*THE RTT Owners Thread (With BS)*

I have no experience in this, but just thinking about it this is what I came up with.

There are a lot of factors to take into account. How bad was the accident, what type of tent and how much does it weigh, is the tent above the cab roof or bellow, how well the tent is attached (the bolts attaching it to the bars or canopy), how is the tent attached to the truck (fiberglass canopy, aluminum bed bars, or streal bed bars), even how the bars or canopy is attached to the truck bed.

Assuming worst-case scenario and it was a hard hit (say 45 - 50 mph per vehicle) head-on collision. I would guess that the tent would come off. I don't think that it would come into the cab of your vehicle due to the pillars and roof. I would be more worried about it flying over your truck and into the windshield of the other vehicle. Again though I have zero experience (and hopefully it stays that way) on the matter. This is me just contemplating how it would go.

 

I have no experience on this but my guess is that if you have a cab height bed rack and are driving at highway speeds the RTT would fly off. Low or mid height would possibly hit the back of the cabin very hard. I can’t imagine how the bolts holding the RTT down to your rack wouldn’t snap off. These are only my opinions and I hope this never happens to anyone.

 

*knocks on wood*

 

Grade 5 bolts have a tensile strength of 120,000psi and shear strength of around 70,000psi. You hit something hard enough to shear them off, where your tent ends up will be the least of your worries.

 

I'm with you, I don't think the bolts would shear, although whats the weight of a 150lbs tent moving at 50mph? My math skills are severely lacking so I'm not sure. I'm thinking that the screws holding the aluminum c-channel to the tent would pull through. Leaving the c-channel attached to the bed bars and the tent free. Again, I don't have any experience and I'm probably overthinking this.

 

Yeah... To shear all those 1/4" bolts would require in excess of 12000lbs of force if I recall the numbers correctly. I would certainly not expect them to be the failure point.

Edit: some quick physics says you would have to hit something hard enough to come to a complete stop from 100km/hr in under 10 feet assuming a 200lb tent. So if you hit a big enough tree or other solid object without braking on the highway they'd shear (assuming the truck would only crumple a couple feet)... But you'd have much bigger problems.

 

If anything I would assume the failure point would be the mounting rails that are attached to the bottom of the tent.

 

I would think that too.

 

Or pull the bolt head/washer through the tent floor.

 

Good looking our. Let me look into this lock system and I’ll get back you. The KBVoodoo cross bars are super thick and for sure thicker than shown in the install video. Because of this reason I don’t think this system will work.

 

I actually bought the locks from @tundraconvert specifically to work with my KBVoodoo cross bars. They fit with plenty of room (sorry for the poorly lit photos; ended up putting them on after work at night).

 

Those worked out great for you...I'm glad. Thanks for the pic's as an explanation.

 

I did some work on the RTT Camping Trailer this weekend. Help a friend work on his 4Runner last week and he gave me a bunch of thick rubber that is used for gym flooring, used it to create mudflaps for the trailer and a barrier on the front of the trailer so that stuff on the trailer does not get muddy from the truck kicking up dirt, rocks, mud, etc.

Then redid my side camp table, went a simple and cheapish route on it, but it works really well and can be used both folded up and if I need more space open it up.

Lastly, I added a 6.5ft ARB Awning to the driver's side of the trailer that will cover the side table and provide a good shade or weather spot to hang out under, so no more having to bring the big 10x10 pop-up awning. I was looking for an 8ft awning, but got a good deal on this one, if I ever get around to getting a 270degree awning, I can then put this awning on the truck or the front of the trailer for even more shade.

Then found a big 8x10 outdoor RV rug on sale at camping world for $25 with a free local pickup... so will have that to put under the awning.

Going to be trying out the additions to the trailer this weekend on a wheeling trip to the local OHV park. I will have to get a full setup picture again now...

 

Found some snow. Maybe more tonight

 

This trip is going to be EPIC. In fact, once we complete our 8 days in the Mojave National Preserve, we'll probably be done exploring the area - we'll hit all the important bits, and will have no reason to go back - except to show of the coolest areas to our friends.

Famous last words! [smile id="rofl"] Spoiler: I need to go back.

To see and read about the first part of this crazy adventure, check out
Mojave Redemption #1 - Off to an Ominous Start​

​

 

You are making me jealous with your posts!

 

Shoulda come up to the North woods with me this weekend. Your snorkel woulda saved you from this BS

 

that is no bueno

 

Wow, I've plowed my way into some trails, but you take the cake

 

So I'm going to start here and ask for some ideas on how to move forward.

First, the truck is a 2011 DCLB with Leer 100R cap, and now Rhino Rack crossbars and a new to me Smittybuilt Overlander tent (the small one). The truck has all Billstein 5100's put on a few years ago, and I think the front got new springs. The truck was also lifted a couple inches, essentially I think it was leveled by bringing the rear up an inch or so and then the front a couple inches. When I got the truck two years ago it was very level with the cap alone.

I'm sure you can tell what I'm about to type... The rear is sagging a bit with the addition of the RTT... and I'm trying to find the most cost effective and easiest way to get it back to level. I feel bad driving at night because not only is the truck lifted but now with the sag my low beams look like high beams to every car I get behind.

My needs are simple, I am not rock crawling or doing any real offroading, the truck is a highway hauler/fire road runner for me and my MTB to get the trails. From what I can tell about the truck I don't think they touched the leaf pack when they did the other mods before I bought it. I can add pictures later if it would help.

I'm open to suggestions, but I'm leaning towards just an add-a-leaf for the cheapest/simplest solution or a full replacement leaf pack. All I want is for the truck to be level when 1 or 2 people are in the tent.

Thanks for any help!