Crossbars and Rooftop tents (1 Viewer)

[markthegrea]

I am wanting to put a Roofnest Sparrow on the top of my GX460 (2010).

Can the stock crossbars work?

Are there any alternatives to LRD crossbars? I have used them before and they are great, but I am a bit confused on how they fasten to the top.

Ruggedized Crossbar - GX460

Our popular Ruggedized Crossbar for the Lexus GX460! Crossbars are sold individually. For a bundle of FOUR Crossbars see our Bundle listing. Attaches in a similar style as the factory crossbars, but adds a rigid flexible mounting surface for carrying tools, recovery gear, cargo, roof top tents...

lfdoffroad.com

 

[r2m]

I am wanting to put a Roofnest Sparrow on the top of my GX460 (2010).

Can the stock crossbars work?

Are there any alternatives to LRD crossbars? I have used them before and they are great, but I am a bit confused on how they fasten to the top.

Ruggedized Crossbar - GX460

Our popular Ruggedized Crossbar for the Lexus GX460! Crossbars are sold individually. For a bundle of FOUR Crossbars see our Bundle listing. Attaches in a similar style as the factory crossbars, but adds a rigid flexible mounting surface for carrying tools, recovery gear, cargo, roof top tents...

lfdoffroad.com

You may have to contact RoofNest about that. Generally most if not all RTT's require flat cross bars. If I recall, factory GX cross bars have a bow (arch) in them. If so, I'm willing to bet you may need to swap them out for flat cross bars or an after market roof rack.
If you do a search in this forum, there are a couple of folks who've been in the same boat and have found flat racks that work with the factory GX rails.

 

[markthegrea]

I recieved a reply back from LRD Offroad on their crossbars. The space in between the sides is on ly 22". The sparrow XL needs 24".

Anyone have any experience with these? Or are there any other alternatives? I don't want to put a basket on the roof.

10-22 Lexus GX460 - Low Mount Cross Bar Kit (w/standoffs)Default Title

The Badass Tents Low Mount Cross Bar Kit is designed to mount any Roof Top tent (or surfboard, bike, etc) 2″ above to the roof of the GX460 to reduce drag and wind noise associated with large objects on the roof. It mounts directly to the frame using high quality hardware, anodized aluminum...

www.restfulroofs.com

 

[ducktapeguy]

I've mounted my RTT on a variety of crossbars, almost any of them can be made to work.

I don't understand what you mean by the space in between the sides? Front to back or side to side? Either of those should be much larger than 24"

With low profile crossbars you might not have enough space to access the hardware while the tent is on top. The way to make it work is to mount the tent to the crossbars first, then attach the tent+crossbars to the rack.

 

[markthegrea]

Last time I used LFD crossbars for my GX470. They are straight across and worked great.

Ruggedized Crossbar - GX460

Our popular Ruggedized Crossbar for the Lexus GX460! Crossbars are sold individually. For a bundle of FOUR Crossbars see our Bundle listing. Attaches in a similar style as the factory crossbars, but adds a rigid flexible mounting surface for carrying tools, recovery gear, cargo, roof top tents...

lfdoffroad.com

If you notice, these bars are adjustable on the sides: I believe the 460 does not have completely parrallel side rails and therefore needs some adjustment to fit. The space in between is ~22". My Roofnest has rails down the center that are 24" apart. Hence, the LFD bars will not work.

I found some that will work, but they are the only ones I could find. They seem nice and I will post a review. And they are a bit cheaper. I don't want a basket.

10-22 Lexus GX460 - Low Mount Cross Bar Kit (w/standoffs)Default Title

The Badass Tents Low Mount Cross Bar Kit is designed to mount any Roof Top tent (or surfboard, bike, etc) 2″ above to the roof of the GX460 to reduce drag and wind noise associated with large objects on the roof. It mounts directly to the frame using high quality hardware, anodized aluminum...

www.restfulroofs.com

 

[r2m]

With low profile crossbars you might not have enough space to access the hardware while the tent is on top. The way to make it work is to mount the tent to the crossbars first, then attach the tent+crossbars to the rack.

The Gamiviti rack is low profile and it's tight getting my hands in between the bottom of the RTT and the roof of the car to tighten the mounting bolts of the RTT.
I had to get a set of ratchet box end wrenches to do it. Something like these: Amazon product ASIN B08MTPN3BSA regular socket and ratchet wouldn't fit and to use a regular box end wrench or open wrench would have been painfully too long. Literally painful trying to get my hand to go back and forth so many times in such a tight space.

 

[RG7]

https://midguardadventure.com/produ...inum-super-low-profile-load-bar-system-gx460/ these may also work

 

[ducktapeguy]

ide rails and therefore needs some adjustment to fit. The space in between is ~22". My Roofnest has rails down the center that are 24" apart. Hence, the LFD bars will not work.

I found some that will work, but they are the only ones I could find. They seem nice and I will post a review. An

It looks like the LFD bars are an inverted channel, probably with slotted holes on top? Can't really tell in the pictures what the bars look like. The mounting feet look like they might be a channel design too. I'm assuming the roofnest uses some type of aluminum extrusion T-slot rails like most other RTT.

