Titanpat57
Senior Member
WHOOAAAAAA!!!
:flipoff:
NIIICCCEEE!
(Better get those Airbags installed)
:flipoff:
NIIICCCEEE!
(Better get those Airbags installed)
SeattleMike's cargo project
- Thread starter SeattleMike
- Start date
SeattleMike
New member
It's sourced from China, like everything else these days. I got it from a company out of Bend, Oregon: Cascadia Vehicle Tents and I can't recommend them enough. Most of the tents that use nylon are sourced from the same place, so your choices come down to colors and accessories. I was originally going with a company named Gordi Gear out of Australia, but CVT was closer and cheaper... and Bobby installed the tent and awning himself, fabbing up a few pieces to fit my custom rack while we waited. It was awesome.
I will post more pics when the weather clears up a bit. Until then...
It's made from the same ripstop nylon as the tent fabric, it is very lightweight, unrolls easily, and if I had to set it up by myself it would take about ten minutes. My wife and I could set it up, including the mesh walls, in three minutes with practice. The mesh "room" has a zipper right where the rear passenger door opens, allowing access to the vehicle.
To be honest, I haven't measured it for length yet. We opened it for inspection and fitment and put it right back in it's holder. But as it was the only one he was selling and it met our requirements, we went with it. I can fully open the rear hatch and doors without hitting it and I can't see it while driving, which works for me.
I've only just begun to notice it dropping. I'll deal with the "squat" until I have the cargo area built out and get the OW suspension on it and see where I am. Hopefully I can avoid airbags until I have something to tow.
SeattleMike
New member
I know this is my cargo thread, but I wanted to add some pics of the tent open since I posted the others. Forgive the sloppy set-up, but we were trying to race the rain.
And the hatch opens, but you have to remove one of the rods so the spoiler doesn't hit it.
Here is the annex with the floor installed. I was borrowing a buddy's lawn so I didn't stake it down completely or adjust it (again, racing the weather) but you get the idea.
I turned the truck around to do the awning and screen room:
I hope that provides some perspective for people. With some practice, I'll be able to set up the tent, annex, awning, and screen room within 20 minutes unassisted. Breaking it all back down will probably take 35 total, just because the cover is such a tight fit to my rack that I have to zip it closed very carefully. We're very happy with it and can't wait to do some shake down overnighters in the next few weeks.
And the hatch opens, but you have to remove one of the rods so the spoiler doesn't hit it.
Here is the annex with the floor installed. I was borrowing a buddy's lawn so I didn't stake it down completely or adjust it (again, racing the weather) but you get the idea.
I turned the truck around to do the awning and screen room:
I hope that provides some perspective for people. With some practice, I'll be able to set up the tent, annex, awning, and screen room within 20 minutes unassisted. Breaking it all back down will probably take 35 total, just because the cover is such a tight fit to my rack that I have to zip it closed very carefully. We're very happy with it and can't wait to do some shake down overnighters in the next few weeks.
Titanpat57
Senior Member
Total Awesomeness!!:frog:
Johnny Utah
New member
when you are sleeping in the tent that is on the roof of your truck, where is the weight being distributed to? How does that work? I'd be afraid to dent the roof?
SeattleMike
New member
I had a special rack built, with removable side rails:
The tent is sitting on the rack, not the roof. It bolts to the lower tubes so everything is locked into place. No dents, I promise.
SeattleMike
New member
That's pretty high praise, thank you.
It has the added benefit of getting the wife excited about camping again. Now if I can just get her sold on the Bumper Dumper.Beats sleeping on the dirt anyday
homeyclaus
New member
Awesome, awesome, awesome.
Although I think we'll go with one of those big Yakima baskets for the roof rack and just tow a pop-up trailer. It'll probably add up to the same cost (although I'll look into that).
:hatsoff: That's some funny stuff! Or awesome. I am not sure ...
Seriously, you'd need some sort of back awning for it to be usable.
Although I think we'll go with one of those big Yakima baskets for the roof rack and just tow a pop-up trailer. It'll probably add up to the same cost (although I'll look into that).
Now if I can just get her sold on the Bumper Dumper.
:hatsoff: That's some funny stuff! Or awesome. I am not sure ...
Seriously, you'd need some sort of back awning for it to be usable.
-JD-
New member
How is the area between where the top of the ladder seems to rest against and the side of the vehicle supported? Seems like you could almost roll your 4runner with enough weight up there near the edge?? also what kind of support material makes up the 'floor' of the tent?
What is the weight carry capacity of the roof racks on the 4runner??
SeattleMike
New member
The ladder is bolted to the floor. The floor is made up of layers of materials and supports our weight without issue. The two halves of the floor connect and interlock for a very stable and secure tent base, with the ladder adding extra support.
The rack weighs 95 lbs, fully assembled, and is bolted to the roof via the factory mounting holes. The tent weighs 108 pounds, which is far below the threshold for the stock crossbars much less my over-engineered rack. the extra 200 lbs in the roof aren't going to cause a rollover by themselves, and I slow down a bit to account for it when taking turns, but the truth is you can barely tell it's there.
-JD-
New member
^HAHA.. by rollover I just meant a heavyweight sitting on the edge or something, not while driving, but was really only half serious....
By weight carrying capacity I was thinking more of rack + tent + 2 200lb people... I'm not sure how comfortable I would be if I was the one sleeping over the 'suspended' part in between the vehicle and ladder. Although i guess its safe to assume that no one would design a system like this if it didnt work...
I plan to use my 4runner for a lot of camping and this setup looks pretty damn good, something I wasnt really even aware was available, so thanks for posting it up!
By weight carrying capacity I was thinking more of rack + tent + 2 200lb people... I'm not sure how comfortable I would be if I was the one sleeping over the 'suspended' part in between the vehicle and ladder. Although i guess its safe to assume that no one would design a system like this if it didnt work...
I plan to use my 4runner for a lot of camping and this setup looks pretty damn good, something I wasnt really even aware was available, so thanks for posting it up!
SeattleMike
New member
We don't have space to store a trailer, so our options were limited.
Me, too. Unfortuntely, the weather in Seattle is living up to its reputation. We'll see how the weekend shapes up.
Thanks! More high praise! It feels good to check this off the list. Now if I could only figure out which winch mount to use....
SeattleMike
New member
I had my doubts too, but so far the scariest part has been climbing the ladder to get in it. They make other kinds of ladders and I might switch if this remains too hairy. Two adults of 200# each could sleep side by side and never know the other was there. Still, my feet will be pointing towards the ladder end... just in case.
Do a google or bing image search for Roof Top Tent and you'll find about 30 different brands, styles, and types out there. As long as they weigh less than 130# you should be okay on the stock rack/rails. And like you said, if this wasn't a proven design people wouldn't be able to sell them.
SeattleMike
New member
Just to be clear, the only rating published by Toyota is for the cross bars (which run side to side) @ 120lbs. As written on page 271 of the Owners Manual:
The roof rails (that run front to back) have no limit listed. My custom rack's tubing has a bend pressure of 1000 lbs, and the roof is designed to support the weigh of the truck in a rollover. I wouldn't have put a tent on either the stock SR5/LE crossbars or the TE crossbars, but most aftermarket racks replace those crossbars and rails anyway.
