Crossbar install question

These came in the box with my OEM roof rack crossbars. Anyone know what they are?

 

It should tell you in the installation directions how to install them to prevent your bars from going too far back. If you didn't get instructions with your bars, you can find the instructions online.

 

The install instructions in the box didn't say what they were for.

 

I didn't put them in on mine.

 

So, you bought only cross bars & you also got those?
The reason I ask is because ours came with crossbars. I can go look to see if/where they are used.
They look like weather stripping or something... I know it isn't needed for that.

 

In my case, that is correct. I think there might have been an illustration showing them behind the rear crossbar, in the side-rail. I forgot to put them in, and figured they weren't really necessary

 

I found where they go...
Around & before the back mounting housing.
I don't know why or what they do.
@victoryrunner has reverse engineered these. Sorry to call you out, Cam. You are the only person I can think of that may have this knowledge.
Yes, I dry my truck! It has been raining all day! Lol

 

Maybe that's why I didn't use them. I had to put the cross-bars as far apart as possible to attach my basket. I think the rubber bumper would have been in the way.

 

@AGS92 is correct.
It must be a stop to distribute the weight appropriately. Never saw it before (only owned it under 4 months.
After I get my roof rack from Victory 4x4. The factory set will go for sale.
I need storage with a GSD!
I also need their Blitz sliders as they appear to be great steps also.
Apparently we bought an addiction! LMAO

 

Yes! I have the same problem. I'm looking for a new roof basket or a rack already. I was really hoping to get a bumper and winch soon, but I might have to wait until bonus time.

 

Yep. My truck came with the roof rails but no crossbars. I bought the crossbars brand new from the dealer and they arrived in a box packed in styrofoam cut-outs to keep the bars from flopping around. And in the bottom of the box was a little bag with the two rubber inserts.

Thanks 4Runner fun for the pics posted above. And thanks to others who chimed in with info.

I bet the inserts are to keep the rear cross bar from smashing into the rear corner caps, in the unlikely event it comes lose on the highway and is blown backwards. Just a guess.

Taking it a step further, I suppose with enough force the crossbar could pop off the rear corner caps and everything would go flying off the back end. So the rubber insert is essentially a shock absorber/safety bumper. Again, just a guess.

 

Just curious- what do you mean by "reverse engineered"?

 

It is a general term to describe how people understand how things work & why they are built the way they are.
For example: if I wanted to start an automatic transmission company tomorrow.
I would begin by working one & dissecting it to understand how it operates (reverse engineering; you don't design anything). Then you discover every weak link in the system to make it "bulletproof".

Or

You could take apart a microwave to find it only heats water elements that bounce & the friction creates heat & produces no radiation.

It is simply taking something apart to understand it completely and possibly better than it was.
Long answer. Sorry.

 

I can't say I have the real answer on this, mine did not have them. They may be to keep them away from the end caps like some have said, when you are adjusting the crossbars. They might also be spacers to keep the crossbars in the "minimum wind noise" position. Either way, not really important.

 

Hey I want to bump this old thread. So I picked up my cross bars for my roof rack from Toyota and the stickers that tell you what direction they mount had fallen off and we're just laying in the bottom of the box is there any easy way to tell

 

Hey Fishbum, the crossbars themselves are also labelled. Mine say "LEFT FRONT FORWARD" and "LEFT REAR FORWARD".
The first crossbar you'll install is "LEFT FRONT FORWARD". Make sure the "LEFT FRONT FORWARD" is installed with the label on the driver's side of the truck. And the "FORWARD" arrow is pointing towards the hood of the truck.
Similarly install the second crossbar.
Here's where to find the imprinted label on the crossbars for "LEFT FRONT FORWARD" and "LEFT REAR FORWARD" ... I borrowed this photo from other poster in this thread and circled the area.

Hope this helps. Cheers.

 

Thanks for the heads up! I hadn't pulled them out of the box except to see the sticker had come off.........Then in a rush I forgot to put the inserts in.. I'm a knucklehead sometimes.

 

Maybe this will help.