Roof Rack - Why??

Just my opinion, I personally do not like roof racks especially on pickups. You have the whole bed to place your items in. In the winter in the northern climates its a real pain for snow removal. Very limited on weight restrictions and kills the areodynamics (mpg's) of your truck if you are actually using it.

Exception to this is if I were using my truck for construction I would buy a full rack (encompasses the bed and roof)

 

Will the factory rack fit a AC?

 

That is totally untrue. The bars fold in. I had zero issues with snow removal

I never noticed a great loss in mpgs while using it. It works great for holiding my canoe and keeping it from sticking out 4+feet past the bed. I can also use the bed to store all my camping and fishing items while my canoe is on the roof. The weight limit is 100lbs which isn't too bad at all. I wouldn't put anything heavier on the roof anyway.

The bars are a bit noisey while left open though

 

I love my Toyota roof rack. I sleep in my covered bed and stow my surfboards on top. Works great. I didn't want a Yakima or Thule roof rack because I would have left the rack on all the time and didn't want to worry about the door seals.

 

16' Canoe

 

Got pics?

 

My mother-in-law has a Kia Soortage with a roof rack and it sucked to get snow off the roof, however your right, being able to fold the cross bars in against the side rails opens the entire center allowing you to push the snow back or forward.

 

I have a yakima rack on my truck and i use it for snowboards and my kayak. The 5ft bed is not all that big, so its nice to have all the extra space for luggage or whatever else you need. Plus it's nice to have them locked too

 

^x2 I honestly think it looks pretty good...but to each their own

 

"Rufio: Boil-dripping, beef, fart-sniffing bubble butt!
Kids: Bangarang, Rufio!
Peter Banning: Someone has a severe ca-ca mouth, you know that?
Rufio: You are fart factory, Slug-slimed, sack-of-rat-guts-in-cat-vomit, cheesy, scab-picked, pimple-squeezing finger bandage. A week old maggot burger with everything on it and flies on the side!
Kids: [in unison] Ugh!
Peter Banning: Substitute chemistry teacher.
Lost Boy: Come on, Rufio, hit him back.
Rufio: Mung tongue.
Peter Banning: Math tutor.
Rufio: Pinhead.
Peter Banning: Prison barber.
Rufio: Mother lover.
Peter Banning: Nearsighted gynecologist.
Rufio: In your face, camel cake!
Peter Banning: In your rear, cow derrière.
Rufio: Lying, crying, spying, prying ultra-pig.
Peter Banning: You lewd, crude, rude, bag of pre-chewed food dude.
Thud Butt: [with the rest of the Lost Boys] Bangarang, Peter!
Rufio: You... you man! Stupid, stupid man!
Peter Banning: Rufio, if I'm a maggot burger why don't you eat me! You two-toned zebra-headed, slime-coated, pimple-farmin' paramecium brain, munchin' on your own mucus, suffering from Peter Pan envy!
Don't Ask: What's a paramecium brain?
Peter Banning: I'll tell you what a paramecium is! That's the paramecium! It's a one-celled critter with no brain, that can't fly! Don't mess with me man, I'm a lawyer!
Kids: [chanting] Banning, Banning, Banning is bangerang.
Rufio: Rufio! Rufio!
Peter Banning: Oh, Rufio, why don't you just go suck on a dead dog's nose."

*clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*

 

The OEM is kind of 'pritty' looking... Especially with the pathetic load rating. I would not be willing to take my truck to highway speed (80mph) with a 14fook kayak strapped to it.

 

I use my yakima rack for my snowboards and a 14 foot fishing kayak as well!

 

I already posted this pic in this thread, but while no, it cant, some cutting and modifying fixes anything.



Can't fold the cross bar in anymore, but thats ok.

 

Never realized that the factory roof rack bars folded in. Thats makes a world of difference. Thanks for pointing that out. My wife has a rav4 and unfortunately they dont fold making snow removal a real pain in the ass.

 

Oh i know the feeling with the Rav. We have one at work and my brother aslo has one. The snow really does get stuck up there

 

I just bought a brand new '11 with a roof rack and I cant stand it! Would anyone here want to buy it? What would I need to remove it? I know I need the black rubber trim that goes in its place. If someone is local in the L.A. area and wants a new rack PM me and lets make a deal! You can come over and help me remove it