67 Designs Toyota 4Runner 4RunnerRail™ Packs – Install & First Impressions

67 Designs Toyota 4RunnerRail Packs – Could This Be The Most Adaptable & Low-Profile Dash Mounting Setup For The 5th Gen 4Runner?

In my last post, I covered the ProClip iPhone dashboard mount, an easy-to-install and solid phone mount for the 5th Gen 4Runner. A few months have now passed which has given me enough time to test it both on and off-road. I’m happy to report that it has been working flawlessly. Even on some pretty rough roads, the iPhone, once set on the mount, didn’t move at all.

While my phone is a device that I carry daily, there are other electronic devices I bring when going out on trips as well. Sometimes I bring an iPad Pro for maps and multimedia, a Garmin InReach Mini for satellite communication, and an Insta360 One R action camera to capture photos and videos. At the moment, I carry all of them in a Pelican hard case and take them out only when I need them.

Even before buying the ProClip phone mount, I was already looking at other solutions to mount multiple devices on the dash. The ones on top of my list were the Expedition Essential dash mount and the ICS Fabrication dash mount.

These both seemed like solid products but I found them a bit too bulky for my liking. In the case of the Expedition Essential, I didn’t like the idea of losing visibility of the center display. In recent 4Runner model years, that display only shows the clock but in my “old” 5th Gen Trail Edition, it also shows miles to empty, compass, and temperature. This isn’t a must-have, but given the lack of information on the main dash, I find myself checking that display rather often so it would be nice to keep it usable.

Thanks to my Jeep friends, I came across 67 Designs. They are a 10-year-old, Dallas-based company that claims to currently be the only US manufacturer of carbon fiber arms mounting systems. A few months ago I found out that they were finally launching a mounting solution custom fitted for the 5th Gen 4Runner. Needless to say, I put my name down to get in into one of the first production runs.

Find it online:

• 67 Designs Toyota 4RunnerRail Bases + Trackballs: Check price
• 67 Designs Toyota 4RunnerRail Packs + Mounts: Check price

67 Designs Toyota 4RunnerRail Base

A few months after I expressed my interest in the product, I was contacted by 67 Designs to place my order. A few weeks after that, I received the product. Currently, there are two purchase options available: the rail only or the rail packs which bundle the rail and mounts of your choice.

Not owning any 67 Designs device mount yet I opted out for the package option which in my case included a clamp-style phone and a GoPro mount.

Installation

Tools needed

• Plastic pry tools (optional)
• Masking tape
• 10mm socket wrench
• Philips screwdriver
• 55 mm (7/32 in) drill bit
• Needle nose pliers
• Allan keys (included)

The installation of the base itself is really simple. All you need to do is drill two holes on the top of the dash and install two bolts. However, in order to access that part of the dash from below we have to first take out the head unit and disassemble the center air vents.

Overall, the installation took me around 40 minutes. I had pulled out my head unit in the past so I knew what to do already. Pulling out the head unit might sound like a daunting task at first but trust me, it’s actually quite simple! Below you can find the step-by-step installation guide.

Step 1. Remove Head Unit

We already covered how to do this in other articles so I won’t repeat it again here. You can review the step-by-step instructions or if you prefer a video, TRDJon has one here.

As a reminder, when removing the head unit, be careful not to pull it too hard before disconnecting all the OEM wiring connected on the backside. When reassembling it, each cable can only be inserted in a specific slot on the back of the unit so it’s pretty easy to remember what goes where. Pictured above is what you can expect to see.

Step 2. Remove Head Unit Vent Pieces

Once you get the head unit out and free from wiring you can perform the rest of the installation on a table. In this step, you have to remove a few more parts in order to get better access to drill the mounting holes.

First, remove the plate trim that sits at the top of the unit. Once you remove the two screws marked below, just slide the plate out applying a bit of force.

Next, you have to remove the two air vents. Each vent is held in place by four pull tabs, one at each corner. Gently pull out each tab to the side while at the same time pulling the vents toward you.

Lastly, you have to remove the two pieces of trim (one per vent) that cover the vent adjustment wheel. These are held in place by two screws each.

Step 3. Identify & Mark Drilling Holes

With all the above pieces removed, your head unit should look like this (minus the iPhone mount).

Now you are ready to mark the points where you’ll have to drill. Flip the head unit upside down and take a look at the inside top part, which now will be at the bottom. There are three “slots” on each side. Mark the one in the middle with some masking tape. Then, take the 5 mm locking nuts provided and fit them on the marked slots. Make sure to push the nut all the way against the raised piece of plastic at the back.

While holding the nut with a finger, use a pen and mark the point where you will be drilling. Repeat this step for both sides.

Step 4. Remove Clips (Optional)

Before drilling, there is an optional, easy step that I recommend you do. You should remove the two additional plastic clips that are used to align and hold the head unit into the dashboard. This will give you more space to handle the drill. Each clip is held in place by two screws.

Step 5. Drill Holes

Start making a pilot hole with a small drill bit, then move to a 5.5mm (7/32″) bit.

The more precise you are, the better fitment you will get, so take your time.

Step 6. Install The 67 Designs Toyota 4RunnerRail

With the scary part out of the way, now we get to the fun part; installing the rail!

Position the rail base so that each side is over the holes. Make sure the small lip is facing you (away from the windshield). Place the nuts back into the slot you marked before, then insert the fasteners from the top and let them slide through the rail and the holes.

Next, start tightening them with the included Allen wrench. To avoid the nut from spinning, you can use a pair of needle nose pliers to hold the nut in place while you turn the wrench.

Make sure to have both fasteners tight, but not too much because you might crack the plastic.

Step 7. Re-Assemble Head Unit

You are now done! With the rail in place now you just need to reverse all of the steps above. The final result will look something like this.

Step 8. Add Accessories

Depending on which configuration you buy or if you already have some device mounts laying around, go ahead and install them. Make sure not to exceed the weight rating recommended by the manufacturer.

Final Thoughts

I have to admit that I am very pleased with this product. The fit and finish are excellent, the rail feels very solid, and it blends very well with the 4Runner dashboard.

Compared to similar products, the 67 Designs Toyota 4RunnerRail has a lower profile. When no devices are mounted, I can hardly tell the rail is there. Plus, I can still see the small screen right below it!

I was recently out on a long weekend trip so I had the opportunity to test this product. 67 Designs says the rail can hold two iPhone-sized devices or one iPhone and one iPad mini but I think that’s a conservative estimate. I tested out with two iPhones and a GoPro and haven’t had any issues. All of the devices remained safely held in place even when driving on rough sections of the trail.

This was my first 67 Designs product and I am very pleased with the quality and functionality so far. The mount is very sleek, non-obstructive, and integrates well with the lines of the dashboard. Also, it’s made in the USA.

If you have any questions about the installation or the product itself, you can leave a comment below or you can also find me on Instagram @trail_runn4r. See you on the trails!