Bison Gear OX PRO Roof Rack For 5th Gen 4Runner – Install & Review

The scene opens to an off-road meet. As the camera pans around to show rig after rig, kitted out with every brand and style of roof rack, Bison Gear enters the scene…and owns it. The new OX PRO from “the Big BG” is one of those rare breaths of fresh air, we all hear about yet seldom see- but what about the OX PRO makes it so different?

A few words come to mind: modular, optioned, possibilities, and preferences. This roof rack offers itself as the main platform for a myriad of attachable options to provide you with not just a flat rail system to bungee your bag to – oh no, you can take that basic school of thought back to class. The OX PRO is the foundation for an entire system of options that allow you to customize and personalize your overhead storage solutions in a way you’ve never thought of.

Find It Online

• OX Pro Rack: Check Price
• Under Roof Rack Camping Table: Check Price
• External MOLLE Panels: Check Price
• 5th Gen Collection (browse other products, accessories, etc.)

Design & Build Quality

There is no denying it. The design team that came up with the OX PRO came to play and brought their A-game. The overall build is strong, and the layout is well thought out.

First of all, the manufacturing of this rack is nothing short of impressive. Bison Gear uses aluminum that’s processed by 100% hydropower in Norway. That means that the aluminum used in the OX PRO rack is not only lightweight and extremely durable but is smelted using renewable energy, giving it a dramatically lower carbon footprint. Being environmentally responsible is something every overlander and adventure camper has ingrained in our DNA. Bison Gear shares that sentiment, and it shows.

Check out more on this here: OX PRO Low-Emission Aluminum

Innovative Crossbars

Bison Gear didn’t want to make the same roof rack that’s already saturated our community. They decided to take it a step further and provided a channel through each rectangular cross-bar, dedicated to running wiring from one side to the other in a stealthy style. Additionally, each cross-bar has a drop-in for your T-slot nuts, allowing them to be inserted quickly and easily from either side of the rail.

Okay, that may seem a little “industry standard”, that’s fair… but Bison Gear thought they could do better, also. They decided to give us another option (there’s that word, again) to use a single T-slot down the middle of the cross-bar or TWO T-slots running parallel by simply flipping the cross-bar over. Don’t lose it yet. Stay with me, we’re just getting started.

The OX PRO roof rack can also be the basis for their VIPER Grab Handles, SPARROW and SWIFT scene lights, OX PRO Roof Rack Panels, Hi-Lift Mount, Starlink Mount, and so much more. This roof rack becomes a full system that will not only cater to your specific needs but also be adjustable on the fly to fit the situation.

If light bars are your thing, the OX PRO gives you room to run that illuminated beam of goodness across the face up to 42″ long. If you don’t have overhead lights, or rather don’t run them at all, Bison Gear has thought of that, too. You have the option to fit a wind fairing over the gap in the light bar, significantly reducing drag and wind noise. When you’re ready to make that move and install some rig jewelry overhead, simply remove the faring and get to work. Gone are the days of having to choose which roof rack you had to spend your hard-earned dollars on, based on your lighting situation.

Installation

Tools Required:

• 4mm & 5mm Allen Wrench (Hex Wrench)
• 10mm & 13mm Wrench
• Cutters
• Scissors (optional)
• Torque Wrench (optional)

If you’ve installed a no-drill roof rack before, then you’re in luck. This is not much different than any other. If you’ve never installed a roof rack before, relax. Bison Gear provides detailed instructions. See their guide here.

Step 1. Unpack & Organize Parts

Before doing any install with more than one part, I find that my walnut-sized brain can better process the details if I lay out all the screws, bolts, panels, and other parts in a neat, organized fashion.

In this case, Bison Gear divided everything into little yellow ziplocked bags to help keep things in order. I found it helpful to go one step further and write the numbers corresponding to that part in the instruction manual directly on the bags. Take the extra time to stay organized. Things can easily get out of hand and confusing otherwise.

The other tip Bison Gear suggested was to build this rack upside down and on a flat surface. At first, I thought this was a little odd, but I quickly understood that everything along the top of the rack was flat and flush, but the bottom followed the curvature of the 4Runner. Walnut-sized brain, remember? This was actually helpful during the build, but you have to get your left and right sides straight if you go this route, because even though your rack will be built upside down, the instructions are right-side up. I need a Tylenol just explaining that again. For the purposes of this review, I’ll be moving through the rest of the build with the roof rack oriented upside down.

Step 2. Assemble Side Rails

This is one part that sets Bison Gear apart from many in the market and is a point of contention in the community. The side rails Bison Gear provides come in two parts that are fitted together and secured using a brace plate and six bolts. If you’re of the school that thinks this build isn’t strong enough, I’ll add that the location gains additional support from a cross-bar as well. Some believe this weakens the roof rack’s integrity and diminishes its ability to carry heavier loads. However, I have to attest that even with this design, the OX PRO is rated for over 800 lbs. of static weight and can sustain over 260 lbs. of dynamic load. You can rest easy knowing your gear is well-kept up top while you crunch the trails under your tires.

