Roof rack cross bar recommendations

18 TRD ORP... Would like to get some cross bars for various accessories... roof basket, ski attachments, cargo carrier, transporting small boats. Quality & strength important, what do you all recommend?

 

I have two of the LFD cross bars. Build quality and strength is very impressive and you can get their rails eventually to build a full rack.

wish I had gotten the wind fairing as mine are a bit loud but only over 70.

they take 5-10 minutes to take on or off so you could also always take off when not in use.

 

I should be picking up Yakima Timberline mounts and 60" crossbars today. I need something that extends past the width of the roof rails and the Yakima gives me that flexibility. I have the 2010-2013 4Runner Trail rails on my '21 ORP and Yakima are the only ones who explicitly state their mounts work for them.

 

Second on the yakima timberline towers and for strength, the hd crossbars. The thule equivalent offering will be more than adequate as well.

 

I bought the Malone ones off of etrailer.com. They are pretty beefy and not too expensive.

2016 Toyota 4Runner Roof Rack - Malone (etrailer.com)

 

yes




....read about the specs and see what you need them for

 

Thule or Yakima with aero bars

 

I have the OEM Toyota crossbars and it holds my Thule Force XL-L perfectly. On Thule's webpage it says it's not supposed to fit but, it fits perfect.

 

My oem crossbars are fine for connecting the things I need (basket, bike carriers, shell). My problem is how close to the roof line they sit. It's a real pain in the ass to attach and detach various items due to the limited clearance below the cross bar. Am also scratching the paint no matter how careful I try to be.

Have considered making my own towers to carry the existing bars (I have a lathe and some fabrication skills) but it has yet to become important enough.

Jason

 

Ruggedized crossbars from LFD Off Road, for the win.

https://trail4runner.com/2020/01/23/lfd-off-road-ruggedized-crossbars-5th-gen-4runner/

 

I also have the LFD crossbar kit but my front faring is different than the one in the above post. So far I’m happy with them.

 

any side pictures? would like to see how far above the rails those stand. Thx!

 

They sit about an inch above the side rails. Not too high, but high enough to be easy to get to the underside of them.

 

LFD offers a crossbar with an integrated fairing now:

https://www.lfdoffroad.com/catalog/toyota/5th-gen/crossbars-5th/integrated-wind-faring-crossbar

 

Does LFD still sell the fairing to add to the front bar, for those who might have that style?

 

Thank you!

Thank you!

 

yes - I have to agree

 

Mounted the Yakima Timberline towers with 60" Core cross bars I mentioned earlier in the thread. Makes getting my 18' Grumman canoe on the roof easier as you're able to get it onto the rails further away from the body of the truck.

 

I got my Malone crossbars and they do the job to attach my cargo box, but I have to say I will be buying that LFD rack. That looks so much better.

 

I broke down and ordered a set of LFD bars in stainless today.

Last time I fiddled with trying to mount a bike rack to the stock bars (too close to roof sheet metal) with annoying Yakima plastic clamps was it for me.

Now I can use normal fasteners from below and stop messing around.

Jason

 

After spending hours of G searching I'm inclined to follow your lead Jason - they are a good looking crossbar (just wish they were free ) LOL...

 

Do you have a photo with your canoe on top?

 

I have brackets from Nise Rack. Works great to hold awning, waterport, etc....

Only real down side is wind noise is noticeable.

To be expected with equipment.

Good and decent platform for what I need and use right now.

 

I have LFD bars with the integrated wind fairing on the way as well. These seemed to be the best option/value w/ factory rails. All of the reviews indicate lots of flexibility...give you more space w/o being to raised...well made. Also the added benefit that you can use those bars if you want to upgrade from factory rails to LFD rails.

 

I don't at the moment, just one of it mounted on the factory cross bars.

I know some people say that the Yakima bars raise your load too high but I'm 6'5" so not an issue for me and if I really need to the top of any load, I just step on the running boards or stand on the top of a rear tire.

 

Standing on the tire works great for me. Better than a ladder or stool.

 

So do you center the canoe on the rack or is it slid forward a bit and then cinched down to the trailer hitch?

The rack seems too far back for centering a 18’ canoe.

 

This was how it sat with the stock cross bars

 

Are those the LFD WIDE Crossrails?

 

Sweet Canoe...your 4runner looks good on it