Roof top tent mounting questions?

[Fireman78]

Greetings all.. I own a 2006 Dodge Power Wagon and I have been eyeing an Adventure Trailer for a while. However, my wife isn't going to let me get one (yet).. but I think I have a solution to squelch my desire at the moment.. I CAN get a roof top tent , but I would have to mount it on my bedrails. I have looked at the Bakkie rack system, but they are only made for Toyota/Nissan. The PW has a fullsize bed . How in the world can I mount a Rooftop tent on my bedrails?? Help please! :coffeedrink:

[Corey]

Get one custom made similar to the ones I have seen on Tacomas.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37731&stc=1&d=1127908304

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5767

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2082/2099969124_fede045676_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2100/2188693280_eeb2e3bf48_b.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/desertdude/04_tacoma_maggiolina_tent/index.html

[Fireman78]

Anyone care to build me one?? That is gorgous!!!

[Mike S]

I like the two racks shown. A less expensive solution would be a Thule Xsporter or pro rack system, or a lumber rack.

I have a customer who has a lumber rack with a medium Columbus mounted forward over the cab portion of the rack, and a small lounge/deck at the rear of the rack. He uses the standard ladder to access the tent/deck from the rear or side. Very cool.

[pray4surf]

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q312/pray4surfadventures/RTT%20and%20rack/DSC01723.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q312/pray4surfadventures/RTT%20and%20rack/DSC01728.jpg

Lot of inspiration from DesertDude, Viattra, etc... :bowdown:

[Martyn]

Have you put any thought into an AT FlipPac? http://www.adventuretrailers.com/flippac.html

[Corey]

Those are very cool Martyn.
If I had a Tacoma it would be a choice between that or a roof top tent like I have now.

[Rot Box]

I admit I'm pretty embarrassed posting this following the last few pics (nice work guys! :Wow1:) but here is mine.

I have a real nice frame I made for my fullsize 92 Dodge (sorry no pics right now), but for a quick weekend trip in the Toyota I had to whip this out in a few hours. Its not exceptionally rigid but I think it will work...

[Grizzlybait]

Wow, everyone has some pretty nice solutions here!

I have a fairly simple approach which you could adapt to your own creation.
I used aluminum channel called Cantruss here in Canada, or Unistrut in the US. There are probably several other trade names, as well. It also comes in plated steel. It is commonly used in industrial electrical applications, so you could check a local electrical trade distributor. Aluminum is more expensive, but I think the channel used on mine still came out to less than CAD$100.

The rails are anchored to my box using the stake-pocket holes, and big rubber anchor blocks that come with cheap stake-pocket tie downs. It is very solid and has never worked loose. The advantages are that you don't need to drill any holes in your truck, and it is removable. My entire rig unbolts very simply, and the components will fit into a closet for winter storage. The longest piece is about 6'. I live in an apartment, so that's important for me. I could even store the entire platform under the tonneau, if I wanted.

(The orange things are just spacers I made from plastic log-splitting wedges. They are indestructable, and their angle just happened to match what I needed to make the aluminum channels sit level on the sloping top surface of my bed rails. You may not need spacers on your truck.)


http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=350

[HenryJ]

I have a fairly simple approach ...Nicely done :victory:

[Jnich77]

Wow, everyone has some pretty nice solutions here!

I have a fairly simple approach which you could adapt to your own creation.
I used aluminum channel called Cantruss here in Canada, or Unistrut in the US. There are probably several other trade names, as well. It also comes in plated steel. It is commonly used in industrial electrical applications, so you could check a local electrical trade distributor. Aluminum is more expensive, but I think the channel used on mine still came out to less than CAD$100.

The rails are anchored to my box using the stake-pocket holes, and big rubber anchor blocks that come with cheap stake-pocket tie downs. It is very solid and has never worked loose. The advantages are that you don't need to drill any holes in your truck, and it is removable. My entire rig unbolts very simply, and the components will fit into a closet for winter storage. The longest piece is about 6'. I live in an apartment, so that's important for me. I could even store the entire platform under the tonneau, if I wanted.

(The orange things are just spacers I made from plastic log-splitting wedges. They are indestructable, and their angle just happened to match what I needed to make the aluminum channels sit level on the sloping top surface of my bed rails. You may not need spacers on your truck.)


http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=350



Thats the same basic thing I want to to do on my tundra, just with the double tent cot. Thank you sooo much for posting this pic. :sombrero:

[TajYancier]

Greetings all.. I own a 2006 Dodge Power Wagon and I have been eyeing an Adventure Trailer for a while. However, my wife isn't going to let me get one (yet).. but I think I have a solution to squelch my desire at the moment.. I CAN get a roof top tent , but I would have to mount it on my bedrails. I have looked at the Bakkie rack system, but they are only made for Toyota/Nissan. The PW has a fullsize bed . How in the world can I mount a Rooftop tent on my bedrails?? Help please! :coffeedrink:

Under the rooftop tent (Maggiolina) are rails to accomodate carriage bolt type fastening. As long as you've got a "runner" across the bed(minimum two in this case), you can effectively clamp to it.32119