Roof rack mounting questions

I am planning on getting a curt roof rack

$157 CURT 18115 Universal 42 x 37" Black Steel Roof Rack Rooftop Cargo Carrier

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004...236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=curt+roof+rack

Does anyone know a good way to mount it to my 1st gen extracab? Would i need to remove my light bar?

 

Going to have to mount tracks to the roof or go with a yakima or thule clip on solution. For that cargo basket you are looking at, you really need cross bars. I'm sure you can rig something with drilling directly into the roof and mounting it to your roof without crossbars but I wouldn't recommend it.

One example can be found here:
http://www.rackattack.com/fit/toyota/tacoma-access-xtra-cab/2004/


Good luck.

 

Hi, Heres how I did mine. I had a rack shop install tracks on main section of the cab and on the hump. So 4 sections total. This allows you to adjust the cross bars in right location for all applications. I didn't go with 2 full length tracks due to it being common to want to lift away from roof right at the start of the hump. I can take more pictures if you want more. just let me know and hope this helps..
Tim

 

If you are looking to make something custom/homemade I would look into L tracks as the base and use riv-nuts to fix them to the roof. I will probably go this option to put a roof top tent over the cab and just find some generic low profile cross bars.

http://www.cargoequipmentcorp.com/Series-L-Track-Fittings-s/70.htm

This is one of many places to get L track and hardware. Plenty more if you google "L Track". Allows a lot of options for customization. For the Xtra Cab it will require 4 sections to deal with the 'hump' on the roof.

 

I have a Smittybilt compact Defender roof rack, it mounts by bolting to the roof. Nothing like drilling half inch wide holes into your roof to get the nerves going, let me tell you...

If you go that route (not sure what other route there is seeing as 1st gens don't have rails to mount racks to), I would recommend putting some kind of gasket down between the roof and the mounting brackets to help keep water from seeping in between. I ran into this issue with mine and had to put silicone around the mounting brackets.

 

Yakima Qtowers w/the correct Qclips or the Tule equivlent should work. No drilling and I believe you can mount the rear towers with your rear flipout windows. I would double check that with either Yakima or Thule though.

Here's how the Qtowers attach, albeit on my doublecab

 

Damn, wish I had found that before my Smittybilt. Kind of regret going the drill-on route. It's sturdy but I always worry about how well it will hold up over time, if any water works it's way under the mounting brackets it could spell out bad news later

 

I have been happy with it, but it kills me that I can't get a Prinsu, Front Runner, or Baja Rack without drilling into my roof. Really want a low profile platform style rack.

 

It's not that bad (drilling), my mistake was not laying down a rubber seal/gasket under the mounting brackets to create a proper seal from water. The well nuts that expand into the drilled holes do a really good job of holding the rack in place though. I keep my heavy ass hi-lift jack mounted up there while off-roading and it stays solid.

 

That's about the neatest rack install I've seen on a truck cab. I've always had Yakimas but they were on my topper. Good job!