RTT on Stock cross bars

[levi10moore]

I know there are some threads out there but a lot of people said that it doesn't work.

I currently have a smittybilt XL attached to my STOCK CROSSBARS
I've had it on the past two days and has help up fine. I have driven about 30 miles going 75 mph and 30 miles going 65 MPH. I also have had 3 adults inside the tent. So far it has held up just fine, great even.

The tent is my cousins he has a big trailer that he built that the rtt normally rest upon.

I am going to Moab on May 3rd-8th. That means a 14 hour commute each way.

Please advise if this is a bad idea. I haven't heard of anyone having a failure.

Smittybilt Part 2883 - Smittybilt Overlander XL Roof Top Tent - 2883-WS2

 

[leftyguns21]

that tent weighs nearly 150lbs. you are pushing it with the load rating of the factory rails

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/196295-roof-rack-weight-limit.html

IMO that is a bad idea. if you must, I would get multiple crossbars in an attempt to evenly distribute the weight

 

[levi10moore]

Did some digging.

The tent weights 118 pounds.
My rack is rated to hold 120 pounds.

its about as close as you can get.

 

[levi10moore]

Anyone tested the static weight limit of the stock rack?

 

[1020th]

The main concern is that the stock cross bars are not as sturdy as the aftermarket Yakima or like styles. Also after 10 years + they become even more prone to failure. I use Yakima cross bars for my root tent and have had no issues.

FYI - Yakima recently came out with the "RailBar XL" which is a one piece cross bar that attaches to our factory rails. I've seriously been looking at this as it's very sleek/stock looking for when the tent isn't installed.

 

[LTDSC]

ive gone through the middle of the mojave and pismo with my Kukenam on the stock rails. It holds it just fine. Its for in movement weight limit not with parked.

The aftermarket roof racks sit on the exact same rail mounts as OEM.

Mount it to the side bars not the bows and you're fine.

 

[levi10moore]

Problem is I am not able to mount it onto the rails. The only way I would be able to do that is if I put the RTT sideways then I would have to enter the tent from the back of my 4runner. The RTT would also hand like 16 inches over each side of my vehicle if I rotate it.

The tent is barely in the weight range. I think if I throw some ratchet straps around it and the rails that could also help balance out the load.

 

[LTDSC]

Problem is I am not able to mount it onto the rails. The only way I would be able to do that is if I put the RTT sideways then I would have to enter the tent from the back of my 4runner. The RTT would also hand like 16 inches over each side of my vehicle if I rotate it.

The tent is barely in the weight range. I think if I throw some ratchet straps around it and the rails that could also help balance out the load.

the bows will not support the weight only the side bars. You cant spin the lower rails on the tent, i can on my Tepui.

 

[levi10moore]

No, I can't spin them the tent is roughly 80" x 51". It runs from midway of my sunroof clear to the back with just enough room to open the back door. This thing is freaking huge.

 

[levi10moore]

Another option would be to get steel from home deport or menards similar to like a street sign pole and raise the RTT onto that and then bolt the steel crossbeams onto the the roof rails.

Think that would be a better option?

 

[levi10moore]

This is how it is now and has help up with no issues for 60 miles of 65-75 mph

 

[leftyguns21]

I did some more googling and looks like lots of people have done it on OEM rack for various vehicles, but most all did it to the side rails. the cross bars are the weakest part of the rack. if you must I would find a way to attach to side rails. I personally wouldn't take the risk but if you feel safe....

 

[Monkey Wrench]

That is a lot of weight on the cross bars- I had one break from a 30 lb basket and a hi lift! Do yourself a favor and get some Thule or Yakima bars. I found a brand new pair on Craigslist for $25 and made my own mounts out of high strength stainless steel angle iron and grade 8 hardware. Cheaper than fixing a big dent on the roof when the factory bars eventually break with a few adults up there

 

[bunzz]

I have a Smittybilt mounted on the side rails of my Sport. I replaced the hardware with Grade 8 bolts and grade 8 locking nuts. I have driven from Florida to North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia on multiple trips without an issues going as fast as 75-80mph (but I try to keep it between 65-70).

I also know of someone who bought Malone Roof Bars and mounted them onto the tent, which then mount onto their rails. This allows them to have antitheft measures with the tent.

Some other people running on stock rails:

https://www.instagram.com/canadian_overland/
https://www.instagram.com/wapoww/

 

[levi10moore]

I went to Home Depot last night, I got some unistrut that I am going to clamp around the the rails and use as crossbars. Then will be attaching the RTT to the unistrut. That should definitely be strong enough to hold for the week. Won't look pretty but it will work.

If I end up liking the RTT I'll probably purchase a much smaller one that will mount directly to the rails. I like the idea of not having to purchase a bajarack or gobi. The price is just crazy just to mount a RTT. They look dope but I'd rather invest that $$ some where else for now.

I have a 2 week camping trip planned out to Banff Canada in late July.

 

[rcebowl]

You can use the stock rails not the cross bars.

The weight limit of 145lbs or (160lbs or whatever) is for the factory crossbars NOT the factory rails. The cross bars are the weak point of the OE Roof system.

I had my RTT Tepui Autana Ruggedized (so not the lightness one) on the factory rails, family of 3 (2 adults and a 4 year old) with absolutely no problems for approx 6 trips and over 5000 miles. (left it on for daily driving in between trips)

I have since upgraded but the point reminds you totally can do it, just don't use the cross bars, they snap under light load. Their (Crossbars) "structure" is based off their "flexing". If you notice as they just sit on our trucks there's always a nature bow to them. and it's when they flatten when they gain their strength. That time of structure is not ideal for RRT as the weight is distrued differently.

 

[levi10moore]

Its been long over due on this photo. Here is the 4runner with the RTT on the crossbars i made out of unistrut. It's not a great photo but you can see it.

It worked really well. It cut my MPG down by about 3 mpg. I also am not a big fan of the RTT if I am camping and am going to keep my car in the same spot then its amazing. But having to tear it down everytime was definitely a pain.

 

[duffdog]

If you do a lot of wheeling you will just break the plastic side bar mounts with a RTT. My friend has a big Tepui and just last weekend broke off the entire rack from the roof of the 4runner after wheeling and the tent landed on the ground with roof rack shrapnel side bars still attached to her tent. The plastic which mounts the rack to the roof simply isn't strong enough to hold the dynamic weight of a 150lb tent while wheeling. Just a warning, because it really happened in real life just a few days ago and RTT's aren't cheap- I would hate to see another one fly off of a truck on a trail.

 

[BagiMT]

Do you know if that was a Sport or SR5 rack. I have a rola basket mounted on the Sport rack with lowering brackets and a RTT and so far it held up ok wheeling in Death Valley, Utah etc.. but would hate to break it on a trail.

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[duffdog]

Do you know if that was a Sport or SR5 rack. I have a rola basket mounted on the Sport rack with lowering brackets and a RTT and so far it held up ok wheeling in Death Valley, Utah etc.. but would hate to break it on a trail.

Sent from my Fire Phone using Tapatalk

Its a 5th gen trail premium that had the roof rack break.