5th Gen 4Runner Roof Accessories

Hello,

I am trying to remove my stock TRD Pro Roof rack and install Outgear Solutions Low Pro Crossbars so I can mount a RTT. Toyota dealer removed the rack and sent pictures saying the brackets from Outgear Solutions don’t line up with the factory holes (I’ve attached pictures they sent). They said there’s nothing they can do and charged me $200 to put the TRD rack back on.

Only other option I can think of is to go to a steel machine shop and see if they can grind out the brackets to work, any other suggestions to make this work?

 

The holes are in the wrong spot? Get a drill and a bigger drill bit?

 

The bracket doesn’t line up with the factory holes. Wouldn’t it cause more trouble with trying to keep it all sealed if I drilled more holes in the roof?

 

Drill correct holes in the bracket. Those brackets don’t look all that complicated. A machine shop/fabricator could make brackets quickly, or make those work, if you don’t have the tools.

 

Got it that was my plan.

I asked toyota and another aftermarket shop if they could and both said they wouldn’t mess with the brackets because they were afraid it’d mess with the seal. That didn’t make any sense to me because the brackets already have a slot so I didn’t see how widening the slot would effect the seal

 

You should use silicon regardless. I just installed a roof rack from Westcott and they have similar looking brackets and they require silicon.

 

I may be mistaken but I thought the nuts that are within the roof can slide back and forth. Like a floating rectangular washer that has the nut welded to washer. It’s been many years but that is what I thought I remember.

 

OMG, say this to the wrong person and they'd start drilling new holes in their roof. Really should have put that money towards a decent roof rack. I know times are tight but rigging those brackets is going to land you in a spot with leaks and shit. Return them and get your money back. I'd also call the service department, get the manager and ask them why they could not measure the fucking holes before they removed the entire roof rack? They should at least give you $100 back. And even then, who knows if they installed it perfectly this time. Good luck

 

Maybe I'm nuts, but it sure looks like sliding the bracket right by 1/3 of a hole would make the holes both reachable through the slots.

 

Thought the same thing. I zoomed in on the pic and it appears there is something to the right of the bracket preventing it from sliding further over (?).

 

Could be, although it could also just be a shiny surface.

The Outgear site implies that this should fit, but I saw one scary caveat:

https://outgearsolutions.com/collec...ossbar-set-with-awning-brackets-special-promo

 

Are the brackets left or right/ front or rear specific?

 

Two thoughts:

Notch out for tab clearance (orange) and use a large fender washer (green), or, Round (rattail) file and slot out the hole on the left (red).

 

Did you buy these used or new? If new, have Outgear fix the problem. If used, contact Outgear and see if they can help.

 

Looks like they tried to mount that bracket on the driver-side rear.

Maybe it suppose to go on the driver-side front?

 

I'm fairly sure the bolt spacing is the same on all four oem rail mounts. The replacement brackets for all four corners are the same.

 

Removing the shark fin seems like a poor work-around. LFD makes simple crossbars for roughly the same price and it is a very reputable company.

 

Hey, Toyota ripped you off. You need to get your money back. The bracket won't fit without the stock spacers from the stock roof rack.

Use sealant around the spacers, the spacers to the bracket, drop the bolt and it will align properly.

 

Personally, I take a Dremel or a cabide drill bit to open the holes marginally. You shouldn't lose any structural integrity. Others have said a machine shop could do this quickly, and they are right. It's a 5 minute job. You can do it too and then prime and seal the surface.

I can't see any shop turning down this work as it's easy but I've no idea what they would charge.

 

FYSA "silicone" dries and shrinks and is typically not ideal for use in this environment- butyl is typically preferred.