User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 01-14-2021, 12:21 PM #1
Espresso_OI Espresso_OI is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 77
Espresso_OI is on a distinguished road
Espresso_OI Espresso_OI is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 77
Espresso_OI is on a distinguished road
Mounting a full size clamshell RTT - on a 3/4 or 1/2 rack?

Like a few others here, I'm one of the guinea pigs for the superlite tent from GFC. (80lbs and 50x90", about 4-6" tall when closed.)

I need to purchase a roof rack for the sole purpose of supporting this tent - and I'm after the most minimal / slim setup possible. I think the 3/4 LFD rack or even LFD crossbars on factory rails would support the weight just fine while using the RTT.

My question is - any experiences or examples from those with a clamshell / full size RTT, on a non-full size rack?
  • I would basically have a large gap / air pocket under the tent. Might look a little stupid, but how would it ride while driving?
  • Gusty winds likely to send me off into a ditch, or just really loud and tanking my MPG?
Espresso_OI is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 12:52 PM #2
91foxbody 91foxbody is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: PNW
Posts: 261
91foxbody will become famous soon enough 91foxbody will become famous soon enough
91foxbody 91foxbody is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: PNW
Posts: 261
91foxbody will become famous soon enough 91foxbody will become famous soon enough
I'm completely new to the T4R world, but I'm extremely interested in this. I purchased LFD crossbars for my ORP and want to put an order in for a GFC SL sometime this summer. If I can get away without having to run an entire roof rack 100% of the time I would be stoked.
91foxbody is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 01:04 PM #3
JSparky's Avatar
JSparky JSparky is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Bay Area CA
Posts: 1,812
JSparky is a jewel in the rough JSparky is a jewel in the rough JSparky is a jewel in the rough
JSparky JSparky is offline
Senior Member
JSparky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Bay Area CA
Posts: 1,812
JSparky is a jewel in the rough JSparky is a jewel in the rough JSparky is a jewel in the rough
Does GFC not make the same brackets for the superlite as they do for the standard tent? I know the standard tent has 5th-gen self brackets that essentially replaces your rack, super low profile. Or do you want to maintain an standard rack with the tent?
__________________
67' Land Rover 109, 97' FZJ80, 16' 4Runner Limited

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-ge...-jr-build.html
http://www.overlandcookery.com
http://www.schaubphoto.com
JSparky is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 03:05 PM #4
Espresso_OI Espresso_OI is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 77
Espresso_OI is on a distinguished road
Espresso_OI Espresso_OI is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 77
Espresso_OI is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSparky View Post
Does GFC not make the same brackets for the superlite as they do for the standard tent? I know the standard tent has 5th-gen self brackets that essentially replaces your rack, super low profile. Or do you want to maintain an standard rack with the tent?
I asked and they confirmed for me the 'Platform' mounts would not work.

So, yes I'm looking @ options to use either stock rails, or 3/4 rails. The mounting rails under the GFC RTT are about 50", and they themselves advertise it only needs 2-3 crossbars for mounting.
Espresso_OI is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 04:19 PM #5
rheosibal rheosibal is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: LA/OC
Posts: 52
rheosibal is on a distinguished road
rheosibal rheosibal is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: LA/OC
Posts: 52
rheosibal is on a distinguished road
You'll be fine with either option.

I've mounted soft shell and a clamshell tents using OEM cross bars without problem, so if you were to use the LFD, NiseRack, or Rago cross bar replacements, you'll be good too
rheosibal is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 05:04 PM #6
91foxbody 91foxbody is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: PNW
Posts: 261
91foxbody will become famous soon enough 91foxbody will become famous soon enough
91foxbody 91foxbody is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: PNW
Posts: 261
91foxbody will become famous soon enough 91foxbody will become famous soon enough
I reached out to GFC to see what they say.
91foxbody is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 11:45 AM #7
91foxbody 91foxbody is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: PNW
Posts: 261
91foxbody will become famous soon enough 91foxbody will become famous soon enough
91foxbody 91foxbody is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: PNW
Posts: 261
91foxbody will become famous soon enough 91foxbody will become famous soon enough
I got a response from GFC pretty quickly with a diagram explaining their required load/spread. I don't have my LFD bars (yet), but I can take some measurements when they arrive.
Attached Images
Mounting a full size clamshell RTT - on a 3/4 or 1/2 rack?-gfcsl-jpg 
91foxbody is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 12:55 PM #8
Jono.ful's Avatar
Jono.ful Jono.ful is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,589
Jono.ful will become famous soon enough Jono.ful will become famous soon enough
Jono.ful Jono.ful is offline
Senior Member
Jono.ful's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,589
Jono.ful will become famous soon enough Jono.ful will become famous soon enough
Highly unlikely that the go fast tent would have enough internal structure to support cantilevering it off a 1/2 or 3/4 length rack.

