Removing OEM roof rack

Hey guys,

Looking to remove the OEM roof rack off my 2020 tacoma double cab.
I still have the weather stripping that came off the roof when I installed it.

What do I need to use to seal the pre tapped holes and prevent it from leaking?
Would a butyl sealing tape or silicone be enough?

 

That's what I would use.

 

follow video. Also tape the holes back up and cover the tape with some silicone. Don’t fill the holes unless you don’t plan on putting a new rack on
https://youtu.be/pn3_VqJzfZo

 

I’d put the bolts back in, silicon or teflon tape to seal it.

 

Yeah the bolts are from the roof rack not the truck. Keeping the bolts in there is not an option since it is too long without the rack

 

Can I ask why you are looking to remove the OEM roof rack? The reason I ask is that I am considering buying one for my 2020 TRD OR. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

 

Op why not get same screw but shorter?

I would get the shorter screws and put som loctite on the thread and over some silicone.

 

Just didn't like the look of it at the end as much as I thought I would. It is a well designed roof rack/rail but poorly constructed or QC'd from toyota of all manufacturers, I liked that you can stow away the bars when not in use and it almost has no extra wind noise when they are stowed.

 

go to a hardware store and find shorter bolts screws with the same thread?

 

I was considering adding the roof rails too. I am constantly on the fence about adding them. I would not be adding them solely for aesthetics though - I plan to drive out to do the Utah Mighty Five next summer and I think I will need the storage space.

 

What were the quality/construction issues you encountered? Asking because I've been considering this rack as well. Thanks

 

I am in the same boat as you are. Been researching roof racks and bed racks for awhile and trying to come up with a plan. I've had so many plans but this is, I think, the current one:

Put the OEM rack on the roof. I am not looking to put a lot of weight up there -- just some things that I dont want to fill the bed up with. Maybe a couple of transit boxes like many of the folks have here (Pelican cases or what not). The advantage is that when not in use I can fold them away and not get the wind noise, resistance, etc. Then the thinking is put the bed rack from Leitner Designs in the bed ... great design, probably over engineered, and can hold a ton of weight, including a roof top tent if I decide to go that direction.

That is my current thinking ... subject to change 547 more times, however, based on the good research and guidance I am finding in these forums.

 

I think I will do oem too. Everything else seems to have really bad reviews/build quality. So I am kind of surprised the OP had issues with Toyota's product. I plan to do low-rise bed rack and an RTT. I want to keep the tent as low as I can and out of the wind for what I'm guessing will be a 7k mile road trip.

 

As an owner of the OEM roof rack I'd say that there is definitely better options out there. It looks nice and the fact that you can stow the bars away is a plus. However, it cant hold much weight and the bars are spaced so far apart that if you have smaller items you want to put up there its a challenge. Its sufficient to carry bulky light weight items, ie canoe, kayak, paddle boards etc. For the light duty mine see's the OEM is fine but if you want to put any serious weight up there I'd look elsewhere.

 

Seems like you and I are in the same boat. There are plenty of great products mentioned here that get good reviews (Prinsu, Uptop, Victory). Those are all good options for more heavy duty use. But I am looking for light duty use -- nothing too heavy.

As for bed racks, that will be by next focus. The challenge I have is I want a bed rack that can hold the most amount of weight -- for a roof top tent for three or four guys and more. Looking at the iKamper that sleeps 4. Keep in mind, I don't know anything! But many of the bed rack companies can't confirm the maximum weight on their bed racks and I don't like the idea of the bed rack using the side of the truck bed to hold the weight. Again, I may have no idea what I am talking about ... and because I am in NY and not the West where there is a lot more of this, I can't really see and touch the rack in person. For example, everyone here seems to have Prinsu racks on their roof and I am the lucky guy who lives in an area where I don't think I have ever actually seen one on a truck in person here !

What is appealing about the bed rack from Leitner is that is bolts to the floor of the bed and not the sides of the truck. The parked static weight capacity is 1,000 pounds so that just seems like it gives me the best option all around:
https://www.leitnerdesigns.com/pages/toyota

But then again I am moving slow and my plans could change.

A 7,000 mile journey sounds really good right about now ! Good luck on your set up. I look forward to hearing what you end up doing.

 

Thanks for your insight. I see myself in the category of not putting anything up there too heavy so I am thinking that the rack would be for light duty use. But you know how that goes ...

Care to throw out what you think are the better options out there? Trying to learn all I can.

 

I was thinking mainly of the ones you already mentioned above although I'm sure that there are others to look at as well if you dig deeper.

 

Yes, definitely in the same boat. I have never seen an overland rig in person. I have chuckled at all the rigs on this site - outfitting their trucks with all this gear - then you see the pics of their trucks in the wild. Pretty impressive stuff.

I plan to use this set-up once - then sell it all. But I want to do this trip with my 10 and 11 year old kids. I am going to stop talking about it and do it.

So I have a question: the prinsu roof rack bolts directly to the truck's roof? If that is the case, I wont need those oem roof rails right?

 

What a great trip. I think if we have learned anything in this time of the pandemic is that nothing is more important than family! Of course, we knew that all along but it was nice to have the reminder. Of course, trapped in our house for 8 months due to this has made us pretty much want to kill each other! I kid, I kid.

Yes, on the Prinsu. I have watched several good You Tube videos (there are many) and you remove the OEM roof rails. That is correct. The install looks pretty do-able. You keep the rubber stripping and punch holes for the bolts.

As a side note, if you are only using this stuff once have you considered pulling a small trailer? You could probably rent one. I've thought about that too. One of those small AirStreams. I know that it is in a different direction but something worth considering. You get better sleeping, a bathroom and a workable kitchen.

Just a thought.

 

Holes not lining up properly, cheap foam gaskets to keep water out.
overall its not what you would expect from an OEM part.