INCREDIBLE TUTORIAL. Just ordered my Prinsu rack for my TRD Off-Road and will be referencing this video for installation! Some items to consider: Eliminating the plusnut/rivnut may not be the best idea because they provide significant tension strength once expanded behind the Sheetmetal in the roof- definitely more secure than the washer/locknut you suggested. Proper plusnut/rivnut installation should be installed and expanded in the hole BEFORE the final mounting of the rack hardware. Also consider adding some sort of zink chromate primer in any freshly drilled sheet metal.
You do not need to completely remove the headliner. just drop it down to access the bolts that are located near the hand hold brackets and rear of the headliner.
Very good install vid! I have a question about the existing drilled holes. Do all RAV4 trims have all the holes you show or is that exclusive to the Adventure trim?
Can you supply the source for those pliers you used to compress the fitting behind the A pillar? I cannot find anything remotely close to yours. Thanks for a great video.
It's an old tool I had. Not sure where. You can try these. I've seen people use these successfully. I do think a flat head screw driver could do the job too but more difficult. amzn.to/38VNlrl
@@Rav4Gen5 As soon as I saw your video, I told my wife that I was going to drop the liner completely and add sound proofing... I will also let me check the holes for any signs of leaking...
So funny you bring that up. I am actually doing it right now and waiting on some bolts to be delivered. It's not as good as I thought it was going to be but it will get the job done. Might have the video up next month though. Want to road test it before I prematurely share a video.
@@Rav4Gen5 Well hope to see a video either way if it doesn’t work out. Also have you though about cutting up the old rack or getting a low profile one to cut up to fill in the gaps at all?
I don't have any channel covers installed but people are using vinyl tape like amzn.to/37SCNdl. You can also research a bit more and purchase the channel cover they use in the 4th generation Rav4. Some people installed those with success and it looked good. Make sure you consider paint protection film to go under the wind fairing. amzn.to/3nRjIOd
@@Rav4Gen5 wait, then what do you have installed on your car? I thought all Rav4 trim levels had a chrome lining above windows, yours is black? Did you use that vinyl tape, it looks like a plastic cover in the video.
I apologize. I thought you were talking about something else since it was commented on the Prinsu video. Check out this video for that AutoClover window product. czcams.com/video/r4XRvWl26Zs/video.html or here rav4gen5.com/rain-visor/
I have a 5th gen prinsu installed on my RAV4. Whenever I’m driving around 60-79 mph, it vibrates. Does that happen to you? Any tips to help me fix that?
Prinsu does not specify the rating. They probably never tested and I imagine they don't want to own the liability of it. I installed on the Adventure Rav4 which is same rails as your TRD. Prinsu can probably hold the same or more than Toyota since weight is distributed across 6 mounted locations versus 4.
@@Rav4Gen5 Yeah everyone I talked to that installed one warned me how bad the noise is. Wasn't worth it in the end, plus the installation of the Prinsu rack you have to do it perfectly or you risk water leaks.
I've received feedback that some people are using simple Vinyl wrap. amzn.to/38bJh5Y (Check the dimensions first). Others went the expensive route and purchased the rain gutters from the previous generation Rav4. Mine are still open.
The only thing I don't like about this is that the fact have to rip everything apart inside the RAV4 and I'm not comfortable with that. Things will fall apart down the road / in the future. That's what scares me. Why can't you use the factory installed one to put rooftop campers on it? It says it can hold up to 170 lbs I think? And that's for driving but if parked it can hold up to 600 lbs so why the upgrade of the rack? Is it because of the size or what? Please explain, because to me upgrading the rack seems like a waste of money when you already got a factory installed rack on the RAV4, we are paying for that you know? lol
I won't go into too much detail into one rack versus another. There is plenty of online content that compares the two. It just comes down to what do you want a roof rack to do for you. For 99% of the owners, the OEM is plenty. For others, modular system allows greater flexibility to install more and do more (what ever that may be).
Helpful review but its not a good idea to NOT use the plusnuts. These create most of the tensile strength of this rack. Your solution, you are putting all that tension on the roof sheet metal. Do not recommend.
INCREDIBLE TUTORIAL. Just ordered my Prinsu rack for my TRD Off-Road and will be referencing this video for installation! Some items to consider: Eliminating the plusnut/rivnut may not be the best idea because they provide significant tension strength once expanded behind the Sheetmetal in the roof- definitely more secure than the washer/locknut you suggested. Proper plusnut/rivnut installation should be installed and expanded in the hole BEFORE the final mounting of the rack hardware. Also consider adding some sort of zink chromate primer in any freshly drilled sheet metal.
Very good comment. I hope people read these. I doubt many know about your suggestion on zinc chromate primer.
I just posted this same comment more or less. Glad someone else noted this flawed installation.
You have an amazing channel! Keep it up! Also I'd like to know if this prinsu roof rack would work with the panoramic sunroof. Do you have any idea?
Thanks for the feedback. It will not work according to Prinsu. I think you cannot open window.
No, i think there were risks of shattering the roof becsuse of the total weight that you potentially would put around the glass
Wow.. Good install but im not gonna go all of that by removing the headliner.. 👍
You do not need to completely remove the headliner. just drop it down to access the bolts that are located near the hand hold brackets and rear of the headliner.
Very good install vid! I have a question about the existing drilled holes. Do all RAV4 trims have all the holes you show or is that exclusive to the Adventure trim?
To my knowledge, all rav4 have them. Same location.
The American version VIN starts with a 2 has 4 holes, not 5 like the Japanese counter part. (Vin starts with a J )
Did you find something for the Channel opening ?
Can you supply the source for those pliers you used to compress the fitting behind the A pillar? I cannot find anything remotely close to yours. Thanks for a great video.
