Roof top tent (RTT) on factory rails. It's doable

[adaml]

I'm posting this really just because when I was searching, I didn't find all the info I was looking for as easily as I thought I would.

I recently bought a Ruggedized Kukenam Sky RTT from Tepui. I plan to eventually get a full length rack, so I didn't want to waste the money getting some Yakima or Thule (or anything else) mounts and crossbars. After doing some research, it seems like the general consensus is that the stock crossbars aren't up to the task of supporting 180 pounds (that's how much this one weighs) but that the stock rails (the part that runs parallel to the car) are.

All that being said, I set out to mount this tent to my car by using the rails.

The only thing that's done differently is that the mounting channels that come with the tent are turned 90 degrees from their instructed way and they stick out just a little bit on either side from the base of the tent (maybe 5-6 inches on both sides).

I was able to mount the tent without having to take off the stock crossbars but the stock crossbars may end up having a slight load on them when the tent is occupied due to the stock crossbars having a slight bow to them.

I was in a hurry today and had other errands to take care of so I didn't have time to tent it all up properly but here's a quick shot.

IMG_20161204_122714 by adllewis2011, on Flickr

 

[Titanpat57]

I would recheck the weight of your tent...most tents that size weigh about 125 pounds....not sure what would be in yours to add that much more weight.

It would have also been nice if you shared pictures or a description of what you used to secure the tent to the rails.

The potential problems are not actual weight....it's the weight transfer when you're going 65 MPH and have to slam on the brakes, and your RTT ends up on your hood, ....or the road. Those stock load bars, I believe are rated for 100 lbs.

All aftermarket racks use the same 8 stock mounting holes in the roof....but the connection actually mounting the tent to bars is better.

 

[JSparky]

I would recheck the weight of your tent...most tents that size weigh about 125 pounds....not sure what would be in yours to add that much more weight.

It would have also been nice if you shared pictures or a description of what you used to secure the tent to the rails.

The potential problems are not actual weight....it's the weight transfer when you're going 65 MPH and have to slam on the brakes, and your RTT ends up on your hood, ....or the road. Those stock load bars, I believe are rated for 100 lbs.

All aftermarket racks use the same 8 stock mounting holes in the roof....but the connection actually mounting the tent to bars is better.

I assumed he used the provided hardware from Tepui, that's what I did when I transferred it over to my 4runner. The provided bolts just barely fit, it took me awhile fiddling with it to get the nuts on. If you have someone with small hands handy I'd enlist them to help. I know the Ruggedized Tepui's weigh more.

 

[Quentin]

I would recheck the weight of your tent...most tents that size weigh about 125 pounds....not sure what would be in yours to add that much more weight.

It would have also been nice if you shared pictures or a description of what you used to secure the tent to the rails.

The potential problems are not actual weight....it's the weight transfer when you're going 65 MPH and have to slam on the brakes, and your RTT ends up on your hood, ....or the road. Those stock load bars, I believe are rated for 100 lbs.

All aftermarket racks use the same 8 stock mounting holes in the roof....but the connection actually mounting the tent to bars is better.

There is no way the roof rails are only rated for 100lbs. The OEM crossbars are rated for that with substantially weaker cross section and mounts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Simpleman74]

I see failure in your future :doh:

 

[Zonie Taco]

I'm posting this really just because when I was searching, I didn't find all the info I was looking for as easily as I thought I would.

I recently bought a Ruggedized Kukenam Sky RTT from Tepui. I plan to eventually get a full length rack, so I didn't want to waste the money getting some Yakima or Thule (or anything else) mounts and crossbars. After doing some research, it seems like the general consensus is that the stock crossbars aren't up to the task of supporting 180 pounds (that's how much this one weighs) but that the stock rails (the part that runs parallel to the car) are.

All that being said, I set out to mount this tent to my car by using the rails.

The only thing that's done differently is that the mounting channels that come with the tent are turned 90 degrees from their instructed way and they stick out just a little bit on either side from the base of the tent (maybe 5-6 inches on both sides).

