Roof Basket Factory

I just noticed that my 2020 4Runner Venture SE roof basket has a lot of rust. Has anyone else experienced this on their roof basket? I’m pretty disappointed since my vehicle is always kept in the garage. I guess I’ll need to remove it, sand it down and paint it over. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for this endeavor?

 

Welcome. If you're the original owner of the 4Runner, you can try contacting Yakima directly about their warranty. Cargo baskets fall under their lifetime warranty.

https://yakima.com/pages/lifetime-w...CnuwVAMOH8Gp9j_rnxPyC8Gostcw41BEaAtTDEALw_wcB

 

Take it off? How often are you really going to be using it? Is this your daily? I think just the noise a basket makes and decrease in the MPG would be reason enough for me to remove it. That way you can re-do it at your leisure, or you may discover you don't even need it. I suppose the right way to refinish it would be to media blast it and then have it coated with something tough. Rhino Liner?

 

Well the fact that I just discovered it has a lifetime warranty is fantastic. I registered my pro warrior basket on the Yakima site and I’ll be reaching out to them now for a replacement.

 

Yakima baskets are pretty prone to rust. Really all brands of that style are. They are built in 2 - 3 pieces and bolted together, and water enters in the joints and runs through the round tubing and collects in the bottom of the tube.

I generally remove mine when not in use, and I repaint it about ever couple of years - nothing fancy, just a complete cleaning and hit it with spray paint. It's doing fine for 5+ years now.

 

I’ve submitted a warranty claim to Yakima for this issue. If it gets replaced I’ll now always keep it stored in my garage unless I plan a trip and use it.

 

The newer Rola baskets have long bits of rubber tubing to cover the joints, probably in response to similar complaints. I'll see how long mine hold out. Also, as mentioned by others above, I leave mine in the garage except for road trips where I need the capacity. That helps with the wind noise and the mileage.

 

Yeah the Yakima have similar concept rubber balls that sit inside the joints and they don't work for shit...