Removing Roof Rack

[Ron Burgundy]

I am interested in removing my roof rack. However, I have a few questions before I do so.

1: Is there any way to remove the roof rack, without removing the headliner first? According to the diagram below, you would remove these nuts to remove the entire rack. Problem being those nuts are above the headliner.



2: Assuming the holes needed to attach the roof rack were drilled directly in the body, once removed, will water leak directly into the cabin / above the headliner?

-Patrick

[Empty V]

I'm not sure if water will penetrate through the roof if the bolts are removed, but I doubt it. I don't think the tox head bolts are water tight and I don't remember there being any gaskets/o-rings under them. I had to remove a few in the back to get my safari basket on. I don't remember the size but my 01 did require a torx driver, your 99 might be different. You could always get smaller counter set bolts to put back in the inserts to plug the holes.

Billy

[W O T]

Any reason you wanna ditch the roof rack completely??

I ditched all the cross bars and it looks alot cleaner to me, I do think youd get a BIG leak by removing the bolts and leaving them out though obviously. Ditch the cross bars!!

This pic shows it pretty well, the beams going form front to back are pretty unnoticeable once you remove the big a** cross bars, I also didnt have that front little cover if you can see that in the pic, had to find one at the junkyard.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Any reason you wanna ditch the roof rack completely??

I ditched all the cross bars and it looks alot cleaner to me, I do think youd get a BIG leak by removing the bolts and leaving them out though obviously. Ditch the cross bars!!

This pic shows it pretty well, the beams going form front to back are pretty unnoticeable once you remove the big a** cross bars, I also didnt have that front little cover if you can see that in the pic, had to find one at the junkyard.

+1, Looks clean and you don't have to worry about holes in the roof.

[Ron Burgundy]

Awesome, didn't even consider it. I'll be doing this tomorrow.

Thanks for your help!

[xvanwilderx]

Any reason you wanna ditch the roof rack completely??

I ditched all the cross bars and it looks alot cleaner to me, I do think youd get a BIG leak by removing the bolts and leaving them out though obviously. Ditch the cross bars!!

This pic shows it pretty well, the beams going form front to back are pretty unnoticeable once you remove the big a** cross bars, I also didnt have that front little cover if you can see that in the pic, had to find one at the junkyard.

W O T,

That's a very clean look.

You're removing some weight and reducing lots of drag. Did you notice a difference in MPG?

[lino]

Is the upper 12" of your front windshield tinted too?

[W O T]

I dont watch my MPG, Ive got over 500lbs of stereo and drive like a dink lol, but Im sure it may have helped, and to me it looks damn good.

And yes my windshield is limo tinted, not 12" though........

Its 13

[Ron Burgundy]

Well I did it, and i'm not to sure if I like it or not. I've had it for a couple days and it is growing on me, but I am still debating.

As for now, I will leave them off and paint them while they're off in case I do decide to put them back on. I think a lift will definitely enhance the look but we'll see.

I'll keep an eye on MPG. I used to average 300 miles per tank - I have now removed my running boards and cross bars so i'll update as soon as I fill up again.

Thanks again for all the help!

-Patrick

[Hayes90]

I did this to mine too, it makes it look a whole lot better, i want to take off my spoiler too, it will change the whole look of the truck.

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Modified by Hayes90 at 9:40 PM 10/8/2009

[Ron Burgundy]

Mine never had one, and I'm sure glad it didn't. I'm not a fan at all.

[Hayes90]

Mine never had one, and I'm sure glad it didn't. I'm not a fan at all.

Thats what i mean, ive never seen a SUV with a wing on it that looks like it belongs there

[Alfredo24.pr]

sorry for bumping very old post, but does anyone know how much the roof rack weighs and have more pictures of R50s with roof rack off?