Does a Roof Top Tent + rack count as "heavy vehicle loading"?

I have a roof-top tent with rack and am looking at the maintenance log which suggests that if you've been "driving while towing, using a car-top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading" you have to carry out additional maintenance including oil change, when one normally wouldn't be required.

What's everyone's thoughts on whether or not RTT + rack counts as "heavy vehicle loading"?

 

Oil is cheaper than an engine. Always been my thought.

 

As stated ... oil cheaper than engine. But unless hauling a trailer all day everyday probably just make oil a 5k affair instead of 10k. My limited experience ...

I hope you have bed stiffeners to prevent flexing from the rack and RTT ... cheap insurance against future damage.

 

What is your GVWR compared to what is on the door sticker?

Some RTT weigh 150-200 pounds, some weigh 500. It all depends. And is it on there all the time or only when camping?

I only know my Gross Vehicle Weight by taking stuff to the dump which has a weigh-in weight and an exit weight and they charge you based on the weight of the crap you dumped on them. Without my camping gear in the bed I am off memory about 250 pounds under the GVWR of my DCLB with me IN the truck with a full tank of gas. With a passenger, and camping gear, I am 100% over. But I do just a few trips per year and I pack light.

I do not do any extra maintenance but do take it to a dealer for every 5k service, because I know they live by those complimentary 22 point inspections and anything that is out of whack, they will point out. I am more concerned on bolts coming loose, etc., but I also have upgraded shocks, leaf springs, etc. to help with the weight.

From the google: "GVWR stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, and it's the maximum weight a vehicle can safely carry when fully loaded. This includes the weight of the vehicle itself, plus passengers, fuel, cargo, and trailer tongue weight. The manufacturer assigns the GVWR and it's regulated by the United States federal government."

 

Ontop of this is the tent mounted above or below the cab. The additional wind resistance can play a bigger part than the weight.

 

TBH I would probably base it off how much mileage you're losing compared to stock, in addition to the GVWR aspect as mentioned above.

For example, my truck gets about 13mpg with all the stuff I've done to it. which means between bigger tires, worsened aero, and wind resistance, my truck is being put through much heavier use to achieve the same trips.

I do my oil changes every 5k along with a 5-tire rotation and greasing the driveline and suspension components.

 

Thanks for all the advice/input. It does sound like better safe than sorry is the best policy so I'll probably do the oil change.

In answer to some of the questions, the rack and tent probably weigh around 200-250 lbs. It sits in-line the cab so wind resistance isn't a huge factor. I did get bed stiffeners.

 

Lol, you people need to find something else to worry about. If a few hundred pounds in the truck is really a concern, then I hope all the "plus size" people i see riding around are following the "heavy vehicle loading" oil change schedule too.

 

this is why blackstone labs exists

 

My RTT and racks weigh a heck of a lot less than I do so my vote is no.

 

including the weight of it would be nice

 

you should know if the truck drives different......works harder, less mpg, slower?

 

Define "plus size" ... the line is getting fuzzy anymore ...

 

dude if u have a rtt in a truck bed that means u gotta change the oil every 1k miles

 

That only applies if you actually use it.