The PRINSU How To Thread

YOU'RE NOT HELPING.

Yeah, a truck I bought because it gets better mileage than my F150. I'd gladly daily drive a '72 C10 if I could afford to. I appreciate the 21-23 highway mileage I was getting with my Taco, so when it declines drastically, I need to make changes.

 

Most people say 1 or 2 MPGs so I was curious where 25% came from. Unless you also added armor, bigger tars, and sandbags to the truck.

 

I went to a local Ace hardware and bought 1/4 in rubber washers that are about the size of a quarter and put them on every bolt I attach to the rack. Justin between the rack and cases and the rack and recovery boards.. no rattles here so far.

 

Thanks!

 

Tires/wheels: 265/75/16, but retained mileage
Volant Ram air CAI

Other additions:
Softopper. It doesn't weigh much but does affect airflow over the truck.
BPF skid plate (26lbs)
Rok Blokz mud flaps (catching more air?)


Recently replaced spark plugs, oil, air filter.

 

Based off your list I would be surprised too with that drop. When I first put on my prinsu it was loud as shit due to the front wind fairing thing. I removed mine and the turbulence and stuff went away pretty fast. I don’t know if that could be a hinderance, but if you think about most racks don’t even have a front shield piece as the wind just goes underneath the bars.

In my case it didn’t help that I put back on a 50 inch light bar a week after I took off the wind fairing, but I was already used to that being loud for night wheeling. That said, try some experimentation, but if I lost 25 percent off my mpg you’d better believe I would sell that shit. I’m too much about function to give a shit about my overlanding points...hope it doesn’t come to that for you.

 

Anyone have an Amazon link for t-nuts that slide into the rails?

 

@EatMeImATaco

These are what I've used so far...

$9 8020, 3382, 10 Series Steel 1/4-20 Centered Slide in Economy T Nuts (25 Pack) Hardware Nuts for 10 Series Aluminum Extrusions

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JF7AIEM/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$26 8020, 3280, 10 Series 1/4-20 1/4 Double Threaded Slide in Economy T-Nut Steel T-Slot Accessories for 80/20 Aluminum Extrusion Hardware Nuts (25 Pack)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JAGP4X8/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$53 3313, 10 Series 1-4/20 Roll in T-Nut Steel Set Screw (15 Pack)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JAMTHOO/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Mine actually went up by 1 mpg when I installed mine because it eliminated some of the RTT drag. But to be minus 5-6 MPG is legitimately unbelievable to me. Did you mount anything huge up there that might affect it?

 

I've tried monitoring my commutes and it appears I'm jack-rabbiting more than I was aware. I am reminded that active driving is critical to consistently good mileage.

 

suped

 

Installed my Prinsu!

I bought it used from another member who had it painted white so I sanded it down and painted it black.

I followed Prinsu's instructions for the most part but also did the following.

I removed the weather strips and used painters tape to mark where the holes are. I then put the weather strips back in place to mark where the lines were on the tape.

To make the holes in the weather strips, I used this

$20 SE Heavy-Duty 12-Piece Hollow Leather Punch Set - High Carbon Steel, Machined Grip, 1/8" to 3/4" Sizes - Includes Zipper Pouch for Gasket, Leather, and Light Metal Work - 791LP

3/4" leather punch which is part of a kit off Amazon.

When reinstalling the weather stripping, I used some 3M two-sided tape. I also used some silicone caulking for each of the spacers/bolts for the roof rack side rails.

To mount it, I mounted the side rails first and then did the crossbars. I left everything loose until I got everything mounted together and then tightened the rack down.

I have a gun case for recovery gear and tools mounted with u-bolts, washers, and nuts. I have holes in the gun case in the bottom and then fed the u-bolts through the bottom around the crossbar and into the gun case. I then used washers and nuts to secure it.

I used the Prinsu light bar mounts and painted them black. I ran the wiring of the light bar wiring up the passenger side of the windshield.

I also used the Prinsu noise-reducing edge trim. I originally used a wind deflector without a cutout since that's what the guy I bought it from had but I ended up buying one with a 40" cutout which I like a lot more.

Photos

 

Nice write up... come in handy in the future when mounting my rack when I get one

 

Happy to help! Reach out if you have any questions. I originally followed advice from some members from this thread and Youtube. Be careful for when you're measuring and punching the holes to get them in the right spot. Mine were a hair off so the weather stripping bulges up a little bit between the holes but it doesn't bother me. You could always make the holes bigger to have some play.

Some members completely remove the weather stripping or cut it in several pieces to remove the pieces where the rack mounts. Those are definitely easier solutions and you can't see the trim really from the ground but I wanted it to look as clean as possible.

 

Great work, I'll be tackling this soon also.
After you punched the holes and reinstalled the weather stripping, did you use anything to hold it in place? Double back tape or adhesive of some kind?

Thanks again!

 

I hope it helps!

Ah, good question! I forgot to put that detail. I updated my post. I did use some 3M two-sided tape in a few spots although it may not be necessary.

 

Perfect, thank you!

 

No problem, good luck for whenever you install it!

 

Subd

 

Has anyone mounted their MAX TRAX horizontally on their Prinsu? I have a shorter habitat version of the rack and having a hard time getting the rails to line up properly so that I can mount the TRAX horizontally. Any info is appreciated!