You know, Toyota 4Runner is dependable; it follows you to the grocery store with a chance of rain or to the Sunday hike. The roof rack is that component of your adventures that goes unnoticed most of the time.
Whether you are moving kayak, bicycles or just your luggage, it does all the hard work while you reap all the benefits. But as it is said, to have a good friend, you need some loving look after. Otherwise you will be left with rusty metal rather than a steadfast cargo truck or freighter.
If left unaddressed, your roof rack can become a dangerous and costly issue for your Toyota 4Runner performance and stability. And nobody wants to tell a bewildered park ranger why his canoe was found left in a ravine, not the river.
So here’s the nuts and bolts of maintaining your Toyota 4Runner roof rack. There are, in fact, five points that you can bear in mind and that will put your roof rack back into good running order.
1. Clean It Regularly:
A Toyota 4Runner roof rack may not require a luxurious treatment but loves a wash every now and then. Just as importantly, mud, soot, and the salt commonly spread on the roads are not just unsightly; they are antagonists of the metal. It seeps in unnoticeably and slowly over a period of time it weakens the once strong bars until they become rusty objects.
The first step should be washing your roof rack with a bucket of warm soapy water and then using a sponge. I’ve had good results using ordinary dish soap here; luxury automotive products unless the one has a special desire to do so.
Wash every corner; be sure to clean the angles of processes and underneath the bars as dust gathers there most of the time. Sometimes, it may be possible to just brush away the solid material using a soft bristled brush.
Any leftover suds can encourage dust to cling to the furniture, which will negate all your work. Pat it dry with a microfiber towel so as to minimize the water spot. But if you fancy, paint an additional coat of wax to help shield the car from environmental factors. It’s not overkill; it’s plan-ahead.
2. Tighten Up:
Loose bolts and shaky mounts are death to your roof rack and cargo – or so that TV show made me believe. For anyone who has ever driven behind a car that seemingly drops its items like confetti, then they’ll appreciate the need for this step. Check all the assembly screws, bolts, and any place that is holding two or more parts together, at least once in a while.
As you can remember, stripped threads cause confusion to everybody. The whole cross section of the community will be affected. If you realise that any of those parts are missing, you should replace them as soon as possible.
Auto shops and hardware stores are likely to have compatible parts, but they can be ordered from other manufacturers off the internet. You don’t need a professional to help you test the stability of your roof rack. Make sure not to merely rock it side to side and be sure to look for too much movement. A little effort now saves you from potential disasters later, just ask the folks who had their ‘rooftop cargo’ fly away.
3. Check for Rust:
Rust doesn’t come around and say “Hey, I’m here!” The stuff just comes rusting everything. But once it’s there, removing the memory seems to be a bit of a hassle. Prevention is the best. Another thing that you have to do occasionally is to look for symptoms of rust on your roof rack if you live in an environment that has a lot of snow or salt.
If you see rust do not panic. You can rub it off with sandpaper or wire brush in order not to cause harm to other parts of the car paint or finish. After you clean the area you want to apply a rust converter, an agent that slows down the process of rusting. Use a coat of touch up paint to close the deal on the bargain. Another prevention of rust is to ensure that the roof rack is not exposed to so much water activity.
Ensure that no water is held at the intrusions’ valley after its surface has been washed. It won’t take so much of your time to give it a wipe during the rainy seasons or after a rainy, adventurous expedition. Just a little effort goes a long way in making sure that the rust monster does not come to play.
4. Lighten the Load:
Your Toyota 4Runner roof rack is versatile, but let’s be honest, even the most rugged of vehicles have their carrying capacity. It also overloads the rack and your vehicle’s handling as well as fuel consumption … Do not however exceed the towing capacity recommended by the manufacturer as stated in the owner’s manual.
When loading, it is advised that one spreads the mass evenly. An uneven load not only appears to be unsafe but actually increases the risk of driving a car as well. Seam and fasten the items you are carrying to prevent them from sliding off during transit, you may use ratchet straps or bungee cords.
Do not use straps that have been used for quite some time or straps that seem to have worn out, they are extremely dangerous. Don’t fall into the mistake of using your roof rack as a dumper instead, think of it as a faithful companion. If you frequently overload it, you should buy a trailer or find some other type of transporter. Yes this is better than asking too much of those patient metal bars.
5. Seasonal Adjustments:
And, just like you have your outfit for summer or winter, your roof rack also requires something different in some other period. Winter means that such a strategic material as road salt turns into an aggressive opponent. Clean your roof rack more often especially if you have driven through a region that uses salt on the roads.
Consequently, in summer the durability and strength of some of it gets decreased because of the effect of sunlight. Coat your roof rack with a UV safe spray so as to avoid the roof rack suffering a lot of damage from the sun. This may surely seem as rather excessive but do not forget that even minimal protective actions have an impact, and such impact accumulates.
Before going for a big trip, always ensure you perform a check up on your roof rack especially when the season is changing. Failure to plan can make you a victim of a roadside repair or your companions’ embarrassing jokes for hours.
Bottom Line:
Perhaps the most mundane but important thing one ought to know regarding their Toyota 4Runner roof rack is how to take care of it. Take care of it and it promises to deliver your equipment safely to any destination the passion may lead you to. Abuse it, and you’ll invite anarchy on the highway. So take your sponge, wrench and maybe a bit of time on your hands. Your roof rack will also be forgiving even if it does not say thank you for putting its usefulness into good use.
