Roof Top Tent Mounting

[OB]

Hey all, I'm trying to move my RTT from my car trailer to either the roof of my 08 Tundra or a bed mounted rack.
I've looked at the contractor type ladder racks online but I'm not sure how stable they will be.

Has anyone mounted one of these on the top of say your LC using the FACTORY roof rack?
My 94 4Runners roof rack says it can only handle 100 pounds, I think the RTT (from camel 4x4) is 150 lbs. Add two full size adults and a little gear (400 pounds) for a total of 550 pounds, way over the rating.

I'd also consider using a Thule/Yakima type bolt on rack over the cab of the truck, the kind that mounts to the door frame.

So, overall, how is your RTT mounted?
Please add pics if available.

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

Check this thread, here the tent is mounted on a custom bed-rack. it worked extremely well.
cheers,
J

https://forum.ih8mud.com/expedition-builds/303089-2008-tundra-xedition-build.html

 

[OB]

Thanks for the link, wish all the pics were there though.
I could just drag out the welder and tube Bender but if I do that I'll be stuck in the design phase for weeks.
I posted up the same dilemma to my club, John Shocker said that he uses the Thule xsporter adjustable rack on his Tundra. Thule even makes a bracket for it to mount to the factory tie down rail system. The system slides front to back and is height adjustable too.
The drawback I see is that it is not mounted to the top rail of the bed, making the use of a tonneau cover impossible.
I just need to get over the sticker shock of $550.

 

[sirenmoses]

yakima/thule racks are lawyered down to the weight rating: be smart about how you load.
I mounted a Large Maggi RTT on two bars and felt it quite stable. Good RTT's come w/brackets that adjust for most rigs.

Center of gravity is key: balance the weight after you make sure the bars are secure (rock the vehicle at ea bar)

pix by searching, or I might scare up a linky, if i find the time.

 

[Rattler]

My buddy and I built a rack out of steel for the bed of my '04 Doublecab Taco. I wasn't a big fan of relying on the bedsides to support it using bed bars because I am not the lightest person in the world.

I wanted to keep the tent low too. The rack only rises above the bedsides about 1.5 inches but I can fit all my gear under it. The tent covers a good portion of the bed too but there are some gaps.

I am hoping to build a 2.0 version this winter that will be easier to remove by making it out of aluminum and making it more weatherproof.

Unfortunately I don't have a pic handy of the current steel one online.

 

[titanpat57]

CarTopCamper Truck Bed Bike Tent Rack

 

[davegonz]

There's a bunch of truck rack setups on expedition portal. You should check out what they have done.

Building an 05 Tacoma for Expedition Travel! - Expedition Portal Forum

 

[FJRanger]

I can only speak to using the factory rack. I have an 80 and had my RTT mounted to the factory rack via Yakima clamps/bars. I could of used the gutters mounts but didn't, bad move... we were doing some light wheeling, very light, and heard two big pops. My wife looked out and up to the tent to see it move around on the roof, it had pulled the nut inserts right out of the roof. DON'T mount to the factory rack. Now I have to figure out how I want to plug the holes then mount my ARB.

 

[OB]

I wound up going with the Thule contractor xsporter rack and the Tundra bed rail clamps. It was pricey but its a solid platform. I'll post up pics when I get her mounted up.