Kamp-Rite Tent Cot RTT for my overly crowded short bed

Updated photo:




I'm creating this thread as a record of my progress to ultimately mount a Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot to some load bars for a "budget" RTT. Inspired my a few threads here on TW:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cheap-rtt-for-those-on-a-budget.478273/#post-14537020
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drfunker.376632/page-208#post-17848179
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cheap-rtt-for-those-on-a-budget.478273/page-20#post-25967901
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cheap-rtt-for-those-on-a-budget.478273/page-10#post-17482945

This is my daily driver. I like to keep things light and removable. I already have ground tents for camping with my son's Boy Scout troop and with my family. This build is for going off roading & camping with just the guys.

My truck:


I chose the Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot for a few reasons. (1) I could not find the 2-person cot in-stock anywhere online; (2) I have a cargo basket installed in my bed, and the Oversize fits nicely at only 34" wide; (3) This will only be used a couple times a year, so the price is right.

The Oversize Tent Cot:


I'm 5'-8" 200-lbs. There is quite a bit of room in there! I can sit up, and my head barely grazes the top. I'll also have room for my CPAP machine.

I have these Frontrunner load bars which this will be mounted to:
I originally planned on keeping cot legs on which would let me space the load bars closer together, but you do feel the folded legs when lying in the cot. It's bothersome enough for me to come up with a way to mount this without the legs.

More to come!

 

I want to have flysheet rods to prop open the doors, but I don't really feel like drilling holes into my brand new tent.

I bought these small clamps used for camera equipment which were perfect since it had 1/4" and 3/8" holes already

$14 Kayulin Super Crab Clamp with 1/4"-20 & 3/8"-16 Mounting Points for Photo Studio Kit(2 Piece)

https://www.amazon.com/Kayulin-Supe...ayulin+Super+Crab+Clamp&qid=1630030673&sr=8-3

For the poles I bought 1/4" dowels from Lowe's for $1+ each, cut to 36" long, drilled a small hole in the top, and glued in a curtain pin/hook. Will make 3 sets for under $10. Oh, I also "borrowed" some binder clips from work:

 

I attached some footman's loops to the ends today for a ladder. The tent will be mounted on my frontrunner bars which are low/mid height so I figure I'll be able to enter the tent thru the side by standing on the tailgate. But just in case I have to enter from the ends, I'll have the option with a removable ladder. Plus it will give me a little more support at the end since the legs are removed. I also added strips of Gorilla Tape to help with rubbing.







Lots of help from reading up on these:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drfunker.376632/page-209#post-17963759
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cheap-rtt-for-those-on-a-budget.478273/page-20#post-25967901

 

Test fitted my "legs". Made using 1/2" galvanized pipe nipples and wall flanges. Plastidip'd the bottom of the flanges and pipe ends.






Next I'm going to make brackets to let the load bars sit on the bed sides. This will make it higher to give more clearance at my cargo basket.

 

Thinking about a cover. I saw others sewed their own cover or modified the carry bag that came with the tent. Luckily I remembered I had a roof top cargo bag that I bought a few years ago which I only used once. The size is listed at 37.5" x 37.5"....my tent's folded size is 34" x 34".







Since this has been stored for years, I don't think I'll mind cutting 4 holes in the bottom for my pipe nipple legs to pop thru. The bag is tall enough to fit the ladder and probably some light camping gear too!
I found the link to the bag: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Roof-Top-Cargo-Bag-Waterproof-860000/207079924 ...not bad for $25.

 

Edit: redesign in progress... See post #10 https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...verly-crowded-short-bed.734583/#post-26203691


Mocking up brackets for the load bars. The goal is to (1) raise the bars to clear my cargo basket, and (2) utilize the bed sides to help support the weight. Though I'm not too worried about weight since the bars are only 15 lbs and the tent is ~37 lbs. It's more to support my fat ass when I'm in the tent.







Just need a few more holes and paint. Hope to get everything done during this long weekend.

 

Bars, legs, and mounted

 

Got the cover on! Nice part was that it is 100d today so the cover was very easy to work with. Bad part was that it is 100d today . Reinforced the holes with gorilla tape.







Gonna need to see how it holds up at 80 mph

 

There is a problem with my setup. By removing the legs from the tent cot, the only frame pieces keeping the cot's shape are the ends. The center now has no "frame" besides the truck load bars.

When I climb into the tent, my 200# is enough to pull the load bars inwards where my brackets are digging into the plastic bed rails:


(sorry I didn't take a photo of the bracket)

I'm going to try one length of 2x2 aluminum angle along the bed sides:

 

New and improved bracket installed and tested today. 2x2 x1/8" aluminum angle from Home Depot.




I mounted the tent then laid down in it, rolled around, used the ladder to enter thru the side. The width of the load bars differed by 1/4". I'm happy with that. You can see the legs of the bars slightly tilted: