We just installed the rack this weekend, so I do not have experience with the actual rack use, but the directions on the installation were easy to read and well written. I'd reviewed many comments on installing the rack and the problems involved. I probably should have just outlined all I had learned from my research prior to working with my husband to install the rack.
This can be done with one person, but two people definitely makes it easier. The LH side installed much quicker than the RH side due to the learning curve. In total, it took us 2 hours, but should have been a 45 minute job (See notes below). We did uninstall the rack on the RH side once due to losing the metal plate that is tapped to retain the RH crossbar. There are rumors this will ruin the mastic washers. I only hope that we did it so quickly that the washers had not "set". You can not buy these mastic washers in a store or separately from the entire roof rack.
Here are some lessons learned from the installation:
1) Understand how everything will go together and potential issues you will encounter. Mistakes will require you to remove the rack from the front bracket. Doing such will remove the trim retainer from the rack. You will need to remove it from the bracket and install it back into the rack. Each time you do this, you are further weakening the plastic retainer.
2) During the installation of the front brackets, ensure the brackets aren't bent (either by installation or from delivery). You will not realize it is bent until you attempt to install the front screws. This is done after installing the rack, engaging the yellow trim retainer and potentially torquing the bolts on the mastic washers.
2) Installing the yellow trim retainer at the front of the rack does not take as much force as you would believe. After setting it in the hole,and barely tapping it, the retainer was locked in place. As we tried to check to see if we were lined up, we moved the rack and the retainer separated from the rack. We had to use a trim removal tool to get the retainer out of the bracket and back into the rack. It is impossible to slide the rack back onto the retainer when it is installed in the bracket.
3) The writing in the directions could lead you to believe you need to place the awl in the center hole at the front of RH rack to line up the screw holes. The directions actually say "Use one of the two screw holes TO CENTER the other screw hole". Using the center hole will dislodge a metal plate that can only be re-installed by unassembling the roof rack from the roof. (See #4)
4) The front center of the RH rack includes a small metal plate for securing the right side crossbar. While doing research on the installation of the roof rack, I noted posters asking about a missing threaded hole. Commenters stated that it was likely dislodged during the installation process. Since I knew this, the metal "ting" I heard during our installation was disconcerting. What we learned about this metal plate: We accidentally tried to use the center hole to align the two screws in this location. When my husband pushed the awl through the hole, the plate fell inside the rack and required us to remove the entire RH roof rack to reach the plate and to reinstall it. After this, the metal plate would not stay in place if anything pushed against it.
5) This leads to the second bit of advice: Our metal plate fell out again when we attempted to installed the RH crossbar. I don't know if this was due to the fact that we knocked it out originally, but we were unable to install the crossbar to the roof rack when it was attached to the roof. Therefore, I recommend partially installing the RH crossbar before installing the RH rack onto the roof. This ensures the metal plate does not fall out after the roof rack is installed onto the roof. Though the access to the front screws was tight, it was not impossible.
6) When installing the mastic washers, make sure they completely clear the weld nuts. We didn't realize that we hadn't completely centered a few washers, and had some difficulty installing the related bolts. (If we had started the bolts in each hole, this would likely not have been an issue.)
7) Make sure all three holes at the back of the rack are aligned by pre-tightening each bolt BEFORE torquing the bolts. We experienced issues needing slight adjustments to the rack after over-tightening one bolt.
8) Finally, when you install the trim at the back of the truck, I recommend removing the adhesive cover, tucking the end of the trim under the window seal, and then pushing the adhesive onto the truck. The directions recommend adhering the trim to the truck before putting the trim under the window seal. This was a much more difficult method, and required a lot of manipulation of the seal. I tried to follow the directions on the RH install, and did my method on the LH install. My method was much easier.
9) After reviewing my comments, a key take away may be to avoid torquing the 3 back screws until every thing has been adequately aligned and screws started.
| Manufacturer | Toyota |
|---|---|
| Brand | Toyota |
| Model | PT278-35050 |
| Item Weight | 18.4 pounds |
| Package Dimensions | 67.5 x 13.3 x 8.3 inches |
| Item model number | PT278-35050 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Exterior | Machined |
| Manufacturer Part Number | PT278-35050 |
