Roof top platform on which to pitch a regular tent?

[Rancho5]

I admits I haven’t done an exhaustive search because every time I do, I get nothing but roof top tent packages. Or DIY RTT, which I don’t want to attempt.

I’m just wondering if it’s possible or advisable, (or what the pros and cons are) to install a simple platform, attached to the rack, on which to pitch a regular tent. Without thinking about it too much, I’d envision two 4x8 sheets of plywood attached lengthwise with HD hinges, and perhaps leg supports that hinge down to support the overhanging sheet. It would make an 8x8 platform. Then just pitch a regular tent on top. There’d be a foldable ladder of course, which would be carried in the rig, and maybe holes drilled into the platform for poles to insert in, or other ways of attachment.

It seems...seems...like a low cost way to sleep off the ground without too much effort.

I’d appreciate any thoughts on the topic. And, yes, sleeping inside is easier but it’s tight just for me. Add my wife and it might not be possible, or comfortable. The idea is to make it comfortable for my wife to dry camp (what some people like to call over-landing now) with me.

Thanks!

 

[pluton]

Interesting idea.
Some questions.
Would this rig be permanent attached or do you want to attach and remove as needed?
Are you willing to drive around with an extra [minimum] 60 pound 4x8' flat structure on top of the truck?
How weatherproof will the plywood be, long term?
(Warpage could occur from moisture and/or heat.)
Seems like you'd have to, at minimum, install maybe 8 of those metal supports** that go in the existing factory rack channels in order to accommodate the weight.
Would the plywood be directly attached to the supports?
Would there be a metal understructure below the bottom piece of plywood?
** I think these are what I called 'supports':
https://4wheelonline.com/smittybilt-defender-rack-toyota.228641.0
Apparently Defender Racks have been absorbed into the 4Wheel Parts/Smittybilt system.

 

[Rancho5]

Interesting idea.
Some questions.
Would this rig be permanent attached or do you want to attach and remove as needed?
Are you willing to drive around with an extra [minimum] 60 pound 4x8' flat structure on top of the truck?
How weatherproof will the plywood be, long term?
(Warpage could occur from moisture and/or heat.)
Seems like you'd have to, at minimum, install maybe 8 of those metal supports** that go in the existing factory rack channels in order to accommodate the weight.
Would the plywood be directly attached to the supports?
Would there be a metal understructure below the bottom piece of plywood?
** I think these are what I called 'supports':
https://4wheelonline.com/smittybilt-defender-rack-toyota.228641.0
Apparently Defender Racks have been absorbed into the 4Wheel Parts/Smittybilt system.

Probably attach as needed

They’d have to be weatherproofed somehow

Attaching it is definitely a priority. Not sure yet and not sure what your idea entails.

 

[phattyduck]

Sounds like all the downsides of a RTT and a ground tent, all in one!

How about cots for the tent to get you up off the ground?

-Charlie

 

[sleepydad]

I admits I haven’t done an exhaustive search because every time I do, I get nothing but roof top tent packages. Or DIY RTT, which I don’t want to attempt.

I’m just wondering if it’s possible or advisable, (or what the pros and cons are) to install a simple platform, attached to the rack, on which to pitch a regular tent. Without thinking about it too much, I’d envision two 4x8 sheets of plywood attached lengthwise with HD hinges, and perhaps leg supports that hinge down to support the overhanging sheet. It would make an 8x8 platform. Then just pitch a regular tent on top. There’d be a foldable ladder of course, which would be carried in the rig, and maybe holes drilled into the platform for poles to insert in, or other ways of attachment.

It seems...seems...like a low cost way to sleep off the ground without too much effort.

I’d appreciate any thoughts on the topic. And, yes, sleeping inside is easier but it’s tight just for me. Add my wife and it might not be possible, or comfortable. The idea is to make it comfortable for my wife to dry camp (what some people like to call over-landing now) with me.

Thanks!

one other thing to consider. I only know this because I exceeded the limit last year. I drove around with 250 LBS most of the summer up on my roof rack.

https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...icle-safety-standards-cargo-carrying-capacity

220 pounds of dynamic weight up top I think.

you could remove the existing roof rack. there are 3 or 4 m6 x 1.0 x 30mm torque style bolts up there on each side. then run some aluminum or steel tubing with some sort of foam stick on weather strip on the underside to prevent galling. locating the holes is easy with a centering punch style bolt screwed into the factory mounting locations. you can then mount anything custom you want.

other things to consider. the roof line is not flat so you will need some way to level things. this is why most roof racks have brackets and adjustable x-bars.

I would be concerned about the load capacity of just home depot plywood. sure it would work for a bit but it would de-laminate at the first hint of water. I used to build cabinets and I would never touch the home depot crap ever again, it's really really cheap stuff.

marine grade ply would be ok but it's heavy and expensive, you would still want to seal the edges with something like epoxy based resin or something like that....

I don't know?

I have been RRTing now for 2 summers. actually own 2 different roof top tents. they have pro's and con's for sure but overall I will never ground camp again. one of the advantages of the RRT is you can leave your sleeping bags and pillows up there when you fold it up. so you don't have to take room up in the truck for all that junk. having a memory foam mattress is also a big pro for me. I'm old and my back hurts otherwise. it hurts less with the mattress.

once your tent is setup your staying put, that is really the only thing I don't like but... that is unavoidable with RRT. it really only takes me 5 mins to break it down or set it up so not a huge deal but... breaking down the platform tent might take longer?

even with ground tents you have to break it down and stow it so... either way it takes time to break camp.