Rack ideas for maggiolina?

[RttH]

I have my Maggiolina Extreme RTT mounted on 3 Yakima crossbars on my Montero. It all fits. Problem is that the 6 towers where they hold the bars are a few millimeters higher and are causing wear spots on the base of the tent. I am considering rubber pads of some sort but this would be temporary as they would wear out.

I have been looking at Frontrunner racks but I think the cross pieces where I would mount the rack look too wide for the tent mounts.

Baja racks has a wonderful rack too, but its too narrow for the tent to fit into.

Anyone have any ideas? I could look into Thule cross bars, but like the idea of a rack too.

Thanks everyone in advance!

 

[BIGdaddy]

I have my Maggiolina Extreme RTT mounted on 3 Yakima crossbars on my Montero. It all fits. Problem is that the 6 towers where they hold the bars are a few millimeters higher and are causing wear spots on the base of the tent. I am considering rubber pads of some sort but this would be temporary as they would wear out.

I have been looking at Frontrunner racks but I think the cross pieces where I would mount the rack look too wide for the tent mounts.

Baja racks has a wonderful rack too, but its too narrow for the tent to fit into.

Anyone have any ideas? I could look into Thule cross bars, but like the idea of a rack too.

Thanks everyone in advance!

i've got our maggiolina on thule's. no wear spots, great system

 

[RttH]

Thanks! I am seriously considering switching to Thule but have both cars all set up with Yakima. I like the idea of having a little storage space next to the tent on the roof, so I was looking at racks too.

Thule may be the answer. I'll see if anyone has any rack ideas first. If not then Thule it is.

 

[Corey]

BajaRacks is about three weeks or so away from releasing a rack specifically designed for the Maggiolina tents.
I am getting one as my tent sits way to high on the factory FJ rack.

I last wrote Sergio whether the new rack will have built in crossbars to attach the tent too, or if I will have to add back my Yakima bars.
I have not heard back from him yet on this.

 

[RttH]

Awesome! Mike S at Autohomeus mentioned this also but wasn't sure of a time line either. I am liking this idea as I would like to be able to throw a few items on top (i.e. dirty shovels, etc...) instead of inside. I will be waiting patiently!

 

[R_Lefebvre]

My trailer which has a Mag on top, has 2 1x2 steel tube cross supports for the tent. I put 1" wide foam rubber weatherstrip tape on top of the bars, then the tent on top.

 

[Mike S]

One simple solution is an 1/8" thick hard rubber of poly/teflon pad between the mounting rail and the cross bar. Or you could simply use an additional mounting plate in the same position. This lifts the tent JUST enough to clear the top strap on the Yakima brossbar. Thos bears only against the mounting rail on the bottom of the tent, so isolates the fiberglass bottom from contact.

I do not have a firm date from Sergio on the Baja Rack Maggiolina/Columbus specific rack system. We loaned him an Extreme after the OEX event on Prescott. I spoke at length with him there asking for some specific features and two sizes - small and medium, including a rack that would replace the OEM FJ Cruiser rack. We'll see what happens.

M

 

[RttH]

Thanks everyone. I will apply some sort of padding for now and wait to see Baja's new rack.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Hey Mike, so my foam idea wasn't a bad one? wasn't sure if it would make it unstable. I'm not sure how much to cinch down on the bolts since all the foam can compress quite a bit. I guess I could have gone thinner (I think 1/2" thick) but I also needed to compensate due to the tubes not being perfectly straight due to some welding distortion.

 

[MuddyOval]

I ran mine inside a 'stretched' Garvin Wilderness rack. The tent was surrounded completely by side rails so it was protected from off-camber tree contact. The ladder hooked right to the rack for tent use. I glued bicycle inner tubes along the rails under the tent so the tent sat on rubber.

 

[RttH]

Thats ironic, thats exactly what I was going to do. I had cut up bicycle inner tubes before because my Yakima Load warrior basket would rub on the roof of the truck.

 

[Corey]

Stand by for pics coming tomorrow
My new BajaRack designed for the Maggiolina type tents was shipped last Tuesday, and has landed at my dealer yesterday for an installation this Wednesday.

I ordered it through Mike at www.autohomeus.com

You can see the difference here.
First pic is mine on the stock rack, second and third pic is Sergio's FJ with the rack and Frenchie's Maggiolina tent on it.
Check out the difference in height.
This will make a huge difference going down the highway.

I will update this thread and my buildup thread with pics, and eventually my website.

Awning brackets will be installed too to let the Campinglab awning work with the rack.

((Shoot, to many windows open here at break time
I thought I was updating a discussion much like this one over at the big FJ site. ))

 

[RttH]

I did go ahead and do the Thule bars. It is working well, though I wish it sat lower. I saw Mike's Baja Rack with Maggiolina at the Expo and it looked really nice, I also saw Roseann's Land cruiser with Maggiolina mounted on a Frontrunner that looked awesome too. I am considering both options as I would like to mount an awning and my hi-lift. Or I may save my $$ and keep the Thule for now and focus on drawers and a fridge. Lots to ponder! Thanks!

 

[Corey]

Pics added today from my installation.
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41224