Batwing mounting w/o roof rack

[ccasteel]

So I don't really have a need for a roof rack. Except I want to mount a batwing 270 awning. Are there options that don't require an entire rack?

If I go with a full roof rack, will just about any of them work? I know the factory rack is definitely not sturdy enough for it.

If anyone has done it I would love to see pictures. I'm also conerned it may look goofy with just an awning up there.

 

[Zuberg]

That's a lot of weight and leverage to run just relying on single side roof mounts. I would think you'd at least need to run 2, possibly 3 cross bars. Crossbars would be cheaper and lighter than a full rack too.

 

[JAntosch]

So I don't really have a need for a roof rack. Except I want to mount a batwing 270 awning. Are there options that don't require an entire rack?

If I go with a full roof rack, will just about any of them work? I know the factory rack is definitely not sturdy enough for it.

If anyone has done it I would love to see pictures. I'm also conerned it may look goofy with just an awning up there.

I swapped my 270 awning for a moon shade (MoonShade | Portable vehicle awning | Moon Fabrications - https://moonfab.com/products/moonshade), less coverage but the location is not fixed (magnetic or suction mounts) so it can cover the tailgate or either side. No affiliation, just sharing a different solution that may work well for you!

 

[Mike NXP]

@nakman is the guy to ask

He has brackets that will adapt to your roof rails and don't rely on the cross members to hold the weight ( I think )

Gamiviti

Gamiviti roof racks. Custom racks for your Toyota Land Cruiser wagon

www.gamiviti.com

 

[Mike NXP]

And if anyone is looking for an alternative that has been tested from Alaska snow to the Nevada desert, my Roadhouse tarp has been rock solid after dozens of times of use and putting away wet.

Awning are overated in my opinion but there have been a few times I wish I had the quick setup of an awning VS my current tarp setup

Slumberjack

 

[ccasteel]

That's a lot of weight and leverage to run just relying on single side roof mounts. I would think you'd at least need to run 2, possibly 3 cross bars. Crossbars would be cheaper and lighter than a full rack too.

Great point. Hadn't thought about the tweaking that would put on the mounting points with just one side. And I imagine my batwing is heavier than most.

 

[Mike NXP]

And I imagine my batwing is heavier than most.

 

[Bisho]

I’ve had my 270 awning mounted to the factory rack for 3 years now. I was initially concerned, but it’s been rock solid over lots of rough terrain and probably 50k miles. It does cost you a good half mile per gallon. It admittedly doesn’t get taken out much, but when I need it it’s a godsend.

I apparently deleted the mounting pics from my phone, but I’ll get some this weekend. I used brackets intended for a flat rack, and secured them with carriage bolts and metal straps you would use with a u- bolt.

 

[nakman]

Great point. Hadn't thought about the tweaking that would put on the mounting points with just one side.

I'm glad to see someone else thinks of this stuff.. that said yes you can still do it, but lighter is better on the awning side. Adding cross bars makes things much stronger... of course adding a full rack has other benefits to. particularly if you sell roof racks.

But as requested here are the brackets that are all bolt-up, add a lighter weight 270 (Rhino Batwing, Ironman Deltawing, OVS LT, etc.) to your factory rack

Miti Brackets — Gamiviti

Add an small to medium-sized awning to the factory side rail of your 4Runner, Land Cruisers, Lexus GX and LX, or any other OEM rail with the internal slot.

www.gamiviti.com

 

[Bisho]

Found them.