Roof Rail Scratches

Is this normal? The dealership installed the free crossbars then I saw the rails has scratches. I just noticed it recently

 

^When the sliding crossbars are... slid in the rails, there will be scratches. No problems as the rails are aluminum.

 

The only way to install the crossbars is to slide them in the rails.

 

Hey OP,
Welcome here man
I bet it sucks to see scratches on a '24 even if it is inside the roof rack rails. But ya I wouldn't be alarmed I think it is what it is, like folks have said. I uninstalled my black and silver factory Trail rack, sanded and blacked out, then remounted it. I don't see scratches now, it's surprisingly perfect >3yrs later

 

Watch out, your new tires will get scratches too. JK.
Congrats and Welcome!

 

You know those old pictures of WWII fighter planes with the paint all worn off everywhere they were touched or walked on…or even where the airstream itself blasted paint off? I think I’m slowly starting to accept that kind of wear on my 4runner. It’s honest wear from being used as intended.

Of course, a worn surface only looks “nice” as long as it’s actively being worn. Around here, if steel (on my sliders for example) gets worn or scratched) rust will shoe up pretty quick with the salt used on the roads.

In this case with the roof rails, it’s honest wear caused by how they are installed. But I’m willing to bet that is just paint or plastic transfer, not actual scratches. You could try to rub a bug cleaner product on them and it might come right off!

 

Curious what paint you used for this. Thanks!

 

This ^

 

Hey bud, ya let me dig up the information and maybe a thread post for you, I can't remember !

 

I haven't done my rails yet, but on other vehicle restoration projects I have use SEM Trim Black with great results. That's what I plan to use on the rails when I get around to that project.