PrInSu Design Studio Roof Racks BS Thread

Interested in this too. If you ever get around to taking pictures please post them.

 

Totally understandable, but that would be awesome!

 

I'm glad it wasn't just me. I hope that Zach can source a new supply of bolts for these premium racks.

 

Most of the time if a bolt breaks it is due to the thread having a remnant of aluminum from when it was tapped in combination with too much force. If the bolt doesn't go in easily check the hole and make sure it is clear and that things are cross threaded. I am yet to have a bolt break on me and I have done numerous installs and remove and replace bolts on my rack on a weekly basis to test accessories and configurations.

 

This I have done. I have tried to find a carriage bolt in a grade 8 that fits into the slot but the grade 8 ones have a thicker collar which doesn't fit into the slot. So grade 2 or 5 are the only ones that work and as long as they are snugged down they will hold the feet to the bar just fine.

 

Yeah, when I first installed a bike mount (fork mount style) to the rack I was using carriage bolts and broke like 4 off by tightening it too much. I finally got it on and was worried to carry the bike there but we were in a hurry so I said screw it and left. It endured about 800 miles on road and 100 offroad with no problems.

 

The riv-nut went onto the tool's bolt easily and like I said it broke before the riv-nut even started to compress, it wasn't cross threaded or anything. The hardware supplied appeared to be a poorly cast bolt...maybe I just got a bad one but maybe not. Either way I'm sure most here would pay the extra few cents for some higher grade bolts supplied with the kit. I know I would have.

 

Guess I got lucky, or may be I took my time first. Didn't break a single one. It took me the entire weekend to get both racks on though.
Also curious, if the guys who broke stuff assembled their racks on the truck or on the floor first then went to the trucks?

 

A little first gen love.

 

Makes me want to get a camper so I can rock both racks

 

Did some research, apparently Yakima and Thule both make some hardware that is supposed to fit their aero channel systems. These will not work for the Prinsu Rack, since the square heads are too big for the channels in the rack. The guys are REI were really helpful and basically gave me some spare parts from their shop which would actually work (for something else) however they're too short for the Yakima fatcats.

I ended up going to the hardware store like you, and got carriage bolts (M6x60 - pictures attached), these were just a little longer than the T-nut hardware from REI. It's going to be tight with the washer that is recommended with the set up, but might be able to pull it off. Will report back and add notes in the "Prinsu How To thread" for future reference.

 

Tried out my tent on the rack this weekend at it worked out well. I'm not really a fan of it up there, but it will do in a pinch. Anyone run their RTT for an extended period on their PrinSu?

 

No worries man, Us single guys with no kids can be productive when we are motivated enough
Now I just need to mount the darn things.

 

I've had mine on my prinsu since memorial day weekend. Still up there.

 

The bolt I broke has nothing to do with the rack going together. It was the bolt used to compress the riv-nut used only on the access cab racks. It's really not a huge deal didn't mean to make it into one. Just a suggestion for access cab rack owners to go swap out for some higher grade hardware before they start the install.

 

Ah, I have a Double Cab, so it's a different install process and we don't have to do that...
Hopefully you're happy with the rack now that it's up there

 

Of course I am... I was never not happy with it... the higher grade bolts was just... a... suggestion...

 

Alright that worked out well. The carriage bolts were super snug, and I had to tweak the mounts a little, but it turned out great! It's easier to do without any other mounting hardware pushing down on them.
I've only mounted the back rack, will mount the front one once I'm home so I can load up the snowboard rack in the back, and space things out appropriately.
Here are a few pictures of what's on so far, you can see their tool-less locking hardware in that last picture (it does make me a little nervous to see those there, I might consider putting some nylock bolts on there later, or at least carry them with the spares when on long trips.
Happy to report that the carriage bolts are more than long enough.

 

Gotcha, that makes more sense. I will look into getting some beefy ones for that application.

 

Borrowed my neighbor's skis to see how much room we had to place the Yakima FatCat 6. Mounted everything and then realized they were too close because I have a wide stance on my snowboard. So moved the crossbar that the front rack was on into the adjustable slot, which will give us the ability to move things around if need be. Also mounted my Yakima Skybox 16s, on the Cabrack. Everything seems solid! I can put better pictures in the morning when there's some natural light.