Which rack for RTT?

G

goughy

New member
I am about to take delivery of a 2015 Trail T4R and would like to mount a roof rack for a rooftop tent.

I have the standard 7' 6" garage door opening so I am looking for a low profile rack (and tent) so I do not have to remove the tent each time I drive into the garage.

I have been in contact with Paul at Equipt about the Eezi-Awn K9 racks so I am aware of those and I have also been looking at the Gobi racks (pity I missed the Group Buy!) and also the Baja flat utility rack (might be in time for that GB!).

I have a couple of questions:

a) For those running the Gobi rack - how much additional height above the T4R roof should I allow to the welded crossbars (where the tent will be mounted)? Note - NOT to the light bar at the front, I have that figure and that won't be the highest point.

b) Anyone know the same figure for the Baja utility flat rack (i.e. to the top of the crossbars on the rack)

Thanks,

Richard
 
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Equipt K9 Rack or Frontrunner IMO

Gobi is the Holy Grail

Baja has QC issues

Drabbits seems MIA and his newer PC doesn't seem to pass the muster
 
7'6" will be cutting it close, but if you're vehicle is not lifted you should be ok.
My vehicle is lifted 2.5-3" and the height at the top of the tent is 7'6".
This is with the Baja Flat Rack. It's a really good rack, but their powdercoating leaves a lot to be desired.
If you are dealing with any other kind of rack which does not sit flat over the roof (Gobi, etc), the tent will sit up higher and rob you of a few inches of clearance. In your case, that's going to be important because you don't have much room to play with.
 
Thanks everyone.

I don't plan on lifting it, at least not initially. So we're dealing with stock height. I am changing out the Bridgestones for BFG AllTerrains of the same size, but I'm assuming this will not affect overall height significantly.

When I get the vehicle home, I'll cut a cardboard box out and rest it on the roof to see exactly how much headroom I'll have.

chmura - If you have time, could you measure from the top of the roof to the top of the Gobi crossbars? If yours is stock, the overall height to the crossbar top would also be helpful.

Ol'Baditude - Which tent do you have? I was looking at the James Baroud Horizon Vision which seems to be fairly low profile. Of course, I'll have to be careful to separate marketing dimensions from fact!
 
The Gobi and Drabbits will add 1-2" to the overall height, so I would stick to the Baja or k9.

Also, check the height of the RTT with the pillows/sleeping bags you leave inside, that made a difference in my case between going in/out.
 
goughy said:
I am about to take delivery of a 2015 Trail T4R and would like to mount a roof rack for a rooftop tent.

I have the standard 7' 6" garage door opening so I am looking for a low profile rack (and tent) so I do not have to remove the tent each time I drive into the garage.

I have been in contact with Paul at Equipt about the Eezi-Awn K9 racks so I am aware of those and I have also been looking at the Gobi racks (pity I missed the Group Buy!) and also the Baja flat utility rack (might be in time for that GB!).

I have a couple of questions:

a) For those running the Gobi rack - how much additional height above the T4R roof should I allow to the welded crossbars (where the tent will be mounted)? Note - NOT to the light bar at the front, I have that figure and that won't be the highest point.

b) Anyone know the same figure for the Baja utility flat rack (i.e. to the top of the crossbars on the rack)

Thanks,

Richard
Click to expand...


I personally have the Gobi now, it make the rig looks AWESOME.

But if ALL YOU WANT TO DO is to mount a RTT. I'll give you the UNBEATABLE, SUPER LOW-COST solution (lower cost than ANYONE ELSE can give you):
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/187467-jicko-build-thread-7.html#post2048079

:-)

Cost..... NOTHING!

Mount it directly to your roof top rails..... DONE!

20150621_122632crop-th.jpg


By the way, RTT mount on your roof and fit under 7' 6" garage is cutting it close......

You can:
1) sell your 4runner and buy a tacoma, and mount the tent above your truck bed
2) get an adventure trailer
 
Last edited:
Thanks jicko.

