RTT weight limits?
- Thread starter Funrover
- Start date
Corey
OverCamping Specialist
I am not sure of the ladder rating, but I am around 220 right now.
Most tents are designed to hold a few people, so I would say quite a bit of weight.
My tent is very stable on the factory rack, and the ladder was stable as well.
I will add that I never slept better while out camping in all of my years as I did in the roof top tent.
Something about being up off the ground gives you a very secure feeling.
Most tents are designed to hold a few people, so I would say quite a bit of weight.
My tent is very stable on the factory rack, and the ladder was stable as well.
I will add that I never slept better while out camping in all of my years as I did in the roof top tent.
Something about being up off the ground gives you a very secure feeling.
UK4X4
Expedition Leader
Diferent tent manufacturers use diferent base materials
Most of the Southafrican use 1/2" marine ply
My venezuelan Mare is full aluminum frame and base
The chinese built ones have aluminum frames and foam inserts.
Need more support- add more structure, ie a standard one normally only needs two support rails but there's nothing to stop you using 3 or even 4.
I'm 220- the dogs 75 and the wifes 130....aluminum base with two support rails in a 1600mm wide- 60" RTT
Most of the Southafrican use 1/2" marine ply
My venezuelan Mare is full aluminum frame and base
The chinese built ones have aluminum frames and foam inserts.
Need more support- add more structure, ie a standard one normally only needs two support rails but there's nothing to stop you using 3 or even 4.
I'm 220- the dogs 75 and the wifes 130....aluminum base with two support rails in a 1600mm wide- 60" RTT
Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
RTT's are rated in the 600 lb region.
This weight should be shared out between two or three people. We have a lot of owners who or 250 lbs, and a lot of couples who weigh 500 lbs combined.
All of the tents made with ply bases have a support structure such as aluminum extrusion to take the load to the cross bars or rack.
This weight should be shared out between two or three people. We have a lot of owners who or 250 lbs, and a lot of couples who weigh 500 lbs combined.
All of the tents made with ply bases have a support structure such as aluminum extrusion to take the load to the cross bars or rack.
Funrover
Expedition Leader
Yeah I am 275... wife is a lot less... I have only climbed up one ladder on an RTT and it seemed wobbly... So I was a little scared
Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
I'd be more than happy to get specific information for the Eezi Awn tents for you.
There are many different ways of constructing ladders that are used by the different manufacturers, welded, riveted and gusseted, hardware attached etc. and I would think they all have different ratings.
The stability of the ladder is a function of it being anchored at a specific spot, and the angle the ladder.
My recommendation is the ladder be positioned at 15° from vertical away from the tent. If it is positioned at more of an angle the stress starts to bow the ladder, and the ladder has a tendency to want to slip out from under the tent. If it's less of an angle it's difficult to ascend and descend the ladder.
There are many different ways of constructing ladders that are used by the different manufacturers, welded, riveted and gusseted, hardware attached etc. and I would think they all have different ratings.
The stability of the ladder is a function of it being anchored at a specific spot, and the angle the ladder.
My recommendation is the ladder be positioned at 15° from vertical away from the tent. If it is positioned at more of an angle the stress starts to bow the ladder, and the ladder has a tendency to want to slip out from under the tent. If it's less of an angle it's difficult to ascend and descend the ladder.
Mike S
Sponsor - AutoHomeUSA
The ladders that we supply with our tents were tested at the AM General (Hummer) product testing lab according to rigorous American Ladder standards. They supported 800 lbs. (set up at 17 degrees from vertical on a Maggiolina mounted on a Hummer) before failure.
Bottom platforms should be structural - rigid enough to support occupants without significant deflection. Our Maggiolina and Columbus models employ a foam/fiberglass sandwich over 1" thick (similar to the hull of a Boston Whaler). This is a very strong and rigid platform. Our Fabric tents - OverLand, OverZone, OverCamp - use marine grade micro-lam ply, sheathed in pebble finish, high impact plastic, trimmed with aluminum, and a full width powder-coated steel extrusion supports the hinge area. We have had people cram as many as 5 people into an OverLand with no reported problems.
The rigidity of the bottom is very important to weight distribution on the rack system cross bars, and to the comfort of occupants (obviousy).
Bottom platforms should be structural - rigid enough to support occupants without significant deflection. Our Maggiolina and Columbus models employ a foam/fiberglass sandwich over 1" thick (similar to the hull of a Boston Whaler). This is a very strong and rigid platform. Our Fabric tents - OverLand, OverZone, OverCamp - use marine grade micro-lam ply, sheathed in pebble finish, high impact plastic, trimmed with aluminum, and a full width powder-coated steel extrusion supports the hinge area. We have had people cram as many as 5 people into an OverLand with no reported problems.
The rigidity of the bottom is very important to weight distribution on the rack system cross bars, and to the comfort of occupants (obviousy).
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Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
Mike, is the test similar to test done on trailer couplers, where the limit to the load is set at half the failure load?
In other words would your ladder have a 400 lb rating based on the 800 lb failure threshold?
By the way I've seen your ladders used as sand and snow ladders, and they work very well!