Moving back to assembly, take note that there are left (driver’s side) and right (passenger’s side), front and rear, for the side rails. Make sure you get that sorted out correctly, or your rack will look goofy after you set it upright. The identifying markers on the rails are cut into the metal, not written on it, to avoid potential smearing or smudging.

Fit the front and rear sections together with the center brace plate and bolt everything up. Already, the 6mm thick frame feels solid and confident.

Pictured above is what the outside face of the side rail should look like once assembled.

Step 3. Attach Cross Bars

If you’re constructing the rack upside-down, I recommend installing the cross-bars next. They’ll not only stiffen and secure the structure of the roof rack, but they sit below everything else as you put it together.

If you chose the optional slide-out table, there are a few things you’ll need to pay attention to here. The storage rack that houses the table must be assembled and installed with the 1st and 3rd cross-bars for support. The way it attaches beneath the bars requires the dual T-tracks to face down. That is to say, facing the roof when it’s finally complete. The rest of the cross-bars can be installed with whichever T-slot facing up as you desire.

Continuing with the table bracket, Bison Gear offers three options (yes, more options) for installing the slide-out table. You can install it to slide out from the driver’s side, the passenger’s side, or the rear of the roof rack. I may not change my setup often enough to make full use of these choices, but I appreciate the flexibility.

Step 4. Attach Front Wind Deflector

The OX PRO has a unique design for its wind deflector. The cross-bar is different from the others in that it is not rectangular but smaller and square. It also has dual T-slots running along its length, but does not share the same drop in slot locations as its bigger siblings.

Before you go too much further, now would be a good time to install the rubber weatherstripping along the bottom of the wind deflector. It goes on tough and will probably be far too long, so you can use cutters to trim the weatherstripping to the proper length.

Things can get a little complicated here, as the wind deflector actually has a series of bolts that need to be installed into one of the rails on the cross-bar. If you install the cross-bar on the deflector first and then bolt the deflector to the rack as a single piece, you’ll likely have an easier time than I did.

The wind deflector has a fairing plate that will go over the space intended for a light bar. There are (7) plastic push-in clips that secure the fairing plate to the deflector housing. You can run it this way until you feel the need to slap some ultra-illumination on top. Simply remove the plastic push-in clips and the fairing plate, then install your lights.

Step 5. Attach Mounting Brackets & Install Roof Rack

If you’ve gotten this far and haven’t wanted to aggressively assault a small woodland creature, congratulations! Your patience has served you well. I’ll bring this to a close with the unsung heroes, the mounting brackets. This assembly consists of the bracket, a spacer, and a rubber gasket, all locked into place by a set of hex bolts, spring washers, and flat washers.

If you haven’t already, go ahead and flip this radical rack over and position it on top of your rig. This is definitely a two-person job if you want to avoid a catastrophic collision with your beautiful buggy.

There are dedicated front and rear brackets that fit into your OEM mounting slots and a set of smaller support brackets that mount at the very front of the OX PRO.

Set the rubber gaskets over the locations, followed by the spacer, and set the rack on top. Using a torque wrench, tighten the bolts to 15 Nm (11 ft-lbs). I recommend using a bit of thread locker to help keep them from backing out due to vibration. Install the two little support brackets on the front, and you’re ready to go.

Depending on your existing setup, you may need to remove your OEM roof rails or an existing roof rack, or otherwise expose your roof mount locations.

Step 6. Load Up Roof Rack

This is a good part. With your new OX PRO roof rack complete and mounted, you are free to start loading it up and getting ready for the trail. Bison Gear has tons of options available that turn this from a setup to a system.

Review

I couldn’t be happier with the quality, functionality, and options that the OX PRO roof rack provides. The rack itself is surprisingly strong and sturdy when mounted on the 4Runner. I’ve been able to strap, bolt, and otherwise secure all kinds of gear to it, and with the addition of the exterior molle panels, I can increase my carrying capacity and modularity by leaps and bounds.

The open T-slot on top allows me to drop in or remove T-nuts or carriage bolts with ease. To prove a point, I was able to change my entire configuration on the fly while on the trail. Having options is never underrated, as our rigs are as individual as we are. Not everyone runs with overhead lights or carries cases on top. Some of us carry fuel cans, Starlink systems, or rooftop tents. This roof rack can cover it all.

This is just my opinion, but I really like the look and styling of the OX PRO. It has a rugged, almost industrial appearance thanks to the exposed screw heads and angled cut-outs. It pairs very well with the 4Runner’s angled edges and boxy off-road look. The addition of the exterior molle panels really enhances the appearance and functionality of this rack system.

Features

Let’s take a closer look…

Wind Deflector

While the OX PRO roof rack offers a huge benefit to my beloved beast of burden, there is room for improvement. First, let’s talk about the wind fairing and the wind noise. If you leave it off and have no light bar, you will notice it. At roughly 45mph, the wind noise picks up so quickly and loudly that it sounds as if you have a window open. No joke. It’s that loud. The fairing makes a significant difference, so I recommend using it if you don’t add a lightbar. I’ve since added one, and although wind noise has reduced, it is still present.

