thook44 Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 i want to install yakima gutter mount style rack on my lego. it's off my old 4runner. also, it's what i've got and it's in really good shape. so, i need to pull the headliner down to drill holes and install the hardware. looking at the trim it looks like i might have to pull a bunch of stuff down? is there an easy or minimal way to go about this bypassing unnecessary steps/pulling stuff i don't need to and without breaking stuff? i just need the headliner down from the rear seats on backalso, there's a lot of crud built up inside/behind the exterior trim along the tops of the doors; dirt, leaf debris, etc. as well, some ants have made a nest in one section along the top of the front pass door. my main concern is rusting over time. it'd be nice to get the ants gone, too.....without spraying poison. (just not my thing ) but, if i can get the trim off, i can clean it better. otherwise, perhaps my compressor and nozzle will do the job guidance, anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subaru Scott Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Northern tool has a really great blind thread insert tool. Get that with a pack of their stainless 1/4-20 inserts. No need to drop headliner, just use a very short bit or a drill stop so you don't go too far and through the headliner (like I did before I put the stop on). Stick an insert in the tool with a little silicone around it, and the tool crimps it in the roof, just like a big hollow rivet. Works a treat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thook44 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 Northern tool has a really great blind thread insert tool. Get that with a pack of their stainless 1/4-20 inserts. No need to drop headliner, just use a very short bit or a drill stop so you don't go too far and through the headliner (like I did before I put the stop on). Stick an insert in the tool with a little silicone around it, and the tool crimps it in the roof, just like a big hollow rivet. Works a treat! seriously?? you think the sheet metal of the roof will be stout enough to handle the load with that method? i might haul light loads of scrap lumber i find from time to time (less than the max weight limit for the rack.....which i think is around 200lb), but mostly just a couple of bicycles. i am skeptical, but i'm also open if you have indeed done this without issue. it does look to be a chore getting all that interior junk down....even without breaking something. so, if i can skip doing that, boy...i'd be happy. the set up i had on the fiberglass top of my 4runner was with steel backing plates and stainless bolts/washers. i'd ripped the gutters off...since they're just fiberglass....so i'd effectively made new gutters with some angle iron and cutting/ripping one side short on a table saw with a cut off blade. worked great since the pieces i made were long enough...approx 16in or so....giving me room for adjusting load bar distance i wonder if harbor freight has the same kinda tool. we have one not too far from me. i'll have to research... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thook44 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 yeah, i don't know, man. after reading some reviews in somewhat similar applications, not sure i feel too good about the rivut idea. i have concerns the insert hole would wallow out after time. i do live on a very rough road. hmmm.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subaru Scott Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Behold: Been going strong 4 years now. I don't have any pics of me hauling anything real heavy, but I do I've seen a lot of factory racks that I know for sure aren't nearly as stout as mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thook44 Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 well, i've done a couple hours of web reading.....and a lot of thinking. the load force is distributed flat on your roof....downward and across. on mine, it would have to be on the sides of the roof since it's a gutter mount type attachment. my wagon is a gt and has the raised sides to do that. so. load forces would play differently with mine on the thin metal. not saying i wouldn't be fine like you to go with nutserts...i just don't know. i still have serious doubts it will hold well. i do know it would always bug me wondering if it's going to fail also, other considerations are cost of the tool and/or time. i'd want to make a tool since i'll likely only use it this once and likely i already have all the pieces needed. that would mean my only real expensive would be some hardware and maybe adhesive. not much $, true, but after the time spent making a tool and waiting on shipped hardware (for quality inserts) i'm figuring i could have the liner out. so, i'm just going to go that route. i have a tool for pulling interior trim. not sure if it'll be applicable here, though. it will on some fasteners, but not all...that i can see, anyway i even thought of fab'ing some metal that would attach to the factory mounting holes in the roof. you know..... flat and bolted up on top, but then bending over at an angle following the line of the roof's side. that'd be bomber, albeit more complex. anyhow, still looking for input on interior. the exterior i'll just blow out with a compressor and pressure washer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted August 27, 2017 Share Posted August 27, 2017 most of the interior trim bits are simple snap-in fasteners..metal clip over a molded in plastic tab. only places there would be bolts would be at the grab handles, & seatbelt mounting you run a greater risk of breaking the old, brittle plastic tabs off than anything else. just go slowly, prying gently and you should be able to pop the pieces out that you need to in order to access the area you are after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thook44 Posted August 27, 2017 Author Share Posted August 27, 2017 cool. yeah...i was able to gently pry some trim back far enough to get a gander at some tabs. looks like some disconnect by pulling away sideways/up/down from adjacent pieces. but, it was also dark with a headlamp on, so....i hope to start getting it apart this week. there's some repairs she's