I was scared off using the stock roof rails by the 150lbs limit but it seems to work fine for you. Do you know what the rails are rated for? I suspect it's hard to find out that sort of information.

What crossbars did you use? And what did you use to mount them on the rails? (sorry, I'm a bit of a noob at this). I have a couple of old 50" Thule square bars but they're probably too short.

You can:
1) sell your 4runner and buy a tacoma, and mount the tent above your truck bed
2) get an adventure trailer
Click to expand...

Yes, but...

I haven't even got the 4Runner yet :rolleyes:. It should arrive at the dealers today from the port at Long Beach. I am trading in a 2012 JKU Rubicon (but that's for another thread).

The trailer is a last resort but, with no lift, I hope I can make the RTT-on-rack work.
 
goughy said:
Thanks jicko.

I was scared off using the stock roof rails by the 150lbs limit but it seems to work fine for you. Do you know what the rails are rated for? I suspect it's hard to find out that sort of information.

What crossbars did you use? And what did you use to mount them on the rails? (sorry, I'm a bit of a noob at this). I have a couple of old 50" Thule square bars but they're probably too short.



Yes, but...

I haven't even got the 4Runner yet :rolleyes:. It should arrive at the dealers today from the port at Long Beach. I am trading in a 2012 JKU Rubicon (but that's for another thread).

The trailer is a last resort but, with no lift, I hope I can make the RTT-on-rack work.
Click to expand...

It is mounted directly to the side rails, no cross bars.
 
OK - got it. I thought the aluminum tent mounting rails were separate crossbars. Just watched the Tepui installation video and realize they part of the tent.

Thanks.
 
goughy said:
I was scared off using the stock roof rails by the 150lbs limit but it seems to work fine for you. Do you know what the rails are rated for? I suspect it's hard to find out that sort of information.
Click to expand...

150lbs limit is the factory crossbars.... NOT the factory roof rails.....

I don't think there is a "rating" out there, but by the constructions of it, it can easily take 300-500lbs.
 
goughy said:
Thanks everyone.

Ol'Baditude - Which tent do you have? I was looking at the James Baroud Horizon Vision which seems to be fairly low profile. Of course, I'll have to be careful to separate marketing dimensions from fact!
Click to expand...

CVT Mt. Shasta. It's in my Signature below this post.
 
Sorry, missed that. Thanks.

..and thanks to all. I'm picking up my 4Runner tomorrow and saying goodbye to the Jeep.
 
What about ARB? They make one specifically for a RTT. I have the aluminum version (non RTT, I like sleeping with the bugs), I'd prefer a full length one but I like the quality of their products. It was between that and a front runner which I think is awesome with how modular it is, you can piece a front runner together to get a full length one, [MENTION=118255]Gormo[/MENTION] did it... K9 is supposed to be pretty slick as well.
 
Decide on a Rack?

OP, what did you decide here? Have you purchased a rack?

I am in the same situation and here is what I have learned so far with my CVT Mt. Shasta:

1) Racor lift makes loading and unloading the RTT much easier. Worth the $100 and I can do it by myself in about 15 minutes. It would be quicker if I didn't have so much crap in the garage!
2) Mounting to the factory rails works, but it is VERY tight under the siderails. I was worried about the mounting hardware scratching the roof if the rails flexed under load. I also found it really difficult to get the cover in and out of the track to replace with the annex due to the tent rails.
3) My current setup is with the Yakima Rail Grab towers to the factory rails. This added 1.5" of overall height over the factory rails and I can barely clear my 91" garage door. My wife was on a stool pushing the garage door up a bit higher as the bottom of the door actually sits at 89.5". This was with our sleeping bags folded up inside the tent.
4) Airing down to 15 PSI gets you about another 1" of clearance.
5) My tent has a 2 piece ladder. Removing 1 segment of the ladder buys another 1.5" of clearance and is easier to do than airing down and airing back up.

