Does this roof rack make my 80 look fat?

[MDarius]

I've had it loaded like this several times, just not quite as much weight. It's holding up well. Flawlessly actually. I only have 2 complaints: First is that my choice of mesh decking has resulted in some rust forming. It's tough to get all the nooks and crannies even with powder coating on something like that. Second is that because of the size of tubing it's not always easy to tie things down. It's larger than most strap hooks or bungee hooks. With the mesh decking, again, my choice, I can't just loop the strap over the tubing and back on itself. I've adjusted my gear choices (standard sized drybags, etc) so I can now pack with just 3 tie downs for gear. I use one to keep the Hi-lift from rattling and I used an extra on the food box this trip just to be sure.

So, my complaints are largely my own doing. But I love having the mesh deck and wouldn't trade it. My kids ride up there on slow trails all the time and it makes it easy to load and unload. It really is armor for the roof.

 

[MDarius]

Do you really want criticism, or just confirmation that it looks great and very 'expeditiony'?

You are taking way too much stuff. How much food can you eat in 4 days? If you want to bring your whole house, take a trailer.
You are having too much weight on the roof. Off camber will be a problem and steering will be quite affected, especially in an emergency situation.

Nope, criticism is good. I agree. We took way too much food. Water, not quite enough. Fuel, I used it all and had only about 2 gallons in the tank when we filled up.

"Just in case" possibles in the action packer...Debatable. I didn't use much of what was in there, but I had it if something went wrong.

Part of the load is making sure people have a good experience. I like to eat nothing but trail mix and jerky when I camp and sleep without a tent unless rain is expected. But if I want my kids and wife to love it I need some of those extra things to keep them coming out. Wet wipes, cots, a big tent for changing in, a stove for warm food. But, you are right.

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

I understand, it is easy to take tons of stuff, especially with kids...

 

[DirtScaresMe]

I do a lot of backpacking and I can have a ~35lb pack that will last me a week in the high sierras (not winter). In general I try to pack pretty light or at least be weight conscious. I think backpacking introduces hard discipline because you literally are lugging all your s*** around just your legs/back/feet so every little doo-dad needs to be measured against the pain it induces. Plus there's a lot to be said for simplicity in terms of maintenance and just the amount of stuff that can go wrong.

In a basic sense, I can load three frame packs into the back of the truck + parts/tools and we'd be fine. I splurge a bit with a bigger tent, a cast iron pan, chairs, a cooler, and a bigger propane (green coleman stove). But other than that I (and my kids) still use our backpacking gear and stay in that mode.

I've never driven with a roof rack really loaded up but my summer plans for what goes up there is basically just fuel and the camp chairs. I'm fine playing tetris with the back and losing all my visibility behind me.

 

[MDarius]

My 14 years-old daughter is 6 feet tall. She's the smallest and gets the 3rd row seat. I try to keep it fairly open for her.​

But, backpacking concepts are good to apply here. Grams = ounces = pounds = pain. Lightweight gear is good for more than just back packing. We had a Dutch oven, cast iron skillet, too much food, a huge tent, a 2 man backup tent, etc. We easily could have trimmed this.

 

[DirtScaresMe]

My 14 years-old daughter is 6 feet tall. She's the smallest and gets the 3rd row seat. I try to keep it fairly open for her.

But, backpacking concepts are good to apply here. Grams = ounces = pounds = pain. Lightweight gear is good for more than just back packing. We had a Dutch oven, cast iron skillet, too much food, a huge tent, a 2 man backup tent, etc. We easily could have trimmed this.

It took me my entire backpacking career spanning literally three decades to finally dial in my gear to something that's pretty respectable. I've gone too light (rarely) and gone to heavy (often). In 6th grade I brought a friggin propane lantern, a horrible A frame tent, and rectangular piece of crap sleeping bag and froze all night. Now my down bag is hanging up in my office for max loft retention, and my Altra shoes get piles of miles.

It takes a while to get your gear all figured out and until you do I think it's pretty natural to have that "I'll bring this just in case" and "well I might need this" type of thoughts. Those three decades of backpacking have really zero'd me in on the stuff that actually does happen and the stuff that never does. Like a space blanket. So you're going to lose all your clothes and your sleeping bag? How's that going to happen? I don't think that's ever happened to anyone on the planet and if it did that mylar blanket isn't going to do beans.

