Roof rack questions.....Gobi or something else

So maybe a dumb question.....But with things like Gobi or other brands can they hold luggage or dry bags like a Yakima basket does?

If so let's talk brand recommendations

 

With the proper amount of straps/bungee cords/tie-downs, you can hold ANYTHING in the Gobi. Now, please note I didn't say you could do it safely or successfully. Just that it could be done.

 

OP, I share your sentiments. I’m selling my Thule basket and moving on to a flat rack — Sherpa, but I don’t know how I’ll do it. With my Thule I have a nice luggage bag, net, and straps to tighten it all down. I suppose I can do the same thing but there’s not any support like there is with a basket model.

 

Yeah I have the old Moab and it's pretty deep even compared to a yak

 

Can't speak to Gobi but I love my Westcott. And if you get the modular and not the low you can set some rails lower than others and it creates the smallest of little baskets (almost) haha https://www.4runners.com/threads/ro...-sherpa-rubber-mounts-on-westcott-rack.32622/

 

Don't buy cheap.

 

Explain

 

I bought a $350 one and is already rusted. And bent(My fault, not rack's fault).

 

Whoah! How did it bend?

 

Yeah maybe I'd be better off with like a longer basket

 

I love my gobi. I used the excuse of needing it to move my kid’s stuff to college (and beyond). I had moving boxes, luggage, small furniture, etc.

The only thing I won’t put up there is a RTT. If you are gonna do that just get a flat rack and call it a day.

 

https://gobiracks.com/product/toyota-4runner-5gen-stealth-rack-open-sky/

A very stripped down meshless and ladderless Gobi is now available for some reason. Maybe if it was riserless it would be great for kayaks and plywood?

 

I traveled with a dry bag and multiple pieces of luggage on my Gobi, from east to west coast in a few days, unloading and loading daily at hotels.

Rack worked great. Will other racks do the same thing? Maybe? I don't have those. But my Gobi worked well to keep from losing my stuff.

 

Happy with the product.

 

What is an RFT?

kevin

 

RTT

Roof top tent

 

Thank you.

Kevin

 

The flat racks have T slots to slide all kinds of mounts to. The simplest is an eye bolt that locks in T slot. Then you just use straps to hold your junk. They work great for holding things down.

 

I don’t have a picture of my luggage mounted on top, but my Gobi Stealth has served me well. The major downside is, It does bring the MPGs down.

 

I have the Wescott Design modular coming this weekend. It advertises improving mpg which I hope is true. The design looks similar to Prinsu and Sherpa. All 3 brands look like great racks with solid feedback from other owners.

I needed a basket and went with the floor plates. I have not seen anyone with the floor mini basket option on the forum real world experience. The downside with any rack is adding wind drag - decreased mpg/power loss. This is why I made decision to go low profile route already having had a steel basket.

I do love the looks of the Gobi.

 

I have the Gobi Stealth with the sunroof opening. I love it! The mesh platform allows all sorts of connection options from bolts and eyebolts to just hooking bungies to the mesh or rails. I use cargo bags and Frontrunner wolf packs regularly. I also like the ability to stand on the roof rack to spot routes or just stargaze. As to the mileage drop, I still get 18mpg average loaded or not. I will probably go for the sunroof insert at some point but like the option to open the sunroof and have no obstructions to my view. All in all I am very pleased with the purchase.

 

You will have the slightest of baskets with the floor plates in. Here is someone selling them near me and their images show how the setup will look. I also swapped out the Westcott mounting sleeves for the Sherpa rubber mounts and with that set up I can say MPG's do not seem to have been affected to numbers prior to install. But mine sits a bit lower than it would with the Westcott metal sleeves.

 

The solid floor is really the requirement for me more so than basket. Dry bag secured with cargo net and straps is typically what I put up there. The cross braces like most of the low profile racks have didn't seem to meet my needs.

Planning on not using front panels to leave sunroof exposed. Install looks easy if I ever want to add them for full roof panel.

 

You can never go wrong with Jeff and his company Westcott Designs. I have the low profile rack and several other mods from WD. If you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to Jeff or his right hand man Brian.

 

I originally was going to get it because I thought it created a flush top and

I definitely second this! Great company and it starts with the great people. Everyone I've met there have been amazing

 

Yep all the positive reviews on WD and super high quality products gave me confidence going with them even if no reviews here on the roof panels.

Here is my old setup hoping will work the same with the low profile rack. I try to keep the heavy gear in truck and lighter bulky stuff on roof.

 

Top brands IMHO opinion are Westcott, Sherpa and Gobi. I've been running a Sherpa Crestone for 2+ years and have strapped everything and then some to it. Super solid in every way.

 

Stainless fender and rubber washer sandwich for front runner mounts on a Gobi.