Removable Rooftop Tent - Is it practical?

sk8n3rd

sk8n3rd

New member
I will be getting a roof-top tent this year. However, since my Tacoma is usually in camping mode only 1/15th of the month (one weekend), I would like the tent to be removeable.

How realistic is this? Has anyone had any experience with taking a roof tent off and on with any frequency? I like the can-back mount idea but it seems like it would make the tent even harder to remove with daily driving... Maybe the whole can-back would come off...

I also like the bed mounted variant of the roof-top tent for keeping the center of gravity lower and I'm guess this would make removal even easier.

I'd like to get maybe a dollar's worth of people's two cents before I start planning out the details of where I'll mount the tent.

Thanks in advance for any comments.
 
Rockcrawler

Rockcrawler

Adventurer
Goodtimes helped me build a rack for the Jeep and the back of my Dodge. Both are designed to have the tent easily removed with either the pins supplied or eventually bolts that I will be swapping onto it. To ease the mounting/dismounting of the tent, I have the tent suspended on a pulley system from the ceiling of the garage. All I need to do is pull whichever vehicle under the tent and lower it onto the rack, lock the pins/put in the bolts, unhook the clips on the sling from the pulley and I'm ready to go. VERY easy one person operation.

pics to come soon... I'm waiting for the paint to dry.

Kyle
 
flyingwil

flyingwil

Supporting Sponsor - Sierra Expeditions
I too had my rack built by GT... it was designed to be romovable as well. It does take two people to take the tent off and put it back on. I am going to the can-back for a more permanant mounting option instead of the rack. IF you have any other questions post up.

PS... my rack is for sale here: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6357 and you might get some good fab ideas from it.
 
DaktariEd

DaktariEd

2005, 2006 Tech Course Champion: Expedition Trophy
I tried the pulley arrangement. Trouble is....my vehicles were too high for the garage door with the tent on top.
Came up with this "crane" using a little Suzuki winch I got from my dad. Jake manufactured the contraption.
I powered it from a 12 v. battery sitting on the ground. I wanted to get a hand controller but never got a "roundtuit."

:sombrero:
 
Last edited:
S

shartzer

Observer
I am getting a Eezi Awn tent pretty soon for a vehicle that is not my daily driver. I can't park this vehicle in a garage because my garage is very small. Is it OK to leave the tent on outside for extended periods? I will of course have the cover on as tightly as possible. I was just worried about the foam, canvas or board getting messed up by moisture. Any advice would be appreciated. thanks.

Sam
 
Gear

Gear

Explorer, Overland Certified OC0020
Shartzer wrote
Is it OK to leave the tent on outside for extended periods?
Click to expand...
I think you be just fine leaving it outside. My only guess is you will need to replace the outer cover sooner. Do to more wear and tear. Even with this said I think you wil be fine for several years. I would keep an eye on the cover as I have a couple of small cuts mainly in the corner areas on my Overland tent. At this point it has not been a big deal. I guess I should get out the repair kit.
 
H

Howard70

Adventurer
Thule Tracks, Aero Feet & A Gantry

We have a Autohome Grand Tour (120 lbs) that we pull on and off frequently. The tent is attached to Thule crossbars that attach to tracks we installed over the door pillars of our Tacoma DC. I found an old gantry for sale in the classifieds which I use to hoist the tent. When off the truck I "store" the tent on a trailer (sometimes I use the tent on the trailer if we're travelling mostly on pavement).

By myself I can pull the tent off the trailer, move the trailer, pull the truck under the tent, attach the tent and drive off in 25 minutes. Removing the tent and placing it on the trailer is about the same.

The Thule Aero feet are great - you simply turn the key and push a button to release them.

Let me know if you need more information.

Howard L. Snell
 
sk8n3rd

sk8n3rd

New member
Wil,

I really like that rack you have, but I'm afraid it might be sold before I'm ready to pull the trigger on a tent. I think I PM'd you once about the roofline above vs below, but I was wondering if you had ever noticed any change in the off road handling with 150 pounds up at the roofline? I think that's my biggest personal concern about a high rack. Other than that, having a removable rack like yours would be sweet for cargo capacity.

Scott
 
flyingwil

flyingwil

Supporting Sponsor - Sierra Expeditions
sk8n3rd said:
Wil,

I really like that rack you have, but I'm afraid it might be sold before I'm ready to pull the trigger on a tent. I think I PM'd you once about the roofline above vs below, but I was wondering if you had ever noticed any change in the off road handling with 150 pounds up at the roofline? I think that's my biggest personal concern about a high rack. Other than that, having a removable rack like yours would be sweet for cargo capacity.

Scott
Click to expand...


Thanks.

The handling is barely noticable, or at least not as much as I had thought it would be. Now that I have my sway bars removed, I still don't really feel a difference on road. I think I went into worried about it and it in actuallity was not as bad as feared.

Like I have stated before, it is placed at the hieght it is so that I could move the Engel and the TwoZone to the bed. About 5" of the tent sticks up above the roofline.
 
xcmountain80

xcmountain80

Expedition Leader
DaktariEd said:
I tried the pulley arrangement. Trouble is....my vehicles were too high for the garage door with the tent on top.
Came up with this "crane" using a little Suzuki winch I got from my dad. Jake manufactured the contraption.
I powered it from a 12 v. battery sitting on the ground. I wanted to get a hand controller but never got a "roundtuit."

:sombrero:
Click to expand...


Oh now that is ************! Super clever! I have a 02 4Runner and my Hannibal has a list weight of 85lbs but after I rebuilt it and painted bla, bla, bla.. I have no idea I know its a heavy booger. My brother and I take it on and off and we are built pretty stout and its a chore but can be done, we realistically do it about once a month. Now you are in luck because we are lifting over our heads and you will be lifting waist to chest high depending on your vehicles setup. So to answer your question yes it is practicle. As far as wheelability I know theres 100 ish pounds on the roof but it doesnt hinder the rig that I'm aware of, we just got back from Tellico in Murphy NC, and most people asked if I was going to remove my tent and awning before wheeling, I looked at them and said no I need to know she can make it with a full burden (camping equipment, spares, tools, etc.
P6082621.jpg


Aaron
 
sk8n3rd

sk8n3rd

New member
Hey Will,

You said that your rack is removable. What type of hardware did you use to make it removeable? In other words, do you have some type of bolt setup that holds it to the bed that you can remove or is it like a clamp or something?

I think I'm leaning toward type of bed support that sits flush with the bed but can be lifted out....

Scott
 
7wt

7wt

Expedition Leader
Is the Can-Back strong enough to handle the weight? I thought I read somewhere that the capacity was only 150lbs or so. I don't know about you guys but that doesn't cover my fat ass at all.
 
sk8n3rd

sk8n3rd

New member
I thought I read that it was 150 lbs when moving but much higher when stopped. But I could be wrong about that...
 
flyingwil

flyingwil

Supporting Sponsor - Sierra Expeditions
sk8n3rd said:
Hey Will,

You said that your rack is removable. What type of hardware did you use to make it removeable? In other words, do you have some type of bolt setup that holds it to the bed that you can remove or is it like a clamp or something?

I think I'm leaning toward type of bed support that sits flush with the bed but can be lifted out....

Scott
Click to expand...


Scott-

Sorry missed your post. The bottom of the unit utilizes existing holes on the bedrails and there are 6 bolts that hold the frame to the bed. The crossmembers are also removable. PM me if you need more info.
 
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