I am looking for a full-length low profile rack to carry the RTT plus other items (TREDS, firewood, etc). The PRINSU rack seems like a good option when it becomes available for the 5th gen, although the front feet attachment has me a bit concerned (requires 1 drilled hole per side). The Baja Utility Rack seems to be the next best option for a low profile flat rack. I need the platform to sit <4" above the factory mounting locations.

Hopefully you found something that worked and can pass along some info.


goughy said:
Sorry, missed that. Thanks.

..and thanks to all. I'm picking up my 4Runner tomorrow and saying goodbye to the Jeep.
Click to expand...
 
No progress so far. Analysis paralysis got me and now the weather has turned my thoughts elsewhere.

I'm interested to hear of your "solution". Airing up and down each time sounds like it would get old quickly. Removing the ladder sounds a lot better.

Before I temporarily shelved the project, I was tending towards installing Yakima or Thule rails or maybe mounting a tent directly to the factory side rails.

Unfortunately, due to the configuration of my garage door mechanisms and lighting it's not possible to install a Racor-type lift.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but I'm still interested in solutions.
 
Rtt

I had the front runner 3/4 roof rack but in the winter Canada conditions I could see the quality go down after the first winter. I changed it to GOBI rack and it is awesome!!!! Check my build thread in the signature for mounting options of RTT to GOBI. Oh I also built a garage with 9 foot door just so I can fit into the garage with 3" lift, GOBI and RTT...yea lol.
 
RTT mounting

Thanks for the info! I like the GOBI, too, but the Stealth mounting surface is about 2" too high. That's how close it is for me. The options for a full length, low profile rack (at or below the factory rail height) that use only the factory mounts are limited to say the least.

Those mounting brackets look great. I am using the Yakima snaparounds, but this option looks much easier to install. How do they handle the deflection when wheeling? Any visible wear and tear?

Built a 9' garage...that's commitment!

KiruxaT4R said:
I had the front runner 3/4 roof rack but in the winter Canada conditions I could see the quality go down after the first winter. I changed it to GOBI rack and it is awesome!!!! Check my build thread in the signature for mounting options of RTT to GOBI. Oh I also built a garage with 9 foot door just so I can fit into the garage with 3" lift, GOBI and RTT...yea lol.
Click to expand...
 
wild_turkey said:
OP, what did you decide here? Have you purchased a rack?

I am in the same situation and here is what I have learned so far with my CVT Mt. Shasta:

1) Racor lift makes loading and unloading the RTT much easier. Worth the $100 and I can do it by myself in about 15 minutes. It would be quicker if I didn't have so much crap in the garage!
2) Mounting to the factory rails works, but it is VERY tight under the siderails. I was worried about the mounting hardware scratching the roof if the rails flexed under load. I also found it really difficult to get the cover in and out of the track to replace with the annex due to the tent rails.
3) My current setup is with the Yakima Rail Grab towers to the factory rails. This added 1.5" of overall height over the factory rails and I can barely clear my 91" garage door. My wife was on a stool pushing the garage door up a bit higher as the bottom of the door actually sits at 89.5". This was with our sleeping bags folded up inside the tent.
4) Airing down to 15 PSI gets you about another 1" of clearance.
5) My tent has a 2 piece ladder. Removing 1 segment of the ladder buys another 1.5" of clearance and is easier to do than airing down and airing back up.

I am looking for a full-length low profile rack to carry the RTT plus other items (TREDS, firewood, etc). The PRINSU rack seems like a good option when it becomes available for the 5th gen, although the front feet attachment has me a bit concerned (requires 1 drilled hole per side). The Baja Utility Rack seems to be the next best option for a low profile flat rack. I need the platform to sit <4" above the factory mounting locations.

Hopefully you found something that worked and can pass along some info.
Click to expand...

You might be able to adjust the up travel of your door to clear the header. I know they have a travel adjustment, just not sure if yours is maxed or not.
 
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