So I have about 7 inches...

....to the bottom of my garage door to top of OEM roof rail system.

Coming from a 3rd Gen Taco for 6 years, and prior to that a 2005 Xterra Off-Road 6manual.

I do miss some aspects of the Tacoma but I wanted to go back to a SUV style car like my Nissan and I didn't really do allot of "truck" like stuff. The Toyota 4Runner is fantastic in many ways and I have no regrets, what I do miss from both the Tacoma & the Xterra is there standard cubby storage options.

So all that said....there's about 7 inches of clearance as mentioned

Should/would I need to upgrade the OEM rail system in order to find a rooftop cargo carrier that is sleek enough to meet that tight height requirement, but still be functional in holding all those things we all like and need to carry with us all the time and/or on special trips?

 

Was wondering about the 7”. Thought maybe you were blessed

 

I don’t have any specific advice, but you want to carry a rooftop unit all the time?

 

I honestly was coming here to see comments. Imagine my disappointment.

Jk!

 

Yeah you know as soon as I posted this I thought it was a bit foolish. To your question, yes I'd want install it and forget but with the height limitation there probably isn't a good solution.

 

I guess what I'm missing is the convenience the Taco had with the back seats cubby, and what the Xterra had with the front roof cubby if you all ever saw that design. These places is where my hitch, bungie cords, ropes, tool bags, emergency roadside/safety/first aid stuff would always go.

 

He's got 7 inches and wants to buy a bigger rack

 

Well, if you do much highway/freeway driving, it’ll really hurt your mpg.

 

You could just do the “garage door” mod

 

Won't miss that rough ride.

Any trimming involved and what would be the best lift for a larger door?

 

You could stick to a low profile rack, and just take the stuff off of it except for when you need it. Or, you could even do something removable, using the stock side rails.

I found that a 3/8" carriage bolt slides right into the side rails, and used them to bolt on a Yakima basket with some angle channel.

 

I was going to say that I felt bad for him.

 

I never strived to overachieve but was always above average

 

You can fit 4x 2 inch by 30 foot ratchet straps, a safety shirt, a pair of gloves, a long load flag, 2 perfect Bungie cords, 2x 1 inch by 15 foot ratchet straps, the OEM jack, and OEM tools in the jack storage compartment. You can also fit a

$100 Noco GB40 : 1000A UltraSafe Jump Starter – 12V Lithium Battery Booster Pack, Portable Jump Box, Power Bank & Jumper Cables - for 6.0L Gas and 3.0L Diesel Engines

Noco GB40 under the tray in the driver rear wheel well. Some M12 tools (or whatever battery system you’ve bought into) under the passenger side rear wheel well tray. A fleece jacket under the 40% folding seat. A small wool blanket under the 60% folding seat. A fixed blade and Leatherman Raptor shears on seat jackers under the driver’s legs. 2 dog leads under the passenger front seat. Still got all the door pocket space… and the map pocket space

 

Something also to consider with height added roof rack and accessories. I was able to fit in my garage but parking garages do not seem consistent height. I fit in some but also did not fit in some garages. Not a deal breaker depending how often you need parking garages but something to be aware of.

Traveling was my main concern needing to park in an unknown location and finding a garage I don't fit in with easy options. My daughter had this happen when I loaned the truck to her and she had to use valet parking.

 

I may not be understanding correctly but currently I have the Westcott rack and a Roam box I keep some camping gear in that I throw up there when I head out that may work for you. Overkill obviously if that would be your only use for a rack. I can fit in the garage with the rack and the box only takes a few minutes to throw on and off as needed but has to come off before I go in or out. Don't mind the measuring tape or orientation of the box, I was working something out.

 

They don't even let me at Car wash

 

We own a car wash (3 self-serve bays & 1 24 hour touchless automatic) ... You would probably fit in our touchless, maybe. I haven't brought my 4R through it yet, I plan on hand washing it for the first year or two until I get a scratch and say 'ta hell with it. Any tunnel wash with moving parts will either damage that roof rack bad, or damage itself going over top of it. Our self-serve bays have 12' of clearance - no problem there.

We had some ditzy lady hit our automatic wash a few months ago while we were unmanned (after hours), she bent one of our arms ... $6,000. for ONE arm. We have it on camera but her license plate wasnt legible, otherwise her insurance would be paying. We got stuck with the bill. So yeah, we have to be super proactive and protective in this industry!

Dreamer

 

In absent-mindedness I broke the car wash 7 feet clearance sign. I got lucky the employee was there who didn't stop me, so he was blamed
Since then my lazy old ass has been washing the truck himself

 

Yeah, thats a big problem with employees, lol. They are usually to blame for most of those damages not stopping the vehicle, removing the hitch that sticks out 2' from the back of the truck, having the customer clear out their truck bed of stuff that will blow out and get stuck in our equipment (rope, jumper cables, tarps, etc), removing antennas from vehicles well known for breakage, automatic running boards, etc etc.

I bottle up our wax product and put it in a spray bottle to use when I hand wash my cars. Its not a gimmick or a snake oil product, its caranuba and works great.

 

I thought he was bragging