Yakima Skyline Towers and LockNLoad platform

EDIT: Here is the info on the platform Yakima Skyline Towers and LockNLoad platform

I know most people on here go with the heavy duty off road racks but if you wanted a light duty and easily removable rack Yakima just came out with new landing pads for the 3rd gen Tacos. That way you don't have to use the ones that wrap around the doors, you can the Skyline system that screws into the factory roof mounts.

I had a Skyline system left over from my wife's previous car and didn't want to invest $700 in a Prinsu rack. Plus all my bike racks, which I have 6 of, are for Yakima round bars. And yes I've used all 6 at once going on a family vacation.

Mounting the Yakima rack was easy, took about an hour to do and the only drilling you have to do is in the removable roof molding strip. The wind noise with a fairing is not that bad but I have lost about 0.5 mpg since installing.

 

Nice! I didn’t realize Yakima had a setup to mount to the factory mounting holes. I too have all Yakima round bar bike, kayak, etc. accessories and have been trying to figure out how to make it work. Someday I’ll have a canopy with a rack, but that is a few years out.

Does your setup use the “landing pad 24” with the skyline towers? I can’t find very good photos or instructions on Yakima’s website.

 

Yes, landing pad 24. It's all pretty simple to do if you have installed a rack before, the directions that came with the pads are pretty good.
They show you which holes to use and how to mark the holes on the weather stripping.
How to drill the roof molding, it has a metal band on the underside you have to cut with diagonal cutters and then it's just a rubber strip you drill straight through.
It comes with gasket sealant to make sure the bolts won't leak into the cab.
The only specialty tool you might need is small torque wrench because the pads only require 2 N-m (18 in lbf). I talked to a tech at Yakima and he told me the testing they did 2 N-m was all that was needed and to much torque could damage the factory mounts. I have 1,500 miles so far since installing the rack and had no issues. It's hauled two 30 lb bikes on the interstate (@80mph) with some bad crosswind with no problems.
I'd say the hardest part is installing the towers and bars, it's a pain trying to line them up by yourself, but it is doable.

Or if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself a rack shop should only charge around $50 to install it for you.

 

Thanks OP

 

Looks good OP, what is the crossbar spacing on this set up?

 

I used 58" bars and the spacing is about 41" outside edge to outside edge.

 

We are in the same boat— have old skyline system and want to mount it to the 2020 Tacoma roof. Some sites say it’s compatible, but a rack install place said no. How can I determine where the mounts are on a “naked roof“ once I have the landing padS?

 

If for some reason you get rid of the landing pad 24s let me know! The entire world is out of stock!

 

Not a chance, I love my Yakima rack. Have you emailed Yakima directly to see when they plan on restocking?

 

I don't blame you haha! Love Yakima as a brand. I've emailed them a couple of times and called every rack supplier in the United States and Canada and none of them have it in stock, it's crazy. They always say they hope to have it within 30 days but hasn't been the case so far. I guess all you can do is hope and keep checking!

 

Do you know if all models of Tacoma have the factory mounts under the weatherstripping? I have a 2020 SR Access Cab and was looking at the weatherstripping the other day. I see how it could probably be removed to check, but I wasn’t sure what the proper removal method is? I’m just nervous I would pull it off and not be able to reattach it because I just started peeling!

I’ve got round bars, a fairing, and locks. I will have to buy the skyrise towers, landing pad 24(if I can find them), and the round bar adapters for the skyline. My q-towers are obsolete for newer vehicles. Thanks!

 

I would assume access cabs have mounts under the weather strip, seeing as Prinsu makes a rack for the access cab.

And I believe the weather strip is 3 parts. 2 end pieces that curve down the roof line to the windshield/rear window which are held on by double sided tape. The center part is just press fit into the roof channel and kinda clips into the end pieces, it might have some double stick tape on it I can't remember off the top of my head.

So you can take the center strip off without hurting anything.

To take it off I started at the back where the center strip meets the piece that wraps down to the window.
Using a trim removal tool, so you don't hurt the paint, just pry up on it and it will separate. Slowly pull it off working towards the front.
Once it's off if there are a couple sections of paint matched tape about 3 inches long those are the factory holes. Don't puncture the tape until you are ready to install the roof rack. The factory holes under that tape are directly open to the cabin and if you don't seal them up properly you can have leaks inside the cab.
The Yakima landing pads come with pretty good instructions telling you what to do and include RTV silicone to seal the bolts when you install them.

And after you put it back together go through a car wash with air dryers, that way you can make sure nothing leaks and if anything is loose it will blow off inside the wash and not on the freeway.

 

Thanks for the detail! I’ve been looking for the landing pad 24, but like others I’ve had no luck. Guess I’ll start buying all the other parts first and HOPE the landing pads are back in stock by Spring.

 

If you can, wait until May when REI has their big anniversary sale, Yakima is usually 20% off.

 

Access cabs do not have the predrilled holes, unfortunately. There are some posts on this site that detail how they can be attached, but they will involve removing the headliner, and drilling and waterproofing holes.

 

Oh No!!! - I just bought the Landing Pad 24's for my access cab - I did not have any trouble sourcing these at an outdoors store near Dallas - is it truly confirmed AC's do NOT have the mounting holes - Comments appreciated

 

Well if your AC doesn't have holes I'll buy them from you plus shipping! I'll even buy you a cheesecake or a puppy as a kicker. What was the name of the outdoor store near Dallas that had them?

 

Hi - It was Mountain Sports in Arlington Tx, But I think I just bought the last one they had there. I've Looked for hours today and cannot find proof that the AC's do not have mounting holes from the factory. If you can show me definitely that the 2021 tacoma AC's do NOT have factory mounting holes like the DC's - I'll sell you mine (+ a New York Style Cheese Cake and a doberman puppy...)

 

New in Box...

 

So from everything I've researched and known about all 3rd gen AC's is that they don't come with the pre drilled holes. On Yakima's vehicle configuration tool and installation notes, they list only the BaseLine System as the only compatible roof rack system and not the Landing Pads. I was reading a forum post from Victory 4x4 earlier saying that their rack works on AC's but you have to drill also.

"BaseLine System – Yakima" https://yakima.com/products/baselin...56.1694217511.1613606085-779941899.1613606085

I've attached a screenshot of what Yakima says works with a 2021 Tacoma AC. I'll keep doing some digging but just wanted to pass that information from now.