Can you put a Roof Top Tent on 4 runner factory roof rack

[RunnerAK]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience with CVT.

I too am sorry you feel this way. I am quite happy with my RTT from CVT.

Yeah, from what I understand they got a lot more interest in the 2014 group buy than they were expecting and basically just got overwhelmed and dropped the ball on many of us. Bobby seems like a good guy, and I know that they weren't intentionally trying to screw us over, which is why I gave them the benefit of the doubt and waited it out.

A call or email update once in a while after they took nearly $1500 of ours would've gone a long way though. As with any business - communication is key, and they just didn't do a very good job in many of our cases. Hopefully they have their act together this year (or put a cap on the group buy so that it is manageable).

 

[MTgirl]

Yeah, from what I understand they got a lot more interest in the 2014 group buy than they were expecting and basically just got overwhelmed and dropped the ball on many of us. Bobby seems like a good guy, and I know that they weren't intentionally trying to screw us over, which is why I gave them the benefit of the doubt and waited it out.

A call or email update once in a while after they took nearly $1500 of ours would've gone a long way though. As with any business - communication is key, and they just didn't do a very good job in many of our cases. Hopefully they have their act together this year (or put a cap on the group buy so that it is manageable).

Last years GB did get out of hand - all for reasons that Bobby couldn't have predicted. The discount code was passed around the internet and orders were coming in from all over. Something like 400 tents sold in a month - that's more than they sell in a year! They simply couldn't make them and ship them fast enough. Lessons learned. I touched base with Bobby recently and he says he is up for another this year but will be doing a lot of things differently - like limiting the quantities of tents ahead of time.
Sorry you had a bad experience, I don't think he was intentionally ignoring people he was just completely overwhelmed. I thought Bobby was great to deal with and I love my tent, that's why I stand by him and CVT.


Anywho....I've been in the market for a Runner and have been searching for ways to mount my Mt Bachelor when I ran across this thread.

 

[21SF]

Correct answer: Yes the factory roof rack (minus crossbars) is more than strong enough to support a RTT full of people and gear. No flexing to be seen.



Using the factory rack, you can mount the RTT much lower in profile than any aftermarket rack or crossbar setup that I've seen. No need to spend an extra $1000 just to mount your RTT.

Can you take pics or describe how you mounted to the stock rack?

Thanks in Advance!

 

[robby655]

I have my RTT mounted on the front runner slimline II rack. Really a great rack with a well thought out design. Good luck and hope you get this figured out!... Must say it does suck to spend 1100 on a rack Just for the tent... No more usable space.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[Flyer]

So help me understand this- the factory base rack (front-to-back bars) is strong but could some aftermarket crossbars fit side-to-side? I think the factory crossbars are pretty weak and flex a lot, but not sure if anyone makes crossbars that fit the factory base rack.

Second- I'm in for a nice tent when the next group buy comes up. Do I need to joint the Taco forum for that?:beer:

 

[jbssfelix]

So help me understand this- the factory base rack (front-to-back bars) is strong but could some aftermarket crossbars fit side-to-side? I think the factory crossbars are pretty weak and flex a lot, but not sure if anyone makes crossbars that fit the factory base rack.

Second- I'm in for a nice tent when the next group buy comes up. Do I need to joint the Taco forum for that?:beer:

The major brands (Thule, Yakima, etc) all make adapters that let you mount their crossbars to OEM roof rails.

https://www.yakima.com/railgrab-4-pack

Thule Rapid Crossroad Foot Pack 450R | Thule | USA

 

[Mr.emergency]

Sport edition rack checking in- a Tepui Kukenam will attach to the sport edition crossbars. Although it is a bit of a ***** to get the nuts on due to clearance between the roof and end of bolt. But given enough time it attaches sturdily. Supports 2 people without breaking or creaking haha.

 

[Flyer]

Good info...thanks!

 

[RunnerAK]

Can you take pics or describe how you mounted to the stock rack?

Thanks in Advance!

Here's the only pic I have right now of the tent rails bolted to stock (Limited/SR5) roof rails, we haven't mounted the tent for the summer yet:



The tent rails effectively become your crossbars when mounted this way, and allow for a lower profile than when using stock or aftermarket crossbars (plus you don't have to buy anything extra to mount your tent).

 

[nrdpmp]

Here's the only pic I have right now of the tent rails bolted to stock (Limited/SR5) roof rails, we haven't mounted the tent for the summer yet:



The tent rails effectively become your crossbars when mounted this way, and allow for a lower profile than when using stock or aftermarket crossbars (plus you don't have to buy anything extra to mount your tent).

So I just got my CVT and got it up there on the factory rails that run parallel with the vehicle and bolted it there. I'm having some issues getting the annex room into the channel due to the bottom of the tent bars/rails that run perpendicular to the roof rails sticking out so much further than the roof rails (did that make sense? Did in my head..). I'm going to go back out and try and put the cover on (cause that's more important than the annex).

