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

[Hiker865]

To those that have a roof top tent..... How much of a drop in mpg and increase in wind noise do you get?

I am driving from TN to CO for some hiking and exploring. Is that farther than you would travel with a tent on top at 80+mph for 17hours

 

[AdamHa]

question

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.

I know its been a while since this post but since you made those alterations, have you had any issues with your factory bars? I want to do the same. 2003 Toyota 4runner limited.

 

[AdamHa]

Hey Farzad, what did you end up doing on your rack and how did it go ? I am in same position now trying to figure out what to do to my 4runner.

 

[AdamHa]

question

I just put in an order for these! They seem like a great product. I was never asked to provide my email for confirmation however..

How did these crossbars do for you ? I am in the same position now looking for stronger crossbars... for my RTT. 2003 toyota 4runner limited v8

 

[freeflight]

Thinking about a roof top tents. Good to know factory rack is okay for the task.

 

[Bundutrailer]

Anyone with a hard shell rooftop tent on the 4th Gen rack hopefully with pics.

 

[elykrunner]

I put a cascadia St hellens RTT on my stock 03 runner. Its not ideal, at all. In windy areas it flops around a lot, and dramatically reduces MPG. Some days IM doing 18 mpg. other days I’m doing 15 mpg. Not sure if having it snug on a stout rack would make a different but it seems like it would for me. There’s also a lot of wind noise.

 

[elykrunner]

To those that have a roof top tent..... How much of a drop in mpg and increase in wind noise do you get?

I am driving from TN to CO for some hiking and exploring. Is that farther than you would travel with a tent on top at 80+mph for 17hours

Wind Noise for me can be excessive. For mpg, I’m getting 14.5-18 with 03 v8 (average 16) I was hitting around 19 before the tent.

My rtt is not supposed to drive above 77mph. Makes camping a more enjoyable experience tho. I drove from so cal to the tip of Washington and back.

 

[kyakaddict]

Please be aware that there are campgrounds in the US (Yellowstone,Tetons,GlacierNPs) that require hard sided camping vehicles only. A rooftop soft sided tent might not qualify for those specific campgrounds. This is only in Grizzly Bear habitat. Black Bears are not as serious a threat. Think of future uses, and if those uses are in Grizzly Bear habitat, I would want a hard sided sleeping arrangement, whether at a NPS site or a boondock site. I sleep in the back of my 4Runner and was awakened at 3AM one morning, just outside of the east entrance to Yellowstone, when a Grizzly sow stepped on my running board and jostled the vehicle. She had two yearling cubs with her. I shined my flashlight at them and they moseyed off. Soft sided tents are no match for a grizzly, again Black Bears are almost never a problem, unless they are food habituated.

 

[Got_boost]

RTT and facory roof rack

I have a Roofnest and use the factory roofrack with Yakima crossbars. I have not had a problem camping at state parks, national parks,or dispersed sites using my rtt.

 

[elykrunner]

anyone with a hard shell rooftop tent on the 4th gen rack hopefully with pics.

here.

 

[Bundutrailer]

here.

Thanks, do you have one with RTT closed? trying to gauge if I can avoid a low rise roof rack for want to keep a both low profile and lower weight.

 

[elykrunner]

Thanks, do you have one with RTT closed? trying to gauge if I can avoid a low rise roof rack for want to keep a both low profile and lower weight.

You mean if you can use the stock rack?
It bounces around A LOT in high winds. I wish I had a more rigid rack.

 

[Bundutrailer]

You mean if you can use the stock rack?
It bounces around A LOT in high winds. I wish I had a more rigid rack.

Yes, didn’t know it’s that bad. Buying a rack and filling it with a RTT have felt is a waste of money. Btw what RTT is that?

 

[aemravan]

You mean if you can use the stock rack?
It bounces around A LOT in high winds. I wish I had a more rigid rack.

To be fair.. your RTT is probably one of the heaviest options to buy. My smittybilt was only 150lbs, the MIA overlander that is a hard shell is up to 250, wouldn’t be surprised if you’re over 300lbs on that ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bundutrailer]

That’s heavy, looking at an ikamper mini with front runner rack. Anyone with pics, never see this combo on a 4th Gen

 

[elykrunner]

Yes, didn’t know it’s that bad. Buying a rack and filling it with a RTT have felt is a waste of money. Btw what RTT is that?

It’s the cascadia St. Helens. Just looked at their site and they dropped the price by $1,000 which kinda sucks because I’m trying to sell mine. Selling because I’m to a city and having some issues with the 4runner. Makes camping a lot more fun tho!

 

[elykrunner]

To be fair.. your RTT is probably one of the heaviest options to buy. My smittybilt was only 150lbs, the MIA overlander that is a hard shell is up to 250, wouldn’t be surprised if you’re over 300lbs on that ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Website says its 150 lbs without the ladder. Wasn’t too heavy lifting it overhead, just awkward.

 

[freeflight]

You mean if you can use the stock rack?

It bounces around A LOT in high winds. I wish I had a more rigid rack.

Is the tent on factory cross bar?
Perhaps ratchet straps to tie the tent cross factory roof rail can reduce bouncing in the wind.

 

[elykrunner]

Is the tent on factory cross bar?
Perhaps ratchet straps to tie the tent cross factory roof rail can reduce bouncing in the wind.

The rack is all factory. It just flexes too much and too much air goes underneath it. I ratcheted it down the first time I hit the cross winds in the desert. Gave me a piece of mind but didnt solve it.

I did drive a few thousands miles with it. It’s totally do-able, it just the places were high winds are common is where its less fun. The drag greatly reduced my gas mileage as well, so it might be worth it over time.