Mod 13: Gobi Roof Rack

One of the things I really felt like I missed out on with my old 4Runner was a roof rack. Now some people argue the merits of a roof rack, but I knew from the get go that I wanted to put one on the new build. I wanted a solid platform to hang hammocks, mount lights, run awnings, and eventually install a roof top tent. But beyond that, it would provide extra storage space for things like wood and kayaks, and give me an amazing platform to set up a tripod and get some extra elevation on my landscape photography.

I shopped around for roof racks and honestly, each one had their own pros and cons. I looked at Gobi, Prinsu, SSO, and even considered making one myself. In the end, I decided to go with a Gobi for a couple of reasons. First, the classic tube style rack was just a winner in my mind. Sure, the Prinsu and other racks are lower profile, but it is hard to beat the look (in my mind) of a tubular rack. Second, mounting things, such as lights, an awning and more was a relatively easy process because anything can clamp on to a tube. And finally, the Gobi was a tried and true platform. Tons of 4th and 5th gen 4Runners run the Gobi rack and that just gave me peace of mind.

So I placed my order and started the wait. I knew it was going to be a long one, so I buckled up. In the end, I think it was close to 20 weeks to receive my rack. Could be better. Could be worse. But at least I had my rack in one piece.

Installing was a breeze honestly. Definitely a two person job though! One of the hardest parts was removing the OEM rack. I wanted to be careful and not break anything, so it just took us time to get the end caps loose and the rest of the rack unbolted. After that, it was easy as hell. We simply cleaned out the mounting holes, followed the Gobi instructions, added a generous dollop of silicone to each hole, and then threw the rack up there. Aligning things to be on-center took a few tries, but after that, all it took was simply tightening all of the bolts and mounting the lights.

Speaking of lights, I participated in a GB on the 4Runner Forum to outfit my rack with lights. I knew from the start that adding lights tot he Gobi was going to be an important step to the process. I have driven up to camp in the pitch black far too many times, and I have been on dark forest roads in the middle of nowhere far too often to go out without additional lighting. I ended up adding a 40” single row spot up front, four scene lights (two on either side), and two 6” flood lights for the rear. This gave me light on all four corners of the rig and I was really happy with how tight and low I was able to mount them to the rack.

I have a lot testing to do with the rack, but from an initial impression, I have to say that I am extremely impressed with how solid this platform is!