RTT on a Fiberglass Shell???

I am about to toss my RTT on top of a Leer fiberglass shell... I was reading the weight limit for the shell on the website and it states to not exceed 165lbs...

Has anyone had any issues with their RTT mounted on the top of a fiberglass shell?

 

I think that most guys that do it have the reinforced tops on their shells and it is up to like 500lbs static. Remember when you offroad that weight getting thrown around has dynamic loads that far exceed 165lbs.

 

Reinforce how?

 

So my former shell had a 1" bulge if you looked at the ceiling of the shell from the underside. This area had extra stiffening and glass to support more weight and a track system. Most shells from ARE, Leer, Snugtop have the option to "reinforce" the roof to be able to carry the loads.

 

I had a leer canopy that I added the base rails to after. Mine was not one of the reinforced canopies nor did I ever add anything to reinforce it. It held my Mt Shasta with both my wife and I and our two dogs, all in around 500lbs and never had an issue.

 

Don't forget bed stiffeners

 

Yup. Not worried about the shell as much as the bedsides. Stiffeners are a good investment.

 

Also agree, bed stiffeners are a must!

 

If you are talking about the thicker part in the middle of the roof, unless it's specifically designated as extra weight capacity, it's not designed for that. What it is, is a cardboard honeycomb panel that keeps the top slightly arched and stiffens it so that it doesn't vibrate at speed and cause cracks in the fiberglass- at least that's the info I was told by the dealer and from some research. Do not drill into it or try to install your rack tracks in it as it will crush the cardboard when you try to tighten up the nuts. You could glass/epoxy some sort of solid cylinders in there to mount to but it's better to go outboard so that the force is directed more downward on the vertical sides. Kind of hard to explain as I'm no engineer but it makes sense when you start looking at it and pressing down on the top with your hands. You can feel it flex.

+1 on adding bed stiffeners if you plan to carry weight up top. Check your cap mounts more often as well.

 

i added a internal cage to mine. I didnt like how much the shell flexed when offroad and hauling ass on dirt roads.
if you drive like a drive like a old lady it should be fine lol.
my first shell cracked in the front from playing around to much offroad.

 

Got em!

 

Dang.... I kinda drive like a teenage girl that just found out her serious boy friend of two weeks cheated.

 

Love your set up. Any issues?

 

I've made a rack on my topper from unistrut and then bolted the RTT to it.

 

Thank you. No, it’s been great. I’m 5’9’, so it’s kind of a workout for me to get the tent zipped open and closed, but throw on a longer zipper pull and some rock sliders to stand on and it’s all good.

 

Do you mind sharing pictures of the rack you made? Cheers