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Roof Racks for Camper Shell

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by pincheguero, Apr 4, 2014.

  1. Apr 4, 2014 at 3:02 PM
    #1
    pincheguero

    pincheguero [OP] Member

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    Hi all,

    Having some trouble figuring out the best/most economical option for roof racks for my camper shell. I have an 03 prerunner with a leer shell. The shell has no raingutters or rails, so I am going to be drilling into it. Do I need artificial raingutter mounts? Hard to figure out options from manufacturer's websites.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Apr 4, 2014 at 3:06 PM
    #2
    meatman

    meatman I deal with dead animals

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    pm Iceman2448 he got some universal tracks from e-bay fairly cheap. I would suggest to remove the shell to be able to measure and line up everything better. I helped install them on icemans and another members shell and it helps to have 2 people
     
  3. Apr 5, 2014 at 6:14 PM
    #3
    jdkilroy

    jdkilroy Well-Known Member

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    I used a Thule track on my cap. Very versatile and disappears when I don't need a rack on it.

    thule_racks.jpg
     
    NC Taco Camper likes this.
  4. Apr 5, 2014 at 11:41 PM
    #4
    01Tac0ma

    01Tac0ma Bash Fabriction & Off-Road

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    Look at build!
    I used a T4R rack, got it for $20 out of a junkyard.. don't see why it wouldn't work. Has a slight curvature to it to form to the roof line but has some fleixability to it and should lay flat. Worth a shot if you can find one fairly cheap
     
  5. Apr 6, 2014 at 6:57 PM
    #5
    Mulepadre

    Mulepadre Mulepadre

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    Bilstein 5100s, Deaver Leaf Springs, JBA UCAs
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I bought a used set (4) of these Yakima 'Q' Towers off Ebay pretty cheap years ago for less than $50.
    Used some lead pipe covered with loose fitting extra thick Sch. 80 pvc pipe over them. These roll over the piping when loading my canoe.
    I used these same plates bolted through my camper top and had some heavy duty shelf brackets underneath (inside the campler) to reinforce the mounting.
    Rock solid and still going strong for almost 10 yrs!
     
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    #5
  6. Apr 29, 2014 at 9:06 PM
    #6
    Iceman2448

    Iceman2448 Well-Known Member

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    5100 OME 3" front lift 1.5 rear All Injen cold air Intake N-Fab light bar Hella 500FF lights Alpine Heand unit Type R 10 sub r500.1 amp Alpine 6x8 comps up front Alpine 6x9 in rear

    I got my from prolineroofracks.com 52" $40
     
  7. Apr 29, 2014 at 10:36 PM
    #7
    ReaperTaco98

    ReaperTaco98 Reaper's Taco

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    I didn't like the idea of drilling into my own fiberglass shell so i had a local shop install the universal Thule rails then i installed everything else myself but both Thule and Yakima are compatible with each others rail systems

    Taco 1.jpg
     
  8. Apr 30, 2014 at 1:47 AM
    #8
    Mulepadre

    Mulepadre Mulepadre

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    A brand new $1.5k ARE shell would take some balls to drill.
    And you mean the bar is universal... LOL
     
  9. Apr 30, 2014 at 12:03 PM
    #9
    ReaperTaco98

    ReaperTaco98 Reaper's Taco

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    No i mean you can mount thule towers into yakima tracks and visa versa and my bars arent universal i have the square bars haha
     
  10. Apr 30, 2014 at 5:54 PM
    #10
    jdkilroy

    jdkilroy Well-Known Member

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    I found my 2 year old $1500.00 ARE shell on Craig's List for $200.00 so I really had no trouble drilling into it at all. :D
     
  11. Apr 30, 2014 at 7:17 PM
    #11
    ReaperTaco98

    ReaperTaco98 Reaper's Taco

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    Haha yeah i got mine for 400 but still had no intentions on fucking it up. I'd rather a shop do it. If i screw it up then ive got a cracked shell, If a Reputable Shop screws it up then i get a new shell!
     

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