Mount RTT parallel to roof rack rail

[jesperjes]

Hello

My roof top tent is installed so the opening is on the side of the car. Now I'm considering having the opening at the rear of the car. The issue is that the tents mounting rails will be running parallel to the roof rack rails. This means that I can't use the normal mounting brackets that comes with the tent.

Does anyone have an idea of what to do? I would love to see pictures.

I could turn the mounting rail 90 degrees on the tent but I would like to have both options.

 

[plh]

can't ya move the tent mount rails 90 degrees on a whim? Its 4 bolts if I remember correctly on mine. 10 minutes and that includes a coffee break.

 

[NatersXJ6]

I had a similar issue when turning my tent on my jeep. The provided rails were not long enough to span the distance between the roof rack rails. I ended up getting a piece of UniStrut (electricians use it for mounting conduit - ask at a home center or electrical supply shop).

The uninstrut easily bolted through my tent floor and onto the rails, I did a bit of welding and drilling to get it "right" but it was certainly workable only after cutting to length.

I agree, however, that turning rails is about 10 minutes work on my tents, unless you're doing something strangely.

 

[ennored]

Picking which way the rails bolt on is the first step in the directions I was looking at:

Smittybilt Owner's Manual

They need to be shorter if used one way vs. the other, hopefully your swap wouldn't need them longer....

 

[sdlivin]

X2 on the Unistrut. Use the smaller size and with some configuration, you will be able to mount the tent whichever way you want and not have to reposition your roof rack/unistruts. The smaller unistrut is a smaller height then the rails that are on the bottom of the tent. If you position your tent perpendicular to your roof rack the tent rails rest/bolts on the car racks, if parallel to your roof rack, the RTT sits on the unistrut. Your roof rack system with unistrut installed will look like a number sign #, at right angles.

Hope that makes sense, at least it does in my mind, I haven't built mine yet, but that is the plan.

 

[plh]

Picking which way the rails bolt on is the first step in the directions I was looking at:

Smittybilt Owner's Manual

They need to be shorter if used one way vs. the other, hopefully your swap wouldn't need them longer....

Biggest issue about having them longer than the base is getting access to the zipper when opening or closing the main cover and if you have an awning or removing the cover entirely is getting the sail strip into and out of the groove.

I have a brand new in box set of rails at full length if anybody needs them. I'll list in the for sale section soon. They are from Tepui but every seller is the same that I've seen, so will fit every tent.

 

[NatersXJ6]

Use caution with the smaller Unistrut. Check the engineering catalog for your span. I had concerns about the deflection and chose the 1-5/8" 12 ga for the 1000 lb load at 4' span with minimal deflection. Maybe overkill by a bit but when I have the whole family n the tent and moving around, I don't worry at all!

 

[jesperjes]

I'll try to find some unistruts.

...and you're right it can't be that big a problem to turn the rails

Thank you for your answers

Jesper

 

[steelhd]

Unistrut is just one brand of framing channel. Others are Superstrut, Powerstrut, B-Line, and probably several others along with some generic stuff. One brand (name brands anyhow) is as good as the next and designed to the same standards.

 

[NatersXJ6]

Good point. Mine is not actually Unistrut, as it is whatever Home Cheapo had on the rack. Saying Unistrut is sort of like saying Kleenex for facial tissues.

I would also add that buying the one without predrilled slots or holes makes the layout a lot easier, but then you know you have to drill!

 

[Mike S]

It is far simpler to detach the mounting rails on the tent and simply rotate them 90 degrees and re-fasten. We do this occasionally and it works without any issues.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

It is far simpler to detach the mounting rails on the tent and simply rotate them 90 degrees and re-fasten. We do this occasionally and it works without any issues.

Would that work with the mounting rails on something like a Maggionlina Grand Tourer? I'm considering mounting it to a Rhino Rack Pinoeer that has front to back oriented rails.