Road trip + RTT storage solutions

Hey all, so the idea here is that I’d be doing a 2-3 month road trip over the summer with me, my girlfriend and our dog.

I’ve been wracking my brain trying to come up with secure, locking storage solutions for when we hike for a day etc. I have a pop and lock tailgate lock, but my current setup with the tent and rack allows people to reach in and grab whatever they want or remove my bins.

Id like to store 3-4 Plano sportsman trunks in the back. 1 bin kitchen, 1 bin food, 2 bins clothes, cooler and water jugs will ride in the backseat (access cab seat delete). I’ve considered:

• Buying a lower rack so that nobody can remove the bins. Just put 2 padlocks on them each. I’d lose my toolbox this way.
• Hiring a welder/fabricator to make a “cage” with the rear bed rack (or something similar) so no one can pull bins out.
• Chaining my bins with a padlock to the rack?
• Buying the pictured topper, it has no windows aside from the back, but I’m not sure how it’d hold up to the weight + fire roads. Seller doesn’t know the brand and would take $600, wanted $900
• Kind of a PITA, but just removing the bins from the bed each time and throw them into the cab somewhere.

I’m open to other solutions from those who have some. Putting the bins in the cab each time would be the cheapest solution but would suck in the case of rain or coming back from an 8 mile hike and having to move stuff. However, money isn’t an issue (within reason of course)

 

I have had the topper solution before and it made me hate my RTT so much that I sold it and bought a Gazelle Tent. I don’t know how yours closes up but if it has a zipper going around the bottom you will see hate yours too. Opening is easy, closing it all up in the rain is miserable.

I don’t know all your needs but if it was me I would build a drawer system to store everything and have it go up to the bottom side of your tent. Then you could make one drawer an easy pop out kitchen and the rest for storage. With the tailgate close the shouldn’t be able to side them open.

 

I've never been away from home 2 months, but have traveled from GA to Miami, Maine, Montana and everywhere in between in a truck with a cap on it. My wife, and 2 year old daughter did a 2 week road trip from GA to CO in 1987. We've done something similar most summers since then.

I've never understood the appeal of a RTT. We set up a base camp and stay in one area several days and explore that area before moving on somewhere else. A tent camp can stay set up while you take the vehicle out for day trips. With a RTT you have to break camp every time you go anywhere.

We've gotten older and softer so we're now doing it in a small travel trailer. But a quality 6 man tent would be about perfect for 2 adults.

 

Look into a tonneau cover. They make low profile (thin) mounts that allow you to slide the mount under a tonneau and retain the roof rack above the cover. Obviously won’t be able to open the cover, but it does provide dry (potential seepage at the contact point) and secure storage.

Or buy a cheaper tonneau cover and get creative with a saw to make it fit with your rack. Doesn’t have to be perfect, but will deter tweakers.

@KB Voodoo you still make those mounts?

This: https://www.kbvoodoo.com/all-prox-crossbars/prox-tacoma-crossbars-2005-and-up

 

Just looked up that tent, had I known about it I would’ve went with that from the start. That 90 second setup time sure blows the RTT out of the water. Super nice, might have to sell the RTT lol

 

It’s up for debate, but I prefer the shift pod over the gazelle. I also have the Ikamper 2.0, and they both have their advantages.

To answer your dilema, you honestly need a bed cover like a diamond back with rack setup on top or a camper/canopy. If you go with a canopy, definitely get windoors. Nothing beats access on all sides.

 

Yes, we still make tonneau brackets for bed racks, and we still make tonneau compatible bed racks.

We are also about to release a new crossbar system that still allows you to carry offroad gear on the sides, and it's tonneau compatible.

 

Sub'd for more ideas. I currently use the tote system myself. But Im always in the woods far far away from anyone who might want to help themselves. Thinking about potentially doing a 2-3 weeks road trip to CO this summer. Has got my thinking about the same security issues.

Seems like some sort of draw system would be the way to go if your tailgate locks. Maybe homemade with hidden or security fasteners. But a draw system does have its own drawbacks

 

You say this but my nephew's radiator blew in his 90 Toyota parked it well away from everything limping it back towards the main roads. went back to help him get it out. things missing from the truck his antenna for his radio, and a double bit axe. again, he hiked out of the woods a few miles.

 

I have a KB Voodoo rack with my BAK Revolver. I don't have a good shot of it, but here are some pics. I usually keep 2 Plano 108qt sportsman trunks underneath and whatever other stuff I decide to bring when camping. I can still roll it up most of the way to access items deeper in the bed.

 

Just imagine a Queen Size Airmatress and not having to climb down a ladder to pee. I have the T4Plus Overland and it takes about 3 minutes to setup and maybe 5 to break down nicely. The oversized bag is worth the money.

 

RTT is pretty damn fast to open/close as long as you dont set up every window and fly. depends on how your rack situations is. The point of it is conveniance and portabilty not luxury.

but to answer OPs question I would look into building some kind of slider/drawer combo. The higher you go with your tent the more trouble setting it up you will have

 

Showed my girlfriend the Gazelle and now she wants one on top of already having the RTT. She’s pretty frequent on the peeing which is why we got rid of the camper for the truck bed. Lol

Considering this route but with a lower profile rack like @KB Voodoo posted above.

 

Shoot us an email or give us a call, we’ll help you get your system squared away.

https://www.kbvoodoo.com/

 

Thank you, I believe I’m going to go with the cap though and weld up some supports similar to the one in the photo except have it go down to the bed. No US sellers of these apparently, it’s an Australian company (further proves they get all the good stuff), don’t know if it’s just not in the US market yet. Seems like a good idea though for those who wanna run heavy weight on their camper shells.

If I decide otherwise I do have my eyes on a set of your low profile bars already