How many rack bars should I have under my Maggiolina?

[doubleb]

Hi,

I'm new to the RTT world and I just purchased a used Maggiolina. I have two bars on my rig right now, but should I consider three? The tent is a small and it would need to support two adults.

Thanks for the help,
Brian

 

[BIGdaddy]

we always just used two, but three couldn't hurt.

I'm a big dude, at 260lbs, with a small wife, though, just for reference.

 

[STREGA]

I think the big thing is having support on the sides where the ladder connects to the Mag. Your wieght going up/down on the ladder can cause small spider cracks in the fibreglass if it is not supported well. I would want three cross bars at least. I'am sure Mike from Autohome will chime in here with what they would like to see.

 

[Corey]

I was told three to four by Mike a few years back.
I ran four Yakima bars on my factory rack, and now I have a dedicated rack made for the Maggiolina, so it is a different type setup.

Here is the info though from AutoHome's site.
http://autohomeus.com/info/faq.php#strong

Is my vehicle's roof strong enough to carry the tent and occupants?

AutoHome tents are designed to mount simply on a couple of Thule, Yakima or other aftermarket crossbars, the same as you would use to carry your bicycles, canoe or kayak.
The rack system transfers the weight to the structural parts of your car's roof. All roof racks carry a dynamic weight rating, to provide guidance on the tested limitations of the rack system when the vehicle is in motion. Most racks carry a maximum 165 pound dynamic rating, which means the rack can support 165 pounds of weight while driving down the road. AutoHome tents weigh between 73 and 155 pounds, so the rack system can easily handle the weight on most vehicles. When you are occupying to tent, this is a "static load", much more gentle and the racks can easily handle this weight. Always check with the manufacturer of your car and of your roof rack to determine the applicable weight limitations as they vary from vehicle to vehicle.

 

[Harald Hansen]

My dealer told me two is sufficient, but I sure feel better with three under there.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

we always just used two, but three couldn't hurt.

Well, it could. If you have more than 2 bars, you need to make absolutely sure that they are flat straight across. If you have 3 bars, and one of them is higher or lower than the other 2, it will be attempting to bend the base of the tent when when you clamp it down. Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but felt it should be mentioned.

I am only using 2 bars on my Maggiolina, because that's all they said it needed. Mind you, mine are quite strong, 1x2" 1/8" wall tubing. If I was using lightweight roof rack bars, I might feel different. The base of the tent is a lamination of 1" foam between two layers of fiberglass. That's a massively stiff construction.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Well, it could. If you have more than 2 bars, you need to make absolutely sure that they are flat straight across. If you have 3 bars, and one of them is higher or lower than the other 2, it will be attempting to bend the base of the tent when when you clamp it down. Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but felt it should be mentioned.

I am only using 2 bars on my Maggiolina, because that's all they said it needed. Mind you, mine are quite strong, 1x2" 1/8" wall tubing. If I was using lightweight roof rack bars, I might feel different. The base of the tent is a lamination of 1" foam between two layers of fiberglass. That's a massively stiff construction.

mine were thule bars...not sure of the wall thickness.

You always make me remember to qualify my responses rob...haha!...good point with them being straight.

Two bars would allow for a bit of "not straightness" but three bars would in fact amplify the effect of a bowed bar. I see that. Its my opinion that the maggiolina can take it, but then again, we took mostly gravel and asphalt roads with ours, WAY offroad might cause some problems.

:coffeedrink:

 

[RttH]

I am running 4 Thule's. It appears very flat and even before I tightened it down. Also I like that the weight on the truck is divided more evenly with 8 contact points. When I previously ran 3 Yakima's I got a lot of squeaking up there.

 

[Mike S]

The Maggiolina does not require more than two bars.

That said, if you are contemplating a GUTTER MOUNT for your cross bars, we like to see three cross bars. This better distributes the weight of the tent across the gutters, and in rough traveling will help prevent the tower feet from damaging the caulking in the gutters. If the caulking is defeated, the gutters will leak water into the roof pillars and you will have corrosion starting inside the pillars.

Ask me how I know this...

 

[doubleb]

Thanks for the help!