I was able to mount the tent without having to take off the stock crossbars but the stock crossbars may end up having a slight load on them when the tent is occupied due to the stock crossbars having a slight bow to them.

I was in a hurry today and had other errands to take care of so I didn't have time to tent it all up properly but here's a quick shot.

IMG_20161204_122714 by adllewis2011, on Flickr

I think it will break once you actually get in the tent. Please film and post that.

 

[Titanpat57]

There is no way the roof rails are only rated for 100lbs. The OEM crossbars are rated for that with substantially weaker cross section and mounts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ok then...

so what are they rated for?

 

[adaml]

I would recheck the weight of your tent...most tents that size weigh about 125 pounds....not sure what would be in yours to add that much more weight.

It would have also been nice if you shared pictures or a description of what you used to secure the tent to the rails.

The potential problems are not actual weight....it's the weight transfer when you're going 65 MPH and have to slam on the brakes, and your RTT ends up on your hood, ....or the road. Those stock load bars, I believe are rated for 100 lbs.

All aftermarket racks use the same 8 stock mounting holes in the roof....but the connection actually mounting the tent to bars is better.

Kukenam Ruggedized SKY | Tepui Tents | High Quality Roof Top Tents

It's 180 pounds. The box it came shipped in said 78 kg so maybe it's 170. I know it's much more than 100.

I'll post more pictures later but as has been said, I just used the provided tepui hardware. There's pictures of that all over the place.

Also, like I said, this is mounted directly to the RAILS and not the crossbars. However, because the crossbars naturally bow upwards, I have a feeling that some of the weight of the tent, when occupied, will be on the crossbars (which I think only makes it more stable).

Because this is mounted directly to the rails, I don't think this is any worse (or better) than how it would be mounted to an aftermarket full-length rack. Like you said, it's the same 8 holes.

I assumed he used the provided hardware from Tepui, that's what I did when I transferred it over to my 4runner. The provided bolts just barely fit, it took me awhile fiddling with it to get the nuts on. If you have someone with small hands handy I'd enlist them to help. I know the Ruggedized Tepui's weigh more.

You got it! Some parts of the install were tedious but I got all the nuts tightened enough to show some threads on the bolts.

There is no way the roof rails are only rated for 100lbs. The OEM crossbars are rated for that with substantially weaker cross section and mounts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They're not "rated" for anything. Anyone who says they are is talking out of their ass. I look at it from the angle of, "those 8 mounting holes are good enough for people to put massive full length roof racks (lots of weight), RTT's (lots of weight), gas/water (weight/weight), shovels (weight), hi-lift jacks (weight) and whatever else, I'm sure the stock rails will hold this tent"

But hey ... Maybe that's just common sense and you know common sense aint all that common

I think it will break once you actually get in the tent. Please film and post that.

Not sure why you think that but it didn't break when I had two adult men in there fixing the internal straps.

 

[adaml]

ok then...

so what are they rated for?

They're not rated for anything. At least not publicly but they're very wide bars that are mounted to the roof using the same 8 holes that every single roof rack system out there uses. If people load up the roofs of these vehicles with full length racks and tons of other equipment without problem, what makes you think the stock rails would have a problem holding just a tent?

 

[Quentin]

ok then...



so what are they rated for?

No clue. They are more robust than the crossbars, though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[borfoo3]

You read my mind with this post! Looking forward to hear your thoughts after a trip or two and hoping this hold up..

 

[NoOneBetter]

You can definitely use the RTT on the stock roof rails. I did it when I first got my tent and used it that way for a week straight in Utah. The problem is that the bolts are too close to the roof. The stock rails will bend slightly upon entering the tent. You may end up with some contact with the bolts and the paint. I know I did. And mine was a Tepui Autana non ruggedized.

 

[JSparky]

I see failure in your future :doh:

I think it will break once you actually get in the tent. Please film and post that.

