We are a USA manufacturer developing high end armor, roof racks, storage solutions, and more for adventure Vans and Toyotas. We specialize in our own unique blend of aluminum and steel hybrid products in order to provide the strongest and lights products available. All of us here at Backwoods eat, sleep, and breathe offroading. We design and build our products to solve real problems based off of real world experience out in the field.
Our goal is to be different on purpose. We're sick of the Aluminum vs. Steel debate, so we took the best benefits from each material and chose to combine it into every product we make. We use steel where it counts and use aluminum everywhere else to save weight and eliminate rust.
I just installed this on 2021 Promaster 159 Ext. This video is not representative of the level of difficulty involved. 1. There are no instructions. On the website you CAN find a PDF of “instructions”, but it is really just a high level mechanical drawing. Think IKEA type instructions. Useful pictures, but no descriptive text. 2. The provided carriage bolts that secure the uprights to the T-mounts are too short. I would say dangerously so, because it IS possible to get a thread or two of engagement, if you skip the washer (like they conveniently do in this video). Someone who didn’t know better might try to drive with the rack held on with such minimal thread engagement. I ended up having to run to the hardware store for longer bolts. 3. On the driver’s side I ended up with a huge gap between two sections. Everything was checked and double checked and no difference in installation could be found when compared to the passenger side, which had no gap. The uprights all have part numbers cut into them, but the “instructions” don’t reference part numbers, so there was no way to confirm the parts I had were all correct for my van. We found that installing one of the brackets the wrong way closed the gap to 3/16th of an inch, but never did figure out what was causing it. In the end, we had to cut the T-slot wider on one bracket to allow us to close the gap. 4. Something that isn’t obvious from the video - you need clearance from fan shrouds on the rear and forward ends. I have Max-air fans installed as far back and as far forward in the van as possible. My rear fan interferes with the rear piece of the rack, so I’m unable to install it. My forward fan clears the wind fairing on the rack by 1/16th of an inch. Pure luck. I feel the company should include clearance requirements on the product page. 5. The parts the video skips showing you the assembly of are the parts that involve awkwardly placed hardware. Be prepared for a lot of creative problem solving trying to get washers and nuts onto bolts when assembling the ladder and fairing. Sometimes this is unavoidable, sometimes it is due to lack of engineering consideration. Despite these criticisms, the rack is sturdy, attractive, and functional. It has a heavy duty feel. I like that the uprights present a vertical surface for mounting an awning.
***2024 BUMPER UPDATE*** In addition to this video, please watch our new Install Tips & Tricks video for an easier installation. Plus, our Scout Bumper now fits Transit TRAIL and EKKO models. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bqjWgCXSiaA.html
We can't guarantee any fitment on any other roof rack besides ours, however it does have a flat face that mounts to the side profile of our roof rack. If your roof rack looks similar to our DRIFTR it may work, but we can't confirm that. Let us know if you try it and if it works!
I Purchased this rack and installed it. Went great using this video as a guide. Looks amazing! Works better than it looks! Make sure you add more than enough silicone - ask me how I know :) . Evan and team, how about a video for the 40" pathfinder lightbar install for this rack/4runner? Please?
I was just there during the week of the eclipse up from Texas and rode a lot of those same trails 🤘🏻 Bummer I didn’t see you guys- I would’ve fit in perfectly with my 17 Tacoma. Nice video! Arkansas is such a great place for wheeling and camping. EDIT: Man, I think I actually did see two of you on 123 before turning onto the trail leading to car wash falls. I think you turned in right after me: in my White Tacoma with RTT. What a coincidence (if it was actually you guys.) I was gonna stop after the water crossing and say hi but you guys turned off on another trail. This might be the longest comment I’ve ever left on RU-vid.
Thank you for sharing! This looked like such a great time and I thoroghly enjoyed watching it. I can't wait to get my T4Runner toughened up enough to hit some trails myself. What kind of dog is that?
I would like to see possible potential pictures what these vans could look like and be used for ,have seen t 4 s and unlimited parts and go anywhere what about these vans are limited not very good etc.
It's very difficult to test and answer these types of questions because we are not a vehicle manufacturer. Most of the load weight comes from the mounts on the actual vehicle. Most aftermarket racks similar to ours have similar weight capabilities. It will hold a roof top tent and 2 to 3 average people easily.
It's very difficult to test and answer these types of questions because we are not a vehicle manufacturer. Most of the load weight comes from the mounts on the actual vehicle. Most aftermarket racks similar to ours have similar weight capabilities because the mounting essentially all works the same.
On the newest 2022+ models, most likely you'll need to relocate your sensor, but only if you also have the camera. C4 fabrication makes a relocation bracket. However, we have had customers tell us that they just zip tied the sensor behind the grill a little higher up.
It's very difficult to test and answer these types of questions because we are not a vehicle manufacturer. Most of the load weight comes from the mounts on the actual vehicle. Most aftermarket racks similar to ours have similar weight capabilities. It will hold a roof top tent and 2 to 3 average people easily.
Important question: First: What about contact corrosion, with the aluminium bar touching the steel bumber? Second: What about a round tube bar, like Owl_vans pismo bumper? I would prefer your Backwoods Scout cuz of the bigger air-flow and cuz I don't want an owl on my bumper (looks childish to me) ... but I really like the tube design they have. Thanks
Thanks for the feedback! As far as contact corrosion, we have had no issues at all. Each piece has a layer of powder coat, so you essentially have 2 layers of powder coat contacting each other. Once everything is bolted together, there's no vibration or rubbing, so nothing can get corroded.
Those are rebranded cali raised or is it the otherway around? I know you guys make bumpers for other companies, so i'm wondering. Great product as always!!
We do not do installs at our facility. However we have a pretty large dealer network you can check out here: backwoodsadventuremods.com/pages/dealer-locator
Love the way they look! Couple questions: Do they ship to residential fine via 4runner Lifestyle? What is their Weight? I haven't seen it listed anywhere.
I like it. While it is always nice to have steel for a bar, the aluminum makes more sense to me for these already very heavy B Vans. And the flanged edges should make for a better fit and finish.
Great video. I just crashed my front factory bumper. I've got a $5k estimate to repair/replace the bumper and damage. I think I'll just go with something like this, or maybe even go with your complete replacement bumper. Any thoughts? I'm in New Mexico but will drive most anywhere.
Awesome! It just depends on how much protection you want. Our full replacement bumper looks large, but isn't very heavy because the exterior portion is all aluminum. Or if you want a more subtle look, go with the Scout.
