looking at buying a RTT - some roof rack questions

[riffman12]

ok I've been through a dozen threads now and I'm even more confused when I started.

I have a '97 fzj80 with the original roof rack as pictured below:

I have my eye on a Tepui roof tent, but I'm trying to figure out the best and most cost effective way to mount it.

I understand the factory rack is pretty wimpy, but I really don't want to go through all the trouble of removing it, welding the holes etc. at this point in time.

So my questions are:

1) Will a lot of the racks out there (Gobi, gamiviti, baja etc) work without removing the factory rack? Or is that a necessary step?

2) if I get something like yakima or thule cross bars that mount to the gutters, will they just go over the top of the factory rack?

3) What's my best way to safely and securely mount a RTT while keeping my factory rack (for now)

Thanks a lot

 

[sleepycruiser]

Get some Yakima round bars and 1A gutter mounts. It will fit over the factory rack and be plenty for mounting a RTT. And you can find them used easily for cheap.

 

[riffman12]

perfect - just what I needed to know. Thanks!

Is there any benefit to the round yakimas vs the square thules? Is either better for a tent?

 

[Bama4door]

As long as you mount the RTT to the outside bigger bars of the factory roof rack, it will hold it fine. I've done it plenty of times on my 100 series that has the same design OEM rack.

 

[sleepycruiser]

perfect - just what I needed to know. Thanks!

Is there any benefit to the round yakimas vs the square thules? Is either better for a tent?

Probably the same. I think the gutter mounts for the Thule are model 300. You might want to verify.

 

[riffman12]

Probably the same. I think the gutter mounts for the Thule are model 300. You might want to verify.

Cool, thanks.

And you think 2 bars is enough for a Tepui Kukenam? Weighs about 130 lbs

 

[cme4lyt]

Both round Yakima and square Thule will work for your application, just preference. Make sure the gutter mounts are tall enough so the bars clear the factory rack. I was gonna do similar but ended up creating 3 cross bars using Gamiviti mounts and some 1 x 2 steel tube.

I have a Kukenam and used 3 cross bars since I'm a little OCD and the folks at Tepui said most everyone shows up for install with only 2.

Regards to Kyle at Tepui, a first class Dude !

Enjoy the tent, a great investment...

 

[Oscar Witte]

Cool, thanks.

And you think 2 bars is enough for a Tepui Kukenam? Weighs about 130 lbs

Two bars should work.

 

[dcx13]

Yakima just released their RTTs. About a $50 difference between Tepui, but pretty similar set ups. The up-side to the Yaks, they have a set of adjustable jaws that mount on the bottom of the tent floor. They're able to be used across a wide range of factory & aftermarket racks, and install fairly easily.

I've got mine mounted to some 1A towers & round 58" cross bars, since my 80 never had a factory rack. The Yakima rack will be replaced with a Baja Rack EXPedition rack, and the adjustable jaws can come off so the tent can bolt directly to the rack.

@riffman12 if you're in the city and want to check it out, drop me a line.

 

[ZeGerman]

Contact member on the board @Box Rocket He supplies Tepui tents and he will be able to answer all questions you have. I have seen plenty of RTTs on the Thule and Yakima bars mounted on the gutters without any issue.

 

[nuclearlemon]

Yakima just released their RTTs. About a $50 difference between Tepui, but pretty similar set ups. The up-side to the Yaks, they have a set of adjustable jaws that mount on the bottom of the tent floor. They're able to be used across a wide range of factory & aftermarket racks, and install fairly easily.

I've got mine mounted to some 1A towers & round 58" cross bars, since my 80 never had a factory rack. The Yakima rack will be replaced with a Baja Rack EXPedition rack, and the adjustable jaws can come off so the tent can bolt directly to the rack.

@riffman12 if you're in the city and want to check it out, drop me a line.

View attachment 1422202

Downside to Yakima is they signed the greater canyon lands monument petition to shut moab down to motorized access. Spend your money with tepui

 

[dcx13]

Downside to Yakima is they signed the greater canyon lands monument petition to shut moab down to motorized access. Spend your money with tepui

Well, sh*t... I wish I knew that two weeks ago.

 

[Fj81]

Downside to Yakima is they signed the greater canyon lands monument petition to shut moab down to motorized access. Spend your money with tepui

I guess it makes sense for them since people will have to buy their stuff to strap their bikes to vehicles and drive up near Moab, then ride in if there is no motorized vehicle access. Still a d**k move.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I've always preferred Thule. The one advantage of Yakima's round cross bars was that they brag you can loosen accessories that poke up in the wind and rotate them down. That ended in mid sentence for a buddy after launching boats with us who went to swivel his huge kayak mounts and discovered that a protruding part would hit his roof after like 20 degrees of swivel. Tight lipped, he tightened it like that with near zero aerodynamic benefit. Moving on, I have Thule racks and parts still in daily use from 1985. I find them stout, durable, and not using "green friendly" coatings that the sun sears off after 2 years.

 

[Box Rocket]

Yakima just released their RTTs. About a $50 difference between Tepui, but pretty similar set ups. The up-side to the Yaks, they have a set of adjustable jaws that mount on the bottom of the tent floor. They're able to be used across a wide range of factory & aftermarket racks, and install fairly easily.

I've got mine mounted to some 1A towers & round 58" cross bars, since my 80 never had a factory rack. The Yakima rack will be replaced with a Baja Rack EXPedition rack, and the adjustable jaws can come off so the tent can bolt directly to the rack.

@riffman12 if you're in the city and want to check it out, drop me a line.

View attachment 1422202

The Yakima tents are about as similar to Tepui tents as a Camry is to a Land Cruiser. The Camry and Land Cruiser are both cars with 4 wheels, so must be similar right?

I won't comment on the Yakima specifically but it is very different in construction and materials from a Tepui tent. These are much lighter duty than most other RTT's on the market. That can be an attractive feature if you're looking for something super lightweight and not needs for heavy use.

 

[Fj81]

Yeah, didn't the yakima marketing go something like "we want the ground tent feel".. to me that means thin, flimsy and not very good in the wind.

 

[Ocho77]

I have the Gobi and it sits over my factory roof rack - mount the CVT tent to it - works great.

However, as most above have said, the bars are probably a less expensive option if you don't need the additional storage capacity.

 

[nuclearlemon]

I've always preferred Thule.

They signed it too

 

[Fj81]

The sad part it that keeping motorized vehicles off these trails is probably the best way to help protect them. The vast majority of people that go up there keep it clean and take out their trash and then some. But there are always those few who go around making a mess of the things we like. Luckily lots of those same people would not spend the money or take the effort to go see these places if they had to do it under their own power. But that argument then introduces lots of other issues. Oh well...

Back to the OPs topic.
The stock rack can handle the rtt if properly fastened and not driven like a wild man. Depending on the size of RTT you want to carry you may want that extra piece of mind by adding more support. Look at @reevesci 's products. I think he makes some nice custom gutter mounts for a fair price.

 

[Box Rocket]

Back to the OPs topic.
The stock rack can handle the rtt if properly fastened and not driven like a wild man. Depending on the size of RTT you want to carry you may want that extra piece of mind by adding more support. Look at @reevesci 's products. I think he makes some nice custom gutter mounts for a fair price.

I really wouldn't recommend mounting a roof top tent to the stock rack. You're asking for problems doing that.