Roof carrier frustrations with rear lift gate clearance

[time4save]

I went to go throw my roof carrier that I’ve been using for years on my Subaru on the on my new forerunner, but I couldn’t get the liftgate to clear the back of the roof carrier. The crossbars are so far back on this thing and the liftgate goes up so high it seems kind of ridiculous like there’s no good options for a normal long roof carrier. Seems like a crappy design between how far the crossbars are and how high the protrusion on the lift gate is

Sponsored

 

[Archer]

You can limit how high your liftgate opens. Don't remember off hand but it's in the manual.


.

 

[SNDR]

Are the cross bars in a fixed location? They cannot be slid forward? Just took delivery of mine yesterday and genuinely curious if the bars are movable. Thanks.

 

[time4save]

Yep they move. They have 4 locations that have fixed pins (2 front and 2 back) but even without one of those fixed locations they can still clamp anywhere on the rails it seems. But the rails are super far back in general, right next to the very high lift gate thing.
My roof carrier had limited places the t bolts can go, and the front ones were too far forward when the back was slid up far enough to clear the lift gate.
Either a shorter carrier, some sort of raised platform , or something would be needed.

 

[milsuper]

Watch this video @ 2:00 Minutes for liftgate opening height adjustment.

 

[time4save]

The non-power tailgate on the sr5 probably doesnt do that I’m guessing. Also the gate was only like 30 pct open when it started to make contact

 

[HVLA]

The non-power tailgate on the sr5 probably doesnt do that I’m guessing. Also the gate was only like 30 pct open when it started to make contact

What the hell? Lol

We need pics. This makes no sense.

 

[mjssss]

I agree… the design seems annoying in this regard. I slid the attachment points all the way back in my Thule XXL box. It overhangs forward a fair bit. I keep that in mind when I load things in there. The door only barely hits it at the top I’ve set the door to stop just shy

 

[828findadventure]

I put a foam knee pad on the spoiler and open it up, and let it rest against my XL Yakima box. While not ideal, it works. Then I throw the knee pad in the back when done.

 

[4funner]

Yea I wish the side rails were longer so you could slide crossbarars forward more. My bike racks dont work with my rhino rack aftermarket crossbars. Max distance from front cross bar to hatch is an important measurement given with roof box and bike rack and I think my 4runner has 52 inches but my bike racks need 57.
Subaru outback is a good example of a vehicle where the side rails extend all the way along the roof.
I hate to spend 1000 on a full roof rack but it might happen someday.

 

[828findadventure]

Yea I wish the side rails were longer so you could slide crossbarars forward more. My bike racks dont work with stock crossbars. Max distance from front cross bar to hatch is an important measurement given with roof box and bike rack and I think my 4runner has 52 inches but my bike racks need 57.
Subaru outback is a good example of a vehicle where the side rails extend all the way along the roof.
I hate to spend 1000 on a full roof rack but it might happen someday.

I bought some more adjustable cross bars from Victory 4x4.

 

[4funner]

I bought some more adjustable cross bars from Victory 4x4.

I actually have aftermarket clamp on crossbars (i mispoke when i said stock crossbar before.), but they can only slide so far forward on the roof rails. 52 inches is the max distance to hatch. I dont know why the rails are so short. On my land cruiser 100 you could extend crossbar over the sun roof.

Sponsored