Gobi rack 12-16 week wait ?!?!?!

Just placed my order for a new gobi stealth rack. To be fair, I ordered an option they don't advertise but do on request. I went with a single row LED bar space in the front. So essentially, the rack will be the same height the entire way around. But when she told me the lead time, I nearly crashed. Oh well, was hoping i'd get it in time for a trip to acadia this sept, but patience I guess....

 

From what I've read you'll be lucky to get it in 16 weeks. Prinsu design just merged with CBI offroad, they make a decent looking rack and I bet it would be 8 weeks tops

 

yup, thats normal

 

Hey, it is what it is. I thought long and hard and it came down to prinsu and gobi. I knew I was in for a long wait when I ordered.

 

It's worth the wait. You won't be dissappointed. I have the same rack on my sons Pro, now trying to figure out how to get the wires into the engine bay.

 

I am currently on week 14. I'm getting the no-rise option as well. I ordered it first week of April thinking I'll have it right on the 12th week ready for my 4th of July trip.....nope. And hearing from most of us nowadays its mostly 14-18 weeks, so all I'm trying to do is being patient.

 

My wife says one of my strengths is offering unsolicited advice so here it goes....

You can definitely purchase your own welder and a bunch of square tubing for far less than the price of a name brand roof rack. I understand that this hobby we enjoy of driving and modifying 4x4's is expensive, but I cannot fathom or understand paying $1,600 for a what is essentially a rectangle made out of metal that sits on your roof. Front and rear bumpers with multiple angles, latching swing outs, and recesses for lights and winches? Different story...

In the process of building your own rack you will gain a cool tool , a welder, and learn and incredibly useful skill. Plus you get the satisfaction of creating something yourself to suit your individual needs.

As someone who just built a homemade roof rack, I can assure you it is not hard....

 

How do you build a homemade roof rack? And do you mind showing me what you built!?

 

I'd start by doing an image search of the type of rack you want to see on your vehicle.

Then begin planning, measuring, and assembling tools. Determine how your rack will attach to your roof.

Next figure out what kind of steel you want to use. I'd suggest 1"x1" square tubing at around 14-16ga. Round tubing looks cool but it involves either bending or notching the tubing to get your bends. This isn't that hard either but it requires a tube bender and just seems more complicated than using square tubing.

Then start with a rectangle like this:



Next add your cross pieces to support the stuff you want to put on the rack. I added an angled front for looks:



Then I added some L brackets to hold my awning, and few other attachment points to secure my tie downs.



Lastly I would consider putting some sort of wind deflector on there:



The rack weighs 50 lbs. Cost was $80 for the steel and about $100 for other consumables, paint, cut off wheels, beer , etc....
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Wow that was some good details. Thank you for your time explaining. Since I already ordered the gobi, I'm still glad I got to hear this info so I am aware of the future!

 

The only problem I see with a homemade rack, is that it looks homemade. I'd rather splash some cash on something that is engineered beyond my abilities. The Lexus looks really cool though.

 

I have zero welding skills. I tried once. It was ugly. I'd rather work the overtime and have a guy that knows what the hell he's doing to build me one. Maybe one day when I have 2 years to figure out how to weld right i'll do it. Just not now.

 

I'm with you. It would be hard for me to install a homemade rack on a $45k vehicle.

 

Hey Rider. How have you been??? Wanted to ask you went with the Gobi Stealth 40 inch led setup and NOT the 4 independent LED setup correct???

 

Been really busy. Son took the TRDPRO to college so I'm having withdrawals. Yes Sir. That is correct. 40" set up but have not got around to installing the light. Maybe over the Holidays.

 

I hope you and yours are alright with Harvey and all. I couldn't remember if you were close by?

 

Thank you. We are good. Lots of friends and co-works weren't so lucky.

 

Loves these racks; regarding your comment about routing led light bar or any other lights attached above cab you should be able to follow this procedures (on vid wiring begins at "9:05") see attached link, https://youtu.be/m01HxuDonxo

 

Sorry to hear about your co-workers and friends but glad you and yours are safe!

 

A question for all the Gobi owners. I have the standard OEM rails and crossbars with a Yakima extended rack. I would like to upgrade to the Gobi and would like to know since it becomes a semi-permanent installation: 1) Does it create much wind noise? 2) Is the finish holding up (assuming it's powder coated), Would you change anything ?. Any other comments ?

 

Yes, it does create noise as you increase your speed. It's holding up well and it has just about been a year since installation.

 

So, I'm in week 17 (they said 12-16) and after two emails and numerous calls, they will not get back to me. My account got hacked and I needed a new cc. Which means the one I gave them is no good. I tried to notify them but you can't get through to these people. I understand they are a growing company. But at least hire someone to pick up the phone and answer emails.

 

Keep trying to reach and let them know your situation with the hacking and all should be good

 

The wait is finally over after 23 weeks.........

 

They are awesome looking and quality racks but the price, lead time, and customer service horror stories have always made me think twice about Gobi. Congrats and make sure you install it on the 4Runner, not the fire engine.

 

Ya, I can't say it was a pleasant experience. When I could get through to someone, they were nice. But they need to expand to get a few phone reps.

 

You mean you got your rack and it's not istalled yet? Lol. Please post pics when you can. It's gonna be awesome I know.

 

I got it installed yesterday. I'm putting the light bar on tomorrow after my shift. I'll take some pics then.

 

There will be a trade off between time and money for sure. Having experience with this, fabricating the rack (brackets, seals, screws, mounts etc..) its a tremendous amount of work not only welding, but measuring and trying to get everything square. Not having a jig, super flat surface will make it 10x harder and more time intensive which is what most people will be dealing with. Also a lot of these bar racks are actually curved to follow the contour of the roof, slightly wider in the front in some cases and additionally on the 4Runner the rear is about 1.25" wider than the front on the roof where the mount points are. From getting a welder and welding gas and tank, plus having welding experience to weld round bar, then buying a cheap tube bender, tube notcher, 1" hole saw bits, drill bits, grinder, grinding wheels/flaps, metal band saw or chop saw, having a way to haul the material from the steel shop, it all adds up. If you do not have a welder already nor experience, let alone some of these tools but you like to build things and make your own, you are still better off buying one at the advertised price. When thinking of ladders and trying to fabricate one of these, good luck as there are multiple bend points, and to get two sides exactly the same is near impossible with any cheap tube bender/english wheel, as well as trying to make the mounting hardware. Brackets alone are very difficult. To have them professionally made by a shop using laser cut oblong holes, and bent steel will run a few hundred, to hand make them cutting the metal, trying to drill the holes then make them oblong is again a very difficult task. Lastly, trying to get it to fit once you have all the pieces, moving it up and off the top of the 4runner several times, to measure, mark holes, adjust creates an added risk of massive scratches. Lifting the rack requires 2 people but can be done with one with great caution, doing this several times you are risking putting scratches in your 4runner. Who wants to ruin the top of a 2020 4runner?

Of course if you made a rack that you wanted well made (square, good welds, nice brackets, powder coated) there is a steep investment in the tools if you don't already have some of the basic tools, and a goods cost of about $550-*$700 (Steel, stainless steel bolts, washers, seals, *powder coat) Total hours maintaining a full time job and a family, 50-60, 70, 80 hours?

 

When I look at all the racks out there, they all look homemade, imho. Lol. The TRD Pro rack, looks among the worst. What to go v_man, homemade stuff looks so cool. Especially on an expensive vehicle. But only if it’s well done, like yours is.