July 29, 2003Sunroof PlansI stopped by a local custom automotive tops shop this morning. This makes no less than 3 times that I've stopped by this shop to talk to the owner about installing a sunroof in my truck. Actually, this is the second time with the Double Cab, and once with the old truck before I sold it.
But in talking to the guy, he indicated that the moonroofs can be much more problematic than the "sliders". The reason for this is because there's no way that moonroofs can create a truly watertight seal with the roof. Sure, it's a decent seal, but it is expected to leak just a little. (Explanation: If the sunroof and corresponding hole in the roof were too tight of a fit, the glas would get stuck closed, especially on a hot day when the metal of the car expands a little.) Ok, so they leak just a little, but that's ok because they're designed with a "tray" below the roof opening to catch the water that is expected to drip in sometimes. Ok, so where does that water in the tray go? Well, in each of the 4 corners of the tray there are tubes that are run down through the vehicle and drain out the bottom of the car. The problem is, these tubes can get clogged up with dirt and debris (leaves, acorns), and if they do, your tray overflows and you have a nasty, wet mess in your vehicle. Ok, so the owner of the place felt it necessary to properly educate me about all of this, which I totally appreciate. It's nice to not have someone sell you something because it's more expensive, not because it's a better product. So, to make a long story short, I ended up deciding to go with the "slider" sunroof. There was enough doubt in his voice (and he installs HUNDREDS of sunroofs every year) to steer me away from the moonroof, even though it's what I originally intended to buy. It looks like I'll be dropping the truck off Monday August 10. Installation should only take a day, but it may run over into a second day, he said. By the way, there was an article on USA Today's website about BuyMusic.com yesterday. An interesting read. Posted by Jeff at July 29, 2003 10:37 AMComments
The debris he mentions (even if you go bogging from time to time) would accumulate over YEARS not days. Also, the water that does collect, even on weeks where it rains every day, is the first thing to evaporate when the truck is sitting out in the sun. The only drippy sunroof I've ever seen was my old Accura, after 13 years. Still, I'm glad you're getting one finally! You'll love it. Will this turn out to be cheaper than the factory install cost for the truck? Posted by: Brian at July 29, 2003 10:48 AMDefinitely cheaper than factory-installed. And Hollandia ( the company who makes the one I'm getting) is one of the primary manufacturers of roof systems for new vehicles, anyway. And you're right about the debris. I almost decided to still go with the moonroof, but there was just enough doubt in his voice to convince me to go the safe route. I'm sure I'll still be happy with it. I'll still have a nice big hole in my roof!! YAY! Posted by: Jeff at July 29, 2003 10:55 AMWell, well, look who took my advice :) Posted by: Olivia at July 29, 2003 12:30 PMI have the moonroofs in my truck. Ever since I have had the truck I have had to clean out the trays and tubes once (over 2 years). The worst is the tubes getting mold in them. I used a Trumpet cleaner thing to push everything thru, and then ran some bleach in there. The mold has not come back. Now that I live in the woods I wonder how long it will take them to get cloged. Posted by: D at July 29, 2003 12:45 PMCongrats on your hole. :) Posted by: Lauren at July 29, 2003 01:12 PMHey Jeff. I have a Toyota Factory Moonroof on my 03 4Runner. My family had a 1990 Accord with a sunroof and a 1984 Camry with one, and only the Camry had issues over its lifetime with the sunroof. It had a rust problem. However, the Honda did not, and it lasted up until 2000 with 198,000 miles. The only advice I can give you is this: Don't go speeding through puddles of water when you remember to close your windows, but not your roof. Trust me, it's not fun to clean up. :) Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. With the model roof that you're gonna get, do you lose as much headroom in the Tacoma as you would with a moonroof? As a rule, you lose about 2 inches with a moonroof. Just curious. ;) Posted by: Brian Reinertsen at July 29, 2003 01:21 PMGood Find with the Article! Interesting read. Posted by: Brian Reinertsen at July 29, 2003 01:25 PMi have a story on the problematic moon roof as well. i own a 96 camry (bought used)that is awesome except the fact that twice now in the last year during overnite downpours the roof leaked and i went to work with an inch of water in the back and front drivers side floorbrds,and a very wet front seat as well!! the good thing is that all the elec.items and gauges in the dash didnt short out... will try the blowing out of the weep holes ,thanks Posted by: seamonkey at October 17, 2003 06:06 PMPost a comment
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There are two types of sunroofs that I could have installed in my truck. The first is a moonroof, which slides down between the roof and the headliner (like many factory sunroofs) and the second is a "slider" sunroof which slides up and back, like a spoiler. I always liked the smooth look of the moonroofs, mostly because you don't see anything (except a hole in the roof) when the roof is open.