I have driven around with several different setups strapped to the rack, and overall, it performed extremely well. The wind noise did change drastically depending on my gear and positions, but the rack itself performed fantastically. On a day-to-day basis, I’ll have the two rifle cases fixed to the rack, since they’re easy to store there and don’t take up space in my garage. Having the fairing installed or a light bar in conjunction with the rifle cases up front reduces wind noise quite a bit.

Slide Out Table

At first, I thought the idea of having a slide-out table was a bit of a novelty and maybe a little gimmicky, until I realized it’s super convenient. I found myself using it quite a lot, actually. The fact that I don’t have to give up any cabin space is amazing, and I have used it for both work and play. I can set up a mobile office with a camping chair, laptop, camera, and drone equipment, then deploy Starlink and “work from home”. Or I can set a table for dinner while at camp, or maybe have a breakfast bite with juice and coffee to watch the sun rise over a hilltop. While the slide-out table has proven to be one of my favorite additions to the OX PRO, I have some, dare I say, gripes.

I like that you have 2 different locations for storing your table and 3 deployment options. The issue is that the table is either stored over your sunroof or in the center of the roof rack. Although I never use my sunroof, I feel the need to voice this concern on behalf of you out there who do. If you opt for that location, say goodbye to using the sunroof. This table covers the whole thing. The only impact it had on me was that I used to hang my Starlink from the underside of the sunroof with suction cups, and now I have no choice but to mount it outside. If that’s the worst of it, I’ll take it.

If you can’t live without your sunroof, you can opt to mount the table in the back. From here, though, you’ll need to remove the OEM shark fin antenna to fit the table in its spot. Once again, options are great, but compromises are necessary. Personally, I’m not mad about these options because the good outweighs the bad. As I’ve said before, the practical, convenient use of having a table at hand has been phenomenal.

Once you’ve decided on a mounting location, the table locks securely overhead and makes no rattle at all, not even a little. If you’re concerned about water collecting and dumping on you when you slide the table out, you can relax. Bison Gear has designed the table with small square cut-outs along the edges to allow water to run out. I also recommend bringing a tablecloth or cover for the table. If it sits in the sun for too long, this bad boy gets hot!

Exterior MOLLE Panels

When exterior MOLLE panels first showed up on the scene, they seemed to separate your everyday 4×4 from an overlander or adventure vehicle as much as the Raptor lights in your grille did. The truth is, like the slide-out table, you never realize how much you could use it until you have it. Although there are tons of new gear that makes things more convenient for us, like collapsible shovels, battery-operated chainsaws, and foldable traction boards, there are a great many of us who still camp with the old gear. That usually means the heavy, bulky, and sometimes smelly stuff.

The panels offer a very nice way to carry some of that gear at a reachable height while still staying outside your cabin. Things you may not want inside with you. Things like dirty shovels or muddy traction boards that don’t fold up. Maybe you had to use your gas-powered chainsaw, and now the scent of 2-stroke fills the air. If your roof rack is full, the exterior MOLLE panels are a great way to stow excess equipment. You can strap your RotopaX fuel containers, water tanks, and even on-board air systems to them, freeing up a lot of space inside your cab.

Exterior MOLLE Panel Suction Cups

Even though Bison Gear has provided a welcome option for us gear-headed adventurers, there is one area where I want to offer some constructive criticism. The suction cups. The bane of everyone’s existence. We push on them, squish them, sprinkle water on them, tell them stories, and cuss and swear at them, but no matter what we do, these suction cups refuse to stay…well, suctioned. At least that’s been my experience. Not to throw shade at Bison specifically.

The suction cups provided for these window panels are good, yes… strong, definitely, but do they last? Unfortunately, about the same as others on the market. There is, however, a partial explanation. More on that in a second.

Pictured above are the Veritas Vans suction cups.

After I lost the location for suction-cupping (is that even a word?) for my Starlink under the sunroof because of the slide-out table, I repurposed my Veritas Vans suction cups to mount the MOLLE panels, replacing the included ones. They not only fit, they worked pretty well – not perfect, but better. They still lose suction from time to time.

To be fair, I have window stickers/decals in a satin finish (not preferable here, ideally mounted to glossy surface) on my rear windows and not the cleanest glass. You should always give any suction cup the best chance to work for you by providing it with a clean, shiny surface, if you can. Since I first started testing, I removed the part of the graphics that lay under the suction cup. Going to report back on my findings asap!

Final Thoughts

Every ride is as unique as its owner, and every mission calls for a different loadout. It’s nice to be able to switch up my gear with ease. I can really get behind Bison Gear’s new OX PRO Roof Rack. This thing really is the backbone of a full overland system. Grab handles, awning brackets, scene lighting, and a flat-panel system that enable you to create even more options for securing gear.

Not everyone has the same destination; in fact, some of us don’t even have a destination. We simply wander. That means not every adventure vehicle is rigged out the same. We need a world of options, and until now, we had to really think about what we wanted the end result of our beloved rides to be and how they would be used. This is why Bison Gear provides something this market desperately needed. A single platform with countless possibilities. I said it before, and I’ll say it again: Bison Gear came to play.