*THE RTT Owners Thread (With BS)*

So I'm looking to purchase a roof top tent and also looking and researching for ways to mount the roof top tent. I currently have a Snugtop Xtra Vision shell on my DCSB. I would love to mount a rack on the shell and put the tent on the shell but I contacted Snugtop and they claimed that my model shell could only hold 200lbs and they only offer shells that can hold up to 500lbs. With the tent, myself, my wife, and our son we'd be damn close to 500lbs yet I see people with larger tents that can hold more gear and people without issue. Is it just that Snugtop isn't rated very high or do people really cut it close to the max load for the shell with the RTT? Any information would be helpful...

 

I bet you would be fine. 200 lbs is the dynamic weight limit, not the static weight limit. Also, when set up, the ladder takes ~50% of the weight that is up there. I would do it without hesitation.

 

This seems to be what I've been reading. Now I gotta figure out how to install a rack on the shell.

 

@zscott makes good racks

 

In contact with him now.

 

I'm far too lazy to read all 8000+ posts, but have a few questions for the experts:

1. We camp 5-8 times a year, often taking our sailboat (27' mast that over hangs he truck when towing) with us, so it's got to be below the roofline. Has anyone experimented with a super low profile bed rack. Perhaps a 2" rise? And do you retain any use of the rear view mirror when mounting below the roof line?

2. What's everyone do for to keep RTTs from walking away? Can you pad lock them?

3. We currently keep all of our weekend gear in 4 giant Rubbermaid bins under the tonneau and the old "out of sight, out of mind" philosophy has worked out pretty well. The tonneau will have to go if we mount an RTT and I'd prefer things like camp stoves and lanterns be secured; what is everyone doing to secure their gear?

4. How far forward or aft can you get most RTTs in the bed? I can make a hinged aluminum "1/4 bed tonneau" for access to gear, if I can't get it far enough off center.

 

For #2 yes some guys did put a padlock through.
For #3 why would you have to lose the tonneau?
And I have my rtt pushed up almost touching the back window. Maybe an inch off it.

 

1- Yes you can keep it below the roofline using bed bars... However you'll loose alot of your rear view mirror use out the back window.
2- Some of the manufacturuers sell unique mounting hardware that requires a special tool to remove them. Other people just use pad locks on em (pics can be found in this thread).
3- Many people use hard plastic cases to store equipment. You could probably find some that would fit underneath your bed bars/tent. If you are near AZ I can hook you up with some awesome Pelican brand ones.
4- This depends on the length of your bed and your chosen tent. It also depends on how you mount the bed bars and where you want the tent to sit relative to the bed. In short, with bed bars and a short bed, you wont get much access to your belongings underneath. But, you can probably figure out a way to get an arm in here or there.

Good luck!

 

That's actually close to the height that I'm considering. A lock on the tailgate would be enough to make it difficult for anyone to get the Rubbermaid bins out of the bed. Any use of the rear view mirror at all with it at that height?

 

Cant speak to the visibility question, but it seems that if you go that high you could easy get your arms into the bed.

 

This isn't my picture, but mine has about 6 inches of clearance over the top of the bed. It's easy to get in there, but no visibility.

 

Equal opportunity trip this past weekend in the Tahoe National Forest. Roof top tents by Tepui, CVT, ARB, and Maggiolina

@sytfu510 @Mademan925 @Baoser @.45 JHP

 

What brand/model and what does it look like packed up?

 

I have mine on All Pro bed bars (about six inches) and my rearview is useless. With a short bed and a lockable tailgate it would be difficult to steal stuff if packed in larger containers. I can pull stuff out the side up to the size of a scepter fuel/water can.

 

I recognize that photo... To echo the rear view, completely useless with the RTT mounted. I'm on all pro bed bars so the tent sits perfect for my liking (level to the cab) when closed. The lock I have on mine is a system that works well. I've been considering doing a tailgate lock to essentially prevent items from being removed from the bed as I have all pelican cases that are substantially larger than the gaps between the tent and bed rails. Locking the tailgate essentially secures it all perfectly, but like anything, if they want it bad enough, they will get it...

 

I was wondering what everyone was talking about when they said they're considering locking the tailgate. Then I saw that the 2nd gen doesn't have a tailgate lock. Everything makes sense again.

 

O-SPEC.COM brand

 

@Cascadia Tents are you guys going to offer sheets like Tepui? I'm thinking about making some, but if you offer them, might just buy them. Put a memory foam topper on my mattress, want something to seal it in so I'm not laying directly on it.

 

Or just buy some Tepui sheets.