EcoTechne Roof Rack Installation (5th Gen)

Thanks for reminding me about Shrockworks bumper! I have their sliders and they are GREAT!! Their bumper price is lower than RPM's, but I still like the ladder that is built on the RPM swing arm.

 

This article popped up in my feed recently. It borrows a little liberally from my original how-to guide, but it's interesting to see what updates there are.

https://trail4runner.com/2020/12/04/echotechne-roof-rack-install-review/

It looks like Ecotechne has changed their racks up a little more. The crossbars look skinnier and even less useful than before, and the front fairing has been significantly chopped down. The channel for light bar mounting looks smaller as well- mine is 3" wide which allowed me to perfectly tuck in the Diode Dynamics SS30 bar. This one looks to be about half that.

Problems with fit and finish, especially the powdercoat, still appear to persist with this rack. Now more than ever I would not recommend buying this rack unless you are prepared to do some cleanup work and source your own powdercoat. The one improvement seems to be that a stateside supplier has picked them up for distribution, so maybe shipping times and customer service will improve.

 

Your original write up was quite impressive. I agree that’s a really good looking rack, and your seals look solid. I’m wondering if you anticipate having to reseal at some point, or whether you think that was a permanent solution. I’m toying with the idea of replacing my factory rack, but the main thing holding me back is the amount of horror stories I’ve read about insufficient aftermarket seals and water intrusion. I’d much rather not have to deal with periodic resealing, but I don’t know how realistic that is.

 

I might consider taking everything off to check it one of these days, just to see how it's holding up. I'm very confident in the integrity of the hardware, and the washers are said to be unaffected by sunlight, ozone, and water. My only concern is if the joints can't drain water away properly and pools, as I can't guarantee they're absolutely watertight. But so far I've seen no evidence of poor draining, and that includes several snow loads in Mammoth. I've noticed zero dampness in the headliner, and I've even pulled off the driver side kick panel to check for moisture (a common area that will collect water when running down the door frame). I've also heard horror stories of water collecting in this area and shorting out critical connectors and putting the truck in limp mode. So far all is bone dry.

 

Thanks for all the info

 

Interesting and slightly concerning. I have a Pro. I wonder what the process for installing that rack is. I haven't heard any horror stories involving factory installed rails/racks. I guess I'm inviting those stories now.

 

Pro rack is definitely assembled at port. I think I've seen photos of the Pro with block off plates installed until the TRD team adds the rack (and other trip, shocks, wheels, etc.).

I don't think it's cause for alarm but it might merit reviewing. As for aftermarket racks, so far the only one I've seen with a properly integrated seal system is the Sherpa rack. Everyone else just tells you to smear silicone all over, including Ecotechne.

 

Yes, Sherpa would be my choice for that reason if I decide to change it out someday. Plus there’s the bonus of them being just up the road from me.

 

How do you like your Sherpa? Got any pics?

 

Beautiful pics. I think the Sherpa rack is much more nicely engineered and integrated, but I do find myself preferring the compound angles on the Ecotechne. The front fairing seems more low-profile because it's broken into two angles rather than a single face.

 

What kind of light bar? I finished my SAE driving light install last year.

 

Nice. Both fogs and driving lights are SS3 pro. The driving lights have the 4000K LEDs from the yellow lights, but with clear lenses swapped in. I prefer the warmer white that's closer to the halogen temp, rather than the cold blue light that seems to be popular these days.

 

Thanks for posting this. I installed a Prinsu full rack 2.5 years ago with silicone and just sprung a leak. I'm planning to reinstall and am thinking of using the butyl/washer method. Wondering how yours has held up.

 

I check after every car wash and rain storm because I'm paranoid. So far, no leaks after over 5 years and counting. I might swap the crossbars to extruded aluminum so I can have a rail at each location, maybe then I'll pull apart the roof mounts to check how they're doing. However, I'm really lazy so it might take me a while to get around to it.

 

Awesome, thanks Tory!
I just learned that the silicone gaskets for flip top Grolsch bottles are the same size. Might give them a go with the butyl tape.