I've used unistrut cross bars with a similar design. You can bolt the cross bars directly to the roofnest rails. You may need to use a shorter bolt so it doesn't protrude as much. Then with the bars attached, you would lift the whole thing on top of your car and bolt it in. That's really the only way you're gonna be able to fasten the tent on. Even with the other bars you linked, you probably won't have enough room to get to the bolts and mounting plates with the RTT on the car, there's just not enough room to slide your arm in.

Second picture shows the bars already attached to the tent and lowered together. For my application I removed the RTT mounting rails completely and just bolted the tent directly to the bars, so there was only about 1" of clearance between the roof and bottom of the tent.

 

[markthegrea]

It looks like the LFD bars are an inverted channel, probably with slotted holes on top?

Yes, this is true and would probably work as well. I didn't think of this before I ordered.

I had no trouble fastening the Roofnest to the GX470 bars. My hands would slide under and there is a black knob they provide that fits on a metal strap. The knobs look something like this:

Amazon product ASIN B08MQJFRH8
These worked well and were easy to remove. I would have to do (with the LFD bars) the "attach to tent first" method prolly because the inverted channel is so deep. While I don't take mine off more than twice a year, It is nice to have a quick change. I have a lifter in my garage as well, so just drop it on and off. Easy.

 

[r2m]

It looks like the LFD bars are an inverted channel, probably with slotted holes on top? Can't really tell in the pictures what the bars look like. The mounting feet look like they might be a channel design too. I'm assuming the roofnest uses some type of aluminum extrusion T-slot rails like most other RTT.

I've used unistrut cross bars with a similar design. You can bolt the cross bars directly to the roofnest rails. You may need to use a shorter bolt so it doesn't protrude as much. Then with the bars attached, you would lift the whole thing on top of your car and bolt it in. That's really the only way you're gonna be able to fasten the tent on. Even with the other bars you linked, you probably won't have enough room to get to the bolts and mounting plates with the RTT on the car, there's just not enough room to slide your arm in.

View attachment 3461244

Second picture shows the bars already attached to the tent and lowered together. For my application I removed the RTT mounting rails completely and just bolted the tent directly to the bars, so there was only about 1" of clearance between the roof and bottom of the tent.

View attachment 3461245

I bought a small overhead electric winch that I hung from the upstairs balcony that overhangs the driveway and tried this. It's a trick to have it perfectly balanced when lifting. Hence that winch is just sitting in my garage. Now that I think of it, I should probably get rid of it.
After doing it once, I found it was too much of a headache to do it on a regular basis. Now that I think of it, I should probably sell that winch now since I don't foresee any use for it and it's been sitting there for years now.

Yes, this is true and would probably work as well. I didn't think of this before I ordered.

I had no trouble fastening the Roofnest to the GX470 bars. My hands would slide under and there is a black knob they provide that fits on a metal strap. The knobs look something like this:

Amazon product ASIN B08MQJFRH8
These worked well and were easy to remove. I would have to do (with the LFD bars) the "attach to tent first" method prolly because the inverted channel is so deep. While I don't take mine off more than twice a year, It is nice to have a quick change. I have a lifter in my garage as well, so just drop it on and off. Easy.

Using knobs to tighten a RTT down, I'd make sure you have a strong enough grip to really tighten them. I really snug down the bolts for my RTT. Last thing I need is to see, my tent in the rear few mirror, mid air flying onto the highway.
If you use knobs to tighten, perhaps periodically check the tightness, try to push your tent around on the racks and see if it's loose at all.

 

[ducktapeguy]

I bought a small overhead electric winch that I hung from the upstairs balcony that overhangs the driveway and tried this. It's a trick to have it perfectly balanced when lifting. Hence that winch is just sitting in my garage. Now that I think of it, I should probably get rid of it.
After doing it once, I found it was too much of a headache to do it on a regular basis. Now that I think of it, I should probably sell that winch now since I don't foresee any use for it and it's been sitting there for years now.

Using knobs to tighten a RTT down, I'd make sure you have a strong enough grip to really tighten them. I really snug down the bolts for my RTT. Last thing I need is to see, my tent in the rear few mirror, mid air flying onto the highway.
If you use knobs to tighten, perhaps periodically check the tightness, try to push your tent around on the racks and see if it's loose at all.

That's an older pic of one of the many methods I've tried when installing the RTT. The single line winch method works, but not that well, as you've found out.

Now I use a ceiling storage rack lift which has a cable on each corner, so balancing isn't a problem anymore. That combined with front runner quick release mounts is the easiest way for one person to attach and remove a RTT. If I had gotten the motorized lift it would be a 5 minute procedure, but even manually I can have the tent on and off in less than 10 minutes by myself.

 

[r2m]

That's an older pic of one of the many methods I've tried when installing the RTT. The single line winch method works, but not that well, as you've found out.

Now I use a ceiling storage rack lift which has a cable on each corner, so balancing isn't a problem anymore. That combined with front runner quick release mounts is the easiest way for one person to attach and remove a RTT. If I had gotten the motorized lift it would be a 5 minute procedure, but even manually I can have the tent on and off in less than 10 minutes by myself.

