I'm ordering a custom Gobi rack exactly like the one below. I have a questions though and I can't get ahold of the guy who already has this rack. If you had the choice, would you opt for complete mesh (expanded metal) flooring/covering like in the first picture or would you rather have just the bare cross bars? I feel like the mesh would hinder mounting points for accessories, would it not? I plan to run Fourtreks awning mounts and shovel mounts on the outer frame but I'm afraid the mesh would interfere with the fourtreks mount. Also, I wouldn't be able to bolt anything to the mesh floor because it's probably not sturdy enough. If I do want flooring in a particular area of the rack, I can always add Farmtek to that particular spot with no tie-down interference or mounting obstructions. I'd be throwing dry bags, pelican style cases, etc up there (maybe an rtt down the road).

Does my concern make sense? Any and all help is appreciated.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=&d=
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Thanks! By custom do you mean they will add things at your request or are they simply building the same rack as the one in the pictures. If it was mine I would leave off the expanded metal and add my own flooring. With this said I would make sure there is an easy way to attach the floor. My next rack will include light tabs on the inside of the main frame so I can easily thru bolt the flooring. I've tried threaded inserts and they are a pain to line up. Not to mention I have been using King Starlite XL as a flooring base and it has a major expansion rate when hot, which I was unaware of at the time of purchase. I am thinking about losing the King Starlite XL and simple using a sheet of 1/4" Baltic Birch possible sprayed with Line-X. Well, it's custom in a sense that it's not Gobi's standard rack. It is a copy of the one in the pictures but I do have the ability to change a few things, here and there. I was thinking of adding the light tabs too but more for accessory mounting than anything. Problem with that though is it would limit me on placement of accessories. Or in your case with flooring, if I chose not to use flooring in the particular spot where there are tabs...I'd have metal tabs exposed waiting to snag on something. It is a good idea though and not off the table. That starlite stuff is nice. Stinks that it didn't quite work out. Have you looked at the Farmtek flooring. From what I've seen, it holds up pretty well and a lot guys are using it. What's nice about it is, you can cut it pretty easily, it's light weight, cheap and you can simply zip tie it to wherever you need it. As an owner of a Gobi rack, I would say that more mesh in better. These things have been made so that the mesh flooring doesn't seem to hinder any accessories being mounted to it. With my full mesh floor rack, I have an ax and Rigid D2 lights on my rack. I could still tie down things to the floor and rails and attach an awning or a hi-lift to it.

I have a full mesh floor rack on my Tacoma. It's incredibly useful with an almost limitless option for tie down points. I posted some pics in the roof rack thread, or I can try and post some here tomorrow...

Crom, I saw your set up in the roof rack thread. Awesome!! I'd love to see more pics of it if you don't mind. Lots of good ideas. I plan to eventually have a road shower and I like what you did with the ABS pipe? I'm actually very interested to see how you attached the ABS pipe to the load bars. I have a a kodiak tent too and those poles are HEAVY! You didn't happen to do a build thread on it did you? Also, do you think it would be possible to mount the abs and road shower to the mesh covered rack (as it would be in my case)?

ZMagic97, can you post some pics of how you mounted the awning and ax. I just need a visual. I think I'm overthinking things.

Thanks for the responses guys. Keep them coming please.

Sorry for the late reply:

My ax is mounted via a Gobi mount I got with the rack. I do not have any awning photos as I only borrowed an awning once and do not own one.

The flat floor of the rack let me takes a 500 mile round trip with two large cargo boxes of gear with me no problem. Did great in the forest areas as well.



When I made my rack, I used a 5' wide sheet of .65" aluminum diamond plate for the deck. By cutting 3" dia. holes over the bottom support tubes, tie downs are ample and easy to use. The odd hole layout is due to the loads I carry and the aluminum boxes I mount to the rack. I welded nuts for easy mounting of boxes and frequently used items. Very easy and quick to do and use.

For my hi-lift and shovel, I welded threaded rod to the rack to attach both tools. Aluminum spacers are used to support the tools with nuts on top to secure. The shovel has quick fists to secure it. Works well, no rattles, easy to use.

