*THE RTT Owners Thread (With BS)*

Imagine what it's like for those of us who have it on the roof! I don't even try to put it on/take it off by myself. Pretty sure it's impossible without some kind of lift/winch. I just offer a neighbor or friend a brewski

 

Have you tried using the tailgate? Worked well for me. I was able to do this solo without much trouble.

Stand the tent on the back end leaning up against the open tailgate.
Lift the tent straight up so that the back end is resting on the tailgate and the bottom of the tent is leaning against the bedrack.
Tip the tent onto the bedrack and bolt it down.

 

That's how I do it solo. I through some moving blankets on the shell keeping it from getting scratched and works great!

 

If I had a big bed rack I might have done that, but its easier to just unbolt the bed bars from the bed than try to unbolt the tent from the bed bars every time lol. I need to set up some sort of lift system int he garage one of these days

 

I'm just taking it off so I can use the bed tomorrow, and have no camp trips planned for the next few months. It'll be nice having the rear view mirror back too

 

Saw these methods on expo:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...-RTT-mounting-contraption?highlight=rtt+hoist
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/131556-Loading-up-the-Maggiolina

 

Can anyone recommend security bolts and or nuts for a Tepui? I'd like to use the factory mounting hardware, but switch out the bolts for something that requires a "key" to unscrew.

 

I asked tepui about it a couple days ago and they said they are working on it, but in the mean time they recommended CVT's security nuts:

https://cascadiatents.com/shop/security-nuts/

 

$80???

 

Pretty normal. Rigid sells 2 nuts for $25 lol

 

Crazy. Why not just use the pad lock like one of the guys in here?

 

How many other RTT owners here are running their RTT's on a fiberglass shell? I currently have a allpro rack and it's solid as a rock. Have been wanting to switch to a shell though for better storage.

Little nervous about the weight of the tent/persons on top of the shell without reinforcement.

 

You can. Some people just like low key shit. Also, a quick lock cutter means a missing tent, whereas security nuts mean a grinder or lots of noise to get those things off

 

Yup. Ridiculus. Amazon sells them real cheap.

 

Makes sense.

 

I was nervous using my shell at first, but Ive been running it on my snug top for about half a year with no problems. Gone down some rough trails and haven't had much of an issue. It definitely changes your center of gravity.

My shell has a reinforced roof, but that doesn't mean the sides of the shell are reinforced. But still no issue yet!

 

Thanks for the reply, by reinforced roof do you mean it's built with the honey comb roof and not just flat layers of fiberglass or have you or the manufacturer added external (to the fiberglass) reinforcement?

The shell I'm looking to buy has rails on it from the factory and has the honey comb roof as well.

 

Honey comb covered in fiberglass. I was told its rated to 350 lbs. Came with the rack rails installed as well. I believe that's for the weight load for a moving vehicle as well, so you might be able to load it a little more if you feel like taking the risk haha.

100lb tent + 160lb for me and another + 70 for the dog = 330. With the ladder taking half that load that plenty of weight capacity left.

 

I think that I'm going to add two more rails to the ones already on there to spread out the weight a little more and also put some flat plate on the understand of the rails so that the pulling weight of the load is distributed over a little more surface area.

I really doubt I would break the shell with normal use over smooth road but rough terrain is more of what I'm concerned about.

Maybe I will get ambitious and do something like this. Found it on Expedition Portal.

 

Keep in mind those weights are put in place for when the truck is moving. I was told by my cap guy that the caps can actually hold a lot of weight but when your moving the movement of the weight is what causes stuff to break. So as long as you at 350lbs loaded your good.

Edit:
Re-read your post. You are absolutely correct with your statement about it being about being the limit when moving.

I was on my roof with a matress and box spring with my 75lb+/- rack and I didn't hear/ see any signs of stress. I'm 220-230lb plus the mattresses (150-160) and the rack.

If I remember correctly my cap guy said you could probably get 500-600 lbs on the cap when not moving.