Vigo Roofrack tracks

[DerikB]

I've got Frontrunner tracks I want to mount on my Xtracab roof, anyone know if there are pre-drilled holes or do I need to drill them?

Something I need to look out for when doing it?

Thanks!


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[RodS]

I recently fitted tracks from 4x4 Direct to my 2007 D4D. There are no predrilled holes, and you have to take off the headliner (very carefully). There is a very good U-tube video on how to do this - search for How to remove Tacoma Headliner.

Rod

[DerikB]

Thanks Roderick. I found the video and am sure it will help.

I modified my old Pajero's roofrack to a size that will look good on the XtraCab. Now just to gather the courage to fit the rails!!

[WayneSchalk]

Thanks Roderick. I found the video and am sure it will help.

I modified my old Pajero's roofrack to a size that will look good on the XtraCab. Now just to gather the courage to fit the rails!!

Derik, If it was me, I would take it to a reputable fitment center, ie. Frontrunner. They do it all day every day, so they know exactly where to drill

It cost me R450 to do my old double cab. To me it is well worth it. its just one of those tings that I don't want to do myself.

[RodS]

I tend to agree. Dropping the headliner is not a fun job, and I would not easily tackle it again

Rod

[DerikB]

Hi Wayne, I did the Pajero myself but there were instructions from Frontrunner. So I do have an idea what I am letting myself into!! [FLUSHED FACE]

The main reason I do these type of jobs myself is that I believe I take better care and am more careful than a fitment center. How will I know that the holes will be rust treated and painted? That a proper job was done sealing the holes etc..

I'm a sucker for punishment [FACE WITH STUCK-OUT TONGUE AND WINKING EYE]

I'll document the process for future reference!


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[WayneSchalk]

Hi Wayne, I did the Pajero myself but there were instructions from Frontrunner. So I do have an idea what I am letting myself into!! [FLUSHED FACE]

The main reason I do these type of jobs myself is that I believe I take better care and am more careful than a fitment center. How will I know that the holes will be rust treated and painted? That a proper job was done sealing the holes etc..

I'm a sucker for punishment

I'll document the process for future reference!


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Meet 2 keer boor een keer

[pietpetoors]

The main reason I do these type of jobs myself is that I believe I take better care and am more careful than a fitment center.

+1

[RodS]

With regard to the extra care taken by the owner, I noticed when I was examining a lot of roof racks in shopping centre parking areas that the pro's just ignore the fact that the channel in the Hilux roof is too narrow to admit the track, and the plastic insert is below roof level. The tracks sit at all sorts of odd angles and lack full support. A strip of 3 mm rubber insertion brings everyting level and solves the problem.

Rod

[DerikB]

Thanks Rod! Thats the info I want!! Looking at the pic below, where did you put the insertion rubber? Did you remove the piece of the standard plastic strip where the tracks go over, or did you drill through it?

[img]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11 ... c5254f.jpg[/img]


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[subok]

Just remember to tighten these bolts regularly and to add some silicone to prevent water ingress.

[RodS]

OK - here is everything I know about these tracks. Remember that I am just a bumbler who muddled through once!
1. I drilled through the plastic insert, then removed it in order to get sealant right down at metal level. I then put it back and laid the rubber insertion over the top.
2. Do not drill until you have had a look from underneath. From the top the recess seems to be far from the edge, but from the bottom it is hard up against various struts along the edge. Very few of the nice big fender washers I bought fitted in, but some square ones I happened to have did.
3. In order to mitigate this, I drilled the holes as close to the centreline of the bakkie as possible. This worked, but I ended up with a track spacing that was narrower than the one on the canopy. (I was also re-installing a rack that used to be on the canopy, which is now occupied by load bars and an RTT).
4. I then found that I had to make my Hannibal rack fit this non-standard track width, which is possible as mounts seem to be designed to flip over and face inward rather than outward. I did this on one side only! Luckily no-one else has noticed!

Good luck

Rod

[RodS]

One more thought. Do you really need a metre of track on each side in order to support a solar panel? Or, in my case, a few bags of firewood? The answer is no - about 200 mm with 3 bolts under each foot is sufficient. Doing this would have enabled me to avoid the door pillar area where most of the reinforecments, gussets and other complications are.

Rod

[DerikB]

Thank you Rod, this info will go a long way to help me.

Kobus I will buy new nyloc nuts and add a bit of locktite with plenty of silicone, don't want to disassemble the roof too often

I'm going to have to leave this job for next weekend - We are planning a trip to Buffalo Gorge this weekend to put the Hilux through it's paces!

[pietpetoors]

Nyloc nuts by themselves should be good enough.

What I do if I do not have Nyloc is I put some silicon on the nut and thread after I tightened the nut.
That way you also prevent it from during because of vibration, but the silicon comes off easy enough if you have to remove the bolt again later for some reason. In this case I do not think you will ever have to remove it again.

Ek moet nog myne ook doen, maar my moet begewe my as ek dink aan die roof liner uithaal.

Jy is dapper, ek sal by jou leer.

[RodS]

Derrek

One final contribution: While you have the headliner down, why not use the opportunity to insulate your roof? I wish I had.

Rod

[pietpetoors]

That is a shiny thought.

[DerikB]

The installation I posted here!

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Thanks for all the advice!