adaml
New member
They're connected laterally via the crossbars of the tent itself ... It's not welded, but I promise you a lateral load will transfer if you've secured it right ...
Roof top tent (RTT) on factory rails. It's doable
- Thread starter adaml
- Start date
They're connected laterally via the crossbars of the tent itself ... It's not welded, but I promise you a lateral load will transfer if you've secured it right ...
Logic need not apply my friend.
Just let 'em waste their money and buy a roof rack only to cover it completely with a RTT.
The whole point of car forums is showing off. If this bro can't justify his purchase by telling everyone else their idiots, how would he get his post count up?!?!
Glandnut
New member
Op- thanks for posting this, I dig it and agree with your logic. I want to do the same, yet saw no purpose of adding a basket just to plop a reinforced tent on top of. Analysis paralysis doesn't pay, thanks for being a git r' done. If you later end up modding some hardware to alleviate roof contact, please post that.
Last edited:
KnobbyLife
New member
How much does he weigh is my question... At 190 personally I wouldn't trust it...
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
abomb868
New member
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
Dude,with the right cross bars you can totally run that...so what’s your issue?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
abomb868
New member
Either way you go, $750 for a low profile rack, $350 for a yakama, and I don’t know how much for a Thule but it’s all about the same...cry once is what my buds always say and it hasn’t failed me yet... but once or buy it twice or even three times if you haven’t learned yet...lol
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've had my tent set up on my truck for 5k miles. Plenty of road trips and camping during that time. So far no issues and I'm not expecting any.
I have a hard shell RTT, so I started with a Yakima kit but wasn't super impressed with it. The whole set up was expensive and I didn't have much faith in the plastic straps holding the feet to the parallel bars. (first pic)
So I ordered the following parts from Frontrunner:
https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/front-runner-grab-on-foot-set.html
https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...ad-bar-components/1345mm-slat-add-on-kit.html
(second pic)
Very low profile so it was difficult to get all of the hardware installed but no issues since installation.
I have a hard shell RTT, so I started with a Yakima kit but wasn't super impressed with it. The whole set up was expensive and I didn't have much faith in the plastic straps holding the feet to the parallel bars. (first pic)
So I ordered the following parts from Frontrunner:
https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/front-runner-grab-on-foot-set.html
https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...ad-bar-components/1345mm-slat-add-on-kit.html
(second pic)
Very low profile so it was difficult to get all of the hardware installed but no issues since installation.
Attachments
Do you have any closer pics of this setup. I like it!:hungry:
How many cross bars did you go with?
Also, how do you like that JB hard shell tent? Any issues with it?
Last edited:
sypinwhiskey
New member
That is the exact set up I've been looking for my rtt. Thanks! Nice Scout by the way
Great setup! This is exactly the route I am looking to go in... How hard is it to remove the tent with the FrontRunner setup? Looking to get an Autohome Columbus but I will need to put it on and off everytime I use it. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!!
Sorry, no close up pictures yet. I could try to snap some after work for you though. I used two crossbars.
Really digging the JB, recently spent a week in Moab and it was so easy to set up and take down. Definitely do not miss the ground tent life.
Thanks Bud! Loved the Scout, but I'm on an Evil Calling now. Pretty similar but way more comfortable at uncomfortable speeds.
As it is now I do not remove the tent. I don't have anywhere to store the tent and since the set up is so low profile removing it would be a chore. The hardware that came with the tent had to be cut down to avoid hitting the roof and also so that I wasn't spending 15 minutes threading every nylock nut. The clearance between the roof and the tent is very small and getting my hand in between to tighten things up was not fun. Lots of contorting. I would much rather not have the tent on the roof for DD activities but removing it is not much of an option right now.
That said, when I do have a spot to store the tent I will only have it installed as needed. At that time I plan to pick up something like this:
https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...es/quick-release-roof-top-tent-mount-kit.html
stevekbooth
New member
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.
How do you actually like the RTT vs standard tent camping? I've been doing more and more car camping so RTTs have been entering my mind?
Also, I bought my 4Runner used so color wasn't high on my priority, but I so dig that desert brown color.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
ReyReysRunner
New member
Awesome thread. Really some good info. If no one has a real text book answer on weight limit but yet you seem to be running fine with stock rails it's pretty black and white what's practical or not. If you don't mind me asking. Between occupant load how many people are you running in the tent and what kind of weight limit total? Keep the thread updated awesome job.
adaml
New member
It definitely has its pros and cons. At first, I was definitely all about it. Now? ... I don't know. I do know my wife loves and it gets her out more so that's nice. If it were just me, I'd honestly just rather have a small ground tent and maybe just an awning to pull over it. So long as my wife and son continue to enjoy camping, I'll keep using it though.
Nobody has a real text book answer and I wouldn't bother listening to those that claim they do. At the end of the day, there are 8 bolts in the roof. Those same 8 bolts are used to put massive, full length roof racks AND tents on top of people's cars so they should be able to hold a tent by itself. It's just common sense.
For what it's worth, I got rid of the Tepui tent pictured and got a larger 4-person CVT tent. It stays on the car all the time. I take it on-road, off-road, ... everywhere. No problems. The only thing I changed was that I had to get some Thule crossbars because the CVT tent was larger than the Tepui and it required them.
e60ral
Banned
the owners manual is the closest thing to a text book that you are going to get, it says the limit is 120 lbs total on the roof luggage carrier (side rails and crossbars)
while parked you can safely exceed this, but nothing is going to give you a firm value for how much weight you can put on the factory luggage carrier when stopped
Darth_t4r
New member
For what it's worth, I got rid of the Tepui tent pictured and got a larger 4-person CVT tent. It stays on the car all the time. I take it on-road, off-road, ... everywhere. No problems. The only thing I changed was that I had to get some Thule crossbars because the CVT tent was larger than the Tepui and it required them.
GREAT!, now you went and changed everything on me. Ive been looking into doing the whole RTT on stock rails for awhile now but my issue was I'm not looking at any of these 2 person tents, which is what I see most on these "can I or can't I" threads. I need a 3+ or 4+ tent. I was worried that the closed length of the tent would extend much further past the stock roof rails then the smaller tent, from front to back. ie more tent over the driver cab with no support. Which CVT are you running now? and Do you have any issues like this? If not I may just get some Thule cross bars and be on my way.
e60ral
Banned
[MENTION=179782]Darth_t4r[/MENTION] If you are considering other crossbars, look at the LFD Offroad crossbars.
They use the factory rails but give you a stronger and much more useful crossbar:
http://apexoverland.com/#!/LFD-Off-...-5th-Gen-4Runner/p/97509282/category=21774015
They use the factory rails but give you a stronger and much more useful crossbar:
http://apexoverland.com/#!/LFD-Off-...-5th-Gen-4Runner/p/97509282/category=21774015
Last edited:
