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ARB Flat Roof Rack

Discussion in 'General 4Runner Talk' started by tackleberry1145, Jun 24, 2018.

  1. Jun 24, 2018 at 5:28 PM
    #1
    tackleberry1145

    tackleberry1145 [OP] New Member

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    Updated to add pix of the ARB Steel Flat Rack on my 2014 Trail.

    I was unable to find any photos of this rack online, so maybe this will help anyone else trying to make a decision on this particular rack. Install was not crazy difficult, although the installation bolts already have threadlocker on them, and when adding a bit of grey permatex it can feel like the bolts don't want to thread properly, but they are.

    23sf2mu_c7e209b1e01bbbf4314f5bb56521bc60a383d611.jpg
    mn289y_b849105b29109293881f16c15498dc21d3204d9a.jpg
    1zegzz8_95431d1552f851ec25943b2dc2c1943295d60296.jpg
    rka71c_f41d6246591ceaa7fcaaff479668f47304de14bb.jpg
    lyx52_9392fa0b210990d2137cb421d3064366cc991a4c.jpg
    2daaob9_65e6a586b67adb807326f44b8e7deed6d5b16d93.jpg

    Has anyone seen ARB's new flat rack(s) in person yet? The pricing point doesn't look too crazy, even with a $200 fit kit added in.

    arb_4runner_flat_mesh_rack_01.jpg

    arb_4runner_flat_mesh_rack_dimensions_price.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2018
    jgcaps likes this.
  2. Jun 25, 2018 at 8:22 AM
    #2
    4X4Runner

    4X4Runner The Anti Pro, Pro! Staff Member

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    The left coast
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    I have their touring rack and the $200 fit kit.

    If it’s anything like their touring rack it’s going to be solid.

    I don’t think you’ll be wanting the 80”+ ones since the fit kit attached to the factory roof rack mounting locations and you won’t be drilling into the roof. The touring rack have is 70”x49”
     
  3. Jun 26, 2018 at 5:30 PM
    #3
    tackleberry1145

    tackleberry1145 [OP] New Member

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    The longer racks won't fit the 5th gen 4runner fit kit according to a tech I spoke to at ARB last night. I went ahead and ordered the 70x44 non mesh rack this afternoon.

    I couldn't find a single photo of the non mesh rack online. I mentioned to the ARB guy that they should really do a better job of getting their product info out there.
     
  4. Jun 26, 2018 at 6:20 PM
    #4
    4X4Runner

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    The left coast
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    So...speaking of. If you order or ever get an awning from ARB look for aftermarket mounting options. I ordered their “universal mounts PN 3700200” and it would not mount to the fit kit and rack. Not without modifications to the more units or fit kit/rack.

    Even their newer brackets required drilling to align with the mounting holes on the rack.

    These are the brackets I ordered that there was no way in hell they would work.
    DD50C125-30A7-4157-96D5-5E2E6B07A0C5.jpg
     
  5. Jun 26, 2018 at 6:29 PM
    #5
    4X4Runner

    4X4Runner The Anti Pro, Pro! Staff Member

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    The left coast
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    I ended up with two of these brackets and had to drill out a 5/16 hole to accommodate the bolt pattern of the rack.
    346A513E-8F3A-4E92-A186-AB2018AFABDF.jpg
     
    tackleberry1145[OP] and Bob like this.
  6. Jun 27, 2018 at 3:52 AM
    #6
    tackleberry1145

    tackleberry1145 [OP] New Member

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    Overall, the price of the parts to mount various accessories on these racks is crazy. I understand that the demand is not really high for them, so they have to be priced accordingly, but wow. I'll stick with my quick fists and normal tie downs, lol. Rotopax mounts are a good example. I ended up making my own mount using stainless hardware and pvc piping on my FJ. If I had a ton of disposable income for toys that would be one thing, but I try and pinch my pennies where I can.
     
    Oldtoyotaguy likes this.
  7. Jun 27, 2018 at 4:42 AM
    #7
    4X4Runner

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    The left coast
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    The good thing is when I found the universal brackets would not fit I returned them and spoke with ARB. They shipped me two brackets for $free.99.

    ARB’s customer service is pretty spot on!
     
    scottalot and BassAckwards like this.
  8. Jun 27, 2018 at 5:49 AM
    #8
    4X4Runner

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    The left coast
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    Here’s pics of the awning brackets mounted to the touring rack. It appears to me, in the photos provided by ARB that the flat rack would not extend out past the rack fit kit so mounting awning brackets may take some creative engineering.
    90388323-6559-4118-98E7-12A40C1BB08A.jpg 968460C2-B6F9-43D0-82D5-019AC8FF04DA.jpg EE925781-C0CB-4800-8789-CA1A5B64F0BF.jpg 087E3CDE-F2A1-4396-AD1B-0EA1D44C27D3.jpg 3640BC8C-6DF3-4C7B-ACF8-DAE73E645E40.jpg
     
  9. Jun 27, 2018 at 2:24 PM
    #9
    tackleberry1145

    tackleberry1145 [OP] New Member

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    The guy I talked to was great. When he didn't have the answer to my question regarding the mounting points, he went and found out.
     
