AutoHome Columbus RTT (1 Viewer)

[wngrog]

I moved this. Put it in the Expo build section at first. That’s wrong. Here goes.

I’ve got a few different vehicles I take overlanding, depending on where I am going.

If I can work the trip around work, I take my TRDPro. Last year I put my RTT on and spent 10 days exploring the west

It was good, I’ve had RTTs for years I just. Hate screwing with the covers on the roof. Trailers make them so much easier.

if it’s within 8 hours I’ve begun taking my Fuel Injected FJ60 and for big trips I always take my 100 series.

I’ve been trying to find the best solution to sleep but I kept going back and forth to a trailer, tent on the roof or an Eno.

Last trip I took I did not want to drag the extra weight behind my FJ60 and the ARB rack I have does not work well with a soft RTT so I froze in my Eno.

 

[wngrog]

So I came home and ordered what I’ve wanted to have for years, an AutoHome Columbus.

This company has been around for 30 years, some of the most anal dudes I know use them and the price point is on the low end of the premium hard shell RTTs.

Shipping was fast. Super fast. I ordered it Monday and it arrived at the terminal on Friday.

I was in town so I rode over, un crated it and brought it home on the Prinsu equipped 4Runner. With this low rack system, bolting it down is a bear but there was no wind noise on the interstate 50 Miles home.

The Columbus Small is the perfect size for the 4Runner barely sticking out over The sides.

 

[wngrog]

The next morning I moved the Columbus over to the FJ60 by parking next to it and then sliding it over.

This was the first sad moment.

The old school aluminum ARB rack looks superb but it does not work with RTTs well due to the sidebars. The tent sits way too high.

I’ll be moving his rack to the Pig and getting a front runner for the 60

The main reason I got the tent was for the 60. It really really does well under its own power with the new 2F and AFI injection but the trailer will be asking a lot. If I need more space I am in the 100

 

[MANUCHAO]

It's a real shame that we can't get the Prinsu rack for the 60... love the low profile on them.........
I modified my old Tradesman roof rack around my RTT and is great not having any wind noise....

On the RTT..... what size did yah get? I gots the small and in need of an upgrade... looking at the Columbus Large, or the JB Discovery XXL...

 

[wngrog]

The FrontRunner is low. I have both and I much prefer it over the Prinsu for function but for my 4Runner that is my DD/Work car I put 5,000 miles a Month on it and the Prinsu has zero wind noise. None. My buddy has the FR on his 4Runner like mine and it’s loud. Even with the air dam.

I got the Columbia small. I camp 90% alone and if not it’s with one kid. If the whole family goes it’s Eno weather anyway.

The big tents that hang over the side are nice for sleeping and the West but there are too many trees here to have that hanging off the sides.

Sooooooo, that brings me to the final install on the 100 series.

 

[wngrog]

I slid it over for the final time of the morning and it fit right down on the full size (13 slat) FrontRunner rack. I have the Foxwing on one side and a shovel and axe on the other.

The good thing was, it fit nicely inside my rails so all that stuff can stay. I use it often on the trail so it’s not just poser stuff.

The AutoHouse comes with sandwich type mounts designed for thin bars like Yakima, Thule or even my Prinsu

FrontRunner sells the wider mounts for their thick bars for $30 or so. I had to clearance the carriage bolts a bit to make them work

I slid it all on and there was no way I was getting my hands under my rack to bolt these things on.

Instead of removing all the stuff off the rack I bolted this extra set of short crossbars to the rack with some tall RTT brackets from FrontRunner. This raised the entire tent up 3.5” taller but it is going to make removal and reinstall in the 60 a snap.

I’m happy with this. I drove it about 20 miles. It’s got more noise than the rack alone but not as much as my soft top tent up there

 

[wngrog]

This thing is stupid easy. I got the ladder jacked up a bit in the billow strings during my demo but I’m not sure anything could be easier than this.

Columbus Variant – Autohome US

 

[65swb45]

I have always liked the look of this particular RTT since I first saw one on @devo FJ60 ten years ago. I think if I ever get to the point of getting one, this will be the one for me too.

Many happy trails to you sir.

 

[wngrog]

So after driving around with the AutoHome on my 100 the wind noise with it up on the crossbars was brutal. Also I could not fit in my 8’ shop door any longer so I embarked on making the tent work on my 11 slat 85” FrontRunner rack

After getting the tent off the crossbars I found two problems.

1) my rack is the old style mounts rails and it sits about 2” lower to the roof than the current ones sold and there was no way for me to reach under the rack to bolt the tent Down

2) the way the latch works, the rear rack crossbar interferes with the latch for the tent

I got home early today and pulled it into the shop out of the 30 mph north winds and started hacking on the rack to make it happen

The main rail on the front and rear are wide and there is plenty of strength left after hacking out this hole. I’m going to figure out something to make it prettier

I took it for a drive and 100% of the wind noise is gone.

I’m stoked.

To get my hands under the rack I unbolted one corner at a time from the truck and lifted it about 2” with a block of wood and I was able to get it done.

 

[wngrog]

And it fits in the shop. That’s a biggie.

 

[LS1FJ40]

I have narrowed it down to the Columbus or the Maggiolina. The only reason I haven’t pulled the trigger on the Columbus is the better winter camping of the Maggiolina. But I’m still leaning towards the Columbus. Now I just need to figure out if I need the extra length of the XL.

 

[wngrog]

I wanted the quick pop up and stow. I also don’t hang in the tent ever so I don’t need extra room toward the other end.

 

[LS1FJ40]

I really like the quick pop up and stow. Plus I prefer the back entrance versus side entrance for some reason.

 

[wngrog]

It’s great to have options to do both. I can use my Slee ladder but if I’m using my awning I can go in on the side

 

[LS1FJ40]

I like the idea of using my Trail Tailor ladder instead of the ladder that comes with it. Not that it would take up much space.

 

[wngrog]

The little ladder is pretty pimp but I won’t use it if I’m not using the awning

 

[LS1FJ40]

Any chance you have a pic of the top of your Columbus? I have solar on my 80 but this would cover my panel unless I reinstalled my solar slide out. I'm thinking of going with a flexible panel that I could adhere to the top of the Columbus. Wondering how wide and long the flattest area is. I know I could go with Yakima feet and load bars and attach to that but want something "different" and lower profile.

 

[wngrog]

It’s a flat 24x36 ish in the front middle

 

[LS1FJ40]

It’s a flat 24x36 ish in the front middle

View attachment 1591323

Thanks! Do you have the XL? I wonder if there is a difference between the two... hmm

I’ll have to look around some more at flexible solar panels. Most 100w panels I've seen are around 24”x41”. Maybe I can find an 85w or something. My existing 65w Siemens just doesn’t quite give me what I want/need. Really want 200w total with 100w being full time and the other 100w to be able to set up at camp.

 

[wngrog]

Small is mine. 41” would work. I’ll a slope up about there.