Sherpa Antero Half-Length Roof Rack for 1996-2002 3rd Gen 4Runner
Sherpa Antero Half-Length Roof Rack for 1996-2002 3rd Gen 4Runner
Check Your Roof Tracks First
8 track nuts are required for installation and are not included. If your factory roof tracks are missing their anchor plates, which is common on a truck this age, you will need those too. Call us at 844-200-3979 before ordering and we will sort out what you need.
This is the rack that started Sherpa. The Antero was the first one they built, for the 3rd Gen 4Runner, and the current version is an all-new design of that original. Twenty-odd years later the 3rd Gen is still one of the most-built trucks on the trail, and this is still the rack for it.
The Antero is a half roof rack for the 1996-2002 4Runner: 63.5 inches of platform over the front of the roof rather than the full length. It carries 200 lbs dynamic and 500 lbs static across 5 crossbars, weighs about 35 lbs, and mounts to your factory roof tracks with zero drilling and zero modification. Industry-leading 1/4 inch aircraft-grade aluminum side panels, stainless steel hardware, made in Colorado. Lifetime Warranty.
Why a Half-Length Rack?
Most people shopping a 3rd gen 4Runner roof rack assume full length. This one covers the front 63.5 inches, and on a 3rd Gen that is a choice worth making deliberately rather than treating as the smaller option.
Ten Pounds Lighter
About 35 lbs against 50 for the full-length rack. On a 25 year old truck, weight you do not add is weight you do not haul.
Rear Hatch Clear
The back of the roof stays open, which matters if you run a rear ladder or lift the hatch glass regularly.
Still Carries Plenty
As a 4Runner cargo rack, five crossbars over 63.5 inches takes boards, boxes, an awning or recovery gear without running out of room.
As a 4Runner cargo rack for everyday loads rather than a full expedition build, the Antero is usually the more sensible choice. If you want a rooftop tent or the whole roof covered, the full-length Matterhorn is the one.
Antero, Matterhorn, or Matterhorn Sport?
Sherpa builds three racks for the 1996-2002 4Runner. Same truck, same drill-free track mount, three different jobs.
| Antero (this rack) | Matterhorn | Matterhorn Sport | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 63.5" half | 92" full | 92" full |
| Crossbars | 5 x 43" | 9 x 43" | 7 x 43" |
| Weight | ~35 lbs | ~50 lbs | ~40 lbs |
| Profile | 2" | 2.5" | 2.5" |
| Dynamic | 200 lbs | 200 lbs | 150 lbs |
| Static | 500 lbs | 600 lbs | 400 lbs |
| Side Plates | 1/4" aircraft grade | 1/4" aircraft grade | Lighter, thinner |
| Rooftop Tent | No | Yes | No |
Worth noticing: the Antero carries the same 200 lb dynamic rating as the full-length Matterhorn, and more than the full-length Sport, because it uses the same 1/4 inch PEAK side plates. You are giving up length and some static capacity, not mounting strength.
Choose the Antero for everyday gear with the lightest weight and lowest profile. Choose the Matterhorn for a rooftop tent or full roof coverage. Choose the Matterhorn Sport for full length at lower weight, if you do not need the load rating.
PEAK Series
Sherpa's flagship rack line, built around the strongest aluminum mounting structure on the market. A direct load path, 1/4" aircraft-grade aluminum side plates, and rubber seals protecting the vehicle. The Antero is the half-length PEAK rack for the 3rd Gen, and it is the design the whole line grew from.
Crafted
Manufactured in Colorado from 1/4" aircraft-grade aluminum side panels, CNC machined and finished by Sherpa's own team. Four mounting brackets tie into your factory roof tracks with a direct load path, and stainless steel hardware holds it all together. Black textured powder coat, black anodized crossbars, black oxide stainless hardware throughout.
Adaptable
Five aluminum extrusion crossbars at 43 inches, with large slots running their length. Bolt gear directly into a crossbar, or strap it to the side plates, whichever suits what you are carrying. Boards, boxes, an awning, fuel cans, recovery gear. Reconfiguring takes minutes rather than an afternoon.
Durable
Battle-tested is Sherpa's word for it, and on a design this old it is earned. The Antero has been getting gear to remote country since before most overlanding brands existed, and the current version is an all-new design of that original. Backed by Sherpa's Lifetime Warranty.