I also made the front wind deflector from the aluminum sheet which nearly covers the hi-lift so it helps with weather. With it I have no wind noise and it can't hurt the fuel mileage.

Doug

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I'm ordering a custom Gobi rack exactly like the one below. I have a questions though and I can't get ahold of the guy who already has this rack. If you had the choice, would you opt for complete mesh (expanded metal) flooring/covering like in the first picture or would you rather have just the bare cross bars? I feel like the mesh would hinder mounting points for accessories, would it not? I plan to run Fourtreks awning mounts and shovel mounts on the outer frame but I'm afraid the mesh would interfere with the fourtreks mount. Also, I wouldn't be able to bolt anything to the mesh floor because it's probably not sturdy enough. If I do want flooring in a particular area of the rack, I can always add Farmtek to that particular spot with no tie-down interference or mounting obstructions. I'd be throwing dry bags, pelican style cases, etc up there (maybe an rtt down the road).

Does my concern make sense? Any and all help is appreciated.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=&d=
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=&d=
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=&d=

Thanks!

Do the front feet on the Gobi just... sit there? what would keep it from banging on the roof on a washboard road or lifting at high speeds??

That's our main concern about the full length rack... no factory holes means something needs to be modified (rivnut time) or left "incomplete" and that's not the way we do things.

Thanks for all the pics and tips, guys! I think I have it figured out now. I'll be sure to post pics when I get the rack. Again, thanks fellas!

Also, Crom, I think I'm gonna have to use the ABS storage for my Kodiak poles...they're the perfect length to NOT fit anywhere in the 4runner.

Look forward to the pics! You're welcome to the idea. I got the ABS pipe idea from Dave NP4I a year ago in his post in this thread. One caveat with the 4" tube is I had to clearance a rectangular hole for one of the T-bars to stub out when inside the tube. It's pictured above. It was the only way I could make all the poles fit, otherwise I'd have to use a 6" pipe, and I couldn't find a 6" pipe easily. Also if you cut the pipe, use it file on it to remove sharp edges.

Do the front feet on the Gobi just... sit there? what would keep it from banging on the roof on a washboard road or lifting at high speeds??

That's our main concern about the full length rack... no factory holes means something needs to be modified (rivnut time) or left "incomplete" and that's not the way we do things.

Blake, the front feet are just supports that do not bolt down. I haven't heard of any complaints from Gobi or Baja users (Baja uses same concept). I plan to run limb risers which would probably help hold the front of the rack in place, too. I haven't heard from Gobi in a while...I was told they'd contact me to discuss the build in more detail and they'd shoot me the CAD drawing of the rack...but nothing so far.

Fitting Times and Frequently Asked Questions

Roof Racks

How do I know which roof racks fit my car?

Click here to get more.

Simply use the "Fit My Vehicle" tool to view all the racks available for your vehicle.

The system I want isn't available, can I get a custom rack?

Our products are versatile allowing for a variety of custom solutions. You will need to consider altering the racks in any way may void the warranty and how the weight and fitment style may affect your vehicles load carrying capacity.

It is also important to note we have chosen the roof rack systems for vehicles based on the optimal fitments. Some fitments are not recommended for vehicles with low load ratings or roof types and will not be developed for those vehicles.

For custom fitments, visit your nearest dealer who does specialist fitting.  You can find out which dealers do specialist fitments through the dealer locater.

Can I get a copy of my roof rack instructions and fitting supplements?

Yes, you can find your roof rack instructions by selecting your vehicle using "Fit My Vehicle" and finding your roof racks. You'll find all necessary documents under the documents tab on the rack page.

Can I install the roof racks myself?

Many of our roof racks can easily be installed at home, however, we recommend some roof rack systems such as trackmounts and backbones are installed by an authorised Rhino-Rack dealer. Always follow the instructions and be aware some systems do not come with all the necessary tools for install. See Fitting Times below for a guide on which systems we recommend are installed professionally. If you have any issues installing a product, please contact your nearest dealer for help and refer to the instructions.