Or a waterproof match holder. Bring a bic and a tiny ass fire-steel thing. Baking soda works good for antacid, toothpaste, and dish cleaning.

But it takes a while to figure all that out and everyone makes trade offs. I bring a (for one person) relatively beefy MSR Hubba Hubba NX2 tent but I like the space and since I have a down bag I like to sleep bone dry.

The more you do something, the more you zero in what you use and the more you get tired of hauling crap you don't.

 

[danthman114]

Wet wipes my brother, wet wipes.

but using wet wipes when its cold isn't fun...

 

[DirtScaresMe]

but using wet wipes when its cold isn't fun...

cold wet wipe vs keeping the stuff on you that the wet wipes remove

going with the cold wet wipe

 

[ZackR]

@MDarius I agree its a balance to bring enough for the family to enjoy but not overdo it. As you mentioned having to use the 3rd row for a person really cuts down the inside storage space that most of us are accustomed to.

Another option if you aren't hitting too difficult of trails en route to camp is one of the hitch mounted carriers. The heaviest stuff could go on the hitch carrier for the trip to camp and the carrier and supplies could come off when at camp to allow for exploring. Shifting 200lbs of fuel, water and gear down to the lower center of gravity would help stability quite a bit.

 

[MDarius]

@MDarius I agree its a balance to bring enough for the family to enjoy but not overdo it. As you mentioned having to use the 3rd row for a person really cuts down the inside storage space that most of us are accustomed to.

Another option if you aren't hitting too difficult of trails en route to camp is one of the hitch mounted carriers. The heaviest stuff could go on the hitch carrier for the trip to camp and the carrier and supplies could come off when at camp to allow for exploring. Shifting 200lbs of fuel, water and gear down to the lower center of gravity would help stability quite a bit.

That's not a bad idea. I've always worried about departure angles with those, but if it's a trip where I can leave it at camp it wouldn't be an issue.

 

[alia176]

@MDarius

You 80 look maaaavelous!!!

I've been camping with a Kampraoo since my kid was born but I understand your issue. I used to go on trips looking like the Clampits. Since I had two dogs taking up the entire cargo area, in addition to the roof rack, a hitch rack was used as well. But, my roof rack has always been a closed cargo box, like a Packasport System 90 so I wasn't able to pack large, ugly things inside it. Everything is a compromise and I'm happy with a trailer now. It's always packed and ready to go. Just add water to the tanks, fill up the Engel with food and we're off! I got so tired of the UPS style of packing up the 80 before every large trip.

I'd lose the hi-lift jack - way overrated for the actual use IMHO. Given that you have no sliders, even less need for this boat anchor. Concur on using a set of Air Lift 1000 air bags inside the rear springs, you'll love them.

Making great memories is what it's all about and you're doing a good job.

PS: The trailer now allows me to carry MTBs, canoes and such things that isn't possible otherwise.

 

[mudgudgeon]

I agree with Mr ScaresMe.
I've camped in the past with everything including the kitchen sink (but not the 12v microwave), after doing some backpacking, I now camp in a very minimalist way.
Spending my weekend packing, stacking, lashing and unpacking s*** isn't fun. Trying to get a teenager to help with it all is even less fun

Food and cooking takes up the most space if I'm car camping.

I'd be ditching cots. A good inflatable sleep mat can be as comfy as your bed at home, and lighter and less bulk.
I'd ditch the spare tent too, and maybe take a light weight tarp (silnylon or similar) and some cordage.

 

[gsi18867]

This is my favorite use of it though...

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I would pack the kids on the inside of the cruiser

 

[MDarius]

You know, I was thinking about this today. If there's no mechanical issue with it, I feel like I've maxed out the safe load on top with an OME medium lift with J springs. Let's call it 550 pounds. Safe is debatable in this case, considering I had to change my driving to accommodate the top heavy rig. Any swerving at freeway speeds would have likely resulted in a roll over. I did have to swerve a little and I didn't like it. Ok, fine. 550 pounds is not safe.

I wouldn't say that's even close to a safe load for off-road driving. I put all the heavy stuff inside and made the kids snuggle in the middle row for that portion.

I think it could be made safer with helper air bags.

