Help with 4runner roof mounts!

[bnapier]

Everyone,

I have been using normal Thule roof bars for my roof top tent on my 3rd gen 4runner. I am currently looking for an alternative roof mount that is more robust. My RTT requires bars that go across the vehicle (I believe the Tepui tents require mounts along the vehicle).

My thoughts were to buy the Smittybuilt Defender Roof Rack Mount and either mod the Thule bars or use those unistrut bars bolted to these things.

I bought the Defender Roof Rack Mount for my vehicle and thought they would provide a relatively flat surface to mount the Thule bars or unistrut. My set seem to be angled down (see pic). Perhaps these will be flat when mounted on the vehicle. Unfortunately, putting these on my vehicle for testing requires removal of my entire tent/titan rod vault/awning setup. I would prefer not to have to do this.

Here are my questions:
1) If I actually mounted these things on the vehicle will they actually be flat? The eyeball test looks like they will still angle down and will not work for my plan
2) Does the actual Smittybuilt Defender basket really require these things to be angled down?
3) Are there any other mounts out there that I can use for this purpose? I don't want a basket. Would the Gobi mounts or others work?

Thanks!

 

[java]

What tent do you have? most of them the bars are able to be switched to run either way.

 

[CYi5]

I just made my own crossbars out of 1x2" rectangular tubing. The tubes were barely above the roof and the tent was way lower than when I had it on Yakima bars. It also allowed mounts for things like a hi-lift bar on the side with a little bit of thick angle iron. The tent was solid bolt through the aluminum rim all the way through bars, eliminating the factory tent rails that added unnecessary height.

If you have access to a welder, that's what i'd spend an hour on personally. If you need any better pics, let me know, I still have them on the truck daily even though I sold the RTT.

 

[bnapier]

What tent do you have? most of them the bars are able to be switched to run either way.

I have the Wildernest tent out of Boulder. I cannot mount it any other way.

 

[4eigner]

I'm running the defender mounts. They do angle slightly down when mounted but when the rtt is bolted directly onto them they are solid. I did it this way to keep the center of gravity as low as possible.

I have an ironman4x4 rtt sitting on them now. One thing I noticed about the rtt is that the mounting rails underneath are removable and I can reorient them 90 degrees so that I can have the tent mounted in any direction I want.

 

[tip]

If you have access to a welder, that's what i'd spend an hour on personally. If you need any better pics, let me know, I still have them on the truck daily even though I sold the RTT.

CYi5, I sent you a PM for more info on your rack. Looks awesome.

 

[Sleam]

Can I jump on this thread too? I have a 95 4Runner and the factory track and cross bars are rated for only 100#s. The roof top tent i'm getting is 135#s. I went to REI locally to see what they could come up with. It's tricky, even using Thule or Yakima crossbars and 'towers' attaching to the track itself the limit is still 100#s. SO they got me some towers that attach to the doorways and hold the Yakima bars for upto 165#s. BUT! The tent is 84" long, the doors and therefor the new cross bars are up front for only 36" or so, so what happens to the rest of the tent? Do I then attach the tent to a third cross, the factory installed one near the tailgate? I'm confused to say the least as my impression is that the track is rated so low the only way round it is to attach to the body.
Does this make sense? Help!
Thanks, Sarah

 

[Patio]

3rd gen 4Runner Roof Rack Bars for RTT

Here is what I made for mine:

 

[Sleam]

Thanks Patio, great pictures. From the research I did, it said the factory tracks are limited to only 100#s, had you heard that? Perhaps I can do a mix of the two yakima bars attached to the body above the doors and also make a third one at the back using the installed track? Hmm, I'll let you know how it goes. (the tent is some 80 inches long by the way).
s

 

[4eigner]

Thanks Patio, great pictures. From the research I did, it said the factory tracks are limited to only 100#s, had you heard that? Perhaps I can do a mix of the two yakima bars attached to the body above the doors and also make a third one at the back using the installed track? Hmm, I'll let you know how it goes. (the tent is some 80 inches long by the way).
s

It's not the tracks/rails which are the weak link, but the factory cross bars. I think they are limited somewhere between 100-150 lbs.

 

[Sleam]

100#s but got to know about the rails, thanks!

 

[4eigner]

100#s but got to know about the rails, thanks!

So are you looking for a static (parked) or dynamic (driving) load? What gen are you working with here? 3rd gen crossbars have a sticker stating 165# weight limit (most likely dynamic). If the cross bars take that much load, the rails must be able to take more.

My load is spread over 8 points across the rails and has accommodated to 400+ lbs in a static condition with no noticeable ill-effect.

edit: I see you're referring to a 2nd gen. I don't know if they're using the same rails as 3rd gens, or if the roof can support the same amount of weight.

 

[Sleam]

Yep, like I'd said, it's a 95, so a 2nd gen, static load of 100#s unfortunately! Its not designed for more so i'm hoping the combination of yakima racks at the doors and factory at the rear will work together. I'll post photos over the weekend of what I come up with, thanks for the info though, s