Prius v (Lowercase v for the Prius v wagon) Five - Custom Yakima 54" track and DIY instructions

First off...

Thanks to:
Since I could not find any specific information on where/how to install the track, I got some basic and useful information from Gillen, Evnut and Crusty Crayon. I picked the 54" track from those referenced people and also from Rackattack blog.

Track system or Clip system??? I picked the track system because Number 1, when I had the clip system on my old car, an unsuccessfully thief damaged my door while trying to steal my rack. Number 2, the distance between the crossbars can change for different applications: such as kayaks, snowboards, skybox, bikes, furniture moving....

You are not limited to the yakima system, thule makes an identical 54in track as well. I chose the round bar system (which yakima makes) because as you move the crossbar, depending where it is, it might create an angle with areobars or square bars thus mis-aligning some of your gear or creating more drag. Besides that I do have yakima stuff, but I also do like thule.

First time installers will take about 5-6 hrs to complete because 2-3 hours are spent measures and finding where the cross beams are; removing the headliner... measuring.... double and triple checking measurements.... But if you follow my directions below you probably could finish in 2-4 hrs, less time as you become more proficient and have the right tools.

Enjoy the pics:


Before


Painter's taping and measuring


Removed headliner handle



Removed headliner seat belt housing to see where the cross beams are.



Pulling down the headliner from the door to find cross beam



Marking off where the cross beams are.



Drilling the first hole


Markings, 2nd hole drilled and painted.





Track installed




Crossbar can slide all the way to the front!!!!


Crossbar can slide all the way to the back!!!



Bike rack installed on outside, future skybox in the middle..... should I shorten the crossbar?



Used colored nail polish to mark off lines and clear nail polish to protect it from washing off.


After

Should I shorten the crossbar length for looks?
If I want to carry 2 kayaks in the future, should I not shorten the crossbars?

DIY INSTRUCTIONS:


My roof rack setup (~$600 not on sale. If use the Clip system you'll save ~$150. I actually spent $414 that includes 20% off, free shipping and a free fairing promotion from RackAttack):
1 Yakima 54" Track with Plusnuts. #8001127
1 Yakima Control Tower, set of 4. #8000214
2 Yakima Landing Pad 1. #8000221
1 Yakima 58" Cross Bar Set. #8000409
1 Yakima 44" Fairing #8007048


Additional supply need in addition to Yakima Track Installation guide.

Painter's Tape (~$5.00)

Tailor's Measuring tape preferred (regular measuring tape will work), very useful!!!

Black Rust-Oleum Stops Rust (from home depot ~$3.96)



2-4 hours are need if you follow my instructions and the pictures from above and attached.



Instructions


Please note: I used cm and inches.



1. Use painter's tape to tape the roof near the rain gutter (see pics) for both driver and passenger side. This will be helpful so that you can make marks.

***RackAttack told me to install the tracks as close as possible to the rain gutter because it is the strongest part of the roof.

2. Measure from rear to front, 41cm and mark both driver and passenger side. (See pics).

3. Measure from “41cm mark” to front, 54” and mark both driver and passenger side.

4. “Rear Center Line Mark”. Go to “41cm mark”, start at rain gutter and measure across to other rain gutter. Divide that number by 2; that is your “rear center line number”. Using the “rear center line number”, measure from rain gutter towards the center, tape and mark it. Double check with other side. *** The lengths across the roof for the front and rear are different!!!!

5. “Front Center Line Mark”. Repeat step #4 for the 54” mark. *** The lengths across the roof for the front and rear are different!!!!

6. Start at the “rear center line mark” and measure 49cm towards the rain gutter, mark it where it intersects the 41cm mark. Do for both driver and passenger side (See Prius v (lowercase v) TrackInstallation.pdf, “First Mark”).

7. Repeat similar to Step #6 for “Front Center Line Mark” intersecting 54” mark.

8. IMPORTANT. To make sure that your tracks will be squared and the cross bars will slide all the way back and forward, you need to check that the diagonals lengths are equal. I got 168.5cm, you may not get that exact number, but it is ok as long as they are equal (See PriusVTrackInstallation.pdf). Do not continue if the diagonals are not equal and repeat Steps #2 - #7.

9. Get your Yakima track, there is a plastic track attached to the metal track. Use that to line up with the marks you created from above and mark off holes for drilling according to PriusvTrackInstallation.pdf – “Drill”. Please note the drill holes marked with “X” and do not drill there, you will hit a cross beam. Yakima instruction recommends that you skip every other hole for drilling as long as you don’t skip 2 consecutive holes. (From the diagram, I did drill 4 consecutive holes together, but you don’t have to. I did it because I think it will make it stronger and I did towards the front where it curves.) The tracks come with 14 total PlusNuts; you can only drill 7 max holes for each side.

10. Follow the rest of the Yakima instructions.


Please note: you can move the track towards the front or back a little, but you would have to check for cross beams.

 

Don't need to take down headliner, just follow my directions.
Yakima's Track with Plusnuts comes with sealant, if not just use some plumber's grease.