Roof top tent on 5th gen 4r
- Thread starter rjsd
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
It is the ARB Simpson III. I just received it a few weeks ago.
I attached two flat aluminum channel cross bars to the stock rails. The mounting hardware that was included with the tent attached to the aluminum channel cross bars.
It was very stable at highway speed when stowed and when deployed in camp with the wife & five year old daughter aboard.
I would not do any serious off-roading with this setup due to the added stress of that activity. I would recommend a Baja expedition rack. I have a third gen that I will get an expedition rack I will use for short trips to the desert. The rack can also be used on the 5th gen if I go on an extended voyage.
Last edited:
Titanpat57
Senior Member
Looks great up there!!
I'd be interested in finding out how you liked the Simpson III...I'm planning on using that and the annex on the new trailer build. So far to date I've read pretty positive stuff.
Thanks, Pat
I'd be interested in finding out how you liked the Simpson III...I'm planning on using that and the annex on the new trailer build. So far to date I've read pretty positive stuff.
Thanks, Pat
So far so good ....
So far so good it seems very well made.
Ventilation is great.
Setup is very quick ten minutes, tear-down/pack-up is 15-20, the difference being the cover it is easier to take off then put on.
Looks like it will last if taken care of but I’ve had it a month & only used it for a quick four night trip so far. Looks like it will stand up to rain and wind lots of internal support and can be completely buttoned down removing the wind catching elements when deployed. I still would not camp on the roof in winds greater than thirty MPH. It has a very stable platform it becomes one rigid piece when open there is a big heavy duty hinge along with a tongue & grove joint.
For anyone thinking about a mounting it on the roof I could not feel it when driving from a handling/performance perspective it may have affected MPG but I don’t have a good basis for what my MPG is without it. The bigger issue with roof mount is getting it on & off the roof I have apparatus that makes it an easy task but it could be an issue without it. It takes an hour to mount or un-mount from start to finish. It weighs 120lb, the manual states any roof rack rated at 95lb(dynamic) will work.
The wife likes it but she enjoys camping on the ground so the mattress is sweet and it’s a room with a view. We like to wilderness camp were we try to get out of the way where most folks won’t go with regular RV trailers. I think it will work well in the south western deserts and the southern Rockies where we intend to use it.
Is it worth the money? For me it depends if it fits my application and if I use it enough? So it will be a while before I can answer that question. I paid about 1200 to the door for it. Considering a really good ground tent is not cheap and a trailer is several thousand used, over 10K new & does not fit my application.
We were thinking about the annex at first but after using the tent I don’t think we will be getting it we like the clean look and the platform provides some shade…
rj
So far so good it seems very well made.
Ventilation is great.
Setup is very quick ten minutes, tear-down/pack-up is 15-20, the difference being the cover it is easier to take off then put on.
Looks like it will last if taken care of but I’ve had it a month & only used it for a quick four night trip so far. Looks like it will stand up to rain and wind lots of internal support and can be completely buttoned down removing the wind catching elements when deployed. I still would not camp on the roof in winds greater than thirty MPH. It has a very stable platform it becomes one rigid piece when open there is a big heavy duty hinge along with a tongue & grove joint.
For anyone thinking about a mounting it on the roof I could not feel it when driving from a handling/performance perspective it may have affected MPG but I don’t have a good basis for what my MPG is without it. The bigger issue with roof mount is getting it on & off the roof I have apparatus that makes it an easy task but it could be an issue without it. It takes an hour to mount or un-mount from start to finish. It weighs 120lb, the manual states any roof rack rated at 95lb(dynamic) will work.
The wife likes it but she enjoys camping on the ground so the mattress is sweet and it’s a room with a view. We like to wilderness camp were we try to get out of the way where most folks won’t go with regular RV trailers. I think it will work well in the south western deserts and the southern Rockies where we intend to use it.
Is it worth the money? For me it depends if it fits my application and if I use it enough? So it will be a while before I can answer that question. I paid about 1200 to the door for it. Considering a really good ground tent is not cheap and a trailer is several thousand used, over 10K new & does not fit my application.
