I saw that the toyota dealership sells the OEM 2nd gen roof racks still. they are $169 online, here is the exploded view.
does anybody have a picture of this installed on his rig? doubt if I will buy it new but I am sure I can find a used one in good cond.
thanks for any opinions or pics/links on this part

 

Yeah, I checked with my local dealer, too when researching roof rack options. I even saw that very same "exploded view"... but couldn't make heads or tails of it.

To be honest... when comparing the factory roof rack to say, the equivalent Thule or Yakima... it's, well... very plastic feeling.

I ended up buying a set of 54-inch Yakima tracks for around $80 and put them on myself (intimidating... but not actually a difficult job).

Found a set of Yakima Q Towers and crossbars on Craigslist for $60. Topped it off with a Thule MOAB basket (another Craigslist find) for $160.

So all-in all I'm into it for just under $300... but it's head and shoulders above the OEM set-up IMO.

I would highly recommend shopping around.

(PS - I've got a SECOND MOAB basket w/ extension for sale, too, if you're going that route).

 

search it ol'harleyman has a good write up on his install. I just did it too looks good and works well. I added the Coleman basket they used to be cheap.

 

FYI that exploded view looks like the roof support structure, not the roof rack. I don't think they sell the rack anymore. I happen to have a used rack and I'm looking for instuctions and layout for the install. Anybody? Sorry for the hijack.

 

bump...

 

I bought a 2nd gen. roof rack from the junkyard for $35. I asked them to keep all the little screws for me, I got it home, squared it up on top of my truck, and it looks like it came that way from the factory! It was probably the best $35 I could have spent on a roof rack. When I got it, it was all put together and I just drilled holes for the screws and sealed them up with silicon. It took 30 minutes, tops. Be careful and put some drill stops on your bit, or you'll drill into the headliner.

 

terrybo- please pics

 

Here goes...I'm not too good with the pictures yet, so I want to apologize beforehand...

This was an easy install. All I did was lay the rack up there where I wanted it, colored in the holes with a sharpie, drilled, and attached. 30 minutes.

 

How do you add pictures??? I can't get this to work...

 

got some pics over in this thread.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116.../#post50638284

Follow the link i put in there.

 

ok...here goes with the pictures again...photobucket.