How to remove Grande roof rails?

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

thanks for the info and photos Garry,

Would you like me to resize them so they fit in the forum guidelines and repost for you?

Regards,

Michael

[05oiler Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 05oiler]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

Yes please.

Regards

Garry

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

Here you go:

I've just spent a couple of hours this afternoon fremoving the roof rails from my 2008 GXL and fitting the Rhino Roof Rack feet. Now I didn't taken any pictures whilst I was removing them but I did taken some after photos that show how it is done. Thankfully I didn't break any of the locating tabs.


I've laid everything out on the floor so it is easy to see.

This is the front left hand piece. Note the little tabs.

These tabs require you to slide it out to the front of the car.

I'm using a baby knife. Using you hand to pull the plastic cover outward, slide in the tool and along till you find the first locating tab. Gently twist the tool until it pops out.

Holding the cover outwards with you fingers, slide the tool along till it finds the next tab. Twist until it pops out. Then gently twist, wriggle the whole cover whilst pulling towards the front of the car till it breaks free.

These are the little tabs we are trying not to break.

Now same again for the back. Pull the cover out wards with your fingers. Slide the tool in and up to the first tab, gently twist until it pops out.

Holding the cover outwards slide the tool along till you feel the next tab, gently twist the tool until it pops out. Gently twist, wriggle the whole cover, pushing it towards the back of the car.

This is the trickiest one. You have to push the sides inward. Try the angled one first, then gently push the tool in and twist whilst you pull outwards and downwards. It might take a few go's to get it. Once you free that side, you can wriggle the other out. Then it is just a matter of undoing all the bolts. DO NOT push down on the bolts. It is easy to push the bolt threads down into the roof lining. You will have to remove the roof lining to get them back.

All the legs in position ready to mount the rack.

It may not look as good as before but it is functional.

Regards

Garry

Michael

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

Here's a hint when removing the rail end covers. It's actually easier than it appears - when you flex the cover toward you and pry/twist with the blade, you can feel the catches go loose one at a time (there are 2 of them). Once the outside is clear, a bit of a wiggle and it will come free.

[attachment=0:2dx9s4pl]MyRailsHint.jpg[/attachment:2dx9s4pl]

Michael

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Re: How to remove GXL roof rails

I've just done the same on my GXL. I had a few different experiences, and was able to remove them without the need of a blade.

1. Removing Front Plastic Cap from Front of Roof Rail
Here's a 13 second movie showing how to remove the plastic cap from the front. It was a similar technique for removing the plastic cap on the rear.



2. Removing the side caps

[My assistant left, so no more movies ]

First step... push the rubber seal back under the bracket. The next two photos demonstrate what I mean:



With the rubber in the recess, the plastic cover can now be pushed down away from the rail (with some carefully measured force). In the next photo you can see the gap that has opened up between the rail and the cover.



Next pushing it side-to-side and simultaneously pulling from the base will release the clips:



And presto, off it comes:



3. Removing the Plastic Cap from the Rear of the Rail

The rear covers required it to be pushed from the top and as it moved simultaneously lifting it from the base...



Here's another angle with my son levering it off. His right-hand is pulling it whilst his left hand is lifting it off the clips. (Careful about which is left-and-right - his hands are crossed over).



Cheers,
LFaR.

[Bestcareverowned Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Bestcareverowned]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

I have just bought a new GXL and was going to take the Roof Rails off. once off, can you get the 'gap covers' from spare parts ? if so what are they called?

Thanks .

Pete

[05oiler Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 05oiler]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

Yes. They are available from the Toyota Spare Parts section. I paid $15 about 12 months ago after I lost one.

Garry

[Bestcareverowned Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Bestcareverowned]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

Thanks gary,

Much appreciated.

Regards

Pete

[borgy Member Find all posts View Profile Close borgy]

Re:

Hi all

Stevo,
When you do get the rails off, have a good look at all the rubber at the bottom of the rails. Think about waterproofing and whether your roof rack will need to have a bead of silicone around the bolt holes. TJM just wacked my ARB Rack straight on .... result bad leaking down the A Pillars and wet seatbelts :!: :evil: Had to take the rack off and do it properly myself.

Cheers,

Jim

Thanks to all the info and pics here on PP, I managed to get them all off without breaking any !!.. Also as per above took the advice to put a bead of silicone around the bolt holes to prevent potential water ingress...

A question for those that have done this: Is the bead around the bolt (for a Rhino HD foot pack) sufficient? Anyone find that anything further was required?

cheers

[Batto83 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Batto83]

Thanks guys this thread was very helpful. Is the same on my GXL 150 series.

Does anyone know if the rails are the same as I am now selling mine if anyone is interested. (note: I have cracked, but not quite completely snapped, one of the small plastic lugs that are mentioned).

[Guest Close Guest]

The rails between the 120 and 150 are different. The mounting points are at different locations.

[Homer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Homer]

Thanks LFAR,
I was able to get my rails off this morning unscathed thanks to your video and instructions.

[rudiedj Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rudiedj]

Howto: Removal of factory 120 roof rails

I have fitted a Front Runner roofrack today and had to remove my factory rails. I tried searching on the net, and found a broken link on Pradopoint that was of no help obviously.
I took some pictures to share with you.

I used an allen key, to wedge underneath the big plastic ends, and pulled to the side, to release the clips. THe one picture shows these clips. Once they are removed, you remove the middle ones, similarly. The rest is obvious.

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

rudiedj,

Congrats on the purchase of your new rack! They are awesome.

This should be moved under this thread: http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...nde-roof-rails. Also I don't know if mods have a rule about renaming threads, but replacing the word "Grande" with "120" would make it easier for someone to find it in the future.

LFaR.

[Pete6 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pete6]

Thanks for a very informative thread. I have found PP to be such a great forum for sharing knowledge and tips.