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

[adaml]

No, that's not what the owners manual says

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It actually is if you bother to read the entire thing and keep it all in context. I think the important part you're missing is ...

To use the roof rails as a roof luggage
carrier, you must fit the roof rails with
two or more genuine Toyota cross rails
or their equivalent

So it's all about implications here. I'll give it to you that nowhere does the manual state that the bars (cross rails) explicitly or the rails explicitly are rated to 120 pounds but I think if you use any amount of common sense OR you go look at other third party systems, you should be able to surmise that the 120 pound "limit" is for the bars because they are the weak point of the system.

 

[adaml]

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.

Based on the pictures, I thought they were steel (or some sort of metal as well) but I've never popped off those caps to examine.

 

[e60ral]

It actually is if you bother to read the entire thing and keep it all in context. I think the important part you're missing is ...



So it's all about implications here. I'll give it to you that nowhere does the manual state that the bars (cross rails) explicitly or the rails explicitly are rated to 120 pounds but I think if you use any amount of common sense OR you go look at other third party systems, you should be able to surmise that the 120 pound "limit" is for the bars because they are the weak point of the system.

No, common sense is that the "roof luggage carrier" is the name for the whole thing

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[Tlowe]

Based on the pictures, I thought they were steel (or some sort of metal as well) but I've never popped off those caps to examine.

Yeah definitely no load bearing plastic there. just a plastic cover.

 

[adaml]

No, common sense is that the "roof luggage carrier" is the name for the whole thing

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You're not understanding me. I don't disagree that "roof luggage carrier" is the name for "the whole thing" but I'm saying that according to the manual, it's not a "roof luggage carrier" until the roof rails have approved Toyota cross bars and at that point, the "limit" of the whole thing is 120 pounds. However, that's only the limit because the cross bars are the weak link in that chain. How else could you replace the crossbars with something else (say Yakima or Thule) and be able to support more than 120 pounds?

 

[NoOneBetter]

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)

True, but rather than fiddle with the bolts everytime I mount the tent, I just picked up a cheap set of used Thule crossbars that I just leave bolted on the RTT. Now when I mount up the RTT, I just secure Thule feet to the stock rails. Much faster, worry free, and much cheaper than a full roof rack.

 

[adaml]

True, but rather than fiddle with the bolts everytime I mount the tent, I just picked up a cheap set of used Thule crossbars that I just leave bolted on the RTT. Now when I mount up the RTT, I just secure Thule feet to the stock rails. Much faster, worry free, and much cheaper than a full roof rack.

Excellent idea and I would totally be with you IF I had a place to put the tent when I'm not using it out: Unfortunately, we just moved and are renting in an apartment for the next few months. I've got a tiny garage that I might be able to put it in but it's so heavy I don't think my wife could help me take it off. For now, it'll remain on. We plan to use it practically every weekend anyways :reddance:

 

[Crikeymike]

Nice work OP, I was figuring the same thing, that they could probably handle the weight. And I see your point about the front-to-rear rails not being officially rated.

The best thing you've done there too is not added any unnecessary height to the vehicle, since the tent is straight on the bars. The other fella had a good point though, when loaded (people inside), watch out for those bolts and possible contact with the roof.

FYI, we sell the cross bars that come with rooftop tents separately just for this reason, and so that you can add an awning, or whatever else to your factory front-to-rear rails without having to buy OE, and also having good load-carrying capacity too. Pretty much everyone uses the same extruded aluminum, and I've never seen them fail when properly installed.

Prado 150 and Land Cruiser 200 series come with rails just like the 4Runner too, and since they're all built in Japan, my guess is they're probably the same material and design, just different lengths. I'll be putting those rails and that awning up on my 4Runner soon, and will post info when I do it.

 

[guitarsail]

I had my RTT on my factory SR5 rails for one trip. Went camping. It was ok. IT did flex a little which put the mounting hardware really close to the roof sheetmetal. Wife let me get a real rack shortly after that. TLDR; it works...just wouldn't reccomend it

 

[Tractorak]

I have run mine on stock rails with both my wife and I with zero bolt contact or issues.

 

[Nostrathomas]

[MENTION=138117]Tractorak[/MENTION] can you please share the make of your hitch mounted carrier?

 

[Tractorak]

Sure me lol. I used a Hitch extender then I bought some thick walled square tubing that receivers are made out of and went to town.

 

[Tractorak]

I am going to make a ver 2.0 though that lifts it a little higher. also if I remove the silver adapter part of my hi-lift and flip it on the mount I can still tow with it on.

 

[adaml]

Just wanted to check back in and say that I've been running the tent now for a month with no issues. I take it on road, off road, bumpy off-camber trails .. It's held up fine.

I will say that apparently, the forwardmost inner bolts did end up making slight contact with the roof. I'm not sure of their exact length but I swapped them out with some 2" bolts and now there is plenty of clearance.

 

[SirWilliamGoes]

this is great info / thread. Im glad this can be done since Im too cheap to justify a RTT since I also have to pay for the rack or try to figure out the bars and buy those. I may consider getting one now since this essentially cuts the cost in half. Have you had to adjust it at all? Does it make a great deal of wind noise? do you have to re tighten it from time to time? and do you feel top heavy on or off road?