You guys either aren't reading into this right or you're just mistaken. The factory rails running lengthwise on the vehicle are robust, considerably more so than the factory crossbars. One of my friends drove to Prudhoe Bay with his Tepui set up like the OP without issue. He's also run Canyonlands out to the Doll House and Death Valley. Again no issues. I have no reservations running a rtt like this, at least for the interim.

 

[e60ral]

They're not rated for anything. At least not publicly but they're very wide bars that are mounted to the roof using the same 8 holes that every single roof rack system out there uses. If people load up the roofs of these vehicles with full length racks and tons of other equipment without problem, what makes you think the stock rails would have a problem holding just a tent?

:rtfm:
the roof rack is actually rated for 120 lbs per your owners manual:

●Do not exceed 120 lb. (54 kg) cargo weight on the roof luggage carrier.

while i'd assume they are probably constructed with a sufficient factor of safety that 180lbs wouldn't be an issue, they do in fact have a rating from toyota

 

[Titanpat57]

They're not rated for anything. At least not publicly but they're very wide bars that are mounted to the roof using the same 8 holes that every single roof rack system out there uses. If people load up the roofs of these vehicles with full length racks and tons of other equipment without problem, what makes you think the stock rails would have a problem holding just a tent?

The difference is that the after market racks are featuring steel feet and a steel rack. The ends of the existing stock roof rails are some kind of polymer plastic. Now granted, the plastic feet are considerably bigger then say a Gobi or others.

I personally don't care if you use duct tape and twine to hold it to the truck...I'd hate to see you damage the truck or tent....that's all

 

[adaml]

:rtfm:
the roof rack is actually rated for 120 lbs per your owners manual:


while i'd assume they are probably constructed with a sufficient factor of safety that 180lbs wouldn't be an issue, they do in fact have a rating from toyota

120 pounds is the for crossbars. Like I said, the rails themselves are not rated.

 

[adaml]

You can definitely use the RTT on the stock roof rails. I did it when I first got my tent and used it that way for a week straight in Utah. The problem is that the bolts are too close to the roof. The stock rails will bend slightly upon entering the tent. You may end up with some contact with the bolts and the paint. I know I did. And mine was a Tepui Autana non ruggedized.

I noticed that it depends on where I have the Tepui bolts mounted. If they're just right (or just wrong), they'll avoid contact with the roof. If you're finding that yours contact, try moving around to one of the other holes or sliding the bolts left or right. You should be able to find a sweet spot where they dont interfere (at least I was able to)

 

[adaml]

The difference is that the after market racks are featuring steel feet and a steel rack. The ends of the existing stock roof rails are some kind of polymer plastic. Now granted, the plastic feet are considerably bigger then say a Gobi or others.

I personally don't care if you use duct tape and twine to hold it to the truck...I'd hate to see you damage the truck or tent....that's all

I don't know about all that but I know if people are ok with someone using the stock rails but throwing on some yakima towers+bars to hold up an RTT, they should be more ok with it being mounted directly to the rails. If the rails can hold the yakima/thule/whatever towers and bars AND the tent, it can certainly hold just the tent (and should do so easier because the tent is closer to the car thus giving it a lower moment of inertia).

 

[e60ral]

120 pounds is the for crossbars. Like I said, the rails themselves are not rated.

No, that's not what the owners manual says

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

 

[Tlowe]

The difference is that the after market racks are featuring steel feet and a steel rack. The ends of the existing stock roof rails are some kind of polymer plastic. Now granted, the plastic feet are considerably bigger then say a Gobi or others.

I personally don't care if you use duct tape and twine to hold it to the truck...I'd hate to see you damage the truck or tent....that's all

I dont know if that's exactly correct, the ends of the existing rails are covered with a polymer cap, but underneath that is actually a steel end cap; that is the actual load bearing part. I believe its steel and not aluminum simply because of the weight. Those steel caps are also secured with some very hefty bolts that are covered in red locktite.