RTT with prinsu rack

I'm seeing a bunch of racks + RTTs in here....did y'all buy reinforced canopies?

 

Some brands make “heavy duty” upgrades. That’s what I got

 

Thanks, I was getting close to changing my setup to mount on the end bars to make it more accessible but I'm not willing to compromise integrity, so I'll keep it as it is. I solved the rattling on the over bars by using pipe insulation foam cutouts. If you cut them nice and square you will barely noticed them once the RTT is clamped down. I could see it being a downside if you remove your RTT often, unless if you stick them with 3M to the spots where you like them to rest.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Frost-King...7ncHGhTx0lWYMXq4fDZSkJ6KrSJ5NFOAaAlXsEALw_wcB

 

Good call. Attaching them to the two end bars creates a situation where the tent can actually bounce up and down since those bars are only held in place by the side bar and those two “stabilizing” bars. That’s asking a lot for bars that aren’t attached to the topper/truck.

 

I got a CVT Mt Rainier (~200#) on a long bed with a ARE Z series, no reinforcement. Have had no issues in the 2 years I have had it.

 

My SnugTop Rebel has the sportsman package that reinforces the roof and its weight capacity. I've been thinking about adding bed stiffeners too. I had to upgrade the suspension to account for all the weight too.

 

I don't doubt any of y'all that have done/are currently doing it in the least, but it's always been my understanding that a camper shell isn't near strong enough without the rails/reinforcement package to hold the weight of a RTT with people actually in it. I would love to be wrong; I have a basic Leer white long bed cap that I've been contemplating selling so I could run a bed rack and keep an RTT off the cab of the truck, but I'm always fearful it will cave while night while I'm up there with the wife lol

 

Did you ever ask ARE what the load capacity was for that shell? or did you just send it?

 

Not sure where I heard it but somewhere told me around 200# dynamic. I have 3 sets of feet on the prinsu rack distributing the weight. I have taken the tent thousands of miles on and off-road with no problem. I always assumed the weight ratings are going to be a bit conservative, to avoid people looking for warranty work when they throw a ton of weight up there.

 

I just ordered a Leer 100XR - dealer stated weight limits of 200 dynamic and 600 static (I've seen others state 700 static). Bed stiffeners have been recommended if you go with this combo. Have a lifetime structural warranty if you order new as well.

 

Not enough room for a socket wrench. Use a ratcheting box wrench instead.

 

Love the set up!
Just installed my prinsu and looking through a bunch of threads on RTT’s. saw that you added 4 spacers (2 each) to where it connects the feet to the bar. What’s the reason for this? More clearance?

 

I honestly think an occupied RTT is too much weight to put on a camper shell. I think my Leer is rated for a max of 250 lbs. and the weight of the Prinsu itself will eat into that limit.

 

I had to do that to level it out so the bar sits better. Some shells are a bit round and not perfectly flat

 

That's definitely one thing to consider when buying a shell. I ordered mine with the sportsman package so it's reinforced with a weight limit of 500 lbs.

 

I have a Leer shell I picked up second hand, installed Prinsu rack, ~180lbs tent, have slept two adults (~300lbs) and three kids (~150lbs) on top without issue several times, also thousands of miles driven with just the tent itself. I don't believe I've ever heard of any horror stories of shells collapsing ever. But with some research I found that some manufacturers (A.R.E./LEER) generically say their static load shouldn't be above 200lbs evenly distributed, but come back to say that the shell can handle the weights of whatever aftermarket rack you may use is capable of holding. Which for Prinsu, 600lbs Static and 300lbs dynamic.

 

Exactly. I’ve done a good amount of research and couldn’t find much info on collapsing campers. Though there’s a shit ton of threads out there and I’m sure I didn’t go through all.
I’ve seen a few people say theirs have “cracked” but nothing more - at least my research.

I have a V series ARE (used) but had no tracks so it’s never had anything mounted on top of it. I installed rhino HD tracks along with the prinsu and their provided stiffeners.
I’d say we’ll be just under 600 with me, my lady, and our fat boy corgi and of course the tent itself.
we’ll see it works! lol

 

Yeah I wouldn't be too worried about it, maybe in the long run experience some cracking or fatigue if beating on it and really sending it offroad, but most people do not beat on or hold onto either products long enough to experience said issues... only thing I recommend other than bed stiffeners is proper fasteners to keep the topper from sliding backwards. I have seen many bounce/vibrate off if secured incorrectly.

 

How did get these to work on a Prinsu rack? I thought they would only fit the FrontRunner rack?

 

Nope they should work with any rack. You just have to space the bars out a little differently than i normally would have on my Prinsu rack