift the rack up and support it above the roof with foam blocks or something. Clean everything up (again) sort the spacers by size, and then I can slide them over the studs and test for fit before applying sealant and bolting it back down. I “should” be able to get it a little more to my liking, will report back once I find time to mess with it. One question....what size washers were included for fine tuning....only washers I received were the large-ish washers for bolting it down, nothing closer to the outer diameter of the spacers for additional shimming.

Hey Tommy should have been a bag of washers. You stack them until level. Standard washers. I took the spacers off after loading the rack and didn’t feel comfortable with them. My suggestion is for everyone with a prinsu is reach out to cbi and ask them to make a solid one piece spacer that fits each attachment point front to back that makes it as low as possible and takes the guessing game out of the equation on how to level.

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

Hey Tommy should have been a bag of washers. You stack them until level. Standard washers. I took the spacers off after loading the rack and didn’t feel comfortable with them. My suggestion is for everyone with a prinsu is reach out to cbi and ask them to make a solid one piece spacer that fits each attachment point front to back that makes it as low as possible and takes the guessing game out of the equation on how to level.

Found the washers @codyaustin5 .... they were in the bag with the tie down attachments. Guess I just glanced at the bag and though, “oh, those go with these, and since I’m not mounting those at the moment I’ll put them aside”.....
Mystery solved. And yes, I agree on the solid one piece spacer idea.

 

[littlegreenmonster]

Sorry no photos. I do plan on removing my rack this summer and rethinking/redoing the spacers supplied by Prinsu. I have looked at the installation instructions that are online for other roof racks for ideas. I also called CBI, the new owners of Prinsu seeing if they can come up with a better spacer solution, not holding my breath.

The issue as I see it is the side rails and feet are not in the same arc as the 200 roof. Therefore it's up to you to pick and choose spacers to get the rack at a height that works best. To low and you are in danger of the feet resting on the roof and causing damage over time. Another Mud member had this happen with another brand, don't recall who though. To high and you'll have a significant gap between the fairing and the roof, even at it's lowest position. Also stacking spacers to high might result in less lateral strength of the whole rack with loads. Rectangular blocks of aluminum made to fit the width of the roof channel, and the curvature of the roof/rack, and the height differences between the feet would make for a much better and solid interface. These would have to be made, and each spacer or at least a pair, would be different complicating things.

HTH.

I am already talking to a local machine shop about making a set of blocks for me to replace the spacers. They will sit down in the gutter and provide much more surface area for weight distribution and greater surface area for sealant. I am in a hold pattern until i get the rack though.

I ordered it the end of last week and monday i get an email from "Customer Service" stating that the 200 racks were in stock and would ship one week after the order is placed. I then received an email today stating that it's estimated ship date is June 26th. If that is the case it may be August before i get things figured out.

 

[littlegreenmonster]

I am already talking to a local machine shop about making a set of blocks for me to replace the spacers. They will sit down in the gutter and provide much more surface area for weight distribution and greater surface area for sealant. I am in a hold pattern until i get the rack though.

I ordered it the end of last week and monday i get an email from "Customer Service" stating that the 200 racks were in stock and would ship one week after the order is placed. I then received an email today stating that it's estimated ship date is June 26th. If that is the case it may be August before i get things figured out.

Update, I got a notice on my UPS account today that Prinsu has shipped the rack and i will have it on 6/12. Maybe they really do have them in stock! We shall see. If i get it next week, this should move up my time tables for determine an alternate spacing method that seals better and provides better weight distribution.