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1Gen-SequoiaGeneral discussion forum for the first generation 2001 to 2007 Toyota Sequoia.
This is a discussion thread titled "Roof Mount Bike Rack", within the 1Gen-Sequoia forum, part of the SUV Forums category.
We are pulling a travel trailer with our Sequoia, I had a 3 position bike rack mounted on the trailers spare tire, but this proved to flimsy and the welds cracked. I need to discuss this with Swagmann as it may be warranty, but I dont want the same replacement. This was difficult to put three bikes on.
I was looking at the roof mounted racks and have a few questions if you are using this type:
- Which type do you prefer?
- Does it mount to the Toyota roof rack?
- Was it easy to install?
- Other than lifting a bike up to the roof, is it easy to mount?
- How many do you put up there?
I recommend Yakima racks, you're going to have to spend a few bucks initially for the mounting adaptors that bolt to the factory roof rack, the Yakima poles/racks and finally three bike attachments. I've used the same Yakima rack and all of my attachments (bike, kayak, sailboard and ski) on 4 different vehicles by just purchasing new roof rack adaptors. You can easily put 3-4 bicycles on your roof rack and it is very easy to attach the Yakima racks to the factory roof rack. Unfortunately, when I bought the Sequoia I had to buy longer poles/racks and of course new roof rack adaptors.
Thanks David,
I checked out their website this morning. Looks interesting. Are you using the King Cobra or Raptor? Seems the Raptor is less expensive by $40 but requires the Mighty Mounts for $30. I didnt see where the Cobra models need the additional mounts, but the Cobra maybe is limited to only bike carrying, where the purchase of the Mighty Mounts will let you add other types of roof mount accesories? Is it right?
Don't know how big your trailer is.... but I purchased an adapter that turns a single receiver hitch into a double receiver hitch (one mounted on top of the other) for <$50. I now connect my camping trailer to the lower receiver and still use receiver hitch-mounted bike carrier (yakima 4-bike) on the upper mount. Keeping the bikes behind, instead of on top, makes it easier to carry/load/unload bikes and cuts down on wind drag vs. carrying on the top of the Sequoia. Not sure I would use this set-up for a large (5,000+ Lb camper/trailer), but has worked well for me towing a ~2,500 Lb camper. Will take a picture of the adapter and post later.
I'm using a Hensley Arrow to pull a 4,800lb dry, 25' camper (it has a rear slide out when parked to 30').
I seen those hitch adapters you mentioned, but it wouldn't work in my case. I seen others talking about front bike rack mounts, but I think that wouldn't suit me to well.
The Yakima looks interesting, also Thule has some equivalent, but maybe a few bucks more.
I purchased four Lowrider attachments since I already had two 58" crossbars. I've been using the Copperhead bike attachments whenever I haul by mountain bikes. I like the crossbar system since you can attach any of the Yakima rack accessories to it with out additional Mightmounts. Each Yakima accessory comes with attachments that mount onto the round crossbars. Mightymounts can be used to attach the Cobra and Raptor bike attachments to the factory roof rack and yes you would need to purchase more Mightymounts for each additional roof rack accessory. If you're interested, I have two Cobra (older) style bike attachments that I would like to sell, unfortunately the bike trays got lost in my last move. I'm pretty sure you can purchase the bike trays seperately - David37
I have a Thule on mine (check my gallery, I think I have pics). I think you can get three bikes up there. I had a storage box, a kayak and one bike up there last week. If you get a rack you'll probably want a fairing to cut wind noise. I added one and it made a huge difference.
Yup, look in my gallery, I have pics of the Thule in there!
Brian, How do you like your Hensley Arrow hitch? I just bought one for our 30' TravelLite Trailer (4400LBS dry). Do you have any problems with towing. How does you Sequoia handly pulling up hill or at 7k Altitude? How long have you been towing with the Hensley/Sequoia combo? Do you notice the tongue weight. How much weight does the Hensley add to the tongue? Eric
Eric,
I seen this posting and thought I should answer something about the bike rack. We bought the Yakima Raptors off e-bay, great deal but I have not had the chance to use them yet.
