Westcott Designs roof rack sag/issues

[phantasticphil]

Hi all - I'm wondering if anyone is having issues with their westcott designs roof rack. If someone from Westcott is on the forums, feel free to chime in.

On the passenger side mine is sagging/now touching the body of the vehicle. I was initially a bit nervous when I saw that spacers were used to actually support the rack and now wondering if it's the attachment points to the roof that may not be spreading the load evenly enough and bending at the body. I haven't lifted the rack off to assess damage yet, assuming there may be some scratches at contact.

 

[JordanJ]

I have not noticed mine sagging at all, but I can’t say I’ve really looked, it’s got such a low profile anyway, I’d really have to be looking. How much weight did you have? I saw the awning but is there anything else up there? I’ve got a couple rifle cases on mine loaded with stuff

 

[phantasticphil]

Update. Mad.

The rack was not installed correctly. It's not the installers fault. It's westcotts lack of instruction.

There were two additional brackets that came with the rack, front, they sit directly on the roof without bolting. The installer called them at install since there was no documentation and the only YouTube video on the install didn't include them. He was given instructions over the phone and installed them onto the weather stripping in the channel. It has since shifted as they were supposed to be resting directly on the roof.

I'm doing it myself and just dented/scratched the truck in the process.

TL;DR: installed wrong due to lack of and poor instruction.

Only one who gets screwed EOD is the customer. I hope Westcott does better in the future.

 

[JordanJ]

When did you purchase the rack? I got mine maybe a month ago and mine had that in the instructions and they also told me when I purchased

 

[Cruiser250]

That’s good to know and I hope mine came with the instructions as I got my roof rack back in Dec. I was not able to install it as I was outside the country for a few months. But should be a nice project for the weekend.

 

[phantasticphil]

I got it in late Dec/early Jan. @JordanJ - did your instructions say what to do with the front support brackets that sit on the body? Not bolted.

Mine didn't come with instructions or anything.

 

[Bighorn Tremor]

I installed a Westcott rack last week. The only instructions available was the online video. I called Westcott because there were four roof brackets instead of the three mentioned in the video. They seemed to know why I was calling and told me how to install the fourth/front bracket (under the weatherstripping).

What I'm not clear on, and perhaps someone knows, is that I reinstalled the weatherstripping but:

1. Am not happy with the front weatherstipping humping over the front bracket and,
2. Worry that the middle weatherstipping, which seems to just be sitting in the channel, will eventually come out and blow away.

I have thought about cutting the front weatherstipping so that it stops just in front of the bracket. I've also thought about removing the middle weatherstripping because it doesn't seem to serve any purpose. Of course I could also add a couple pieces of adhesive to secure the weatherstripping in place.

Appreciate any thoughts on the matter.

 

[Kiet2k]

Ugh. Reading all this just as I am about to order mine. Overall, how are yo guys liking the fit and finish? I would love to see some pics of your Westcott roof rack on your rig.

 

[JordanJ]

@phantasticphil from what I remember the front brackets have a padded bottom, and yes they do just sit in the channel where the weather strips are. I kind of dry fit mine, marked the strip with paint marker and then cut a channel out of it and put the weather strips back in. It’s relatively easy to do with all the other bolts hand tight, that gives you an enough play to slide it in and out. I also went bracket by bracket double checking height and level front and sideways. I was concerned originally about those brackets but they sit very snug and haven’t had an issue yet.
@Bighorn Tremor I can’t tell you what to do but as I said above, I trimmed my weather stripping around the front brackets. As for the rest of the strips, I just used a good helping of silicone to seal the front and rear against wind. On my old Tacoma I had a prinsu rack where I had to cut all the stripping to fit the brackets and pretty soon I had no stripping, so… can it fly away, yes. But you could always use some new 3m tape or whatever too. As far as does it matter? I don’t think so

 

[JordanJ]

 

[JordanJ]

I’m very happy with it so far, haven’t had it on for very long though. But it’s very low profile, maybe a 1/4” between the bottom of the side rails and the roof of the cab, I haven’t noticed any wind noise (but I blast my music too so maybe there’s a difference I’m not hearing). I’ve got easily 30lbs of gear in either rifle case and haven’t noticed any sagging. Annnnd there’s a good bit of play in the brackets as far as upwards movement so you don’t need it that close to the cab if you’re uncomfortable with that.

