skipjakk

New guy to the forum, recently purchased the 2003 V6 SR5 4WD, been trying to figure out how to remove the roof rack but no luck. Anyone out there have an idea?

calrockx

well i'm not sure exactly, but if it's anything like a 3rd gen's, check this thread out... here

02Runner

Duh, why didn't I think of asking someone here. I'll do the same thing this weekend.

impulsebrklyn

ok i really dont know what you mean by removing the roof rack cause i would be alittle worried. Do you mean by just removing the two bars that go along the sides of the 4runner and the cross members. Or are you including the brackets to????? I dont know how the brackets are attached to the roof but i would be alittle worried to remove them. (water leaks) Also i know for a fact the where the roof rack is attached to the roof, the far end of it that are a smooth curve, that whole piece of plastic pops out. ive seen it off just never removed it myslef. Then i would assum there is just one bolt for the bar that goes along the 4runner. If anyone removed a black roof rack i want it I dont want a silver roof rack and have never gotten around to chanign it.


Chris

skipjakk

Thanks for the link Calrockx, I was able to remove the 2003 roof rack, the end caps do pop off, its just a little tricky you have to know where to apply pressure. There are two bolts under each end cap that hold the rack on, and that's it.

I used a long flat dull kitchen knife, but you might want to use something thats made of hard plastic, or a flat screwdriver. Also, might want to put down some cloth around the rack as a precaution, I slipped and put a little scratch on my roof paint. If you stand looking at the roof rack and the plastic end cap(looking at the front door) you'll see that you can slip a thin object in behind the outward facing side of the cap, parallel with the roof. I slipped the knife in pretty far, near the roofline, and then pushed the knife handle AWAY from me and it popped off the first tab. I then put the knife along the bottom front of the end cap(as there's now a space), in between the bottom edge of the cap and the rubber skirt, and used it like a lever to lift the end cap and pop off the second tab in the front. Then you just pull it off. You need a torx bit(Star shaped bit) to unscrew the bars, I think both a #25 and #30. I will try to post some pictures later if I can.

Good Times

can you take some pix after the rack is removed? I'd like to see the pix of the base of the roof rack on the roof itself.

i only ask this because i currently have the yak megawarrior on top and i'd like to mount it directly to the roof instead of using the roof rack itself. so pix would be greatly appreciated

02Runner

Hey Skip, check your pm!

Good Times, I'll take pics in the morning. My daughter has me for the night, Shes leaving for a week with her softball team tomm. Afterwards, I'll post some pics of the rack mounts!

impulsebrklyn

are the roof mounting points through the roof or are the mounting points sealed off from the inside cabin. i guess ill see when the pictures are posted.

Chris

JGage

Tell you what, don't grab the end caps too hard. I was trying to get up to wash the roof and one of them came off. I almost broke my freakin' neck. I think the '03 would look weird w/o the rack...

Why you want it off skip ? just replacing it or losing it alltogether.

skipjakk

Trading 20Runner for his silver ones.

02Runner

They were actually pretty easy to remove. The mounts themselves actually just drop into the holes in the first pic. I did notice that there is a difference between front and rear filler plate on the underside of the caps. Its the part facing rearward on the front and facing forward on the rear. I'll post it as the last pic.

Good Times

sweet!!! thanks for the pix!

now all I have to do is find someone to make me some perm mounts to use w/ my yak megawarrior since the factory rack doesn't provide much support bolting it directly to the frame will be better ...

someone wanna fab me some stuff? hehe

EDGE

02Runner
can you take some pics of the truck so I can see what it looks like without the rack, maybe then I'll remove mine

what do you use to fill the spaces that are white in the pic

02Runner

No sweat, but the rack mounts are pretty damn sturdy.
Does any one know the max weight this rack mount is supposed to be able to handle?? That'd be good info.

Good Times

the abs plastic roof rack is suppose to sustain weights up to 75#.

its okay for limited use but what I'd like to do is be able to throw 150-250# (just so I know i can do it! )

anyway.... thule has mounts for the bmw 3 series that bolts on to the roof so hopefully they'll have something similar for the 4runner

02Runner

Edge, I will take some pics of it without the rack, won't get them posted until later today though.

I replaced the mounts into the spaces. I should be putting the rails back on as soon as I get it. Figured there was no need to put something else in there.

EDGE

02Runner
no problem waiting, just want to see how it looks without the rack.

What do you mean by your putting the rails back on, are you getting black ones or did you just want to remove the cross bars

02Runner

Everything is going to be black on the rack itself. rails, caps, and crossmembers.

02Runner

Skip, Packages are on the way, 2 total.

Also heres the pics Edge:

JGage

That looks kinda cool... Not weird at all.