Is there a shell that can support a RTT +2 people?

Have you considered a Flippac? It's basically a shell with the RTT built in.

 

He mentions in the original post that he does not want to spend $5k for a flip pack.

 

Very cleanly.

I used 3" wide x 1/8" thick steel bar as the base, then the Bestop mounts on top of that. I drilled and bolted through both the soft top, rack base and the top bed rails. The bolts are all hidden on the inside where they can't be seen.

I shaped the steel so it mostly matches the taper of the bed.

One additional advantage to this is the soft top is held much more securely than the clamps they provide.

I painted it satin black which looks good with the black topper color and my dark blue truck.

 

I am interested in the weight issue as well. Softtopper sells a frame as an exoskeleton to their topper but says it can only support 250lbs. Then they sell a tent to go on top of that?

http://www.softopper.com/kukenam-roof-top-tent-details.aspx

Apparently only for heroine addict campers?

 

Look at the SnugTop. I was going to buy a Leer but they are only rated to 400 lbs. The SnugTop I got is rated to 500 lbs. I did that specifically for the option of a RTT. Also, look at the Autohome Maggiolina RTT. They tend to be about 30 lbs less than most RTT. Which in this case might be the difference. I have been investigating that and am pretty much set that a Maggiloina with my SnugTop would work just fine. 100lbs for the tent and 350 lbs of people give you a bit to spare. Also, I think the Maggiloina have a much nicer profile than most.

 

Thanks Cole. I'll check out SnugTops

Pictures please!! I had this idea a few days ago and couldn't find anyone that did it. It would be a perfect set-up for my kayak too. Remove the rtt and put the kayak mounts when not in use.

Thanks for the help oz. I knew you would chime in. I thought of your truck first when thinking about commercial racks.

That's a very good point. It seems like it would take a pretty huge bump (bigger than my truck could stand) to create enough force for the tent alone to create 400lbs of downward force on the shell.

 

As far as I know, I have the only rack like it. It gives the truck a more purposeful look too.

I will post pics this eve when I get home.

I am a paddler too and putting a canoe on the rack was also part of my plan. I can't use my Yakima gunwale clamps as my tubing is 1" diameter but i have a solution for that.

 

Which model Snugtop and which rack system ?

 

This is dynamic weight load.

 

x2

 

I have seen a few shell mounted RTTs. It is doable.

 

I would imagine most weight figures are based on static loads. Too many factors go into calculating dynamic loads.

 

Toyota factory roof rack is advertised based on dynamic load (200lbs) - this is the most important number as its the number when the car is in motion... I would also assume toyota goes a little conservative on this number for safety and CYA reasons.

Static load for racks mounted in the existing factory screw holes on the roof is about 400-500lb

 

I'm not too good at physics (so much that my college decided I should take it twice) so is there a way to calculate a dynamic load?

I was thinking something F=ma (all i can remember)

So M=120lbs a=9.8m/s and F-ult would be 400lbs.

So would that mean that it would take a drop of 3.07meters for the 120lb tent to exert 400lbs of force on the shell?

 

Man, TW has been on a maths kick lately....do not want

 

Yep, as OZ mentioned, I bought the 100RCC primarily for RTT use. As has been mentioned, the 400lb dynamic load is more than plenty for this setup. Unless you plan on you and the GF trying to sleep up there OP while someone else is bombing through the toolies that is!

I have the Maggiolina Airland. I chose it because it's Autohome's most streamlined model. I had a Jeep at the time I bought it and was looking to not completely murder my gas mileage when hauling the tent. In fact, it hardly made a difference in mpg. Good thing too because, as we all know, Tacos aren't exactly stingy when it comes to go juice either. Also, my RTT clocks in at 120 lbs before I add anything. Since the Airland is very streamlined, it has less interior space when closed than some models so I can't carry much more inside beyond the ladder, sleeping bags and pillows.

 

Just heard from leer's engineering department that the 400lb limit is a static load.

So Bobbb fwiw be careful up there. Wouldn't want you to ruin that shell

 

I'm still within specs, but good to know. Thanks!

 

There is a thread at Expo with a rack similar in form and function.

I built my rack with an eye towards having a canvas shop around here make a cover for it. I dunno yet if I am going to do that or not - I've got some other upgrades to get out of the way first.

 

Thanks for that picture. I like the way those racks work, but the idea for the shell also was to keep things secure and be able to pack more cargo in the back for 4 person trips. Seems like the rack and canvas top could fulfill all of those things.