Has anyone had to trim these tent bar/rails? Or do I need to stop being a sissy and just get it done over the rails?

*EDIT* I was able to get the cover in the channel, so I was probably just being a sissy with the Annex room

p.s. I have a Gobi stealth rack on order.. just waiting... so this is temporary and I have a few trips coming up before the rack will be here.

 

[RunnerAK]

So I just got my CVT and got it up there on the factory rails that run parallel with the vehicle and bolted it there. I'm having some issues getting the annex room into the channel due to the bottom of the tent bars/rails that run perpendicular to the roof rails sticking out so much further than the roof rails (did that make sense? Did in my head..). I'm going to go back out and try and put the cover on (cause that's more important than the annex).

Has anyone had to trim these tent bar/rails? Or do I need to stop being a sissy and just get it done over the rails?

*EDIT* I was able to get the cover in the channel, so I was probably just being a sissy with the Annex room

p.s. I have a Gobi stealth rack on order.. just waiting... so this is temporary and I have a few trips coming up before the rack will be here.

Yeah, to mount the tent like I did and have it open to the side of the vehicle requires trimming the tent rails a bit. I had to trim them flush with channel side of the tent in order to be able to easily get the cover and annex on and off.

Since you're eventually getting a different rack though, I'd hold off on modifying the rails until you have the final setup ready to go.

 

[Davidpsr5]

How did it go?

I really would like to get a RTT but I'm not buying a $1k rack so I can mount a $2k tent.

 

[DanielMaat89]

I have an ARB Kakadu Tent with the factory rack. I removed the factory crossmembers and it bolted right on. Just don't over tighten the brackets. The ARB brackets look like they are universal. I went on a month long trip that was about 12,000 miles total. A good deal of that was off-road and everything held up great, no bending or anything. The factory roof rack toyota made is quite strong and capable. I did change the bolts for the factory rack to grade 8 because why not.

 

[Farzad_K]

Yakima RTT and Factory Crossbars

Hello everyone.

I am not sure what the consensus was here. I just bout a 2-person Yakima RTT and plan on using it on my 2016 SR5. The difference in capacity of factory crossbars and what Yakima requires isn't a lot and the brackets that come with the tent already have locks on them. Do you recommend that I shell out about $500 more and get Yakima bars and towers, or should I use the factory crossbars?

Thanks in advance.

Farzad

 

[Flyer]

I'd get Yak or Thule bars. The factory bars do flex a bit and none of the Yak or Thule bars I have owned (round and square, respectively) ever flexed. They seem to be much stronger. That's just me.

 

[nghiS4]

Home made RTT ~ FTW!

You know, it kinda ticks me off that RTT's as nice as they may be, start at $900+ & go upwards of $3,000!!!

I may buy one soon anyhow being that I've no time to build my own for cheap, but at least some folks are doing it.
DIY Rooftop Camper Made From The Simplest Of Materials

 

[kingofthehill]

Does anyone know what the maximum weight capacity is for the stock roof rack?

 

[TXLX1]

So help me understand this- the factory base rack (front-to-back bars) is strong but could some aftermarket crossbars fit side-to-side? I think the factory crossbars are pretty weak and flex a lot, but not sure if anyone makes crossbars that fit the factory base rack.

Second- I'm in for a nice tent when the next group buy comes up. Do I need to joint the Taco forum for that?:beer:

I just started making these RTT Load Bars for 4th Gen (not sure if they fit the round Sport Rack). Very sturdy and an option if you don't want to set the RTT on the factory rail. Comes powder coated with every thing you need (minus the RTT and the nuts and bolts that come with RTT). I'm not sure if I need to be setup as a vendor on here, but message me if anyone interested.

 

[Ngonerogwu]

I just started making these RTT Load Bars for 4th Gen (not sure if they fit the round Sport Rack). Very sturdy and an option if you don't want to set the RTT on the factory rail. Comes powder coated with every thing you need (minus the RTT and the nuts and bolts that come with RTT). I'm not sure if I need to be setup as a vendor on here, but message me if anyone interested.

Why do this vs just set the RTT on the factory side rails?

 

[TXLX1]

Why do this vs just set the RTT on the factory side rails?

You can certainly set it on the factory side rails.

There are a few advantages to these load bars, you don't scratch up your factory rails, gain some clearance to bolt the tent to the load bars more easily, you can have your tent open to the side without re-arranging channels on the tent, once you get the bars setup for your tent.... 4 bolts to loosen and the tent can come right off with the bars (versus 8 bolts), and lastly, having this extra clearance you can easily use an awning with the right mounts. Also, the mounts work with another product I make, so it's easier for me to switch from load bars to roof rack.

Basically, it's just another option and about half the price of the big name load bars that clamp to the factory rails, and also much cheaper than buying a flat rack to just use a tent.