Sherpa Matterhorn Sport Roof Rack for 1996-2002 3rd Gen 4Runner
Sherpa Matterhorn Sport Roof Rack for 1996-2002 3rd Gen 4Runner
Check Your Roof Track Anchor Plates First
The Matterhorn Sport mounts to your factory roof tracks and needs 8 anchor plates in those tracks. Anchor plates are not included. On a truck this age, some or all may be missing, usually because a previous owner removed the factory crossbars. Look inside your tracks before ordering, and call us at 844-200-3979 if you need to source replacements.
Planning a Rooftop Tent? Read This First.
The Sport is rated 150 lbs dynamic and 400 lbs static. That suits bikes, boards, cargo boxes, and camping gear. It is not the right rack for most rooftop tents. If a tent is in your plans, the PEAK Sherpa Matterhorn carries 200 lbs dynamic and 600 lbs static on the same 4Runner.
Not everyone building a 3rd Gen 4Runner is building an expedition rig. Plenty of people want somewhere to put bikes, skis, a cargo box, and camping gear, without adding weight to a truck that is already 25 years old. The Matterhorn Sport is the Sport Series version of Sherpa's original 3rd Gen 4Runner roof rack, covering 1996 through 2002.
This lightweight 4Runner roof rack runs full length at 92 inches with 7 extrusion crossbars, at roughly 40 lbs, which is 10 lbs lighter than the PEAK Matterhorn. Thinner aluminum side plates keep the weight down, while the mounting structure is the same industry-leading system used on the PEAK racks, with a direct load path and rubber seals protecting the vehicle. It mounts to the Toyota factory roof tracks with no modification and no drilling. Drop-in nuts slide into the crossbar slots for quick accessory changes, and two adjustable leveling mounts let you dial the rack flat. Black textured powder coat, black anodized crossbars, black oxide stainless hardware. Manufactured in Colorado. Lifetime Warranty.
The New Lineup
With the same quality you know and trust
The Sport Series line builds on the quality of the Sherpa name by opening up a new category of racks with the weekend warrior in mind. Sherpa always dreamed of making their premium racks more accessible while packing in some unique new features. This lineup blends lighter materials and a lower profile with the uncompromising integrity of their traditional mounting system, so you can Adventure with Confidence.
Matterhorn Sport or Matterhorn PEAK?
Sherpa makes two Matterhorn racks for the 3rd Gen. Same vehicle, same track mount, different jobs.
| Matterhorn Sport | Matterhorn (PEAK) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | ~40 lbs | ~50 lbs |
| Crossbars | 7 x 43" | 9 x 43" |
| Dynamic Rating | 150 lbs | 200 lbs |
| Static Rating | 400 lbs | 600 lbs |
| Side Plates | Lighter, thinner aluminum | 1/4" aircraft-grade aluminum |
| Profile Height | 2.5" on both | |
| Mounting | Same system, factory roof tracks, 8 anchor plates required | |
| Best For | Bikes, boards, cargo, camping gear | Heavier loads and more mounting points |
Choose the Sport if you carry bikes, skis, a cargo box, and camping gear, and keeping weight off an older truck matters to you.
Choose the PEAK Matterhorn if you load the roof heavily, want nine crossbars instead of seven, or are considering a lighter rooftop tent.
Ten Pounds Off an Older Truck
Weight is the real argument for a Sport Series Toyota 4Runner roof rack here. A 3rd Gen is 23 to 30 years old. The suspension, bushings, and roof tracks have all earned their retirement, and everything you add up high is weight those components carry every day.
40 lbs, Not 50
Ten pounds lighter than the PEAK version before you load anything, which is meaningful on a tall, older SUV.
Aluminum, Not Steel
A steel basket can run 90 lbs or more. Aluminum will not rust either, which matters on a truck this age.
More Left for Gear
Less weight spent on the rack means more of the rating available for what you actually want to carry.
PEAK Mounting, Sport Weight
The compromise Sherpa did not make is in the mount. The Sport Series uses the same mounting structure that sits at the core of the PEAK racks: the strongest aluminum mounts on the market, a direct load path, and rubber seals protecting the vehicle.
What changes is the side plates, which are lighter and thinner than the 1/4 inch plates on a PEAK rack. That is where the weight saving comes from, and it is also why the load rating is lower. You are not getting a weaker mounting system, you are getting a lighter rack on the same mounting system.
Installation uses the Toyota factory roof tracks with no drilling and no modification. Four mounting brackets connect through anchor plates that slide inside the tracks, and two adjustable leveling mounts let you dial the rack flat on a roofline that has seen a few decades.
The Anchor Plate Question
The rack needs eight anchor plates seated in the factory tracks, and they are not included. This catches people out often enough to be worth repeating.
