Victory Roof Rack Safety Warning (please read if you have an over-cab rack)

The one that @Bannock452 makes looks much better, and like it's much higher in quality as well. How do we know they stole the idea from here, and didn't happen to come up with a similar idea?

 

11 pages! Moderators, please unlock special achievements.

 

First thank you! I definitely overbuilt the mount to start so it would last!
Second your also right they could have came up with a similar idea since there’s not many other ways to mount in that location.
That being said they copied almost every single bend and curve for the cutout. Now my mount has a welded side leg and there’s is bent but still has the same bracing curve. There’s many ways to make a different style or add one different mounting location. But all is good and I’m still building and selling a bunch of these to all the loyal Tundra owners! Thanks again!

 

Thanks for your service. I definitely don’t miss marching/running in formation in the freezing cold or sweltering heat.

 

Strangely enough, I do miss the cadences. Running alone and singing about not letting my dingle-dangle dangle in the sand just gets weird looks from people.

 

I am going to be deer hunting in Mexico in December and January. I am going to hit you up if I don't find a better solution. Everything down here on either side of the border has thorns like roofing nails. Don't want to take my truck across the border, because of the unreliable and expensive Mexico insurance, but I may have to. What is the lead time to have it shipped to Texas? Not buying anything else Victory for sure.

 

Don’t let it dangle in the dirt either.

 

I’ve received @Bannock452 mount recently. Clean and great to work with. 10/10

 

Yea it’s definitely a peace of mind to have on board air. Especially down in Mexico. I have mounts in stock and can ship same or next day! Just let me know when your ready and I can get that shipped out!

 

The worst place to dangle it was in the grass because then you had to pick it up and put it in your... "Rolling, rolling, rolling. Uh-oh, my knees are swollen"
It was the mid-90's and we couldn't swear...

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hbzJnncsK18

You could run across the earth with this guy.

 

3 for 3.

I was contacted by a third member here who dropped their headliner after reading this thread and found both airbags destroyed.

I will let them share the details.

Dang.

 

Ouch, that sucks. This is precisely why I could never start my own business — one little screw up can sink a small company.

 

Looking at theirs, I can absolutely see the similarities - theirs looks like the Wish.com version of yours.

 

Its back up and edited now.

 

I'm the third guy in the group that took Victory's statement about drilling into a "safe zone" to mean "no risk of airbag damage" when in fact, you are drilling directly over the airbag for each of the 8 holes required to install this rack. After I installed the rack, I logged into this forum to write a positive review and stumbled on to this thread. I dropped my headliner the next day, and found that I had punctured both the drivers and passengers side airbags with the drill bit. The local body shop suggested that I file a claim with my insurance company, and in the end, USAA ended up covering the $3500 repair (minus deductible).

I reached out to Victory via email to ask for reimbursement and for them to change their installation instructions. I just got a back call back from them yesterday. Kevin from Victory was very professional. He told me that they would not cover any repair costs, but would allow me to return the rack for a full refund. Now that I have 8 holes in my roof, returning the rack isn't a very good option. He took the time to listen to my concerns, which included changing the installation instructions and notifying everyone who purchased this rack of the risk of airbag damage so that they could take inspect their vehicles. He didn't agree to take any action on either one of these concerns. Kevin seemed like a reasonable guy, and I hope he make the right decision here. I wouldn't want to be in his position.

Overall, this has been a real PIA experience that could have been prevented had Victory provided better installation instructions. After dealing with this, I reviewed both RhinoRack and Prinsu installation instructions. Prinsu had a very obvious warning in the instructions: "Be very careful not to drill excessively deep as airbags are located below". RhinoRack didn't mention the airbags at all. Unfortunately, I went with Victory, who's installation instructions implied that there was no airbag risk in drilling.

Thanks again to TwoWheels for bringing this to my attention so that I could restore my truck to the safety level it provided when I purchased it.

 

I don't even own one of their products, but seeing responses like this just frustrates me to no end. As someone that has ran calls on major car accidents where people that should have died, survived because of airbags, I just don't know how someone could live with themselves, or sleep at night knowing their negligence could literally lead to wiping out a whole family, and not just say "I need to contact these people immediately." The instructions were a mistake, accidents happen - but the lack of action at this point is complete negligence, and the blood is on their hands due to it.

It makes me sick to think about it, and it should make you sick too. @brimy311

 

Get a lawyer

 

His lawyers probably told him not to say anything. Seems like he just listened. If someone they sold a rack to was in a wreck and sued them, anything he said or did could come back on him negatively. Lawyers first response is to not say or do anything.

 

Yep. He listened. Didn’t admit fault with his words or by paying any sort of damages. Taking back the rack at full price doesn’t implicate him in anything. He’s 100% working with his attorney on this one.

 

Problem is, if there are dozens damaged out here... doing the right thing would put him out of business due to high financial costs to make it right.

Unfortunately, any future deaths that can be attributed to airbag failures in trucks with Victory racks sold before that video was updated, will for sure put him out of business... and possibly out of personal assets as well. No win here.

 

Anyone share this psa to other forums? How do we know only tundras are affected?

 

Think of all the Tacos and 4runners. Yowza

 

USAA is usually pretty good at getting their money back - I'm kind of surprised their lawyers haven't called Kevin.

 

I know nothing about USAA's business, but they might have their money back already, it's just that there's no way we could know.

 

@TwoWheels, way to handle this thread, you kept cool and to the point
Was hilarious to hear all the forum experts give advice on drilling sheet metal.

 

Might make for a good class action suit if the class could get certified. Needs a lead plaintiff, then class members can be added.