Drill-Free, With One Thing to Sort
The Antero mounts to your factory roof tracks with zero drilling and zero modification to the vehicle. On a 3rd Gen that matters, because these trucks are old enough that you would rather not be opening new holes in a roof that has survived this long.
The one thing to sort beforehand: 8 track nuts are required and they are not included. And on a truck this age, factory roof tracks are frequently missing their anchor plates entirely, lost by a previous owner or corroded away.
Check your tracks before you order. If the anchor plates are gone, you will need those as well as the track nuts. Call us at 844-200-3979 and we will work out exactly what your truck needs rather than leaving you to discover it on install day.
Specifications
| Vehicle | 1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner (3rd Gen) |
| Series | PEAK Series |
| Coverage | Half length |
| Weight | ~35 lbs |
| Crossbars | 5 x 43" |
| Rack Dimensions | 63.5" x 43-1/2" x 2" (measured at the center of the roof) |
| Dynamic Load Rating | 200 lbs |
| Static Load Rating | 500 lbs |
| Side Plates | 1/4" aircraft-grade aluminum |
| Mounting | 4 brackets to factory roof tracks. Drill-free, zero modification |
| Required Separately | 8 track nuts. Anchor plates if your tracks are missing them |
| Finish | Black textured powder coat |
| Crossbar Finish | Black anodized |
| Hardware | Black oxide stainless steel |
| Manufactured | Colorado, USA |
| SKU | 119044 |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
What's Included
Does not include roof track anchor plates or the 8 required track nuts.
📄 Installation Instructions
Download the Antero install guide. No drilling required, but have your 8 track nuts ready before you start.
Pros
- Same 200 lb dynamic rating as the full-length Matterhorn, from the same 1/4" PEAK side plates
- About 35 lbs, the lightest rack Sherpa builds for the 3rd Gen
- 2 inch profile, lower than either full-length option
- Completely drill-free, mounting to factory roof tracks
- Leaves the rear of the roof clear
- Bolt into the crossbars or strap directly to the side plates
- The original Sherpa design, rebuilt
- Made in Colorado with a Lifetime Warranty
Cons
- 8 track nuts required and not included
- Anchor plates often missing on trucks this age, and also not included
- Not suitable for a rooftop tent at 200 lbs dynamic
- A half roof rack, so it does not cover the full length
- Load rating is ultimately limited by your factory roof tracks
Frequently Asked Questions
What are track nuts and anchor plates, and do I need them?
8 track nuts are required for installation and are not supplied with the rack. They slide into your factory roof tracks and the rack bolts to them. Anchor plates are the end caps that keep the track nuts captive, and on a 3rd Gen they are frequently missing, lost or corroded. Check your tracks before ordering. Call us at 844-200-3979 and we will sort out what your truck actually needs.
Should I get the Antero or the Matterhorn?
The Antero if you carry everyday gear and want the lightest, lowest rack. The Matterhorn if you want a rooftop tent or the whole roof covered. Both use the same 1/4 inch PEAK side plates and the same 200 lb dynamic rating, so you are choosing length and static capacity, not mounting strength.
Can I put a rooftop tent on it?
At 200 lbs dynamic, no. Most rooftop tents weigh close to or more than that before any gear, and a 63.5 inch half-length platform is short for a tent anyway. The full-length Matterhorn is the rack for that on a 3rd Gen. Call us at 844-200-3979 and we will talk through what your truck and your tracks will actually support.
Will it damage my roof or need drilling?
No drilling and zero modification. The Antero mounts to the factory roof tracks that are already on the vehicle, using four brackets with a direct load path. On a truck that is now well over twenty years old, keeping the roof unopened is worth something, and a rack that bolts to what is already there is the right approach.
What is the real load limit on an old 4Runner?
The rack is rated to 200 lbs dynamic and 500 static, but on a track-mounted rack the factory roof tracks set the real limit, not the rack. On a 25 year old vehicle, those tracks and their mounting points are as old as the truck. Inspect them, and if there is corrosion around the track mounting points, sort that before loading the roof heavily.
Complete Your Build
Check Your Roof Tracks First
Send us a photo of your tracks and tell us what you plan to carry. We will confirm the fit and what hardware you need before you order.
844-200-3979