You will love the HA, it is just fantastic and a worthy investment for your safety and peace of mind. It is heavy though, maybe 300-400 lbs? I was actually thinking to ask Hensley about that as I just had my rig weighed in full of fuel and passengers, with the tounge weight applied I am 100 lbs. over the GCVWR of the Sequoia. When I hitch up (using the HA factory WD bars (1000lb)) the Sequoia sqwats about 3 inches. I plan to get the Air Lift 1000 bags for it and then I suppose it will be ok after that. Of course I am at/over the limits, but here in Illinois we dont get into the mountain terrain. The 4.7L does a fine job pulling, on the long steep grades that I have been on the transmission shifted into 2nd to regain speed on a few occasions. The speed to regain was from 55mph back to the 60's. Most cases it just stayed in 3rd, I'm always towing with OD off. My KZ Frontier 2505 weighs in dry at 4850ish.
Careful with the Hensley back there, you will forget you are pulling a trailer and find yourself running with other cars at 75mph in no time.
I would comment to make sure you have a good brake controller too. I'm using the Prodigy from Tekonsha, nice product and no fooling around with it.
Not once have I felt any sway, have passed semi's, been passed by semi's, hit fairly strong side winds and she just goes along like an arrow (no pun intended, I think?).
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
I have a Yakima four bar, two basket, two bike tray system on my Sequoia, and use the Lowriders to attach them to the factory rack. It's a pretty serious rack that holds a ton of different things. The front basket is directly over the sunroof and is inverted to allow the sunroof to tilt up. The second basket is aft of the first and sits as it was designed to. I chose the Yakima system over the Thule because I had seen so many Thule cross bars that were sagging because they used a weaker rectangular metal, as opposed to the stronger and thicker steel pipe of the Yakima. I definitely needed to carry some loads up there without having to worry if my bars were going to sag.
Installation involves careful measuring, but, if I can do it, you can, too. I can probably carry another three bikes if I were to have two of the bike trays face backwards so that the handle bars wouldn't hit. Attaching them to the rack is as easy as tightening a wheel skewer and clicking a wheel strap; way easier than bungeeing this and padding that on a rear rack. If you want to see pics, let me know by sending a PM.
I have a Yakima four bar, two basket, two bike tray system on my Sequoia, and use the Lowriders to attach them to the factory rack. It's a pretty serious rack that holds a ton of different things. The front basket is directly over the sunroof and is inverted to allow the sunroof to tilt up. The second basket is aft of the first and sits as it was designed to. I chose the Yakima system over the Thule because I had seen so many Thule cross bars that were sagging because they used a weaker rectangular metal, as opposed to the stronger and thicker steel pipe of the Yakima. I definitely needed to carry some loads up there without having to worry if my bars were going to sag.
Installation involves careful measuring, but, if I can do it, you can, too. I can probably carry another three bikes if I were to have two of the bike trays face backwards so that the handle bars wouldn't hit. Attaching them to the rack is as easy as tightening a wheel skewer and clicking a wheel strap; way easier than bungeeing this and padding that on a rear rack. If you want to see pics, let me know by sending a PM.
I have no issue with my Thule bars sagging. Condidering the factory rack has an evenly distributed capacity of @150 lbs you might want to be careful.
Roof capacities are rated very conservatively. A heavier roof load with a much higher center of gravity and the subsequent altered handling characteristics in an already tall vehicle may have exceeded the comfort level of Toyota's legal department. In addition to the Sequoia, I had a '95 Pathfinder and a '99 4Runner, with a similar set up that both held twice that weight, and I experienced zero roof-related problems over the two years I owned each of them, having loaded the tops approximately three times a month in that manner. All three are/were tough trucks.
Perhaps Thule took care of the bar droop; it's been a while since I've seen a saggy Thule bar. I can tell you I saw enough bent Thule racks on sedans several years ago to be dissuaded from purchasing the system over Yakima. If you compare the cross section of an older Thule bar (I haven't seen a newer one so I'm not sure if it applies) with a Yakima bar, you can clearly see the difference in bar material, thickness and design that would lead to this structural flexing.
Anyone know how to remove the factory crossbars? I tried the four screws, two on each end of the bar, but still couldn't get enough angle to remove the bars.
I have a Thule on mine (check my gallery, I think I have pics). I think you can get three bikes up there. I had a storage box, a kayak and one bike up there last week. If you get a rack you'll probably want a fairing to cut wind noise. I added one and it made a huge difference.
Yup, look in my gallery, I have pics of the Thule in there!
Does anyone know of a fairing that will fit the factory Toyota Sequoia rack?
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Roof Mount Bike Rack
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