Many 3rd Gen 4Runners still have them. On trucks where the factory crossbars were removed at some point, the plates often went with them. Look inside your tracks before you order. It takes thirty seconds and saves a stalled install and a wasted weekend.
Drop-In Nuts and Large Slots
The crossbars use aluminum extrusion with large slots, and the included drop-in nuts fall straight into those slots. No disassembly, no threading hardware in from the end of a bar.
That matters if your roof changes with the season. Bike trays in summer, a ski box in winter, a cargo basket for a road trip. Reconfiguring takes minutes rather than an afternoon, which is exactly what the Sport Series is aimed at.
Specifications
| Vehicle | 1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner (3rd Generation) |
| Series | Sport Series |
| Weight | ~40 lbs |
| Crossbars | 7 x 43" |
| Rack Dimensions | 92" x 43-1/2" x 2.5" |
| Dynamic Load Rating | 150 lbs |
| Static Load Rating | 400 lbs |
| Side Plates | Lighter, thinner high grade aluminum |
| Mounting | Factory roof tracks, 4 brackets. Requires 8 anchor plates (not included) |
| Leveling | 2 adjustable leveling mounts included |
| Accessory Mounting | Large crossbar slots with drop-in nuts |
| Finish | Black textured powder coat |
| Crossbar Finish | Black anodized |
| Hardware | Black oxide stainless steel |
| Installation | Drill-free. Zero vehicle modification |
| Manufactured | Colorado, USA |
| SKU | 611744 |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
What's Included
Not included: the 8 roof track anchor plates required for installation.
📄 Installation Instructions
Download the Matterhorn Sport install guide. No drilling required, and all hardware except anchor plates is included.
Pros
- About 40 lbs, 10 lbs lighter than the PEAK Matterhorn
- Same mounting structure as the PEAK racks, with a direct load path and rubber seals
- Completely drill-free using the Toyota factory roof tracks
- Drop-in nuts and large crossbar slots for fast accessory changes
- Two adjustable leveling mounts to dial the rack flat on an older roofline
- Full 92 inch length across the roof
- Aluminum will not rust, which matters on a 25-year-old truck
- Made in Colorado with a Lifetime Warranty
Cons
- 150 lbs dynamic and 400 lbs static. Not suitable for most rooftop tents
- 8 roof track anchor plates are required and not included
- Seven crossbars rather than the PEAK's nine, so fewer mounting positions
- At 2.5 inches the profile is the same as the PEAK version, so there is no height saving here
- Fits the 1996-2002 3rd Gen only
Frequently Asked Questions
What are anchor plates and do I have them?
Anchor plates are small plates that slide inside the factory roof tracks and give the mounting brackets something to bolt into. This rack needs eight, and they are not included. Many 3rd Gen 4Runners still have them, but on trucks where factory crossbars were removed, plates often went missing. Look inside your tracks before ordering, and call us at 844-200-3979 if you need replacements.
Can I put a rooftop tent on the Matterhorn Sport?
For most tents, no. At 150 lbs dynamic, many rooftop tents weigh close to or more than that on their own before any gear. The Sport Series is built for bikes, skis, cargo boxes, and camping equipment. If a tent is in your plans, the PEAK Sherpa Matterhorn is the better choice at 200 lbs dynamic and 600 lbs static, though even that suits lighter tents rather than heavy hardshells.
What is the Sport Series?
It is Sherpa's lighter line, built for the weekend warrior rather than the full expedition build. Sport racks use lighter and thinner side plates paired with the same mounting structure found in the PEAK Series, so you get the same drill-free, rubber-sealed mount on a rack that weighs less. The tradeoff is load rating and crossbar count.
Is the mounting system weaker than a PEAK rack?
No. The mount is the same structure used at the core of the PEAK racks, with a direct load path and rubber seals. What differs is the side plates, which are lighter and thinner than the 1/4 inch plates on a PEAK rack. That is where the weight saving comes from, and it is also why the load rating is lower. Both racks use the same factory roof tracks and the same eight anchor plates.
Will it fit my 4Runner?
It fits 1996 through 2002, the full 3rd Generation, mounting to the factory roof tracks. It does not fit the 2003-2009 4th Gen, the 2010-2024 5th Gen, or the 2025+ 6th Gen. We carry a Sherpa rack for each of those. Call us at 844-200-3979 with your year if you are unsure which generation you have.
How do the drop-in nuts work?
The crossbars use aluminum extrusion with large slots, and the drop-in nuts fall straight into those slots from above. You do not have to disassemble anything or thread hardware in from the end of a bar. Swapping between bike trays, a ski box, and a cargo basket takes minutes, which is the point on a rack aimed at people whose gear changes with the season.
Complete Your Build
Check Your Tracks, Then Call Us
Tell us your year and whether your anchor plates are all there. We will confirm fitment and help you choose between Sport and PEAK.
844-200-3979