It's an old tool I had. Not sure where. You can try these. I've seen people use these successfully. I do think a flat head screw driver could do the job too but more difficult. amzn.to/38VNlrl
Great Video! Did you add the sound proof to the roof or was it already there?
Hey. Thanks for the feedback. I had to add it myself. I had plenty left over from the door and cargo area.
@@Rav4Gen5 As soon as I saw your video, I told my wife that I was going to drop the liner completely and add sound proofing... I will also let me check the holes for any signs of leaking...
great video. any update to the alternative installation you mentioned at the end of the video?
So funny you bring that up. I am actually doing it right now and waiting on some bolts to be delivered. It's not as good as I thought it was going to be but it will get the job done. Might have the video up next month though. Want to road test it before I prematurely share a video.
@@Rav4Gen5 Well hope to see a video either way if it doesn’t work out. Also have you though about cutting up the old rack or getting a low profile one to cut up to fill in the gaps at all?
Did you notice a change in your mpg after the install?
Great video! Can you also please provide me a link to the window channel covers you are using? Thanks!
I don't have any channel covers installed but people are using vinyl tape like amzn.to/37SCNdl. You can also research a bit more and purchase the channel cover they use in the 4th generation Rav4. Some people installed those with success and it looked good. Make sure you consider paint protection film to go under the wind fairing. amzn.to/3nRjIOd
@@Rav4Gen5 wait, then what do you have installed on your car? I thought all Rav4 trim levels had a chrome lining above windows, yours is black? Did you use that vinyl tape, it looks like a plastic cover in the video.
I apologize. I thought you were talking about something else since it was commented on the Prinsu video. Check out this video for that AutoClover window product. czcams.com/video/r4XRvWl26Zs/video.html or here rav4gen5.com/rain-visor/
@@Rav4Gen5 no worries, thanks! I should've checked your other vids!
Question before purchasing: is this rack not recommended if I have the panoramic moonroof??? Or will it still work? Thank you!
Their website says it will not work. I am not sure specifically what would be the issue but best not to spend time and money.
I would use black 5200 silicone instead of that silicone.
I have a 5th gen prinsu installed on my RAV4. Whenever I’m driving around 60-79 mph, it vibrates. Does that happen to you? Any tips to help me fix that?
You have a loose bolt somewhere. Double check everything. See if your rack is also hitting the rav4 somewhere. You have the weatherstrip?
Now the question is how much is the roof weight rating? Cause one the TRD RAV4 we have a high roof rating.
Prinsu does not specify the rating. They probably never tested and I imagine they don't want to own the liability of it. I installed on the Adventure Rav4 which is same rails as your TRD. Prinsu can probably hold the same or more than Toyota since weight is distributed across 6 mounted locations versus 4.
What happened to the headliner removal and all the other panels?
I reinstalled them. I felt it didn’t need to be on video though
What type of plugs did you use to cover the unused holes on the car?
I have a link in the description. Some kind of rubber plug. amzn.to/3kVd8F4
Will it work on a panoramic sunroof?
According to their website, no. Might interfere with the opening and closing
The noise and leaking issues with the Prinsu racks convinced me to just install the oem cross bars which took all of 15 minutes.
Yes. The noise is awful. Anyone who wants a prinsu should make sure they actually need it. Looks is one thing but comfort is very important too
@@Rav4Gen5 Yeah everyone I talked to that installed one warned me how bad the noise is. Wasn't worth it in the end, plus the installation of the Prinsu rack you have to do it perfectly or you risk water leaks.
@@Rav4Gen5 I have prinsu rack on Tacoma and doesn't bother me at all. Is the noise on Rav4 worst than Tacoma?
What rain guard you have?
czcams.com/video/r4XRvWl26Zs/video.html
That huge front wind deflector looks tacky as hell. Should've gone with light bar option. Yes, night and day difference.
Did you ever find something to fill in the open roof gutter?
I've received feedback that some people are using simple Vinyl wrap. amzn.to/38bJh5Y (Check the dimensions first). Others went the expensive route and purchased the rain gutters from the previous generation Rav4. Mine are still open.
@@Rav4Gen5 I purchased the rain gutters and yes this method is some what expensive, but I am happy with the outcome.
@@nogdolan did you purchase directly from Toyota? Do you have a link?
@@MelMoy11 I did buy from Toyota. Here are the different part numbers I used: 75558-0R050 (LH) 75557-0R050 (RH), 75552-0R010 (LH) 75551-0R010 (RH).
@@nogdolan have you had any issues with leaking after putting in the rain gutters with the prinsu?
The only thing I don't like about this is that the fact have to rip everything apart inside the RAV4 and I'm not comfortable with that. Things will fall apart down the road / in the future. That's what scares me. Why can't you use the factory installed one to put rooftop campers on it? It says it can hold up to 170 lbs I think? And that's for driving but if parked it can hold up to 600 lbs so why the upgrade of the rack? Is it because of the size or what? Please explain, because to me upgrading the rack seems like a waste of money when you already got a factory installed rack on the RAV4, we are paying for that you know? lol
I won't go into too much detail into one rack versus another. There is plenty of online content that compares the two. It just comes down to what do you want a roof rack to do for you. For 99% of the owners, the OEM is plenty. For others, modular system allows greater flexibility to install more and do more (what ever that may be).
Helpful review but its not a good idea to NOT use the plusnuts. These create most of the tensile strength of this rack. Your solution, you are putting all that tension on the roof sheet metal. Do not recommend.
The new RAV4 looks great with the Prinsu roof rack but that’s way too much work. I’ll just get a Prinsu roof rack for the Tacoma.
Are you saying the Tacoma rack will work on the Rav4 too?
@@bigreduiw didn’t say that at all
Looks ugly 🙁
From the front, I 100% agree. Side profile is dope though.
Did you notice a change in your mpg?