Bolting a roof rack directly to the roof?

[jnelson4x4taco]

I thought about posting this in General on the Homemade Roofracks thread but since its more Toyota focused ill post here.

I want to to add a roofrack over the cab of my extended cab Tacoma (1999) but dont want to use the Yakima mounts. I was thinking of just bolting it through the roof like the Defender Racks. I also thought about making the mounts that would stay on and then make the rack mount to those so it could be removable of customizable in the future. Is the Tacoma roof strong enough for that? Im having trouble finding pictures of this which makes me wonder if there is a reason. If you have any pictures or info on how you, successfully, mounted a roof rack directly to the roof that would be great. Thanks

 

[teotwaki]

Although a different application (4Runner) than yours, some of this might be useful. I will be mounting an African Outback rack and it requires two extra mounting points. I will be drilling the roof to install four 8mm Nutserts that I bought through McMaster-Carr along with the tool.

Nutsert tool from Mcmaster.com part # 96349A815
Bag of 5 nutserts from Mcmaster.com part # 97467A693

Here is a good write up on the rack install: http://www.toyota120.com/html/ao_roof_rack.html

 

[jnelson4x4taco]

Great write up and thanks for the heads up on those nut-serts, those are pretty slick. I was planning on pulling out the headliner to put bolts through but this might be much easier. Plus if i ever took it off, i could just use some small button head bolts to seal up the holes and paint the heads white to match.

 

[Youngunner]

There is another thread about this,

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35720

Here is what I suggested:

Check out this link:

http://www.parksoffroad.com/tacomamods/defenderroofrack/defenderroofrack.htm

 

[jnelson4x4taco]

I saw that thread and been around parksoffroad.com quite a bit. My concern was that I would be doing it on a extended can and not a double cab. I didnt know if there was a structural difference that made the double cabs stronger or anything like that. You just dont see it too often and I didnt know if there is a reason why? Probably because most people dont want to drill through their roofs lol. I also assume the most stable and secure mounting point for the most load capacity would be further out to the edges by the doors, right? This isnt going to hold a spare tire or anything, just some lights, hi-lift, shovel, axe and maybe some camp chairs and sleeping bags every now and then. I just want it to be the most stable.

 

[Youngunner]

Have you taken down the headliner to look at the structural frame? I don't think it would be that difficult to fab up some custom mounting feet to put any kind of roof rack on, provided you have the means.