Roof Tent Mounting Options

[Scott Brady]

We have had some good discussions on the virtues of roof tents, and one of the things often discussed is how to mount them. They are heavy and awkward, and need to be solid to withstand the reciprocating mass.

So, I will share some of my research, and hopefully others will chime in too.

Here are the methods I have looked into:

1. Custom platform at bed height
2. Custom Cage to mount tent at cab height
3. Custom Cage to mount tent top even with cab height
4. Mounted to shell
5. Mounted to hard tonneau
6. Simple mount to load bars
7. Mount to Thule Xsporter
8. Mount above cab

[Scott Brady]

I really like this option, as it facilitates using tool boxes and having additional room under the tent. I seriously considered it before I built my custom platform.



71" cross bars will work with all compact and mid-sized trucks.
450LB dynamic load capacity
Adjustable height

If you are using a smaller roof tent, like the 1200, there will still be room to mount a mtn. bike, etc.

Xsporter

[The Swiss]

Those Thule look nice.

With my Tacoma Double Cap and a Maggiolina Adventure hardshell tent, I have to mount it on cab hight.

I'm debating whether I should mount it to some kind of decent looking contractors rack or on a shell. What I'm concerned of is fuel milage as the Taco is my daily driver, and with the weigth of the tent, I do not want to put it up on Fridays and take it down on Mondays! So for now, I might just leave the Maggiolina mounted on my ute trailer, which works well as long as the trails are not too bad.

[Scott Brady]

These A.R.E shells (LSII Models) can be fitted with the Thule load bars and then mount the tent. Upgrading the gas struts will make lifting easier.

Combined with a drawer system, like the Outback units would make for a killer combo.



From the A.R.E. site:

"Ultimate custom fit tonneau covers. The LSII Series is the ultimate in custom-fitted hard tonneau covers for today's pickups. A.R.E. designed each model to match the curvature and style lines of the pickup it is made to fit. Compound curves add strength as well as style.

The LSII Series is equipped with an exclusive Lift Assist System that captures the 200+ lbs. of constant stress. The Lift Assist System makes it easy to open and close your LSII by absorbing the stress exerted by gas struts within the system. Other tonneaus send the force to the front corners of the truck bed which are not constructed to handle the stress.

The painted Palm Grip handle blends in with the LSII body. An easy twist of the wrist unlatches the LSII without removing gloves or subjecting fingernails to possible breakage. The dual cut key goes into the lock easily the first time and turns to lock or unlock the LSII quickly.

The weight of the LSII rests on the rubber height adjusters of the mounting rail system, not on your truck's paint. This prevents unnecessary paint wear on your truck bed rails. The LSII is designed with a mounting rail system, which allows a clamp-on installation with a common 9/16" wrench. The LSII is fast and simple to remove and reinstall. There is no need to drill holes in your bed rails, which will hurt the resale value of your truck. Clamps are sold separately.

A.R.E. makes an LSII to fit all current model trucks plus most early models. the approximate weight is 90 lbs. for a mini and 120 lbs. for a full size."

[Ramdough]

I have said this before, but my tent acounts for 2-3 MPG!!!!


My setup can be found here.

I use a rope-lift-tree system to remove the tent when not in use and scooter wheels to roll it into my garage.

[paulj]

A used Wildernest cap might be a good base for such a roof top tent, even if the Wildernest tent itself was no longer useable. The Wildernest people took a Guidon fiberglass shell, cut off the top, and glassed in steel braces in all 4 corners. The top also has hard points for mounting roof rack bars. I made my own mounting brackets, but Yakima's artificial rain gutter brackets would have worked.

Come to think of it, don't most people mount their roof rack brackets on the sides of the shell, rather than the top? I suspect the sides of most shells are stiffer than the roof.

paulj

[The Swiss]

I have said this before, but my tent acounts for 2-3 MPG!!!!

It set me back about 1.5 - 2 MPG on my Grand Cherokee. That's why it ended on the trailer...

[Nullifier]

I really like this option, as it facilitates using tool boxes and having additional room under the tent. I seriously considered it before I built my custom platform.



71" cross bars will work with all compact and mid-sized trucks.
450LB dynamic load capacity
Adjustable height

If you are using a smaller roof tent, like the 1200, there will still be room to mount a mtn. bike, etc.

Xsporter

Also note Scott the Thule bars can be cut down about 10" if the overhang is an issue for small truck owners. Just trimoff with a hack saw and then drill new holes to mount the end caps. I have trimmed a few for some of my customers but personally have left mine alone. Since I am always carrying a bunch of boats I need the width.

[DaveInDenver]

One thing to also watch out for on the Thule and Yakima racks is that they are telling you the load they can carry, not the force they can tolerate lifting. For example, I have Yakima 1A towers and Top Loader mounts on my WilderNest. They say they can hold something like 300 lbs. But if you were to try and actually lift my shell with a block & tackle roped to the cross bars the feet could open and slip off the mounts. The Thule that Scott shows is a much different design and seems more substantial, but be careful to understand the system when the tent is open and you have a couple of people sleeping, giving you a moment that is putting the rack in significant tension, so the connections and mechanicals are pulling up from the bed, rather than in compression like they are more typically designed to do. This is similar to the lowered rating that rack manufacturers give when you're using boxes and boat mounts which have significant lift as you scoot down the road, rather than a bike that does not try to fly nearly as much in the wind. I just wanted to point that out when you are comparing a Thule/Yak rack to a custom mount or ladder racks. Personally, I'd feel much more secure having my roof top tent bolted to a ladder rack or custom framework of square steel tubing.

[OutbacKamper]

These A.R.E shells (LSII Models) can be fitted with the Thule load bars and then mount the tent. Upgrading the gas struts will make lifting easier.

Combined with a drawer system, like the Outback units would make for a killer combo.



From the A.R.E. site:

Another similar option might be one of these (without the canvas, they sell it as just a hard tonneau cover), I am not sure about the weight capacity though:

http://www.topupcamper.com/demo.php

Cheers
Mark