 

[Melvins99]

I installed my Westcott roof rack maybe 6 weeks ago and followed the YouTube instruction video which does not include instructions on the 4th bracket and so when I got to the end and realized I had this leftover bracket I contacted Westcott and after several days got a call and was told to simply add it last. The problem was/is apparently all the other brackets have to be loosened so the forth bracket can fit. My concern was/is that this might break the silicone seal, so I have not installed this 4th bracket yet. Anyone have any thoughts on whether loosening the other brackets might impact upon the silicone and allow for water intrusion. So far I really like the rack, but have admittedly not put it to much of a test. I was displeased with the customer service and not just the delay in responding to my questions about installation, such that if I had to do it over again, I would have gone with a different rack.

 

[JordanJ]

I installed my Westcott roof rack maybe 6 weeks ago and followed the YouTube instruction video which does not include instructions on the 4th bracket and so when I got to the end and realized I had this leftover bracket I contacted Westcott and after several days got a call and was told to simply add it last. The problem was/is apparently all the other brackets have to be loosened so the forth bracket can fit. My concern was/is that this might break the silicone seal, so I have not installed this 4th bracket yet. Anyone have any thoughts on whether loosening the other brackets might impact upon the silicone and allow for water intrusion. So far I really like the rack, but have admittedly not put it to much of a test. I was displeased with the customer service and not just the delay in responding to my questions about installation, such that if I had to do it over again, I would have gone with a different rack.

That sucks man, I can sympathize totally, but as far as those front brackets, you should be able to loosen the top bolts on all the brackets. And cut the weatherstripping. That’s how I had mine to mark where to cut the stripping. There’s actually a decent amount of play with all of the upper bolts loose.

 

[phantasticphil]

I'm redoing mine now. Just got the double sided 3m tape. The guidance they gave me was to get everything in place, the front lip should be touching the vehicle. And then once everything is tightened up, then you add the non bolted front brackets.

I'm curious @JordanJ - take a look at my pic and see how close the side rails are. This is how much clearance I'm left with if the front is barely touching the vehicle. They said it was important that it did.

Is that roughly what your clearance or is mine tighter?

 

[JordanJ]

Yes sir, thats how mine is too, VERY close. Its nightime and rainy here but I’ll post a pic of mine first thing to compare, the wind faring though was not touching when I did mine, I had to pull the rubber down a little bit to close the gap because I didn’t want any excess wind noise… if that makes sense?

 

[Swede]

Tnx @phantasticphil for bring this up. I just went outside and confirmed I don't have any clarence on my passenger side and almost none on driver. I got my rack late October and installed in November. There was no forth bracket included. And to be honest I’m not sure that would have altered the outcome. I’ve contacted Westcott now and let’s see what happens. Pretty sure the paint work will be damaged, and I now question the safety of the rack. Sad, I was so happy with the rack until now. On pictures below I have no clarence between the two papers (middle section between first and second bolted bracket).

 

[Bighorn Tremor]

@phantasticphil from what I remember the front brackets have a padded bottom, and yes they do just sit in the channel where the weather strips are. I kind of dry fit mine, marked the strip with paint marker and then cut a channel out of it and put the weather strips back in. It’s relatively easy to do with all the other bolts hand tight, that gives you an enough play to slide it in and out. I also went bracket by bracket double checking height and level front and sideways. I was concerned originally about those brackets but they sit very snug and haven’t had an issue yet.
@Bighorn Tremor I can’t tell you what to do but as I said above, I trimmed my weather stripping around the front brackets. As for the rest of the strips, I just used a good helping of silicone to seal the front and rear against wind. On my old Tacoma I had a prinsu rack where I had to cut all the stripping to fit the brackets and pretty soon I had no stripping, so… can it fly away, yes. But you could always use some new 3m tape or whatever too. As far as does it matter? I don’t think so

Thanks! I was thinking of doing exactly what you mentioned. Fortunately, I have a good supply of 3M tape from another project. I also have weatherstripping adhesive, but that is harder to remove and messier.

 

[Bighorn Tremor]

Ugh. Reading all this just as I am about to order mine. Overall, how are yo guys liking the fit and finish? I would love to see some pics of your Westcott roof rack on your rig.

I ordered step/rock rails from RCI a few days ago. They now sell a roof rack which is similar to the Westcott. You might check that one out.

 

[JordanJ]

Here’s how mine sits right now, and a pic of the front bracket.

It does seem to have moved down a tiny bit towards the rear middle a bit, I’m going to see if I can adjust it back up n really tighten the bolts and see.

 

[JordanJ]

I said I’ve got probably close to 100lbs in those cases, so I’d be worried for something like a RTT. Hmm.