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  10. Aug 12, 2018 at 4:33 AM
    #10
    tackleberry1145

    tackleberry1145 [OP] New Member

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    I updated my original post with installed pix of the rack. Not too shabby and will keep me from having to drag a trailer to lowes everytime I need lumber, lol.
     
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  11. Aug 12, 2018 at 9:43 AM
    #11
    4X4Runner

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    I like it!
     
  12. Aug 12, 2018 at 12:36 PM
    #12
    tackleberry1145

    tackleberry1145 [OP] New Member

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    It's not too shabby. ARB did a shitty job packaging it. There is a nearly continuous rub/scratch line down the passenger side in the paint and there is a ding/scrape in the paint on the drivers side of the rear of the rack. I didn't notice the passenger side one when we took it out of the box at the local 4Wheel Parts store...I did notice the drivers side ding though. If I had saw and mentioned the long passenger side one I would have expected a couple of bucks off. Meh. It's gonna be used, I am not too pressed by it, but I do prefer to put my own scratches in stuff, lol.

    There is more wind noise than without it, but I expected that. The rear shark fin JUST clears the bottom of the rack. There might be 3/16" worth of clearance, if that.

    ARBs instructions also leave a bit to be desired. It mentions only one bolt size in parts list, but at one point in the process it advises to use an entirely different length of bolt that is not included. It is a typo, but does lend to confusion. I think that the mounting feet on the side rails, at least on the front, could have been engineered a bit better to give better clearance for the bolts.

    Overall it looks pretty good and fits the truck fine. I see no reason why it will not do what I expect out of it (haul lumber occasionally, carry spare fuel and my bridging ladders from time to time, etc).
     
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  13. Aug 12, 2018 at 3:22 PM
    #13
    4X4Runner

    4X4Runner The Anti Pro, Pro! Staff Member

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    Mine came pretty well packaged front ARB to 4WP and all the dings, dents, scratches and scuffs have come from my abuse.

    Wind noise, yep, I notice it too but I think that’s with any rack you add to the roof of a SUV or car. Had wind noise on the yakima cross bars on the STi when I had it, wind noise on the load warrior and mega warrior, shit, even with the factory cross bars all the way forward I heard a slight whistle. I’ve found turning the volume up a few notches cures the wind noise.

    The instructions they provide could use some work, I agree but it wasn’t hard to figure out once you got going.

    The rack will do just fine for hauling whatever you need it to. Mine just held the RTT and the ARB 2500 awning for 5800 miles across country and across dirt roads, trails, rocks and the likes of trees and brush without any issue whatsoever.
     
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  14. Aug 12, 2018 at 3:47 PM
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    tackleberry1145

    tackleberry1145 [OP] New Member

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    The box in came in was beat up pretty decent on one end, so that was the end I paid attention to when we checked it. No big deal. It's gonna get scratches from use. Did you use any additional sealant on yours during installation?
     
  15. Aug 12, 2018 at 3:53 PM
    #15
    4X4Runner

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    I did, I gooped the hell out of the bolts that fasten the fit kit to the roof. So far no leaks!
     
  16. Aug 12, 2018 at 3:57 PM
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    tackleberry1145

    tackleberry1145 [OP] New Member

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    Hmm. I used grey permatex on the bolts on the advice of a arb install video I found on youtube. Did your bolts already have blue threadlocker on them? Mine did, and the addition of the permatex made installation a bit of a pain, lol.
     
  17. Apr 16, 2020 at 4:12 AM
    #17
    Stuffy

    Stuffy New Member

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    SCS RAY10 17" BFG KO2 TRD PRO FRONT GRILL HID LOW BEAM, LED high/fog/interior Ceramic tint all around TRD CAI Blackout emblems
    Love the low profile look and I think it looks much better and steel rack option is much cheaper than Prinsu or SSO racks. How is the rack so far since purchase back in June 2018? Would you choose a different rack?
     
  18. Apr 16, 2020 at 6:28 AM
    #18
    Oldtoyotaguy

    Oldtoyotaguy Paid cash for it

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    Thanks, you guys for posting that, and great discussion. I am looking for a rack, and I really like the versatility of the platform style racks like this one. I’m surprised to hear about noise, because it fits so tight to the roof line, but I agree, hey, it’s a roof rack. Anything that isn’t an air foil and drags wind is going to potentially make some sound. My focus seems to come down to Front Runner, but this one looks good as well. And yes, all those accessories are money makers, haha.
     

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