Roof Top Tent Removal

[Gclark949]

Hey guys. Just sharing my contraption that I fabricated to be able to remove and install my new James Baroud RTT without having to recruit neighbors and make it into a big production.

Others have fabricated A-frame contraptions or ramp contraptions. In my case, I was fortunate enough to have exposed rafters in my garage that I bolted 3x2x1/8" thick aluminum to which support all the forces and moments of a boom hoisting 145 lbs at 5.5 ft reach. I used a simple trailer winch for the actual winching. Once inside the garage, I then hoist it up for storage using the Harken Hoister lift.

It obviously took a bit of work but I couldn't be happier with how it all came together.

 

[CF_Machete]

any pics from above to show how the cradle is attached? can the boom arm be removed when not in use?

 

[leftyguns21]

nice setup. i wish i could attach something like that to the exterior. i live in a townhome though, they would frown on that.

do you have more pics/video of it? it would be useful for some of us who can maybe modify it to our needs

 

[GreenPM]

Hey guys. Just sharing my contraption that I fabricated to be able to remove and install my new James Baroud RTT without having to recruit neighbors and make it into a big production.

Others have fabricated A-frame contraptions or ramp contraptions. In my case, I was fortunate enough to have exposed rafters in my garage that I bolted 3x2x1/8" thick aluminum to which support all the forces and moments of a boom hoisting 145 lbs at 5.5 ft reach. I used a simple trailer winch for the actual winching. Once inside the garage, I then hoist it up for storage using the Harken Hoister lift.

It obviously took a bit of work but I couldn't be happier with how it all came together.

Awesome job!

 

[Gclark949]

I wish I took more pictures while it was up. The whole boom assembly is basically quick release by pulling two 3/8” bolts out (they don’t even take nuts when in use) and the boom then gets stored in the garage. Up within the roof overhang is the aluminum box frame section which is two cross bars attached to the 3x2 aluminum beams bolted to the rafters inside the garage. Nothing is visible from the street.

I will take more pics to share it better when I use it in about a month when I mount the tent back up.

 

[msp]

I wish I took more pictures while it was up. The whole boom assembly is basically quick release by pulling two 3/8” bolts out (they don’t even take nuts when in use) and the boom then gets stored in the garage. Up within the roof overhang is the aluminum box frame section which is two cross bars attached to the 3x2 aluminum beams bolted to the rafters inside the garage. Nothing is visible from the street.

I will take more pics to share it better when I use it in about a month when I mount the tent back up.

This is awesome. I have an alternate system called "the neighbor's kid." But I like your solution better!

 

[Pat_reek]

Pics

Cool setup but can i see what items you should to build it. Or some kind of instruction.

 

[llDemonll]

That's awesome, very easy method to make a two-man job into a simple one-man job.

Maybe a third strap going front-to-back just in case anything is off balance?

 

[Gclark949]

Long overdue pics

OK, finally adding some pics to show how the boom is designed and how the RTT is held in place during the lift. The whole design is actually really easy to store in the overhead of the garage.

I used T6 Aluminum for the higher stress members and T5 for the others. Calculated the stress at each joint and used an online calculator for the deflection. Built from 3x2x1/8" and 2x2x1/8" aluminum.

 

[4FL]

The Driveway looks nice, I would put some dinosaur foot prints in it, lol.

 

[TerraCrawler]

I would love to see a video of this thing, how its used..........

 

[mattgeeee]

Solid idea! That would definitely make the fiancee a lot happier lol

 

[ravens_wood]

Clever idea. Looks nice.

But feeds into the theory that a RTT is more effort than its worth.

 

[Gclark949]

Yea, the RTT is a lot of effort but I knew that going in. Before the purchase I have found myself in muddy terrain looking around wondering where I would pitch my tent. Also in Death Valley I saw nothing but rocks everywhere that looked promising for a camp spot before finally getting lucky. I have slept in the back on a few trips but it was a pain moving all the crap out of the way.

A normal tent weighs nothing and is generally very easy and comfortable but now the wife and I can pretend we have a camper and do more cross country touring style adventures so it is worth it if we get lots of fun adventures out of it.