needing, as well. done some already. been time consuming and what not thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thook44 Posted August 28, 2017 Author Share Posted August 28, 2017 Behold: Been going strong 4 years now. I don't have any pics of me hauling anything real heavy, but I do I've seen a lot of factory racks that I know for sure aren't nearly as stout as mine. hey, man....i had this brilliant idea this morning. i just didn't think of it before, i've got a thule rack with mounts like this: https://avtoshara.kiev.ua/products_pictures/thule-960-1.jpg i have rather long clips for them. so, i figure i can install rivnuts, mount my gutter style pieces of metal to them, drill a hole through the middle of the clip, and run a bolt through a hole in the middle of the gutter piece between the bolts holding the gutter piece to car body. this way the stress of the load is on the feet of the crossbars/top of the car and not on the rivnuts. i didn't want to use a clip style system before i started this thread because I don't like they tend to shift under certain stress. but, the bolt through the clip will keep that from happening, you see? anyhow, the real point here is i tried to order some rivnuts from the fastenal here. they don't have them in stock, but i can order a bag and get a bulk price. the fella couldn't quote me a price, though, without knowing the grip range. would you happen to remember the grip range of the rivnuts you installed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subaru Scott Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 hey, man....i had this brilliant idea this morning. i just didn't think of it before, i've got a thule rack with mounts like this: https://avtoshara.kiev.ua/products_pictures/thule-960-1.jpg i have rather long clips for them. so, i figure i can install rivnuts, mount my gutter style pieces of metal to them, drill a hole through the middle of the clip, and run a bolt through a hole in the middle of the gutter piece between the bolts holding the gutter piece to car body. this way the stress of the load is on the feet of the crossbars/top of the car and not on the rivnuts. i didn't want to use a clip style system before i started this thread because I don't like they tend to shift under certain stress. but, the bolt through the clip will keep that from happening, you see? anyhow, the real point here is i tried to order some rivnuts from the fastenal here. they don't have them in stock, but i can order a bag and get a bulk price. the fella couldn't quote me a price, though, without knowing the grip range. would you happen to remember the grip range of the rivnuts you installed? I can't remember what the grip range was, they were the standard base range for single thickness sheet that they had on the shelf, probably the lowest range. 0-3/16" maybe. I tapped around where I wanted to drill, to try not to run into a brace or anything. In a couple places there were and the inserts crimped down in double thickness with no problem. My set got washed away in a flood, or I would go look at the inserts. I may buy another, I think of things from time to time it would be handy for. The tool was only about 30 bucks too, reasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thook44 Posted August 29, 2017 Author Share Posted August 29, 2017 (edited) cool. that gives something to base a search on, alteast. the guy at fastenal asked me the range i wanted. i had no f'n idea what he was talking about....ha! anyway, i gotta mock stuff up tomorrow...make sure this idea's even gonna work before i start buying stuff and fab'ing. regardless of that, i killed the mudflaps i had a long time ago, so i'm gonna go all diy and i think the rivnuts would be good for it. plus, i may even do a rally type bar up front with some low profile auxilliary lights. i think rivnuts would be useful there, too. hopefully i can wire those into the parking light switch on the steering column. kinda sucks you can't use the headlights once the car is shut off. who's idea was that? dorks. plus, aux lighting will come in handy at night in the woods sometimes. not to mention the night time highway fog near the river......like tonight Edited August 29, 2017 by thook44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subaru Scott Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 kinda sucks you can't use the headlights once the car is shut off. who's idea was that? The guy who got sick and tired of driving to the mall to jump start his wife's car... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I actually like that the lights turn off with the key.. call me weird.. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thook44 Posted August 29, 2017 Author Share Posted August 29, 2017 The guy who got sick and tired of driving to the mall to jump start his wife's car... yeah, there's that...lol. but, isn't that what loud buzzers are for? don't get me wrong. i do like that the headlights turn off when you shut the car off. but, you know, if they could install a switch for parking lights, why not also with the headlights? i'm just b****ing a little...hehe. i've got a chain/gate at the top of the hill when entering my drive (a gravel road 1/8mi). i have to get out of the car, of course, to lock and unlock it. and, since my parking brake doesn't work...hasn't worked...it means i have to leave it in gear and turn the car off. at nights, it's dark in the woods!!! and, more than once i've left my headlamp at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thook44 Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share Posted September 12, 2017 scott....i was digging around in my shop last night looking for my helicoil tool and discovered i'd gotten a rivnut tool kit already years ago. i'm sure it was harbor freight noting the labeling. i'd completely forgotten! all my tools have been in disarray for a while since relocated my shop. i just kinda loosely packed everything in and figured i'd get to arranging when i can anyhow, just to conclude this.....i'm not going to use the rivnuts for a rack. (just going to remove the liner and trim). but, i will for some attachment points the mudflaps and the rally bar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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