Kuat Dek Rack

[SNDR]

Does anyone have any experience with the Kuat Dek Rack?

Someone on Reddit just posted they installed one and it looks rather enticing. Coming with Diode Dynamics lights. I would be curious to get other people's opinions and long-term review of this.

Thanks!

https://kuat.com/products/dek-direct-mount?variant=51099910078762

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[SNDR]

@pistol Please shed some light on your experience with this! Also literally shed some light please by showing us what the lights look like at night

I'm super intrigued by this design. Thanks!

 

[a few waffles]

I've had one on for a couple months now. I'm stuck at work but will have the day tomorrow. What all would you like to know?

 

[SNDR]

I've had one on for a couple months now. I'm stuck at work but will have the day tomorrow. What all would you like to know?

For starters, would you buy it again?

How is the wind noise?
What does the light pattern look like at night?
How do you have it wired?
Do you need to remove the cross bars to add/remove things from the t slots?

Awesome thank you! Looks great on the Pro.

 

[a few waffles]

For starters, would you buy it again?

How is the wind noise?
What does the light pattern look like at night?
How do you have it wired?
Do you need to remove the cross bars to add/remove things from the t slots?

Awesome thank you! Looks great on the Pro.

Yes, I would buy it again. It's very solid, very good quality. I've never had one of Kuat's bike racks that they're known for, but I've read a ton of great things about them.

I did have a small rattle after installation. I'm really picky about noises like that, and reached out to someone on Reddit who also had the rack, but they did not have any similar noise issues. I was able to track the rattling to the spacers that the mounting bolts go through at either end of the crossbars, and fixed it with a small amount of silicone on each mounting bolt (the same that I used to water proof the base onto the roof) which took care of everything.

If it's above 50 deg and not raining, I always have my sunroof open and my back window down. Wind noise is definitely present, but not too bad. I had a Prinsu Pro on before the Kuat and, from what I remember, I'd say they're similar for wind noise. No whistling or anything like that, though. Although Kuat doesn't recommend it, my first crossbar (from the front of the vehicle) is mounted just after the sunroof because I didn't want to block it. I was debating on playing around with adding one in front of the sunroof closer to the lightbar to see what does for wind noise, but I haven't got around to it yet.

I'll see if I can get a pic of the lights on at night. The amber lights are pretty subtle, they show up easily at night but they aren't very visible during the day. The full, bright white lights are pretty impressive. I did adjust the lights a little vertically after I got them, as the 2 driver's side pods were pointed slightly, but noticeably, higher than the others. They're easy enough to adjust, though.

I don't know a damn thing about electricity, other than it stings. I was shocked (haha, sorry) at how easy it was to wire to the pre-wired switches in the Pro. Kuat sends you everything you'd need to wire it, but I didn't need to use 3/4 of what they included (the relay, etc.) because of what Toyota included. I'll grab a pic of 2 of that as well tomorrow.

The only things I've mounted to it so far are my Roam awning and Roam adventure case. You don't have to remove the crossbars to install the t-nuts, there are openings at each end of the crossbar that are easily accessible.

Like I mentioned, I'll try to grab some pics tomorrow. Hope this helps!

 

[SNDR]

Yes, I would buy it again. It's very solid, very good quality. I've never had one of Kuat's bike racks that they're known for, but I've read a ton of great things about them.

I did have a small rattle after installation. I'm really picky about noises like that, and reached out to someone on Reddit who also had the rack, but they did not have any similar noise issues. I was able to track the rattling to the spacers that the mounting bolts go through at either end of the crossbars, and fixed it with a small amount of silicone on each mounting bolt (the same that I used to water proof the base onto the roof) which took care of everything.

If it's above 50 deg and not raining, I always have my sunroof open and my back window down. Wind noise is definitely present, but not too bad. I had a Prinsu Pro on before the Kuat and, from what I remember, I'd say they're similar for wind noise. No whistling or anything like that, though. Although Kuat doesn't recommend it, my first crossbar (from the front of the vehicle) is mounted just after the sunroof because I didn't want to block it. I was debating on playing around with adding one in front of the sunroof closer to the lightbar to see what does for wind noise, but I haven't got around to it yet.

I'll see if I can get a pic of the lights on at night. The amber lights are pretty subtle, they show up easily at night but they aren't very visible during the day. The full, bright white lights are pretty impressive. I did adjust the lights a little vertically after I got them, as the 2 driver's side pods were pointed slightly, but noticeably, higher than the others. They're easy enough to adjust, though.

I don't know a damn thing about electricity, other than it stings. I was shocked (haha, sorry) at how easy it was to wire to the pre-wired switches in the Pro. Kuat sends you everything you'd need to wire it, but I didn't need to use 3/4 of what they included (the relay, etc.) because of what Toyota included. I'll grab a pic of 2 of that as well tomorrow.

The only things I've mounted to it so far are my Roam awning and Roam adventure case. You don't have to remove the crossbars to install the t-nuts, there are openings at each end of the crossbar that are easily accessible.

Like I mentioned, I'll try to grab some pics tomorrow. Hope this helps!

Thanks for taking the time to write this up!

I don't have the aux switches unfortunately... So my install would be a bit more in depth.

Looking forward to the night shots!

 

[pistol]

Waffles pretty much summed it up, although I didn't notice any rattles. Going camping tomorrow for the weekend so I'll try to get some pics out in the sticks.

I also mounted an INNO 660 roof box I had on my GR Corolla that fits pretty perfectly on the rack, had to adjust one cross bar to get it to sit flat. Stuffing camping gear in it tomorrow and snowboards when winter rolls around.

I also don't have the pre installed aux switches so I went with the M and R wireless switch controller which is super easy to install and doesn't require running wires through the firewall

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