My other issues is as you mentioned, the actual attaching it to the rack. My rack is so low profile, it's hard to get my hands between the rack/tent and the roof of the vehicle to tighten things down. Also I don't have a quick release so I have to squeeze my hands and without good visual, try to get the bolt to thread into the nut, and do this 4 times.
I'd consider trying again if I had a very simple system for attaching the tent to the racks.

 

[markthegrea]

I hang mine in my garage; of course I don't lift my GX so it will fit. I used two of these:

Amazon product ASIN B000PEURIQ
I drive it under and hoist it up. Pretty simple.

This page has some instructions:

How to Store Your Roofnest Rooftop Tent

One of the best parts of owning a Roofnest roof top tent is the incredible convenience it offers to go camping anywhere, anytime, even in winter. Not everyone is keen on camping in the cold weather, though. So, for those folks who want to swap their roof top tent for a ski rack during the winter...

roofnest.com

 

[r2m]

I hang mine in my garage; of course I don't lift my GX so it will fit. I used two of these:

Amazon product ASIN B000PEURIQ
I drive it under and hoist it up. Pretty simple.

This page has some instructions:

How to Store Your Roofnest Rooftop Tent

One of the best parts of owning a Roofnest roof top tent is the incredible convenience it offers to go camping anywhere, anytime, even in winter. Not everyone is keen on camping in the cold weather, though. So, for those folks who want to swap their roof top tent for a ski rack during the winter...

roofnest.com

As you mentioned about a lift. I'm lifted 3 inches and have 35" tires, that puts me over 6 inches taller than stock, yup, no way I can roll mine in our garage, even if I didn't have the surfboards, SUP's, ski's and all the other toys in the way.

 

[ducktapeguy]

My other issues is as you mentioned, the actual attaching it to the rack. My rack is so low profile, it's hard to get my hands between the rack/tent and the roof of the vehicle to tighten things down. Also I don't have a quick release so I have to squeeze my hands and without good visual, try to get the bolt to thread into the nut, and do this 4 times.
I'd consider trying again if I had a very simple system for attaching the tent to the racks.

If you value your time at all, get the FR quick release tent mounts, they're worth every penny. I'm kind of surprised another company hasn't come out with their own design yet. It's rather expensive for what it is, and I spent a couple of years waffling back and forth debating whether I really needed them. But when you consider how much time it takes putting a tent on, they pay for themselves in time saved. It used to be an hour long workout just getting the bolts tightened, now it's an easy couple minutes. I only use it a few times a year, but even if it was a once a year event, I would still buy them again.

I don't like how they raise the tent a couple of inches, but it's a compromise I can live with.

 

[r2m]

If you value your time at all, get the FR quick release tent mounts, they're worth every penny. I'm kind of surprised another company hasn't come out with their own design yet. It's rather expensive for what it is, and I spent a couple of years waffling back and forth debating whether I really needed them. But when you consider how much time it takes putting a tent on, they pay for themselves in time saved. It used to be an hour long workout just getting the bolts tightened, now it's an easy couple minutes. I only use it a few times a year, but even if it was a once a year event, I would still buy them again.

I don't like how they raise the tent a couple of inches, but it's a compromise I can live with.

Just looked at the FR quick release tent mounts. The price isn't that bad but I can't use them with my Gamiviti rack. It has round tubes for cross members, not "T" slots like the Front Runners.

 

[markthegrea]

It looks like the LFD bars are an inverted channel, probably with slotted holes on top? Can't really tell in the pictures what the bars look like. The mounting feet look like they might be a channel design too. I'm assuming the roofnest uses some type of aluminum extrusion T-slot rails like most other RTT.

I've used unistrut cross bars with a similar design. You can bolt the cross bars directly to the roofnest rails. You may need to use a shorter bolt so it doesn't protrude as much. Then with the bars attached, you would lift the whole thing on top of your car and bolt it in. That's really the only way you're gonna be able to fasten the tent on. Even with the other bars you linked, you probably won't have enough room to get to the bolts and mounting plates with the RTT on the car, there's just not enough room to slide your arm in.

So I received the Restful Roofs crossbars and they are very high quality. I went to put them on, but you have to remove the stock side-rails. This leaves a channel that i am uncomfortable with. Seems water could get down in there and could cause problems. Am I crazy? I assume I would silicone it up. Might not be a bad idea. Anyone know if they leak much? Guys who put baskets up there must have the same concerns?

However, @ducktapeguy suggestion above got me thinking and I do believe I could bolt the RTT directly to the bars. I have been using the supplied straps and the knob above but a direct connection would work as well. AND, I could leave them connected and hoist them up. So with this, I would use the LFD crossbars because they use the stock side rails.

 

[ducktapeguy]

I put silicone on the bolts and never had a problem with leaks. I think even with stock side rails water probably gets down there, they just have sealant on the bolts.

 

[markthegrea]

Thanks for your reply. I made some thin rubber gaskets and plan on using some silicone as well.