Off-Roading with a RTT

[T4RZAN]

Hey guys,

I'm curious your opinions on off-roading with a RTT. I am hopefully about to have one and I'm curious how much they affect your balance? Some people say they don't notice it and others say they do. I do slower rock crawling but also have done faster open desert double track.

Thanks in advance

 

[HOJeepster]

Hey guys,

I'm curious your opinions on off-roading with a RTT. I am hopefully about to have one and I'm curious how much they affect your balance? Some people say they don't notice it and others say they do. I do slower rock crawling but also have done faster open desert double track.

Thanks in advance

I removed mine and sold it because I thought the weight was really starting to bog down the truck on the highway, and when technical offroading the higher center of gravity was noticeable.

Not a game breaker, but noticeable.

In my opinion, a lot of people run RTT's now a days because it looks "cool" and really don't care about the negatives.

 

[Hltoppr]

I got my first RTT from overseas, before they could be found in the States.

I currently use both a 135lb. roof tent and ground tent, depending upon having 2 or 3 people in the rig. With the roof tent, I just remember that when picking lines, and realize that I'm a tad more top heavy.

The extent of trails I'm traveling on are not "extreme" however, and I've never had an issue. Take it slow and realize the slight limitations.

Old pic...in the late 90s.

Current setup(s).

-H-

 

[Babyjake16]

I’m eager to see how it does with me hauling with long travel lol

 

[Spenny]

I’m eager to see how it does with me hauling with long travel lol

I've seen 5 RTT of different makes, some "ruggedized", on Tundras with long travel have issues over time with the bolts holding the track on the bottom coming loose and wallow out the original holes. You can wait until that starts or add more bolts for the track off the get go.

 

[sleevefullofaces]

You're definitely aware of the weight when you're off camber.

I love mine but might get one of the more aerodynamic models in the future. The brick shaped soft tent really eats into my mileage.

 

[Mgyver1]

I have not noticed too much difference. I have been on faster paced twisting roads and off-camber situations. Yes you notice it but my truck has always felt fairly stable with my upgraded suspension and having the sway bars on.

I had my roof tent (141 lbs), a 43 lbs table/bench, 8 gals of fuel (~50 lbs) plus the weight of the rack itself. Probably over 260 lbs on the roof and I didn't fall over. Now, was I extremely unhappy about being in this spot? Yes, yes I was. And it took a while to get the foam to sit flat again after the point it was formed in to.

 

[SunPilot]

I have not noticed too much difference. I have been on faster paced twisting roads and off-camber situations. Yes you notice it but my truck has always felt fairly stable with my upgraded suspension and having the sway bars on.

I had my roof tent (141 lbs), a 43 lbs table/bench, 8 gals of fuel (17 lbs) plus the weight of the rack itself. Probably over 230 lbs on the roof and I didn't fall over. Now, was I extremely unhappy about being in this spot? Yes, yes I was. And it took a while to get the foam to sit flat again after the point it was formed in to.

I think 8 gals. of fuel would be closer to 50 lbs.

 

[Mgyver1]

I think 8 gals. of fuel would be closer to 50 lbs.

Doh! Don’t know where that number came from, but you’re right. I’ll fix it

 

[TFin04]

Not a tent, but I just spent 1000 miles with a 90lb canoe and some other gear on my roof, and it's definitely noticeable in the dirt.

Not a deal breaker, but something to be considered when choosing your route.

 

[Jetboy]

On my trip through the Rubicon last year with mostly LC80 wagons - everyone with a RTT complained about the weight making them tippy. It's got its share of off camber places that are easy enough to flop on and having a few hundred lbs on top isn't helping. Especially on lifted vehicles with sway bars removed.

I've often wondered why they are made of heavy canvas instead of more modern light weight materials like ripstop nylon or sunbrella fabrics to keep the weight down. The Yakima one is the only option I know of that uses light weight materials and it's under 100lbs. Even then - if you told someone that a tent would weigh 100lbs, most people would be pretty surprised by that unless it's a wall tent or similar.