Camper top question

I am looking at possible getting a hard shell top and would prefer it to a bed rack. I want to be able to load a bigger rrt, ( so it can slide a little over the cab ), and a 270 awning( needs to be able to clear doors and hang over the cab as well). I also want to use my own rack system which i am planning on using front runner. This setup probably weights around 250lbs. It seems like too much weight after calling around. I would also be sleeping 3 adults up top or 2 adults and 2 kids.

Is this possible? Safe?

Other thing i found out when calling around is if i use my own rack( which i want too i do not like the look of Thule crossbars) it would void the warranty on the top. Is this standard? I really do not want to go the route of a bed rack because i would be limited on the size rrt i could get and finding a rack that would mount the 270 awning above the doors and cab is difficult and still does not solve the problem of the rrt

Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated

 

Couple of thoughts as I'm considering some of the same options you are...

Most of the manufacturers won't openly say it, but most of the standard/non-reinforced caps have a weight limit of only around 200-300 lbs on top. ARE offers the "sportsman" option on their caps which boosts the load capacity up to around 500lbs (might be more, I'm not super versed on ARE's options). Additionally, unless you purchase your cap with thule/yakima t-tracks installed from the factory, drilling into your cap on your own does void the warranty. As you probably found out though, the only real rack options for T-tracks are the Thule/Yakima cross bar systems.

With that said, there are bed racks out there that are tall enough to be even with the top of the cab (or a little taller), and that plus a prinsu/victory style cab roof rack would probably give you enough mounting options to make your awning work, plus you would have plenty of carrying capacity for your RTT setup. Doing a RTT on top of a cap is a game of compromises as you're going to be close to the weight limit no matter how you spin it, so if you want the RTT plus other accessories, I'd explore the various bed rack options out there a little more. Just my .02...

 

I was told if i add my own rack on the factory rails that it would void the warranty. Did not make sense but is that not correct?

Also the ARE with the sportsmans package. Is that a dynamic weight rating? If so that is plenty of weight and exactly what i need.

I also recently saw that there is an HD package for certain ARE shells but was told if i do not use the factory Thule racks and use my own rack on their rails it would not habe the same load capacity. Maybe i just need to go talk to someone in person. I was calling around to try and find out this info

 

Couple of points in response:

I think whomever you're speaking to is either giving you incorrect info, or you may be explaining it to them in a way that's confusing them. There is no warranty void for attaching a rack to factory t-tracks that are included with your shell (why would anyone even get the tracks if that were the case?). You need to order the tracks as part of your shell purchase, and that preserves the warranty because it's the manufacturer installing the tracks. With that said though, to my knowledge front runner does not make a rack that mounts to t-tracks, so if you're asking your vendor/dealer about specifically installing a front runner rack, they are probably assuming you're going to drill holes in the shell (as that would be required with the install of a front runner rack) and that would indeed void the warranty.

I was incorrect on the ARE reinforced package. It's Snugtop that offers the "Sportsman Package": https://www.snugtop.com/accessories/sportsmanspackage

ARE does offer a reinforced CAP option in the form of their "HD" series: https://www.4are.com/product/hd/

You would need to speak to the manufacturer or a dealer directly to confirm whether that's a dynamic weight rating. IMO, more than likely it's not but I would speak to them directly to confirm.

 

Actually, upon a little digging on front runner's site, it looks like this rack will fit in T-track: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...kits-by-front-runner.html#315=&316=&317=&328=

I would explain to the dealer that you're looking to install a rack that mounts via their factory t-track. There should be no warranty issues with doing this, and I would clarify that you would not be drilling into the shell at all.

 

Be sure you understand dynamic versus static weight rating. A lot of times the number they give you is the dynamic load rating and no static rating numbers. As long as you have a good roof rack that is loaded evenly and don't stand up in the tent and jump around, you will be fine.

 

Thanks for y'alls help. It is what i was figuring. I am going to go talk to the big 3 today to see what they off and see if i can get some dynamic weight ratings from them. That is what i am most worried about. Not so much the static rating. I might look at their commercial offerings too though. If these quotes get close to around 3k though i might have to juat wait and talk my wife into letting me get an alu cab canopy or the rld designs canopy. Those both start just above the 3k mark.

 

I think you’re going to have a tough time getting them to commit to any kind of dynamic rating.....too many variables truck to truck, road to road, driving style to driving style

I think for your purposes you’d be better off finding someone with a similar weight setup as yours and comparing shells that way.

 

So I just got back from shopping some toppers. Leer will warranty anything 250 and below on their cabs. That is their dynamic rating. I also got snugtop weight rating with the sportsmans package. They will warranty anything under 500. What was interesting about this is that is their dynamic rating based on what they said they would warranty. They specifically said that you can drive with 500 loaded on top and they will warranty it. It is also the same number they used for static. They just would not commit using those words. ARE gave me the same rating as Leer. Figured i would put this here so everyone could have this info

 

Was that the ARE HD or just standard?

 

ARE standard caps are rated at 250 dynamic. The HD is 500 or 550. For that rating though on the HD you habe to use the dealer installed Thule racks as they go through the shell top and attach to the cage inside. All the weight would be supported by the cage not the shell. On the HD if you go for just the tracks, then you are back to the standard 250 limit. At that point you are just paying for the internal cage that would support tool boxes if you where to add them.