LostHusker's money pit

Just working away! How was Monster Jam???

 

It’s this weekend. Moving slow this morning.

 

Ah, I just saw that post in SA.

Still sweet you got to be on the floor!

 

All access badge allows those things

 

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PTR18-35090-BR

16" Bronze wheel

 

Well finally got the time to get the rack installed that I purchased from a member here, got the M rack from KC hiLights . The cross bars came in a silver color so the first thing I had to do was get them painted, and put them together so that the installation could take place, here is link to the instructions for the rack as none came with the unit itself.
http://www.kchilites.com/downloads/...1192/m_racks_roof_rack_install_guide_v1_2.pdf


Ok the rack is basically together at this point.




Roof taped off so that the rack can be set on the truck to mark out the spots for the installation.





Well found the first problem with this installation, the sixth bar will not work with the antenna for the truck. You would think that KC would of realized this for the tacoma's, currently unless I cut a section of it out it will not work in that position as KC advertises it is a very low sitting rack. Even with the rack removed the moon roof barely can open all the way in the test fit without hitting the one bar above it, maybe @Taylor@KC HiLiTES can chime in on this.


As you can see here there is very little room above the moon roof.






This part was the most nerving part of the installation, since these racks do not line up with the actual roof installation of the tacoma and you need to drill your rivnuts in so you can install the rack, six per side. The hardest part of the install was up by the front window. In the directions it clearly states not go through the inner skin, well in this section this was needed so the rivet would be deep enough for the installation,,,hope I don't regret that... One other issue is the installation video for KC it doesn't show the tacoma being installed, which was a little disappointing. Well as you can see rivnuts are installed on both sides.





Rack is on and bolted down. In bolting it down it did pull down a little more and pull down on the roof line, this is a permanent fixture to the tacoma now......

 

Well here is outside so it shows up better, painted the emblem for the m rack the color of the truck to make it match some more, thought it was a nice little touch.

 

Well since I was working the tacoma today, decided to get the CmC done as well...don't laugh at my welds now....thanks to @Mobtown Offroad for the plates.

 

Holy hell.


Guess you didn't need those punches after all.

 

Ya it was an interesting install.

 

What is interior width of rack? Between side rails.

 

Dunno, would need to mesure, just inside the rails for the main roof track area.

 

Yeah. Length of the crossbars, provided the rack is square.

 

Will get you the length.

 

So the reason why you had trouble installing that rack around the sharkfin antenna is because that rack was actually designed and produced for the 2nd gen Tacomas. Since then, the design is now different and accounts for the various types of antennas including those on the 3rd gens. The new ones also mount using the factory roof holes (if equipped as many are under the weather stripping), along with the need for only two additional rivnuts to be installed near the front of the roof. Another new update is that the crossbars come in black rather than that silver. The sunroof thing is the only hang-up. It works so that the sunroof can be slid open, it just won't be able to vent fully with the M-Rack and this should definitely be a consideration for anyone looking at the M-Racks with a sunroof.

I will say though, despite some of your roadbumps during the install, it sure looks great! I really dig how you color matched the logo!

 

Taylor

I appreciate the feedback in regards to this, we I was on the website I noticed it doesn’t separate the Tacoma’s by years but I guess when ordering it you put the correct one in? So is there a work around for the rear cross bar? Also I talked to a rep yesterday and he stated that you are all working on a wind deflector, when can we see what is being tossed around for ideas?

 

I actually don't have any information on the wind deflector at the moment, but I will provide an update when I have one! You're correct that we don't separate them by year, because the new design/new rack is more universal for the Tacomas and the one rack will work on either generation. The rack you picked up from a TW member is the older style that we're no longer making. I'm not totally sure what the work around could be for the rear cross bar. Is it a small section that is interfering, or the entire width of the cross bar that's in the way?

 

I would say it is about half of the cross bar that is affected, maybe a 1x1 one would work vs the 1x2 cross bar.

I am def interested in the wind deflector for it, even though you don’t make this one anymore I hope there is a version for it.

 

http://www.prinsudesignstudio.com/product-page/1-x-1-crossbar-fit-behind-antenna