NOTE: Regardless of who installs your roof racks you should check all bolts and fixtures are tight every km and before every trip. Consider checking more frequently when driving on unsealed surfaces.

Will my old roof racks fit my new car?

Most likely not. To ensure a safe and effective fitment, roof racks may vary greatly between vehicles depending on the roof design. To check cross compatibility, you need to know the product codes for your current system and cross-reference that information with the product breakdown on the systems available for the new vehicle. While some roof racks will fit multiple vehicles if you are unsure you should visit your nearest dealer for further details.

Will the roof racks work with my sunroof?

In many cases, the roof racks will be compatible with the sunroof version of a vehicle. You should check if there is an "important note" on the roof rack system, as this will detail any considerations like sunroof compatibility. We recommend caution is taken when operating a sunroof with roof racks installed for the first time and be aware of how your cargo may affect the sunroof operation.

What is the roof rack load rating?

Load Ratings vary between vehicles, roof type, and fixture style. Please refer to our Load Rating Calculator to calculate the load rating for your vehicle and roof rack system. 

How do I stop the noise my roof racks make?

Our high-end roof racks have been designed with rubber inserts to reduce noise and prevent whistling. Incorrect installation is the most common cause of noisy roof racks. Check your product's instructions to make sure the rubber strips are installed correctly in the channels both topside and underside of your roof rack bars. The rubber inserts should be cut to the correct length and fitted inside the channel so there are no gaps. Lastly, ensure your end caps are installed and locked before driving. If you want to further reduce wind noise, check out our Wind Fairings here. If the noise still persists, check with your nearest dealer for further options.

How do I clean my roof racks?

Firstly, do not take your vehicle through automotive washing stations with your roof racks installed! Hand wash the racks with soap and water. Do not use any abrasive materials. If in doubt check your product instructions.

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Accessories

Can I get a copy of my accessory/product instructions?

Yes, you can find all relevant the documents on the products page under the "documents" tab.

How can I tell if an accessory will fit my roof racks?
Will Rhino-Rack accessories fit my Thule, Yakima, Rola, ProRack or other brand bars?
Are Rhino-Rack accessories compatible with other roof rack manufacturers?

Rhino-Rack accessories are compatible with most roof racks fitted with a channel, however, you should check the roof rack compatibility on the product page to find out if a fitting kit is required.

Will Thule accessories fit my Rhino-Rack roof racks?

Most Thule and Rhino-Rack accessories are cross compatible though there may be some exception, we recommend you use Rhino-Rack accessories for our bars as they are specifically designed for this purpose. However, if you already have an accessory you want to fit we recommend you visit a Rhino-Rack dealer, they can help you with a fitting kit to fit the accessories to our roof racks.

Will Vortex Bar accessories fit my Pioneer System? 

Check the product roof rack compatibility as some accessories will fit, otherwise, you can use a VA bar adaptor to mount Vortex accessories to your Pioneer System.

General

I lost my Rhino-Rack keys, can I get replacements?

Yes, you can order replacement keys through your nearest dealer or you can get replacement locks.

Can I get all my locks to use the same key?

Yes, check out our MasterKey range you can easily replace the locks on your racks and accessories with one key.

Is it possible to get spare parts?

You can order spare parts from your local dealer. Your local dealer should be able to identify the part number required and order it for you. Otherwise, you can find part numbers in the fitting instructions provided with your product.

Where can I purchase Rhino-Rack products? Do you ship internationally?

We do not sell directly to customers, however, you can find your Local Dealer or view a list of our International Dealers.

Question not answered? 

Please contact your local dealer for questions regarding specific vehicle fitments, returns, or product faults.

Fitting Times

Below are fitting time charts that give you a guide on how long it would take a trained and authorized Rhino-Rack dealer to fit roof rack systems to your vehicle.

Dealers, to download the Rhino-Rack fitting time chart to display in store, please click on the following link:

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