etrailer | Hands-On with the ARB Base Platform Rack

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Full transcript: www.etrailer.c...
Hi everyone. Aiden here with etrailer. Today we're gonna be taking a look at the line of ARB Base Rack Platform Racks. This is going to be a large rooftop platform that lets you mount a variety of different accessories to a number of different vehicle fits. So let's check it out. Now, the important thing to do to find the right one for you is plug your vehicle information into our fit guide and make sure you pick up the rack that's gonna work for you and your vehicle, because these are custom mounted.
For the most part, you've got two options, fixed mounting points or gutter mounts. And the gutter mounts are gonna be more for like that Jeep application. And the fixed mounting points is gonna vary a little bit. In the case of our 4Runner today, this actually replaced the factory raised rails. So we unbolted it and bolted the new brackets that we're custom made for this 4Runner to those mounting points.
Which is great because it just fit right in, no drilling required, but you wanna make sure for your own vehicles if you've got something different, that you just verify that installation process and see what it looks like because it's likely gonna be a little bit different. The other thing to note is that between the different kits, they're all gonna be a little bit different in size and weight capacity because they are a more custom fit solution. But in general, you can count on a couple things. The weight capacity is gonna be better than something like a typical roof rack just because this is a really robust construction and it's mounted more securely. Always check things like your vehicle's roof rating and just what your kit is capable of and go by the lowest rated components, we're not overloading anything on our vehicle or on the rack.
And then the other thing is that, again, compared to a typical roof rack where you just have two bars running across your roof, you're gonna have so much more space to mount accessories. We've got just a handful up here right now to showcase what this is capable of, but ARB offers so much more and we carry it here at etrailer so you can find the right ones for you to build out your vehicle for your adventures. So just to talk about a few of the options you've got with accessories, ARB makes awning brackets, they make recovery track mounts. Up here today we've got just some simple tie-down loops, a shovel mount and some T-track adapters so that we can use our T-track accessories. And I think that T-track adapter is pretty important to talk about because that's the thing that really sets these ARB platforms apart is the way accessories mount using these dovetails.
So all your accessories are designed to clamp onto this dovetail on either the outside border or on the slats on your rack. So it's a bit unconventional, but if you did have an existing accessory like say this ski and snowboard rack, that could be channel mounted. The adapter is one of those things that can allow you to still use that type of accessory. But if you're looking to build a rack from the ground up and just get a full kit of accessories to match your needs, then just know that going with this ARB rack, you're gonna have to go with their accessories that utilize that dovetail. And I think when it comes down to it, that's my main complaint about this platform. Those dovetails are cool and I think it does make it pretty easy to attach accessories, but in my opinion, it's really limiting. Comparing this platform to a very similar platform from Front Runner. I actually installed that on one of my videographer's vehicles on his 4Runner as well. So it's a very similar setup process. I actually like that Front Runner platform a lot more because to attach accessories on it, it uses channel mounted accessories. So all of the channels are standard M8 bolt head size, so it's very easy to mount things up. And if you needed to, you could DIY mount something, again, really easily because it's standard hardware that you could just find at the hardware store. Whereas these dovetails are not designed to be standard. It's a very proprietary system and it's gonna box you in in terms of accessories and limit you in this whole world of rooftop accessories that you could be potentially tapping into. Moving on to some other specs about the rack that I like though, the main platform is gonna be aluminum, which helps keep things lightweight, so it's not gonna take away from your overall weight capacity as much, and corrosion resistance. So as we're clamping onto the dovetails here, if that black powder coat on top did scratch away over time, I'm not worried about it rusting and corroding, that

[@jaceecom]

Can you put a roof top tent on this?

[@curlcurllocal]

Odd how you skipped the trickiest part tightening the bolts underneath to rack?

[@etrailer]

Are you talking about the bolts that hold the base rack together? If so, we have a separate installation video that shows how to assemble the base rack before mounting it on your vehicle. You can check it out here: www.etrailer.com/tv-install-arb-roof-base-platform-rack-2017-Toyota-4Runner-ARB37YR.aspx

[@DavidIJ]

Your website says it does not fit the 2024 4Runner. Is this correct? Can I not install on mine?😢

[@etrailer]

The 2024 4Runner is the last year of the 5th generation, so the 2023 fits will work for your 2024. ARB lists 2 fits, part # ARB95GR measures 61 x 51 or # ARB37YR which is 72 x 51. www.etrailer.com/Roof-Rack/Toyota/4Runner/2023/ARB95GR.htm www.etrailer.com/Roof-Rack/Toyota/4Runner/2023/ARB37YR.html