Permanently mount hard shell RTT in the Southwestern US, issues with UV?

[BagiMT]

I just got a hard sheel roof top tent (ABS shell) and was wondering how many of you mount them permanently on your vehicle with the vehicle parked outside (don't have a garage). The sun in the Southwestern US (SoCal and Arizona) is intense so I wonder if that would damage the shell over time. Or do people apply any UV protection to the shell? But maybe I am overthinking this as many parts of cars are also plastic and they hold up well for over 20 years.

 

[ttengineer]

Put a ceramic coating, vinyl wrap, or plastidip on it.


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[TheDesertRat]

I have a CVT Mt. