Low garage, no "structure" and RTT

[Super Doody]

I know there are a lot of ways to remove RTTs from vehicles using HF winches and pulleys. My problems is that our garage is too low and we don't have a tree or a structure. Am I SOL or should I start pumping iron?

Any other options for removing RTTs from vehicles? Thanks.

[TheGillz]

A friend or relative. I don't know you, but 150 div. 2 isn't so bad...less than a bag of concrete each.

[HMR]

How much lower do you need to go before you could drive into the garage with the RTT?

I had to bring my tires down to 8-10PSI for awhile before I fabbed up a rack that dropped the tent an additional 3" closer to the roof of my truck. I also replaced the original one-piece garage door with a modern roll-up (gained 4"-5") and then modified it a bit to get another inch clearance. It was all worth it for the convenience of driving into the garage without any trouble. The whole point of an RTT for us is CONVENIENCE. If it was a hassle to install/uninstall we'd hardly use it. Just my $.02

[Super Doody]

How much lower do you need to go before you could drive into the garage with the RTT?

I had to bring my tires down to 8-10PSI for awhile before I fabbed up a rack that dropped the tent an additional 3" closer to the roof of my truck. I also replaced the original one-piece garage door with a modern roll-up (gained 4"-5") and then modified it a bit to get another inch clearance. It was all worth it for the convenience of driving into the garage without any trouble. The whole point of an RTT for us is CONVENIENCE. If it was a hassle to install/uninstall we'd hardly use it. Just my $.02

Yeah I completely agree with you. I need take some measurements. Another option is adding wheelings and making a ramp.

[cydonia-jacc]

What about a shop crane or "cherry picker?" As long as you have a concrete or asphalt aproach to your garage it should easliy roll outside even with the weight of the tent. You can find them for less than $200 and you can collapse them so they don't take up so much room in your garage when not in use.

[BlueHZT60]

I've had lots of experience with this issue. I know what not to do: Use a bobcat & chain - eventually you'll scratch your roof at a minimum; three friends - akward lifting at that height/angle; leave it out - ice dams break the roof. I've also used a wood structure built off the corner of the garage with cable, an old boat winch and pullies - that worked pretty well, but it was still outside - thus winter damage.

My current place has the garage roof with a fence 11 ft. away. I use 2-4x4 vetical posts, 2-4x12x16 horizontal posts; a couple of Simpson hangers & a piece of old plywood on the roof to protect the shingles. Takes about 15 minutes to set up; then I run my ropes with a 2:1 pull ratio; lift; move truck; lower onto trailer; hand walk into garage; re-lift with Harkin lift and it's done.

What I'd really like is something like a Sheetrock jack, or inexpensive/portable crane that could fork camper up, then tilt it on it's side for storage.

The last thought - that would work pretty well, is some form of customized camper jacks. One for each side; lift; move vehicle; lower; roll into garage; lift; store on ceiling.

Bob

[Corey]

I will be facing this same dilemma here shortly.
But I also live in an apartment.

What I will probably be doing is having my youngest son help me slide it off the roof with both of us on one side of the rig.

I will leave the two crossbars that connected to it now left connected.
We will then carry it into my home, and it will be leaned against a wall.

[j_nigrelli]

three friends, two pepperoni pizzas, and a twelve pack!

[Lemsteraak]

When I used to ask my wife to help me with my Columbus it would get really noisy on the other end. The old Columbus (green fabric, medium sized) weighed close to 120 pounds.
Here is what I did to solve the noise problem, first lighten up the puppy, the mattress alone weighed 35 pounds, take it out, and that would bring the tent down to something less than 90 pounds. The next difficulty is the tent is cumbersome, close to five foot wide. To get it on and off the truck I got two plastic handles from West Marine, the type they use as hand holds on sailboats and fastened them to the back of the base, on either side of the locking clasp. You can actually slide the tent around on concrete with them as they are like teflon runners. I would place a mover's blanket on the back hatch of the truck to protect the paint. With the front of the tent leaning up against the back of the truck, I would pick up the back of the tent using the handles and push it up on the rack and bolt it down. I got so I can do it in about ten minutes from storage to driving off.
I've even done this with a big Maggiolina with the mattress still in it. A bit of a grunt but possible, a little scarry. I've never tried this with one of the folding fabric tents, they are so short they may not have the lever moment to handle it, might work with an OverCamp.
Oh, I have talked to a fellow who used a frame from an easy-up awning, the type they use at crafts fairs. He said it was just barely strong enough, might work as a gantry. I haven't seen it so I can't attest to how well it works.

Rich H.