With all that, I think the only thing I'm going to change is how much weight I put up there.
[Edit:] and cut back on the extras, and go lighter weight where I can. [End edit]] I'm going to keep it under 400 pounds for the freeway and light off-road. If that still feels tippy I'll go down from there. If I feel the need to go over I'll get airbags. I bought this rack to use it, not work around it. I'll adjust what I bring and how it's distributed in the truck. [Edit] Obviously I'll go as light as I can, but when I can't I'll try to stick to this.[End Edit]

Thanks for all your input. You've helped me think through it. If I'm still wrong I'm open to more information.

I know the question has come up about how much weight you can put up top. I hope this thread helps someone else think it through.

 

[BILT4ME]

I do a lot of backpacking and I can have a ~35lb pack that will last me a week in the high sierras (not winter). In general I try to pack pretty light or at least be weight conscious. I think backpacking introduces hard discipline because you literally are lugging all your s*** around just your legs/back/feet so every little doo-dad needs to be measured against the pain it induces. Plus there's a lot to be said for simplicity in terms of maintenance and just the amount of stuff that can go wrong.

In a basic sense, I can load three frame packs into the back of the truck + parts/tools and we'd be fine. I splurge a bit with a bigger tent, a cast iron pan, chairs, a cooler, and a bigger propane (green coleman stove). But other than that I (and my kids) still use our backpacking gear and stay in that mode.

I've never driven with a roof rack really loaded up but my summer plans for what goes up there is basically just fuel and the camp chairs. I'm fine playing tetris with the back and losing all my visibility behind me.

I guess I need to make my wife carry all her OWN sh** everywhere we go..... Maybe she'll stop putting it in Walmart bags and asking me to "just find a place to put it!....."

Maybe she'll carry less.....

Bend over and I'll show you where I'm gonna put it!.......

 

[BILT4ME]

If it's always more comfortable when there's only 4 going, then make it a point that ONE of the kids will get left behind. You get to choose which one based on how nice and how helpful each one has been for you in the last 30 days. This reinforces positive behaviors and will help you get more done with less of your own effort. Let them WORK for it!

Then, when you get there, one of THEM must carry YOUR stuff!!!!!

 

[Fj81]

Thats the first thing that came to mind when I read the thread title.

 

[MDarius]

If it's always more comfortable when there's only 4 going, then make it a point that ONE of the kids will get left behind. You get to choose which one based on how nice and how helpful each one has been for you in the last 30 days. This reinforces positive behaviors and will help you get more done with less of your own effort. Let them WORK for it!

Then, when you get there, one of THEM must carry YOUR stuff!!!!!

How do I "like" this more than once?

 

[Rifleman]

I bought it for this very purpose, and others, but I sometimes wonder if I overdo it. This trip was 4 days with 5 adult sized humans in the rig.

On top we have:
-10 gallons of fuel (used all of it) - about 80 pounds
-A tote with gear: stove, bumper dumper, recovery, trail "possibles". -about 50 pounds
- 5 gallons of water - 40 pounds
- 8 dry bags with sleeping bags, clothes, tent. -About 60 pounds
- Family tent - 35 pounds
- 2 cots - 25 pounds
- 4 camp chairs - 20 pounds
- Tote with dry food -40 pounds
- Trail Tailor custom Roof rack with steel mesh decking -130 pounds (@reevesci )
- Hi-lift jack - 30 pounds

That's about 500 pounds. Holy Shizzle!! I just packed it when we left, I didn't weigh it!

I felt the weight going to camp and took things a little more slowly than usual to accommodate it. I redistributed some to the front on the way home, and didn't have the fuel or water and some food was gone. We were in high winds and sleet and it felt steady as a rock. Based on drivability I'd say I had about 120 pounds too much up top on the way to camp.

Inside I had another 850 pounds of people and gear probably.

Thoughts? Criticism? Congratulations?

View attachment 1438796

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View attachment 1438798

After reading the list of all the items you carry, plus looking at your photos, i think it may be time for you to go back to your small trailer, to help you carry all of your gear.

 

[cartercd]

I'm generally of the opinion that if you have as much stuff on the outside of your truck as the inside of your truck, you bought the wrong truck. This roof load is seriously compromising safety, security, and efficiency. It seems a dual cab pickup with short bed is better suited for this amount of gear.