Maggiolina AirLand on stock rack?

[97kurt]

Well I pulled the trigger and ordered the Maggiolina AirLand roof top tent from Rogue safe in Oregon. With any luck I will have it next week. I got the small model and actually got a pretty nice deal on it.

Anyways, I've heard of people using the factory racks to mount the tent to but I wanted to confirm that this is an accepted way to mount it. I have a 97 Limited 4runner with two factory cross bars. Would it be wise to locate a 3rd bar or should I be fine with the stock system?

 

[Mike S]

We recommend

Kurt

Congratulations! You are going to like the AirLand tent.

We recommend that you NOT use the factory crossbars. This is general advise regarding all factory crossbars and not a shot at Toyota - I love Toyotas - especially my FZJ80.

We have put a lot of tents on 4runners. The best rack for the job is a Thule 450 Crossroads system with 58" load bars (later 4runners). Earlier 2runners use the same system, but with 50" load bars. I recommend 3 load bars if you are going off highway (of course you are!) with the distance between the front and rear bar no more than 50" - not critical, but up to this limit more is better.

4runner with Maggiolina Airland (closed) and Thule 450 system...

And with the tent open...

 

[97kurt]

I went with the Thule 430 and 50" bars. Only 2 bars. So far so good.

 

[Mike S]

I went with the Thule 430 and 50" bars. Only 2 bars. So far so good.

You are looking good, Ghostrider...

 

[Super Doody]

Kurt

Congratulations! You are going to like the AirLand tent.

We recommend that you NOT use the factory crossbars. This is general advise regarding all factory crossbars and not a shot at Toyota - I love Toyotas - especially my FZJ80.

We have put a lot of tents on 4runners. The best rack for the job is a Thule 450 Crossroads system with 58" load bars (later 4runners). Earlier 2runners use the same system, but with 50" load bars. I recommend 3 load bars if you are going off highway (of course you are!) with the distance between the front and rear bar no more than 50" - not critical, but up to this limit more is better.

4runner with Maggiolina Airland (closed) and Thule 450 system...

And with the tent open...

Just curious why Thule? Aren't yakimas with round bars stronger?

 

[97kurt]

Its possible they are stronger but they were also more expensive from what I saw. Also the mounting hardware for the tent looks like it would work best with a square tube.

 

[Scott Brady]

Nice looking 4Runner

 

[DaveInDenver]

Nice looking 4Runner

Yeah, I like the way it says 'Toyota' on the grill. Old school.

 

[kcowyo]

Looks like ExPo member, SinCity4r's set up.

I'm liking the 4th Gen's more and more.....

 

[Super Doody]

Its possible they are stronger but they were also more expensive from what I saw. Also the mounting hardware for the tent looks like it would work best with a square tube.

Gotcha.

I was talking to a thule sales rep. He said that retail prices for thule and yakima are almost identical. I got luckly with my yakima roof rack. I got everything 40% because the sporting good store was going out of business.