RTT install on the roof of a 1st gen?

I am in the process of building a roof top tent. I've got the hinges, built a collapsible frame, and am working on the tent canvass now. The next step will be mounting it. I see a ton of bed racks for RTT's but hardly any over-cab ones. The reason I want it over my cab is because I usually take my DRZ when I camp, so a bed rack, although super cool, would just be in the way.

I'm looking for links to racks, or even better, just the mounts since I can always fab something to mount it to the tent. I see 3rd gen options that appear to mount to the gutters? but nothing for 1st gens.

I wouldn't mind drilling a few holes in the roof, the cab is pretty beat anyway, but I don't know the strength of the roof metal. My idea was to purchase some extruded aluminum from 8020. I was thinking something like this would work pretty good https://8020.net/25-2514-black-fb.html. I would prefer it to be pretty slick, I don't want it sticking up 2' in the air (half of why I am building my own) so slimmer mounting options would be best.

Thanks!

 

Interesting; there are plenty of people with racks on their cab but haven't seen any with a tent.

Could be due to the required static and dynamic weight handling; cab isn't supposed to carry a ton of weight up top

Post pics of your tent btw

 

Yeah same here. I have seen some 2nd and 3rd gen Tacomas with tents on the roof but never a 1st gen. Here is a good 3rd gen example.

Good point, though I would imagine it should be fine provided it is mounted to the proper spots. I wouldn't trust the center of the roof to hold anything over 20lbs, but the edges are structural and should be able to support the weight.

I'll have to take some pics, I haven't really been documenting anything.

 

Here's a thread of a guy planning to do a custom RTT with a dirtbike. Essentially a half tent in the bed (barely big enough for 1 person), and the other side of the bed for the bike. Interesting idea, really, but is going to be cramped.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/payload-while-mudding.644885/#post-22389060

The roofs just aren't likely to be very strong, and you're also putting a ton of weight at the very top, which adversely affects your center of gravity (more prone to tip overs).

Personally, I'd go with a bike trailer or a hitch rack before reinforcing the roof and putting my center of gravity that high.

 

I was thinking about the tipping factor, but I concluded lots of Jeeps have tents which are always on top of the cab, and as we know Jeeps are more prone to tipping without extra roof weight. Bed mount RTT's are sometimes as high as the cab itself.

Lol good idea though all my extra trailer/hitch money has gone into my tent haha.

Wow interesting idea. I like his ingenuity. It's a little late for that because my tent frame is pretty much completed, LxWxH = 48"x48"x10" folded and 96"x48"x44" opened. I usually bring along my buddy with his XR650 too, so not much extra space in the bed unfortunately.

 

Only reason Jeeps do that is because that's literally the only place you can put it.

Yes, there are bed racks that put the weight as high (or higher) as the cab, too. That weight is over the rear wheels, which is better for the fore/aft balance, vs. being front heavy and high. Think about a downhill off camber hill. That over the cab weight is not only pulling you to the side, but forward too. Having that weight over the bed is a little better because it weights the rear tires more. But yes, it's still not ideal.

But the nice thing about the bed racks is you can sling the weight WAY lower, and have the top of the RTT at or below the roof line which makes a pretty significant difference.

Lower tent is also more stable in the wind (when you're inside it).


This, with a little fabrication, and some 33's will go anywhere your truck can. Anyhoo, not to discourage you from your venture, just some things I always think about with this kind of stuff.

It's just money....

 

I totally agree with the tipping problem. If I had it up there I wouldn't wheel anything hardcore anyway. If it's on the roof I've got the bikes in the bed and I don't want to knock them around either haha.

Maybe if I had a roof rack and a bed rack I could move it around depending on what trip I'm about to do.

Lol my Uncle has a hazard frought trailer, as long as you torque the bolts every now and again they are pretty solid. I'll save that as a plan C option.

 

Yeah, it's just different type of driving you'd be doing. Obviously tons of people do it and are totally happy with it up on the roof, or on a high rack.

I think the rule of thumb with anything from Harbor Freight is to immediately replace all the nuts/bolts/hardware with grade 8 stuff. Then you shouldn't have that problem, lol

 

Considered building/welding an external cage for the cab?

 

I know prinsu makes a roof rack but I have no experience with it...I was thinking of a roof rack for mine as well, then ended up going with a bed rack & now I'm reconsidering that decision too (hahaha) so if you want a bed rack I may be unloading mine soon.


https://prinsudesignstudio.com/category/toyota/toyota-tacoma/toyota-tacoma-1st-gen-tacoma/

 

I have, yes. That would be a pretty big project.

 

I didn't think it would gain any traction haha. Don't worry, I'll post pictures when I have some free time.

 

I was looking at those. I can't believe the prices on them...

edit: So it looks like those just bolt in to the roof and rest on the side rail. That's interesting, I guess the metal is strong enough?

 

Why not just use a Joe Hauler/hitch mount carrier for the DRZ? That way you can still use the bed for gear, have a rack for the tent and keep the CG lower than it would be with the tent on the roof?

 

Good idea, however I no longer have a hitch. I guess I could get a new one but id rather just get a new bumper with a hitch built in, which is an expense I cant spend right now. Maybe over summer when I start working full time again.

 

In your area - https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/pts/d/temple-city-toyota-tacoma-tow-hitch/7069772514.html It's a 1st gen hitch for $85

Drive to San Diego for this Joe Hauler for $100 - https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/mpo/d/san-diego-joe-hauler/7066843453.html

 

I reached out to prinsu about that very thing (...is the roof strong enough...) via email and the response was (and I'm paraphrasing) you should not exceed OEM roof specs. So I concluded that to mean don't put too much weight...while the roof may hold the RTT, once you add a couple avg. adults, in that tent, thats a lot of weight on a roof not designed from the factory with a roof rack system.

 

Huh interesting. Do you know what the roof specs are? I soppuse building a full body cage would be the best option at this point.

Edit: Looking around it seems 100-150lbs evenly distributed is the max anyone recommends.

 

I do not know the roof specs...but my assumption is there are no official OEM roof specs, as Toyota never sold this truck with roof racks