Eezi-Awn K9 Roof Rack Kit For Toyota 4Runner 3rd Gen Eezi Awn

K9 Roof Rack Kit For Toyota 4Runner 3rd Gen – 2 Different Lengths – Thule & Yakima Compatible – by Eezi-Awn

If you’re after a slim, slick, reliable and easy to install roof rack for your Toyota 4Runner 3rd Gen, then the K9 rack kit by Eezi-Awn can easily be your best fit.

This excellent South-African made rack has 2 different lengths, ideal to adapt to your needs, with an easy installation that requires no drilling.

 Sizes:

The K9 systems for the 3rd Gen 4Runner come in come in 1250mm (49″) width, and 2 different lengths.  The most popular model is the 1.6M (62″) long rack that starts a few inches behind the sunroof and finishes an inch in front of the rear hatch.  This rack replaces the factory rack, leaves the sunroof complete uncovered, and requires no drilling. 

If what you want is to maintain the sun roof, then the 1.6M (62″) version is a great choice. It starts just behind the sunroof and finishes an inch in front of the rear hatch.

Heights:

The 3rd Gen 4Runner uses our standard height rack which measures 5″ high, from above the second row doors, measured at the pinch weld trim.  It uses 65mm tall feet, and allows enough room for options on the bottom of the platform. 

Capacity:

As with all roof racks, the weight capacity of the K9 roof rack system is broken into two measurements: static weight and dynamic weight. 

Static is when the vehicle is stationary, not in motion.  Dynamic is when the vehicle is in motion. 

After running tests, it was determined that a dynamic capacity in the range of 500 pounds is possible. That load included a Roof Top Tent, awning, dual fuel can holder, aluminum storage case with recovery gear, shovel, axe, under mount table, light bar, etc on a 2.2M long rack. 

A static capacity of 1000 pounds is possible. An example of static load increase would be adding people in the tent on the roof.  Please understand these capacities are on vehicles that have modified suspensions designed to manage this amount of weight. They are not a warrantied or guaranteed capacity.  Your load capacity will vary.

No Drilling Required:

The K9 Roof Rack System for the 3rd Gen 4Runner requires no drilling at all for any size rack. The proprietary mounting rail mounts right over the roof pinch weld trim and utilizes the OEM roof rack mounting points. 

Rack Kit Includes:

The components used on the 3rd Generation 4Runner rack systems include a pair of mounting rail, a set of K9 feet (2 per platform cross brace), and a platform.

Rack Accessories:

The Eezi-Awn K9 Roof Rack System comes with a complete array of bolt on accessories.  Jerry Can holders, Axe mounts, Shovel mounts, Hi-Lift Mounts, Max Trax Mounts, Awning Mounts, Under Rack Table mounts, and much more.  Take a look at the accessories page to see all our options.

Thule & Yakima Compatible:

The K9 Roof Rack is also the only overlanding rack on the market that is easily compatible with your existing Thule or Yakima sports bar mounts for bikes, kayaks, etc. With store-accessible 6mm hardware that attaches to the K9’s perimeter, your hobbies won’t become obsolete with your “old gear.

K9 Roof Rack Features:

• Fully Welded 1-3/8″H Low-Profile Platform
• Light Weight All Aluminum Construction
• All Components Are Anodized And Powder Coated Matte Black
• 5-1/8″ Wide M8 T-Slot Slats, Running Front to Back
• Semi-Elliptical Bottom Cross Braces To Reduce Wind Noise
• M6 T-Slot Around Top Perimeter With Rounded Top Edge
• 5 Lengths and 3 Widths Of Platform Available
• Multiple Mounting Configurations Including Gutterless/Gutter/OEM Rack Mounts
• Full Compliment of K9 Roof Rack Accessories For Top/Bottom/Side Mount
• Infinite Gear Organization Configurations
• Includes All Installation Components & Hardware

Installation Instructions:

Installation of this rack system can be done by one person in approximately 1-1/2 hours.  Please click HERE to download the instructions.

K9 2M / 2.5M x 1250mm ROOF RACK FOR TOYOTA 5TH GEN 4RUNNER

A proper installation of the longer 2M and 2.2M K9 Roof Racks on the Toyota 3rd Gen 4Runner takes a sequence of actions to ensure that the rail on the roof line lays flat to the roof. When installed correctly, the rail will hold tight to the roof.

STEP BY STEP:

1. Remove the factory roof rack from the vehicle, and leave the black plastic trim in place on the roof. This trim covers what they call the pinch weld, which is where the sides of the vehicle are welded to the roof. It is also where the OEM mounting points are located.
2. Lay down the supplied K9 Roof Rack round aluminum spacers over the OEM mounting points. The goal of the spacers is to level the gap in the plastic trim to the top of the trim.
3. Lay the mounting rail on top of the trim, and over the top of the spacers. The mounting rail is the same width as the trim.
4. Insert and hand tighten the mounting rail bolts through the mounting rail and spacers into the OEM threads. The goal here is to make the mounting rail run smoothly across the roof of your truck. Tighten all bolts in place.

NOTE : Depending on the day the 4Runner was made, the height of the OEM mounting threads can be plus or minus a millimeter. Eezi-Awn provides the shortest spacer they have come across needing for the installation of the rail. When you tighten the bolts down, if you notice the rail recessing a bit to tighten, it will be necessary to add a flat washer (or two) to the top of the spacer to increase the thickness of the spacer under the mounting rail.

1. At this point, the front end of the mounting rail will sit proud of the roof line a bit at the front. This is okay, and we will address resolving this in a moment. Understand that there is about a foot and a half of rail that is in front of the forward OEM mounting points. Our goal here is to securely mount the rail to the front without requiring drill holes in the roof. When installed properly, the K9 Roof Rack System does not require drilling, but it does require tightening the components in a sequence to ensure the rail sits tight on the roof.
2. The next step is the installation of the feet to the mounting rail. Both the 2M and 2.5M K9 Roof Racks come with ten (10) feet, designed to be used as five (5) per side. Turn the rack platform upside down. Measure the distances from the back of the platform and each of the cross braces, then space the feet in the mounting rail to roughly coincide with the measurements you took.
3. Install the wind deflector while the platform is upside down. This will be much easier at this point rather than later.
4. Invert the platform right side up again, and lift onto the top of the feet.
5. Install hardware between feet and platform. Start to tighten all the hardware on the feet, but leave loose enough for adjustment.

NOTE : The sequence of tightening the feet to the mounting rail and platform is the key step to the mounting rail laying down on the roof. The logic here is to use the center feet as a fulcrum, the rear feet as an upward force and the front feet as a downward force. The goal is to use the rack components to push the front rail to the roof.

1. As mentioned before, there are five (5) feet on each side of the rack. Foot #1 should sit at the front and foot #5 should sit at the back with Feet #2, #3, and #4 between.
2. Go to Foot #3. Lower the mounting as low as you can. Tighten in place. Repeat on other side. This is our fulcrum.
3. Go to the rear most foot (Foot #5). Raise that foot as high as you can. Tighten in place. Repeat on other side. This creates an upward force on the back of the fulcrum, aiding in the downward force at the front of the rack.
4. Go to the forward most foot (Foot #1). Raise that foot as high as you can and tighten in place. This action will create even more downward force at the front of the rack, and will hold the front edge of the mounting rail down to the plastic trim on the roof.
5. Tighten Feet #2 and Feet #4 on both sides in their positions.

Eezi Awn K9 Platform Rack Review Video:

Eezi-Awn K9 Roof Rack Installation Video: