Expedition One Mule - SAM Rack - anyone purchase one of their roof racks?

[Idaho-Taco]

As the title says Im hoping someone here has purchased a roof rack from Expedition one - it's called the Mule SAM rack. I liked the look of the rack and wanted a pod light system which this looks good with. Unfortunately they don't include instructions or even a packing list so who knows if I even have all the parts.

I reached out to the company and they sent me instructions for their bed rack which isn't even similar.. I assumed it was a mistake and nope... they said the bed rack instructions along with some instructions for a 2021 Tacoma roof rack which again is totally different is all they have. The hardware isn't even close to the same as what I have. Ridiculous to spend close to $1000 for a rack and the company doesn't even include instructions or a packing list. I complained and they basically told me Im on my own...

Its obviously not rocket science but still... Hoping someone here has some experience with this rack and can save me some trial and error time. Including a couple photos of the rack from their web page. Thanks.

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[Toyotimothy]

I don’t know about the roof rack but I checked with them last year about their winch bumper and they basically told me the same thing. I’m on my own as far as instructions were concerned. However, I have looked at many roof racks and if it’s made correctly, they’re all pretty much the same on installation. You either put the rack together and then put it on the roof, or you put the mounting feet on and then build the rack around it. I would suppose that if there’s no directions you might want to check how the mounting feet are. I would definitely lay something down like a towel so you wouldn’t scratch your roof. If you built the rack first, I would attach the mounting feet, but leave them loose so that you can make any adjustments that need to be made. Like you, I like the look of their products. For the prices they’re charging they should have instructions. Especially after more than a year. Seems like more and more companies are going this route. No instructions. It’s very aggravating. You have to find on YouTube or search through forums to find someone who has already gone to the trouble of installing, possibly not the correct way, in order to determine how to do it. I’ve ran into this several times over the last year and a half since I’ve had my truck. Something to consider there’s only two roof racks, that I know of, that use rubber mounted feet which do not require the use of silicone. That would be RCI Off-road and Sherpa Rainer roof racks. I personally ended up with a Westcott designs roof rack, but also ended up scratching the roof because it set too low. I ordered a set of rubber mount feet from RCI Off-road and it fixed the problem. If I had to do it over, I’d probably go with one of those two or possibly a Prinsu. The Prinsu would only be because it seems to have more options available for mounting. The RCI Off-road roof rack has a pretty good bit of options as well and is more affordable. Just my two cents for what it’s worth.

 

[Idaho-Taco]

I don’t know about the roof rack but I checked with them last year about their winch bumper and they basically told me the same thing. I’m on my own as far as instructions were concerned. However, I have looked at many roof racks and if it’s made correctly, they’re all pretty much the same on installation. You either put the rack together and then put it on the roof, or you put the mounting feet on and then build the rack around it. I would suppose that if there’s no directions you might want to check how the mounting feet are. I would definitely lay something down like a towel so you wouldn’t scratch your roof. If you built the rack first, I would attach the mounting feet, but leave them loose so that you can make any adjustments that need to be made. Like you, I like the look of their products. For the prices they’re charging they should have instructions. Especially after more than a year. Seems like more and more companies are going this route. No instructions. It’s very aggravating. You have to find on YouTube or search through forums to find someone who has already gone to the trouble of installing, possibly not the correct way, in order to determine how to do it. I’ve ran into this several times over the last year and a half since I’ve had my truck. Something to consider there’s only two roof racks, that I know of, that use rubber mounted feet which do not require the use of silicone. That would be RCI Off-road and Sherpa Rainer roof racks. I personally ended up with a Westcott designs roof rack, but also ended up scratching the roof because it set too low. I ordered a set of rubber mount feet from RCI Off-road and it fixed the problem. If I had to do it over, I’d probably go with one of those two or possibly a Prinsu. The Prinsu would only be because it seems to have more options available for mounting. The RCI Off-road roof rack has a pretty good bit of options as well and is more affordable. Just my two cents for what it’s worth.

Thanks for the reply. It's really strange that a company like this can't put together a basic set of instructions or at the very least, a packing list so the customer knows they have everything they are supposed to have.

I have installed a rack on my RAM truck that is somewhat similar but there are still different sized spacers and brackets that I'll have to guess as to where they go. Thats the frustrating part after spending what I spent.

The mounting brackets are just powder coated aluminum with no rubber feet or gaskets so I am left to assume I'll need to install some silicon. Perhaps I'll try to find instructions from another rack system to follow at least for the mounting goes. On my RAM, it required drilling and Nutserts... glad that is not the case here.

 

[WhiskeyTallwood]

Their "response" to you would give me serious pause about giving this company my business. I can't begin to imagine how much fun they'd be to deal with if something went wrong with the roof rack...

 

[Idaho-Taco]

Their "response" to you would give me serious pause about giving this company my business. I can't begin to imagine how much fun they'd be to deal with if something went wrong with the roof rack...

Exactly... I don't plan to give them any future business and Im guessing if there is a problem with the rack or a warranty issue, I have little hope of being helped.

 

[Toyotimothy]

This probably won’t help much but I did find a link to instructions for one of their roof racks just not the one you have. I wish you the best of luck and please post pictures when you’re finished.



https://www.exp-one.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mule_ultrarack_tacoma2021.pdf

 

[Idaho-Taco]

This probably won’t help much but I did find a link to instructions...

Ironically thats the set of instructions they sent me when I contacted them. Unfortunately it's a completely different rack. The parts aren't anything alike. But do appreciate your help - you've actually already done a considerably more amount than the company I bought the rack from has lol.

 

[Toyotimothy]

You’re welcome for what little I did. Sorry I couldn’t help more. I have been there. I got my truck last April I think. I started working on it pretty early on and getting instructions correct parts etc quickly became quite frustrating partially due to it being so new but also because of companies not being able or willing to help. I still haven’t shared pictures of my build on here yet. I’m fairly new to this myself

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