RTT on 2003 Z71 Tahoe

[Ironhead Jed]

recently purchased a 2003 z71 tahoe. I am in the design phase of a expedition trailer build but i already have my RTT and was wondering if anyone has put an RTT on the oem tahoe roof rack?

i believe the max capacity is 180lbs, and the RTT is ~140 by itself. i am around 240 and would probably have the gf with me as well.

seems like a bad idea, but it doesnt hurt to ask

RTT is a tepui autana sky

 

[rayra]

I'm pretty sure that capacity limit is about putting heavy dense objects on the roof skin directly, not for the rack itself. I've put a lot more weight than that on ours on holiday mountain ski trips. Big softside bags, cargo coffins. Weight distributed.

Some of us were talking about something related in the topic about painting the roof white for temp control, about adding a rack deck that would shade the vehicle roof. A deck or basket would let you put far heavier loads up there.

I've had the Z71 rack on my Sub dismantled this past winter to refurbish it, the front and rear footings are quite large under their shell caps, the load is quite distributed. You can put a lot more than 180-lbs up there, as long as it is borne by and spread across the rack.

But don't take my word for it. Someone must have done it already.


/as to the idea of a RTT 6.5' off the ground, hell no, makes my old joints / injuries ache just thinking about it.

 

[rayra]

http://z71tahoe-suburban.com/iboard/lofiversion/index.php?t39978.html

 

[Lykos]

I'm also of the opinion that three weight restriction is regarding concentrated weight.

The better you disperse the load the more weight you can bear. I used to drive and own flatbed tractor trailers. Ask me how I know.


That doesn't mean have only four vibrant points with the roof. Perhaps right spread over several feet...


I'm north of three hundred and have laid across plywood on the Yakima bars on my XJ without issue.

 

[Ironhead Jed]

thanks guys, just what i wanted to hear. looks like my tahoe will be base camp until i build an expo trailer