Increasing roof rack capacity

[camdsgn]

Is it possible to raise the roof rack limit of 100 lbs. on a 4Runner?

Can you add cross members, either OE or aftermarket, to increase load cap?

I have a Yakima Load Warrior with the extension and would like to increase the limit as the rack itself weighs 40 lb.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nullifier]

Yes this is possible. adding more cross bars will up the load holding ability to a point. You need to remember that if you attach to the factory track you are limited to the tracks mounting strength.

Newer 4 runners have an elevated rail and older ones have an aluminum track mounted flush to the roof. the elevated rail is a bit stronger especially when using an upgraded Thule or Yakima cross bar system. Ultimatly the best course of action imo is to discard the factory elevated track or flush track and install new Thule tracker feet through the roof. This requires drilling but makes for a really strong base to mount the Thule tracker cross bar system to. If you were to install say 4 cross bars in that manner you would be able to hold more weight then you would ever need with out worrying about a rack falure during the rigors of offroading. they have 2 basic systems for the tracker a through the roof mount and then a track mounted to the roof for the tracker feet to mount to. Disreguard the track becase although it allows you to move the bars along the length of the roof like a factory trck it is the weak link do to the fact it is thin extruded aluminum and under sever loads can fail.

It is important to consider the variable betweeen Load capacity in normal road conditions vs the dynamic stress that is put on the rack rails under off highway driving. WHen I first started using a load warrior basket on my yakima cross bar system is was fine. tThen I went off road and before the day was over I had bent both yakima bars and broke 1 tower. I was carrying a 31" spare, shovel, hi lift and small action packer with light stuff in it. All the stress put on the bars by the vehicle swaying back and forth over the rocks really overloaded the bars and towers.

Now yakima and Thule both make good racks however in this instance I feel the Thule racks are better. Yakima uses alot more plastic in their system (control tower) so it is more suseptable to breaking. Plus it has always seemed to me that the yakima cargo racks mount with more stability on the square thule bar. When they are mounted on a round bar there is less contact area with the cargo racks mount and they tend to slide around under loads especially offroad. It was not uncommon to have my load warrior move as mush as 4" one side or the other over a day of offroading. I get no movement on my thule racks.

Hope that helps.

 

[Nullifier]

Just another bit of info. I am not aware what the factory roof rack rating is on the various 4 runner models. Your owners manual will tell you if it is not already printed on the rack. If you are running a factory roof rack and put on a pair of thule cross bars then for model years 19990-2002 you will have a limit of 110lbs. This is due tot he flimsy nature of the flush mounted track. With 2003-current you will have a capacity of 165lbs. So by adding 2 or 2 more cross bars you could up that # but if you are considering getting clse to double that wiegth you will need to monitor the factory tracks wear and tear or consider the route I sugested above before you buy the factory rack compatible stuff. Keep in mind that the 2003+ models require a different tower then the tracker.

 

[camdsgn]

Roof Rack

Thanks for your great input!
I have a second gen 94 4Runner. OE cross bars say 100 lbs. limit.
For our last outting, and the first with the Load Warrior, I just had a folding table (Costco), sleeping bags, tent, etc. Nothing too heavy. I didn't take my Hi Lift, gas cans or spare (Still in stock position) as we were car camping with a bunch of families.
Hope to do some wheeling with the kids real soon and will need more gear.
The mounting to the flat OE cross bars seems pretty good though I haven't had any real weight up there. Any thoughts on pinning the rack to the cross bars? Do you think in a heavy shifting load there would be the possibility of pulling the stock track off the roof???
Thanks again!:roost: