Prinsu rack.

I'm thinking of picking up the Prinsu rack. Just learned they are making them for 1st gen tundras. Anyone have any personal experience with them? It requires drilling into the roof, but seems better than my current Yakima bars and clamps. $700 shipped to Bend, OR.

https://prinsudesignstudio.com/product/1st-gen-tundra-access-cab-rack-2000-2006/

 

I wonder how the added wind noise effects sound level in the cab.

 

Everything I read says “it depends on the weather” when it comes to warnings about rust. But I live inland San Diego county (away from salt air and most precipitation) and, every single roof rack I’ve looked at had rust on the roof where the metal rack attaches. I’m sure there are ways to prevent it with diligent care... but I recognize that I am not really going to do those things as consistently as would be required, so I’m rocking an Inno rack. Probably a lot like your current Yakima setup.

 

I installed this rack on my truck about a month ago. Total honesty, really unnerving drilling holes into the roof,watched the install video like a dozen times lol.I used 3M marine sealant and adhesive 5200 on plus nuts. Live in AZ so hoping rust will not be much of an issue. Rack and hardware are really nice quality as should be considering price point. I did install the noise/wind deflector so have not noticed any increase in wind noise. Hope this helps.

 

If you already have a Yakima setup why not have a custom rack built for it? I bet thats less than $700 and you can forget about drilling.

 

I definitely get wind noise with my Yakima towers. And some water drips in a hard rain, I expect because the rubber seal is pressed in to secure the feet

 

Hadn't thought of that. I was thinking that with the bolt on rack, I would be able to mount a rooftop tent. I suppose for my needs a ladder rack might be better suited.

 

The problem with a roof top tent mounted on the roof is dynamic weight. Even the lightest tents that are within parameters when you’re not moving, weigh too much when adjusted for “dynamic”, i.e. the truck traveling at speed, with air forces into it, etc.

 

A better option, weight and stability-wise, maybe to add a bedrack-?

 

Butyl tape will help to prevent the rust and will act as a sealant as well just FYI

 

This makes me curious. How exactly do the Yakima bars mount without drilling? There is nothing up there to grab onto other than those drip channels.

 

I imagine the front part grabs under the door, for the rear part I'm not sure on an access cab.

 

I imagine it is like the Inno racks I have mounted on Hulk (which were like the Thule racks I had on another car). A not-thick metal tab fits below/outside the weatherstrip along the lower edge of the roof to reach inside the truck but doesn’t interfere with doors closing. The locking part of the bar attachment that sits atop the roof clamps the outside. One clamps along the front door, another clamps along the rear “access” door. The weatherstrip on the jamb and doors will likely require replacing at some point but, so far, doesn’t allow wind noise, the doors shut tightly, no problems.

Hulk is at an orthopedic appointment
(getting a knee rebuilt by Dr. Rice) but I’ll post pics when I can.

 

Be sure to sign him up for physical therapy after

 

Definitely!

Ha! Actually, first he’ll need a “chiropractic” appointment.

 

Can someone with a Prinsu rack measure the distance between your mounting holes for the roof rack? I'm getting a roof rack made and me and the fabricator would like to try to mount in the same location as the prinsu racks to be safe. With the curve in the rain gutters it makes it tough to figure out where to go from.

 

There’s no ‘safe’. I hear you, and think it’s great you’re asking for this info from others. But the only way to ensure you don’t drill into airbags will be to remove the headliner. Victory taught us all this.

 

Yeah I understand that, I meant safe meaning we get the distance the first time. I'm working with a fabricator that is out of state so I just wanted to make sure I get the measurements right. I also just noticed this is a first gen post, I'm a 2017. Sorry y'all!

 

No problem. Cool you figured it out.