Prinsu rack DAMAGE

Before you install your Prinsu rack, make sure you protect your car first. We have had the Prinsu on our car for around 3 years, I was cleaning the car the other day and saw some dirt under the rack I couldn't get out. So I ended up unbolting the wind deflector with the rubber seal and lifted it up. Years of dirt getting underneath that and then road vibration etc. Turn the rubber gasket into a orbital sander... See pics below.


A couple spots went all the way through and started rusting.


Long story short, I bought a commercial vinyl cutter and now I made two designs to protect the roof from the rack going forward. I fixed the rust issues and put the stickers on. Because others are going to run into the same issue I've decided to make and sell some more. I think I am going to post them on the for sale thread. Pm me if interested. The large one that covers the whole front is $75 + shipping and the thin strip is $20+shipping ($8.95 Priority). (I am making literally $2 on each of these). They are Oracal 951 Matte Black. Similar to the black graphics all the Dodges are running around with.
Edit: got a new supplier for the material I can do the small strips with so I was able to drop them to $20 now. Big one hasn't changed.
EDIT: Just got access to some Gloss Clear so I can produce these in clear now as well. Prices are the same.



PM if you are interested.

 

Large decal:

 

Small decal strip:

 

Looks like a slick solution! It's definitely something to keep an eye on.

 

SSO includes a stripe of clear bra to put across in that location.

 

As does Gobi.

Nice fix though OP!

 

Thanks @johnny1019 ... I just wish that knew the issue years ago. That plus some quality issues with my Prinsu I definitely would have gone with SSO or Victory instead.

 

Would have never thought to protect against accessories, appreciate the post
and nice film work!

 

I bought and returned a LFD integrated crossbar that made contact with the roof. It seems that many accessory makers dont think this is a problem, not sure why.

Is it possible to raise/adjust that fairing so it doesnt make contact?

 

Definitely something I was mindful of, so I laid down a good sized strip of clear automotive vinyl before installing my rack.

 

Looks like you came up with a good solution to a frustrating situation.

I wonder if you also trimmed the bottom of that plate so even under max load from wind or weight it couldn't flex down enough to rub.

 

The idea of the gasket is to keep the wind from whistling under the rack. It is designed to touch. I thought about this being an issue when I installed the rack but everyone I knew that had them said it wasn't.... Fast forward to now and I have installed 3 today on friends cars haha

 

If it needs to touch then your solution is the best option.

 

Ill do a small decal.

 

Ok, that sounds good. When's good for ya? I'm at my son's baseball practice tonight.

 

Updated shipping price... Post office is no good haha...
Installed 4 of these this weekend on some Tacomas during a camping trip haha

 

I created an Etsy shop... Also I am making the hood scoop glare deflectors now.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/983386090/5th-generation-4runner-wind-deflector?ref=related-2

 

Just got gloss clear Oracal 951 so the top protection can be made in clear.

 

I recently installed a Sherpa rack, and they say the fairing shouldn’t touch the roof. I have a little gap and it doesn’t cause and wind noise I can hear.

 

Genius, genius, genius!!!! I am OCD, and my 4Runner is ceramic coated. I thought about this situation in my head before installing my Prinsu rack a couple months ago. Definitely removing my air deflector this weekend and figuring out some sort of preventative measure like yours. You just saved me from a hissy fit a few years from now. Thank you, sir !

 

It does... I have the film (and glare deflector) on ours, no issues PM me if you are interested in the glare deflector

 

PM me if you end up wanting the strip I make

 

I have the Sherpa rack on my 4th gen and also read their instructions that there should be a tiny gap in the air dam and the roof... and that exacerbated the wind howling something fierce. So @MyWyfsRnnr strip from his Etsy shop was on order immediately, fits perfectly (my bad install notwithstanding), and looks good to boot.

 

I didn't know you ordered through Etsy! Haha! I sell them a little cheaper through PM on TW haha (like $5). The best I can do here right now is $20. The rolls of this stuff are expensive when you are just doing them out of your house and order one roll at a time so I don't get any business pricing from vendors. They jacked the prices up on the vinyl due to "global sourcing issues"