Factory Roof Rack

[montana nate]

I'm looking to buy a 96-2000 4Runner and have run across a few without a factory rack, the only thing up there is a thin black rib on either side (not just a rack without it's cross bars, but a thin rib that nothing could attach to). Is it possible to retrofit the factory rack??

[Good Times]

afaik yes you should be able to add some factory or aftermarket rails utilizing the stock embedded railing under your black strip down the top of the cabin.

I've seen a few members sell their stock roof rack so you might check the market place for some great deals and steals.

Welcome aboard!

[Bob98SR5]

montana,

yes, because i've done it. the strip you see is held down by #24 (iirc) torx bits. remove those and the strip will come out. the 4runner rails are the same ones for the same year ford exploder, so if you scour a junkyard, you can source from those crappy vehicles too.

my advice is to buy a thule 416 foot pad kit which are really cheap on ebay. use the existing squares from the 4runner roof rails instead of the 416 pieces to scrwe down the rack feet. then buy the correct length bar for your needs. buy all this stuff on ebay or craigslist. dont buy new as people who sell racks usually sell for about 1/2 the price

[montana nate]

Thanks for the input! Same rack the Ford eh? Strange, but opens up a lot more possibilities in the junk yards for sure!

[Bob98SR5]

the 416 footpack kit fits alot of vehicles. the exploder was the most popular selling suv on the list. now the only thing i dont know for sure is if the bolt holes on an exploder rack line up w/ a toyota's. but the tracks on the bottom of the 416 foot pack will work in both vehicle's roof racks

[Chaplain]

I'll be selling my factory oem roof rack soon off my 96. Stay tuned.

[2ndGen]

or, Yakima makes a landing pad/ control tower combo. i had it on my 94 and it worked great.

you can slide the landing pad throug factory tracks, then lock the control towers on to the landing pads. very simple. 48" crossbars would be a perfect fit for 4Runner.

[Chaplain]

Give Baja Rack a call that's what I did. Check them out http://www.bajarack.com/
Or you could buy my factory one.

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/37/l_8ed5d8383b4b46b5a1824dc8826f0bbe.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/23/l_d2902b29a1c64709bfe4a8547d738026.jpg
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/19/l_c73d63ef55fc4e9f9479f883e2795979.jpg

[Good Times]

Sweet Steve!

What's the mpg loss on that? 1-2mpg on average I suspect?

[neliconcept]

chaplain could you get some more pictures of the mounts with the baja and or a further away pic? i really didnt like those at first but now since its so low, i may have changed my mind.

[Chaplain]

Sweet Steve! What's the mpg loss on that? 1-2mpg on average I suspect?

Thanks Lance; I haven't haven't checked the mpg loss as of yet, but I doubt its that much. I mounted it as far backward as I could so the wind from the windshield would go over it plus it has that little deflector and its roundish top tube probably helps some. Disclaimer: I'm no wind tunnel expert. :)

Sorry I only have a couple cell phone pics of the mounts. Just took the BajaRack mounts and screwed them directly into the factory roof rivet nuts like the OEM rack is mounted. This way its as low is it can go.
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/30/l_047610b35e3b46efa4ad7b2baaf331b7.jpg
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/3/l_2e63759e6066488398e8684dc3cb6fc0.jpg
http://a44.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/109/l_4b78a89e14c933202acab6ec1a4067d3.jpg

[4x4mike]

Yep..I'm a Rack-It Scientist

Me too, I think I still have the shirt too, maybe even the hat.

[Chaplain]

OEM Rack for sale/trade.

[Chaplain]

OEM Rack for FREE pickup ONLY!

Had to move, rack at old house help yourself. PM me for address.