Stronger roof rack needed for rooftop tent? (1 Viewer)

[RiverRatMatt]

We're looking into getting a rooftop tent for short trips where we're not going to tow our camper or want greater mobility (or to pull a rafting trailer), etc. One area I'm concerned about is the factory roof rack says the maximum capacity is 150 lbs, which will definitely not work, as my wife and I are about 330 lbs combined, plus all the gear. Does that rating only apply to the cross bars? I would think the parallel bars would be able to support more than 150 lbs. Or would I need some sort of aftermarket rack to support the rooftop tent?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

 

[planomateo]

Depends on how the roof top tent mounts - ie, does it mount to the crossbars (then no) or the rails (then yes).

I used yakima crossbars that I mounted on the factory rails.

Really depends on how the RTT mounts.

 

[mmm635]

We're looking into getting a rooftop tent for short trips where we're not going to tow our camper or want greater mobility (or to pull a rafting trailer), etc. One area I'm concerned about is the factory roof rack says the maximum capacity is 150 lbs, which will definitely not work, as my wife and I are about 330 lbs combined, plus all the gear. Does that rating only apply to the cross bars? I would think the parallel bars would be able to support more than 150 lbs. Or would I need some sort of aftermarket rack to support the rooftop tent?

The weight rating applies to the tent and everything in it (dynamic) while in motion.

 

[a_traut_man]

We ran our Tepui Autana 3 (Approx 130#) for close to two years on the stock load bars with no issues. In that two years there were multiple offroading trips with the tent installed and didn't have any problems.

We do have a pair of Yakima load bars we use now only because we already had them and it does make load and unloading the RTT a bit easier.

 

[guthriealexander]

I have my Autohome Airtop on my stock parallel bars on Thule load bars. Been on several offroad trips and thousands of highway miles without an issue so far.

 

[95Fantasma80]

no, but your cool factor will take a hit.

 

[uHu]

The weight rating is for a worst case scenario, a collision. And that's how you have to think as well : Nothing you bring with you, inside or outside the car, should come loose and kill someone.
You and your wife can both dance on the roof rack, as long as you don't do it while driving.

 

[mmm635]

I am in the market for a rooftop tent and have been looking at all of the various options. One thing I noticed...you need to make sure there is enough room between the roof of the vehicle and the tent for ease of mounting/dismounting. If you go too low, it will be harder to attach.

I went the route of Thule clamps on the stock side rails and wingbars. I have a Thule awning attached on the Driver's side, and the tent will have no problem with weight rating up to 220lbs.I was worried this Thule system would be too tall on the LX, but it turned out great. My factory bars are still installed next to each Thule clamp in order to provide extra rigidity at the mounts.

 

[changingground]

Some folks have replaced their stock cross bars with aluminum 8020 pieces- Get more from your factory roof rack with t-slotted aluminum (8020) . I actually bought 3 pieces I’m not going to use, as I decided to go another route.

 

[95Fantasma80]

I am in the market for a rooftop tent and have been looking at all of the various options. One thing I noticed...you need to make sure there is enough room between the roof of the vehicle and the tent for ease of mounting/dismounting. If you go too low, it will be harder to attach.

I went the route of Thule clamps on the stock side rails and wingbars. I have a Thule awning attached on the Driver's side, and the tent will have no problem with weight rating up to 220lbs.I was worried this Thule system would be too tall on the LX, but it turned out great. My factory bars are still installed next to each Thule clamp in order to provide extra rigidity at the mounts.

View attachment 2029429
View attachment 2029430

do you have any pictures?

 

[mmm635]

do you have any pictures?

With the awning installed per the instructions from Thule, it sits pretty high as you can see in the pic below - the locking covers worked great. However, I decided to lower it and reversed the mounts. I used the brackets for installing the awning on a Thule square tube, which happened to be included in the kit. I will have to modify the covers to fit in order to lock it down.

 

[Tanner H]

For a while I had a tepui tent up there with the OEM 6-post rack. had zero issues.

 

[TXLX100]

I make these for factory racks. Makes installing and removing tent after initial setup very easy, 4 bolts and plenty of room to access since the bars sit up a bit. Lower profile solution should can be made, but it makes it very difficult to install and remove the tent. Basically some metal angle, metal tube, nuts, & bolts.

I have my regular sized tent on factory rack with lower profile cross bars, works fine to hold the weight... factory rack creaks every now and then when driving down road.