Installing Yakima tracks.. help?!

I am going to be installing Yakima tracks on my ARE campershell. I am trying to figure out where to place them. I can not find any guidelines or rules to follow. I’m considering just buying the cross bars I want, putting them in the tracks and then putting the whole assembly up on the shell and going from there. Is that dumb? Is there a bette ready or a guide to determine where to place them? Help me!?! Thanks!

 

Here's some info I posted about mine.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/show-me-your-shell.13598/page-397#post-22125282

 

Thank you! Did you try and keep it on the flat or is it on a slight angle with the curve of the camper? I can’t quite tell.

 

It came installed.

 

I ordered my ARE with the rails installed. I'll do some measurements for you tomorrow if you have a short bed MX shell. If it were me I'd contact ARE and ask tech dept. For the price you probably paid they should be able to help you. My ARE dealer is really good people. Maybe call your local guy.

 

If the tracks aren't totally flat it's ok. Once the risers go on it might look off but once the bars go through the stackers and gets tightened up it all comes together well. I've installed two and no issues. I won't be around either truck for awhile so I cant take any pictures or measurements. Take your time and use some kind of sealant around holes while bolts are going in

 

Not trying to be rude, but did you try a search first? There are several threads on this where multiple people have gone over how to install them.

 

I did mine myself, ARE cap. I set the tracks, with crossbars installed and just got em as straight as possible. I avoided the reinforced honeycomb center on the inside of the cap and went for it. Turned out just fine.

 

The ones I read did not talk about placement (unless I missed it). I understand the rest of the process. Just trying to figure out placement to maximize strength and minimize weakening or jeopardizing the shell.

 

Look at the roof inside of your shell- does it have a thicker part in the middle? Most of the fiberglass shells do. That is actually a cardboard/fiberboard honeycomb section that is glassed into the roof so that it keeps its shape and to stiffen it so that it doesn't flex when you're going down the road (like a flat sheet of say, aluminum, would). Vibration would lead to the glass cracking. Anyways, you do not want to drill through that as it is compressible and would start to compress as you tighten the nuts. It will also absorb water if you get water intrusion. Go between that section and where it starts to curve.

Hopefully you've got the correct mounting kit to use with the fiberglass shell; it should have what Yakima calls "capnuts". They are rounded plastic contraptions that allow you to tighten the embedded nuts by hand and protect your noggin from the bolt sticking through. Scroll down on this page and see the rounded things on either side of the number 4 (https://explore.yakima.com/custom-install#fiberglassroof or just google Yakima capnut. You want a flat surface for them so measure somewhere between where the downward curve of the roof starts and the thickened area. From what I've seen on various shells, it's not an exact measurement, varying some between installers.

I assembled my rack loosely then adjusted everything to where I wanted it before tightening it up enough to hold everything in place. Put strips of blue painter's tape down under where you want the tracks, measure again and make sure everything lines up. Measure again. Measure yet again. Get another beer. Mark where you're going to drill, remove the rack assembly and make sure you have a new sharp drill bit maybe half the size of the finished hole- you want to try to limit chipping as much as possible. Have another beer. Put a piece of painter's tape on your drill bit so you don't go very far because it's going to catch the carpeted headliner. Have another bottle of liquid courage. Start drilling. Drill your pilot holes them drill your full sized holes. I vacuumed while drilling to try to reduce fiberglass dust.

Use either silicon or one of the other waterproof sealers (3M makes some good stuff) but you don't need to gob it on. Just make sure the area is clean so that it sticks, put some in the hole and on the bolt and put them in the holes. Loosely snug them up, recheck everything then tighten them down and leave them to dry. Have another beer.

Mine's been on since '06 and so far no leaking.

ETA- This video shows where Rack Outfitters installed a set on a 1st gen (same principle). I think eTrailer.com also has an instructional video but I couldn't find it quickly.

 

This is super helpful. Thank you! I bought a full kit from Yakima with the cap nuts and sealant. So I should have everything for it. Kinda a sweet deal. I appreciate the help!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/installing-yakima-tracks-on-camper-top.483625/

See post #86 for my suggestion on where to mount the tracks.

 

Thank you for the information here. My uncle got a set of ARE campershell and Yakima racks from other Tacoma. We'll work on it right after we finished installing the wheel and tire, tire mounting on the current 4Runner project. I think there are a couple of small parts missing on the rack so we'll do a lot of measuring and beer.

 

How did your install go? I am about to put one on my cap just trying to find some tracks since they are out of stock everywhere.

Yakima’s website has pretty good installation instructions for anyone that comes across this thread like I did.

 

If you're thinking of ever installing a Prinsu rack, the distance between the tracks, center-to-center, should not be more than 42.4". Otherwise you won't be able to use the standard feet.

Install the tracks so that they're flat on top, in relation to the shell.

 

Or just build your own Prinsu style rack any width you want; it's just 80/20.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-prinsu-style-shell-rack.521186/