Prinsu roof rack installed!

[ToddsTruckLife]

I installed a Prinsu roof rack on my 25 lobo, I'm loving the looks, kind of blending 2 styles together!
you do have to drill 4 holes in the roof, and its not suer easy, but after struggling with the front driver side, I think there is more structure there , or its hardened beam the other 3 where much easier.
I used a 7/16" hole saw to start the first opening hole up, then follow top with a rotabroach type spot weld drill but to get through the remaining metal pieces. there is many layers at the spot on the roof cap. After that use the 7/16" hole saw again to get the lower roof rail trim pieces cleared out, then add some paint to protect it, install the supplied plus nuts, rtv sealant and install.
I had mine color matched and powder coated with color from prismatic colors that is very close to the factory match . With a 400 dynamic weight load and 800 static load rating , these are super strong and can hold about anything these little trucks can haul around!

https://prinsu.com/product/ford-mav...XIvRXKuJMsSTHnls7WO-iHJVUA218lvllSLESGiT63neS

That install is a commitment for sure. I've done lots of permanent mods like drilling body panels and cutting frames for lift kits. But nothing makes me pucker like drilling a roof! Looks great!

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[MakinDoForNow]

You lost me when you said you had to drill holes in your roof

Watch the Prinsu install video. 4 riv nuts installed with pookie. Also FYI

 

[Rynobuilt]

I might even consider some type of dubbler under the sheet metal. Just to stiffen it up if nothing else.

what is a dubbler? the roof is plenty stiff enough, no need for anything extra.

 

[Rynobuilt]

The fact that there was so much metal combining at that location, sounds structural. The rack looks good and sturdy. The roof, maybe not so much...now.

its a 3"8 hole, if that hole causes structure issues, that means your upside down or getting crushed by a massive load that would cripple the truck flat already. plus, your installing a plus not with a bolt back into he cavity, so really your not having an open space anyways.

 

[Rynobuilt]

Prinsu makes awesome racks! I have one on my Forester as well. Drilling holes is never fun, but the end product looks great and they are super strong.

Great install OP, its a nice look IMO.

man , if your Forrester was anything like an outback, this really suck to install, you hav ego drop teh while head liner and remove the factory stuff first, blind nuts etc

 

[Rynobuilt]

Looks great, kudos on a nice install. I can see you measured 3 times and drilled once. Man, that project is NOT for the faint of heart. It takes brass nards to drill those holes.

no, it only takes some skill, and drill bits...

 

[Rynobuilt]

Watch the Prinsu install video. 4 riv nuts installed with pookie. Also FYI

bingo, maybe these guys think your drilling in the center of the roof skin? the "roof" as they are calling it is the actual skin in the center of the truck, these racks install through the side rails where all the panels seem together.

 

[wax87]

what is a dubbler? the roof is plenty stiff enough, no need for anything extra.

Just a square piece of sheet metal that goes under the roof to give it some additional strength. I doubt the roof was designed to hold that type of load, especially over time and rough roads. something like this

 

[MakinDoForNow]

bingo, maybe these guys think your drilling in the center of the roof skin? the "roof" as they are calling it is the actual skin in the center of the truck, these racks install through the side rails where all the panels seem together.

The Aluminum channel cover is held on by 4 bolts on each side. They should be removable from the exterior without removing the headliner but that would require an exposed head. I would prefer 3 on each side but the middle one would be too close to the factory center two and the side curtain airbags to install an additional RivNut.

 

[Dave O]

The roof rack would provide an unobstructed view out the back glass but is substantially less capable of carrying a load compared to an over the bed rack system

I like the look though, but decided to go over the bed

 

[Mudduck]

man , if your Forrester was anything like an outback, this really suck to install, you hav ego drop teh while head liner and remove the factory stuff first, blind nuts etc

Yeah, its basically the same install. It took me 8 hours solid.

 

[BennyMav]

Great work!

 

[Toronto_Maverick]

Nice work! I can't commit to that with the drilling and non-reversable aspect of it.

But I love it!

 

[Rynobuilt]

Just a square piece of sheet metal that goes under the roof to give it some additional strength. I doubt the roof was designed to hold that type of load, especially over time and rough roads. something like this

there is no way to install a "dubbler" or backer etc in that space, there is multiple panels that come together as a structure where these mount, its probably id say the strongest junction on these trucks as unibodies.

 

[Rynobuilt]

The Aluminum channel cover is held on by 4 bolts on each side. They should be removable from the exterior without removing the headliner but that would require an exposed head. I would prefer 3 on each side but the middle one would be too close to the factory center two and the side curtain airbags to install an additional RivNut.

to clarify what your saying, the outer trim, the piece that has the 7/16" hole saw through it, is just a trim piece, that holds no structural value to the truck, its held on with 4 studs that secure with nuts that are located inside the truck and to remove them you need to drop the headliner down to access them. I agree with your statement , if ford thought it out better having access with nuts or fasteners located on top would be way easier. there is another brand rack that uses those holes as mounting point I believe also.

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