Mounting a Prinsu roof rack on my 2019 Tacoma OR

Hi, I am planning on installing a roof rack on my Taco, Iv'e seen several youtube videos from Taco owners doing them, they all seem to like dap silicone to seal the factory holes for the mounting screws in the roof needed to install the roof rack. I wonder how long silicone can last to keep rain out. I am wanting some opinions on what to use for a long term water seal. I have also read that seam sealant forms a strong long term seal, but would it be correct for this job?

 

Going on 6 years installed and I have never had a drop of water inside.

 

Which Silicone would you recommend?

 

I just used basic kitchen and bath clear silicone.

 

Any reputable silicone will work. GE Clear from Lowes works fine. However- DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT get the quick dry version. I made this mistake. Get the long set stuff. It will take you awhile to get the rack set on top of your truck properly and you do not want the silicone to set before you do the final crank down on the 10 bolts.

 

Lanceputnam, do you also agree that this is the best solution? I drove my gen 1 Taco for 15 years before I sold it and bought this 2019 and their is so much more electronics now, not mention the smell, roof liner coming down....I want to be sure as a long term fix 10+yrs...I know silicones at Lowes and Home Depot have 25yr ratings and so forth but I've used that on houses and have seen areas that need to be redone sometimes around 5 or so years. I live in Houston but my job is offshore and I drive my truck as far south and East as you can go in Louisiana and then a helicopter flys me to my rig. So my truck is going to sit just off the coast of Louisiana for 2 weeks then I fly back and am off for 2 weeks...half the year my truck is in High humidity and heat....How would you handle it?

 

You shouldn't have any issues. When I installed mine, even when I took off the factory weather stripping and that super tacky color-matched tape you have to remove- I don't think water could get in anyway. The holes that are present for the roof rack to mount in are almost like "scrivets" that are welded into the roof itself. Even with all the strips and tape removed, I remember trying to figure out if there was anyway possible for water to eventually get in and there wasn't. Its all sealed up. The silicone just adds another level of protection and helps seal up the bolts with the threads in the roof so water doesn't get down into the bolt holes.

 

Lanceputnam Thanks for your input I will find a good quality silicone and get this done! and understood to not get a quick drying one!!!

 

Any reputable silicone will outlast the truck.