 

[Breadman03]

Thats's now on my list!

 

[p nut]

Just wanted to check back in and say that I've been running the tent now for a month with no issues. I take it on road, off road, bumpy off-camber trails .. It's held up fine.

I will say that apparently, the forwardmost inner bolts did end up making slight contact with the roof. I'm not sure of their exact length but I swapped them out with some 2" bolts and now there is plenty of clearance.

There are many that have gone way over GVWR (armor, cargo, trailer, etc.) without "issues." My own father in law's taken his trucks and trailers WAY over their capacity. I cringe at the thought of what might happen, but his reply is, I'm still alive! I don't think that's a good baseline for taking the proper precautions, though.

As noted on several aftermarket rack systems, they list static and dynamic weight limits (Toyota does not do this, however). Typically, it's 600/300lbs. Take a look at mounting points on racks like Gobi, Baja, Frontrunner. You can see why they are rated for much higher load than the cheap stock, mostly plastic mounts.

As you noted, crossbars are a joke. Bike barely hold on at freeway speeds or going down a bumpy road.

There is no way I'd trust a RTT on top. You guys have spent over $30k on the 4Runner. You're scoffing at less than $1k for a proper rack?

Baja Rack: racks_list_inside

 

[adaml]

There are many that have gone way over GVWR (armor, cargo, trailer, etc.) without "issues." My own father in law's taken his trucks and trailers WAY over their capacity. I cringe at the thought of what might happen, but his reply is, I'm still alive! I don't think that's a good baseline for taking the proper precautions, though.

As noted on several aftermarket rack systems, they list static and dynamic weight limits (Toyota does not do this, however). Typically, it's 600/300lbs. Take a look at mounting points on racks like Gobi, Baja, Frontrunner. You can see why they are rated for much higher load than the cheap stock, mostly plastic mounts.

As you noted, crossbars are a joke. Bike barely hold on at freeway speeds or going down a bumpy road.

There is no way I'd trust a RTT on top. You guys have spent over $30k on the 4Runner. You're scoffing at less than $1k for a proper rack?

Baja Rack: racks_list_inside

I just really don't get this logic.

These aftermarket racks (like a baja rack) bolt into the 4Runner in the exact same spots as the stock rack does. I don't know why you all think the stock rack is "cheap" or "mostly plastic". The rails themsevles are 100% metal and pretty damn stout if you ever bother to actually take them apart and look at them.

Regardless, at the end of the day, a Baja Rack (or almost any other aftermarket rack) is going to bolt in to the same place as the stock rails and therefore it MUST transmit it's weight into the roof in the exact same way. Not only that, but now you have even MORE weight because the aftermarket rack is heavier. There's nothing magic about them.

Don't get me wrong, I'll get one myself eventually, but the stock rails are more than capable of handling these tents.

 

[adaml]

this is great info / thread. Im glad this can be done since Im too cheap to justify a RTT since I also have to pay for the rack or try to figure out the bars and buy those. I may consider getting one now since this essentially cuts the cost in half. Have you had to adjust it at all? Does it make a great deal of wind noise? do you have to re tighten it from time to time? and do you feel top heavy on or off road?

If you get the "smaller" tents (like a Tepui Kukenam or smaller) you can mount it on the stock rails with no problem. The only change is that the bars of the tent will have to be turned laterally so they can mount on the longitudinal stock roof rails. The fit is tight and the stock bolts may be a hair too long but you can swap them out and it works just fine. If you get a larger tent (like a CVT Rainier or I think the Tepui Autana), you'll need to at least get something like some Thule crossbars because the tent needs the support of the bars underneath it being mounted longitudinally (so your roof rails are now required to be lateral). I got some when I got my CVT tent and it also works just fine.

I never had to re-tighten anything or re-adjust anything. I guess there was probably more noise but I never really noticed it if I'm honest. I also don't know that I ever felt "top heavy" but I don't do any extreme rock crawling either.

 

[p nut]

I just really don't get this logic.

These aftermarket racks (like a baja rack) bolt into the 4Runner in the exact same spots as the stock rack does. I don't know why you all think the stock rack is "cheap" or "mostly plastic". The rails themsevles are 100% metal and pretty damn stout if you ever bother to actually take them apart and look at them.

Regardless, at the end of the day, a Baja Rack (or almost any other aftermarket rack) is going to bolt in to the same place as the stock rails and therefore it MUST transmit it's weight into the roof in the exact same way. Not only that, but now you have even MORE weight because the aftermarket rack is heavier. There's nothing magic about them.

Don't get me wrong, I'll get one myself eventually, but the stock rails are more than capable of handling these tents.

The stock rails do have metal skeleton, yes. If you do take one apart, you'll see how much thicker racks like Baja are. On top of that, lateral rigidity comes into play. Feet are solidly connected to the rack, which makes for a very strong set up. Compare that to stock rails with no lateral support.

There is a reason why there is such a big weight disparity between the two set ups.