*THE RTT Owners Thread (With BS)*

Interesting.... fortunately for me the male end that broke the clip can be just replaced cause it's just looped with the slack. That's some good food for thought though.... I'll have to remember to think to upgrade the straps if they start to wear badly... I think s just a case of frozen plastic it's not the end of the world I killed the clips on my other trasharoo when the beer cooler slid into it so worst case I source my own stuff

 

If you can find a decent place to get metal buckles let me know I can't find anything much on Amazon. I'm trying to upgrade to 2" strap and 2" metal buckles on everything so I never have to worry about it again. I'll settle for 1.5"

 

We have had up to 1.5' on the tents with the new poles and no issues. When the next big storm comes in of a 1' or more we will be up there on the mountain for more testing.

 

We do have a fix for that on our new summit series. We will also start incorporating it into our standard tents.

 

A good thing to do is get the new straps then use the plate the rivets go through and replace the rivets with self tapping screws. This is how we have fixed this problem for others. Hope it helps.

 

Awesome to hear! I had a good feeling i wouldnt have to worry to much ut figured Id ask.

Glad to hear you have an idea on the annex portion. Be interesting to see! Sadly i like my current Mt Shasta to much to see upgrading unless it was absolutely ground breaking features on the new tents lol.

 

Swear to god you can do this.
California folks, go online and get these forms. Write EXACTLY what I wrote on the statement of facts. Bring your license plates and the form into AAA or dmv. Be polite, but firm with the confused lady across the counter. Remind her there is no vin check requirement and show her a dozen photos of your truck with the tent open and shut with at least a couple with the license plate visible.


Bam.
She will take the forms and hand you a new set of plates and you are now EXEMPT from paying that stupid weight fee. Your roof top tent is now saving you 150+ a year on your registration.

 

WAIT!!!! WHAT!?!?!?! More explanation please and how did you hear about this? I'm in San Diego and would love to use my RTT to reduce my stupid registration fee which is crazy expensive here.

 

More details please, and thanks

 

before

fuck you, dmv I'm not leasing gravity from you for 80 bucks



New plates.

Form 256 and form 256a with California DMV. do it at AAA you'll have better luck. My registration also bumped from December to Jan for some reason. I've got 2017 tags.

 

+1

I did this back in 2010 (with a shell, not RTT). File the paperwork and schedule an inspection (to prove it's "permanently attached"). Now have passenger car plates and no fees. Saved a LOT of cash.

WARNING: major fines if busted driving without the topper

 

I keep hearing this chicken little warning but has anyone actually been busted? If you run the plates my name and address and the correct vehicle comes up that match my registration. Only difference is trucks usually say body style PK and this has a different two letter designation.

Either way, I'm mad I didn't do this earlier

 

I was pissed too but got my revenge as soon as I could, lol

Haven't heard of anyone myself but DMV told me LE would cite on the spot. Ya takes yer chances....

 

Also there's no requirement for an inspection. If you get someone who knows what they're doing they won't throw that at ya. Again, be polite but firm with them. There is no vin check or inspection required. You fill out the forms , check the box for "modified for habitation" and write
"This vehicle has been modified to meet the definition of a station wagon. It is fit for human habitation."
They'll get confused, then tell them there's also a stove in the bed. There's some fine print in a procedure book they all have that mentions something about a stove.
If you show up with the form filled out and give them enough information, they don't have to think for themselves and will follow their procedure book to get what you want done.
In the end
It's not a lie. It is NOT. A commercial vehicle. It is NOT driving around daily hauling loads for a business. The only way I know to remove this designation is to use this form to say it's a "camper" which means station wagon? Idk.

 

Afraid I'm out of my element here since mine isn't a tent/camper per se but simply a shell. I read about this on another blog and called DMV expecting someone to say BS but was asked when I wanted to come in for the inspection(!). I wasn't given a choice on this look-see and now my truck is designated the same as an SUV. Props on doing the research, spreading the word AND having your ducks lined up to show LE if needed. That goes a long way in making any stop a non-event.

 

@Spencer, I printed out form 265 and 265a. What is 265 for? Also, can you only do this when its time to renew your registration? I just renewed in August.

 

My registration is only $150 to begin with.... Nice find for you California folks.

 

@Mcdees84
Just to be clear, 256 and 256a are the same forms I posted above, correct?
One is a statement of facts that you sign certifying that sentence about being a station wagon. The other form is the one you use for the check box that says modified - camper added. DO NOT put the purchase price of your truck on there! Keep in mind the blue book value plus modification cost will now be the basis for your new registration fee. If you put purchase price plus X for roof top tent or camper shell, you'll reset all your depreciation and lose any benefit here. (we all paid $100 for our rtt right? Thanks adam! Haha)


And no you don't have to but it took me till recently to pay off my '13 and get the title from Toyota. Its absolutely possible to do while still making payments, though it's an added step.
Call Toyota financial and stumble through everyone till someone can help you. It took me a couple tries to get a hold of the right guy. He actually did the leg work getting that 256 form signed by the lienholder dept. And mailed it to me.

I just slacked off and never followed through until I got the title in hand and had to go to AAA to get the lienholder removed and new title in my name.

 

My truck is 9 years old. I just checked my reg fees and the weight fee is only $25 now.

 

Hey guys! I have been looking at this thread everyday for the pass 2 weeks and going throgh looking for ideas about mounting the RTT (which i havent bought yet) Im in the planning stage of all this and want to do it right and the most efficent way. Im a fan of the bed racks espically the weld togehter sets. I was wondering if anyone had this RTT and what they thought about it. http://www.cascadiatents.com/Mt-Hood-Roof-Top-Tent.htm?m=87&s=615&&id=115 I want one big enough for when i have a kid that my family could sleep in it comfortabley. Any advice would be greatly appricated thanks in advance!