We were thinking about the annex at first but after using the tent I don’t think we will be getting it we like the clean look and the platform provides some shade…
rj
Last edited:
ciaz
New member
The tent is cool. No question. But honestly, if bears are a concern, sleep in the damn 4runner with a shotgun, not on top where you are separated by a few millimeters of nylon.
I don't camp very often, but the last time I went I slept in the back of a Ford Expedition. There was plenty of room for me on an inflatable air bed, and my stuff fit nicely in the front passenger seat. I even tied a large tarp over the SUV so I wasn't woken up early by the sunlight. The 4runner seems to have enough room to fit a full sized air bed in the back with the seats folded down. I plan on doing this when I finally end up taking it camping. It'd make more sense (for me at least) to sleep in the car and put my baggage on the roof (not vise versa).
I don't camp very often, but the last time I went I slept in the back of a Ford Expedition. There was plenty of room for me on an inflatable air bed, and my stuff fit nicely in the front passenger seat. I even tied a large tarp over the SUV so I wasn't woken up early by the sunlight. The 4runner seems to have enough room to fit a full sized air bed in the back with the seats folded down. I plan on doing this when I finally end up taking it camping. It'd make more sense (for me at least) to sleep in the car and put my baggage on the roof (not vise versa).
To each his own on where you think it is most convenient to sleep.
If I camp for a week to ten days I think the RTT will work out better for me.
I think the bear joke went over your head though. Although there where bears in camp we were not all that worried about them. They were panda bears & I would rather shoot them from the roof anyway (just joking, again).
Good luck,
Last edited:
sandcrawler
Senior Member
say again... what is it? i see a tail, but...
We were grilling up a little cow that may have attracked those bears...
Titanpat57
Senior Member
:gun6: Damn Bears...
Thanks for the info...much appreciated!
I like the annex feature on the Simpson because the ladder is enclosed, which was not the case on the last RTT I owned. So when Her Highness had to get up in the middle of the night...her big, strong, protecter would make sure she wasn't absconded by a forest creature...lolol.
So the porta-potti inside and the ladder will be enclosed...
Problem solved!:trophy:
Take care,
Pat
Thanks for the info...much appreciated!
I like the annex feature on the Simpson because the ladder is enclosed, which was not the case on the last RTT I owned. So when Her Highness had to get up in the middle of the night...her big, strong, protecter would make sure she wasn't absconded by a forest creature...lolol.
So the porta-potti inside and the ladder will be enclosed...
Problem solved!:trophy:
Take care,
Pat
It was a beast...
It was the "Beast BBQ." Each year my buddy Mike has a “Beast BBQ” where a whole beast of some sort is bbq'ed in some fashion, spits, grills, pits... One year he said it was a lamb but I'm pretty sure it was a very large dog or tiny horse. I have been to a few of these events over there years and he always gets the new folks to handle the raw beast if they are present. You will never forget getting a large raw animal with the head attached onto a spit. The head is usually left on for aesthetics but it would not fit in the 150 quart cooler whole this time so the head came off this one. The BBQ's have been close to home & as far away as Alaska & Baja.
To answer your question it was a 100lb cow that Mike went to the farm and picked out, he said it was the farmers pet but there is a price on everything. We BBQ'ed it on two three foot diameter grills that were lashed together. The video of four tipsy fellas grabbing a limb & flipping it is quite entertaining....
It was the "Beast BBQ." Each year my buddy Mike has a “Beast BBQ” where a whole beast of some sort is bbq'ed in some fashion, spits, grills, pits... One year he said it was a lamb but I'm pretty sure it was a very large dog or tiny horse. I have been to a few of these events over there years and he always gets the new folks to handle the raw beast if they are present. You will never forget getting a large raw animal with the head attached onto a spit. The head is usually left on for aesthetics but it would not fit in the 150 quart cooler whole this time so the head came off this one. The BBQ's have been close to home & as far away as Alaska & Baja.
To answer your question it was a 100lb cow that Mike went to the farm and picked out, he said it was the farmers pet but there is a price on everything. We BBQ'ed it on two three foot diameter grills that were lashed together. The video of four tipsy fellas grabbing a limb & flipping it is quite entertaining....
Last edited:
I believe that is the OEM crossbars...