I can't speak to this tent specifically because I haven't seen one in person, but in my experience rtts are built using thin aluminum flat bar or fiberglass, and foam panels. Definitely not something I would trust to carry a couple hundred lbs of people and gear if it were not properly supported or attached to a full length rack. Even the upward force created by wind from highway travel getting under the unsupported front end of the tent would make me nervous.

Lots of guys mount their ultralight tents directly to the roof using the factory rack mounting points without actually using a rack, and that seems to work well enough if you don't need to remote the tent on a regular basis.
__________________
2012 Magnetic Grey Metalic SR5 w/ upgrade pkg (Canada)
pretty much bone stock
Instagram: ab4runnin
Jono.ful is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 07:04 PM #9
Espresso_OI Espresso_OI is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 77
Espresso_OI is on a distinguished road
Espresso_OI Espresso_OI is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 77
Espresso_OI is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by 91foxbody View Post
I got a response from GFC pretty quickly with a diagram explaining their required load/spread. I don't have my LFD bars (yet), but I can take some measurements when they arrive.
good stuff - I've watched the (3) youtube videos, the podcast and their forum and that diagram is still new to me
Espresso_OI is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 07:07 PM #10
Espresso_OI Espresso_OI is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 77
Espresso_OI is on a distinguished road
Espresso_OI Espresso_OI is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 77
Espresso_OI is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jono.ful View Post
Highly unlikely that the go fast tent would have enough internal structure to support cantilevering it off a 1/2 or 3/4 length rack.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jono.ful View Post
Even the upward force created by wind from highway travel getting under the unsupported front end of the tent would make me nervous.
Yeah I think this is the hard truth I need to hear. As much as I don't want the full rack, doing 80-90 when its windy might at the very least start to warp whatever mounting brackets are there.
Espresso_OI is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 07:19 PM #11
Jono.ful's Avatar
Jono.ful Jono.ful is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,589
Jono.ful will become famous soon enough Jono.ful will become famous soon enough
Jono.ful Jono.ful is offline
Senior Member
Jono.ful's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,589
Jono.ful will become famous soon enough Jono.ful will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Espresso_OI View Post
Yeah I think this is the hard truth I need to hear. As much as I don't want the full rack, doing 80-90 when its windy might at the very least start to warp whatever mounting brackets are there.
Don't write off your idea too quickly.....

This photo really surprised me, but it seems to suggest that the go fast tent can withstand being mounted to less than a full length rack.

Personally I wouldn't trust it for the reasons I mentioned in my last post, but you should consider the manufacturer's word over my armchair opinion...

This is a tent that I'm considering for myself too, so I'm pretty interested to hear some longterm reviews.
__________________
2012 Magnetic Grey Metalic SR5 w/ upgrade pkg (Canada)
pretty much bone stock
Instagram: ab4runnin
Jono.ful is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 07:33 PM #12
91foxbody 91foxbody is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: PNW
Posts: 261
91foxbody will become famous soon enough 91foxbody will become famous soon enough
91foxbody 91foxbody is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: PNW
Posts: 261
91foxbody will become famous soon enough 91foxbody will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jono.ful View Post
Highly unlikely that the go fast tent would have enough internal structure to support cantilevering it off a 1/2 or 3/4 length rack.

I can't speak to this tent specifically because I haven't seen one in person, but in my experience rtts are built using thin aluminum flat bar or fiberglass, and foam panels. Definitely not something I would trust to carry a couple hundred lbs of people and gear if it were not properly supported or attached to a full length rack. Even the upward force created by wind from highway travel getting under the unsupported front end of the tent would make me nervous.

