TOY: 1st Gen 4runner Thule rack

[Ed Wong <ewong_kaizen@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ive mounted a Yakima rack using the 1A towers on the
fiberglass "drip rail".

This mounting worked for awhile and then busted off
the drip rail / cracked the fiberglass.

I now run THREE bars on the 4Runner.
One up front (way up front) for the air dam. I make
sure to keep the rubber "strip" on the air dam OFF of
the paint - it will rub through the paint eventually.
I keep the rubber strip on the chrome trim pieces.

The second bar stays as far back on the metal part of
the cab as possible.

The third rail is mounted using Yakima "side loader"
bold on drip rail mounts.

I highly reccomend this kit.
(its the 2 bolt kit - there isnt enuff room for the 4
bolt kit as far as I can tell)

I also reccomend mounting it in the following fashion.

The kit comes with a large backing plate.

DO NOT drill the holes from the outside of the truck
to the inside of the truck.

Instead, take the backing plate off and bring it
inside the truck. In the area between the sliding and
the fixed windows is the place where the backing plate
will end up. There is also a "ridge" in the fiberglass
that adds some structural ridigity to the shell. If
the holes are not properly aligned the backing plate
will not seat properly against this ridge - and the
bracket will be "loose" and possbily leak water.

Place the backing plate against the ridge and then
mark and drill the holes. Now you will discover why I
had you drill from the instead to the outside - the
plate will ONLY fit in one spot with less than 1/8" of
movement.

Drill the holes from the inside out. Go slowly.

If possible have a helper hold a block of wood agaisnt
the top there the bit will emerge. This will reduce
the splintering of the exit hole.

Then bolt the side load plates on.

You will discover that the side loader mounts act as
an "extended" drip rail - and that is actually lines
up with the existing drip rail.

Ive had the bars mounted on there for quite some time
- - over 8 years and numerous HEAVY loads w/o
problems.

EWong



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