Titanpat57
Senior Member
The roof itself is designed to hold the weight of the vehicle in the case of a rollover.
So even a tent (150lbs.) and people (3,4,500 lbs) is no strain..but the crossbars are another story. They are only rated for a certain amount of weight..I belive that rjsd used a different sized aluminum channel to acheive that.
Ryan_S
New member
I think the factory rack is only rated for 130lbs, Not just the crossbars, but the front to back bars as well.
The BajaRack, for example, is rated much higher but the roof mounting points are only rated at 300lbs. I'm sure there is a factor of safety in there as well.
Also, the roof does have to be strong enough to hold up the vehicle, but that is distributed weight over the whole roof. Not at only 4 points.
People can, and always do, do what they want, but I wouldn't put more than about 300 lbs up there. Especially without a more substantial rack.
Don't expect me to follow you on the highway.
The BajaRack, for example, is rated much higher but the roof mounting points are only rated at 300lbs. I'm sure there is a factor of safety in there as well.
Also, the roof does have to be strong enough to hold up the vehicle, but that is distributed weight over the whole roof. Not at only 4 points.
People can, and always do, do what they want, but I wouldn't put more than about 300 lbs up there. Especially without a more substantial rack.
Don't expect me to follow you on the highway.
As per the Toyota and ARB the weight is within limits. I’m not sure how the weight could be more evenly distributed there was pretty much 30lbs on each mounting point (rail to truck) going down the road. If you think it needs to be evenly distributed along the rails I think you are mistaken. I would be more worried about mounting heavy mountain bicycles to the standard cross bars and taking the trip I did. This would be due to the weak cross bars and the dynamic affect of the weight even though lower than the tent. That’s why ARB states there weight rating as a dynamic weight.
With that said due to the stock cast pieces the stock steel rails connect to the roof with I would not do any serious off road driving with this setup. I am picking up the Baja expedition rack made to mount this tent on the 3third gen 4r along with the mounts four the 5th so that I can use it on either 4r when I feel a need for it. The mounts are made from drawn steel witch is stronger then the cast pieces mentioned above. You are correct you can do what you want and you can believe what you want, but not as much as you did in the past.
With that said due to the stock cast pieces the stock steel rails connect to the roof with I would not do any serious off road driving with this setup. I am picking up the Baja expedition rack made to mount this tent on the 3third gen 4r along with the mounts four the 5th so that I can use it on either 4r when I feel a need for it. The mounts are made from drawn steel witch is stronger then the cast pieces mentioned above. You are correct you can do what you want and you can believe what you want, but not as much as you did in the past.
Last edited:
BAJA Rack Plan
I think I may have misled you a bit my plan is to get the expedition rack that is available for the third gen 4r. The rack is 41 x 60 inches and comes with the mounts for the third gen. I measured the 5th gen and think the rack itself will fit/work fine on the 5th gen. I am hoping that Bajarack will sell me the mounts from the available 5th gen rack (NON-expedition rack or regular rack) that they just released. If this is successful I will let you know. I am going to contact them this week. From that point I will modify the rack and/or 5th gen mounts to make it work. I have a friend with a machine shop that is willing to fabricate the mounts if necessary.
I will use my 3rd gen in the in the local desert & on trips less than 150 miles. I will use the 5th gen on longer trips for the “on the road comfort” and to not waste the 3rd gen miles on the highway.
I think I may have misled you a bit my plan is to get the expedition rack that is available for the third gen 4r. The rack is 41 x 60 inches and comes with the mounts for the third gen. I measured the 5th gen and think the rack itself will fit/work fine on the 5th gen. I am hoping that Bajarack will sell me the mounts from the available 5th gen rack (NON-expedition rack or regular rack) that they just released. If this is successful I will let you know. I am going to contact them this week. From that point I will modify the rack and/or 5th gen mounts to make it work. I have a friend with a machine shop that is willing to fabricate the mounts if necessary.
I will use my 3rd gen in the in the local desert & on trips less than 150 miles. I will use the 5th gen on longer trips for the “on the road comfort” and to not waste the 3rd gen miles on the highway.
Last edited:
Similar threads