Lots of guys mount their ultralight tents directly to the roof using the factory rack mounting points without actually using a rack, and that seems to work well enough if you don't need to remote the tent on a regular basis.
This tent is intended to run with a bare-bones rack and only weighs 80 lbs.
91foxbody is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 07:53 PM #13
Jono.ful's Avatar
Jono.ful Jono.ful is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,589
Jono.ful will become famous soon enough Jono.ful will become famous soon enough
Jono.ful Jono.ful is offline
Senior Member
Jono.ful's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,589
Jono.ful will become famous soon enough Jono.ful will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by 91foxbody View Post
This tent is intended to run with a bare-bones rack and only weighs 80 lbs.
For sure, I'm not arguing that point at all, if anything I'm suggesting that in their quest to make it as light as possible, go fast may have not given it the internal structure that would allow it to be cantilevered off a shorty rack, and driven around at highway speeds with the wind trying to lever it upwards where it is not bolted to a rack. Instead relying on the rack to give the tent base more rigidity.

..... But, I don't know that for sure. The photo that you posted seems to suggest that this tent should be fine of a short rack.
__________________
2012 Magnetic Grey Metalic SR5 w/ upgrade pkg (Canada)
pretty much bone stock
Instagram: ab4runnin
Jono.ful is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 08:01 PM #14
Jono.ful's Avatar
Jono.ful Jono.ful is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,589
Jono.ful will become famous soon enough Jono.ful will become famous soon enough
Jono.ful Jono.ful is offline
Senior Member
Jono.ful's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 1,589
Jono.ful will become famous soon enough Jono.ful will become famous soon enough


Imagine the wind (in blue) is going to push up on the under side of the tent as you drive. The force (in red) is going to want to rip it up, off your roof. Because the front mount is so far back, this force has a fair bit of leverage and because the tent is designed firstly to be as light as possible, the force from the wind could bend the tent or damage the mounts.

Pushing the front mount forward (by using a full length rack) will counteract this force and reduce the lever action.

The risk is conjecture on my part because I'm not familiar with how this specific tent is constructed, but the physics is sound. It could be that it will handle the force just fine, but I don't think I would risk it.
__________________
2012 Magnetic Grey Metalic SR5 w/ upgrade pkg (Canada)
pretty much bone stock
Instagram: ab4runnin

Last edited by Jono.ful; 01-15-2021 at 08:04 PM.
Jono.ful is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-15-2021, 09:09 PM #15
TheJokingExplorer TheJokingExplorer is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Posts: 264
TheJokingExplorer will become famous soon enough
TheJokingExplorer TheJokingExplorer is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Posts: 264
TheJokingExplorer will become famous soon enough
I am currently running a frontrunner slim line II 3/4 and have been in contact with GFC about whether or not the superlite will work. I decided to switch to a prinsu rack anyways so it doesn't matter. However, from my understanding the tent is designed to work with just crossbars.
TheJokingExplorer is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

Tags
full , rack , rtt , size , tent

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
WTB: FULL SIZE ROOF RACK FOR MY 5th Gen 4Runner. Shaolin Want to Buy/Trade 0 10-12-2018 11:32 AM
full size utility rack options t3qrunner 5th gen T4Rs 27 06-25-2016 12:46 AM
Directly mounting full size roof rack heiser 4th Gen T4Rs 5 10-03-2015 02:43 PM
Full size CB mounting 1blink 3rd gen T4Rs 28 03-27-2013 11:33 PM
TOYOTA 4RUNNER ROOF RACK (FULL SIZE) $800 obo jlvnss Classifieds - buy & sell (no commercial ads please) 0 08-06-2010 01:40 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:44 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
***This site is an unofficial Toyota site, and is not officially endorsed, supported, authorized by or affiliated with Toyota. All company, product, or service names references in this web site are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. The Toyota name, marks, designs and logos, as well as Toyota model names, are registered trademarks of Toyota Motor Corporation***Ad Management plugin by RedTyger
 
Copyright © 2020