Lemsteraak
Adventurer
Martyn,
AM General has a separate test operation in Michigan and they were kind enough to share some of their findings with us. They actually put our tents through a series of tests, including their "sled" or crash test. The ladder was surprising to us how strong they were, they tested the tall alloy ladder for the Maggiolina, and as Mike described, it is a breaking or failure strength. The reality is that the tall alloy ladder for the Maggiolina and Columbus will flex and bend at about 250 pounds, especially at an extreme angle. The standard height ladder, the one you use on your trailers, is effectively stronger as the span isn't as great.
The ladders for the OverLand series and the OverCamp are different and stronger as these ladders acts as a compression struts as well as a ladder. You may have someone inside the tent as well as someone climbing up so the potential load could be greater.
My pet peeve about the ladder design on folders, as Mario knows, is that I consider many ladders to be a problem. They are designed for expedition use, namely camping in the rough. When you camp in a park, on the hard, the base of the ladder can potentially slide on a hard slick surface. Even if the ladder is strong, if it slides, it adds little support, the ladders really need to incorporate a idiotproof locking mechanism if they are sold to the general public. Martyn, this isn't really an issue for you at AT because you can engineer the tents to fit your trailer. I know from working with AutoHome that it isn't so easy for them as they don't know the application the tent will be used in and have to plan accordingly, and thus have locking mechanisms on all their folders they sell.
Bottom line, it isn't so much about the physical strength of the ladder, it is how well the ladder works with the tent that determines how safe it is.
I know, too much information, but your point about using the ladders as sand ladders is well taken. If you damage one of these ladders, you can repair them in the field without welding. Some of the old steel expedition ladders used to come back looking really bad from being driven over, the alloy ladders are a big improvement but cost about four times as much.
Rich Haslacher
AM General has a separate test operation in Michigan and they were kind enough to share some of their findings with us. They actually put our tents through a series of tests, including their "sled" or crash test. The ladder was surprising to us how strong they were, they tested the tall alloy ladder for the Maggiolina, and as Mike described, it is a breaking or failure strength. The reality is that the tall alloy ladder for the Maggiolina and Columbus will flex and bend at about 250 pounds, especially at an extreme angle. The standard height ladder, the one you use on your trailers, is effectively stronger as the span isn't as great.
The ladders for the OverLand series and the OverCamp are different and stronger as these ladders acts as a compression struts as well as a ladder. You may have someone inside the tent as well as someone climbing up so the potential load could be greater.
My pet peeve about the ladder design on folders, as Mario knows, is that I consider many ladders to be a problem. They are designed for expedition use, namely camping in the rough. When you camp in a park, on the hard, the base of the ladder can potentially slide on a hard slick surface. Even if the ladder is strong, if it slides, it adds little support, the ladders really need to incorporate a idiotproof locking mechanism if they are sold to the general public. Martyn, this isn't really an issue for you at AT because you can engineer the tents to fit your trailer. I know from working with AutoHome that it isn't so easy for them as they don't know the application the tent will be used in and have to plan accordingly, and thus have locking mechanisms on all their folders they sell.
Bottom line, it isn't so much about the physical strength of the ladder, it is how well the ladder works with the tent that determines how safe it is.
I know, too much information, but your point about using the ladders as sand ladders is well taken. If you damage one of these ladders, you can repair them in the field without welding. Some of the old steel expedition ladders used to come back looking really bad from being driven over, the alloy ladders are a big improvement but cost about four times as much.
Rich Haslacher
Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
On hard ground or pavement we run a ratchet strap back from the base of the ladder to the tire to hold it in place. It's an effective "expedition" solution.
I heard back from Eezi Awn the ladders have been tested to 750 kg or 1650 lbs.
As Rich said there are a lots of variables with ladders, including flex and angle, both related to each other.
A good rule of thumb for RTT's is: If you're fit and comfortable enough to climb the ladder it will work for you.
I heard back from Eezi Awn the ladders have been tested to 750 kg or 1650 lbs.
As Rich said there are a lots of variables with ladders, including flex and angle, both related to each other.
A good rule of thumb for RTT's is: If you're fit and comfortable enough to climb the ladder it will work for you.
Mike S
Sponsor - AutoHomeUSA
American Ladder standards vary according to application. The ladders used with RTTs are 'special purpose' ladders. A review of their testing requirements reveals that these are NOT rated - like the A frame ladder that you would buy at a hardware store. Further, they would be covered with various safety and operating labels containing a lot of legal language that the manufacturer's lawyers insist upon. In short, I believe that there are a series of tests, including stress/flex tests that test the deflection of a ladder when laid flat and bridging two sawhorses. I may have the test data somewhere, but probably archived.
Im am unfamiliar with African standards - the y may be the same or not. No idea.
Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
Mike
The African standards are quite complex.
They involve and Elephant, a Rhino, and a Meerkat using the ladder to cross a pit full of Boomslangs. It's all done blindfolded wearing Zebra striped leotards.
The main difference between the African Standard and the American Ladder standards is the use of the leotards. :wings:
Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
Eezi Awn got back to me with information on the load bearing capabilities of their tents.
They had done testing previously, fitting 10 people in a tent for a grand total of 1478 lbs. Nothing broke, buckled or collapsed.
For more information go to http://www.eeziawn.com/tentload.html
They had done testing previously, fitting 10 people in a tent for a grand total of 1478 lbs. Nothing broke, buckled or collapsed.
For more information go to http://www.eeziawn.com/tentload.html