Mounting a roof top tent (RTT) on a Whitson Metalworks roof rack?

[aleks77]

Hey guys, I have the awesome roof rack from Whitson Metalworks, and I would like to mount a RTT on it (100lbs). Just wondering If I should mount it directly on top, or should I cut one of the sides off and mount it to the floor/mesh of the roof rack, so that it sits lower to the roof?

Thanks for any help!

Here is a photo from his website;

 

[4x4runner2002]

ive been thinking about this as well. im thinking about mounting it right on top of the existing side rails and making a wind faring for the front of the tent. thats when i get my tent.

 

[Aznwolf118]

My cvt Mount St. Helens is mounted using Yakima universal snar and extra load bars and mounting hardware bought from bobby at cvt.

I also used security bolts for piece of mind.

I haven't off road with the set up but it travels fine on freeways.

No pics of my own but stole the idea from this thread

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/114221-roof-top-tent-gobi-stealth.html

 

[gshadow325]

You know there is a cvt group but going on right now @ 30% off. I bought optional load bars from Josh just for this reason. So I can sit the cvt rtt right on the rack and mount it directly to the rack and rtt.

Basically the load bars will be the floor support beams and the rtt will bolt directly to it

 

[gshadow325]

link to the group buy
2014 CVT Group buy! - Expedition Portal!

 

[TideRunner]

link to the group buy
2014 CVT Group buy! - Expedition Portal!

@gshadow

i love....


...your face. imma get me one.

 

[aleks77]

You know there is a cvt group but going on right now @ 30% off. I bought optional load bars from Josh just for this reason. So I can sit the cvt rtt right on the rack and mount it directly to the rack and rtt.

Basically the load bars will be the floor support beams and the rtt will bolt directly to it

Yep aware of the group buy, gonna go into it for sure!

So the load bars are for the Whitson rack or for the oem rails?

 

[gshadow325]

Load bars for the whitson rack.

Thanks for the love [MENTION=98034]TideRunner[/MENTION]

Now is there anyone out there in the Philly area that's getting one and want to save on shipping too? I can have it shipped to my shop commercial address.

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Even if you didn't buy crossbars from me you could pick up a few lengths of square or round tube and u-bolt them across the rack to create a base. Some tents I think could just lay right on the top rails of the rack.

 

[aleks77]

Gotcha, ill just get the tent first and then get some square tubing like Josh suggested!

 

[gshadow325]

Even if you didn't buy crossbars from me you could pick up a few lengths of square or round tube and u-bolt them across the rack to create a base. Some tents I think could just lay right on the top rails of the rack.

Josh,

I did my install yesteday. Probably picked up one of the largest tents CVT has.

72x48

I dont think it would work the way you suggested. on second thought, i think i know what you are trying to say.

instead of using load bars that go from driver to passenger, and then attaching the tent to those, kinda forming a #

i can use the bars that came with the tent and change the orientation to the same way the load bars go. thus removing one whole layer.

 

[aleks77]

For anyone interested, I just ended up using the supplied bars and brackets, just had to run them the other way and cut them a little. Piece of cake, so far so good, might move it towards the rear as it seems there Is a lot of weight on the 2 front legs by the sunroof.

 

[gshadow325]

For anyone interested, I just ended up using the supplied bars and brackets, just had to run them the other way and cut them a little. Piece of cake, so far so good, might move it towards the rear as it seems there Is a lot of weight on the 2 front legs by the sunroof

I was thinking that. But you have a smaller tent and stuff on the rear. So that should even things out.

Is that the Mt Shasta? I got the Mt Rainer. Now I see that it would have been too small for me, wife and two kids. You might want to consider getting maybe a front hitch receiver to hold that plastic cargo box. That's what I ended up doing.

Looks good with the dirt and awesome scenery in the back.

Here's mine out on its second trip.

BTW I tried to not use the load bars and for me with my bigger and longer tent, it would actually hit the light bar since it would sit lower.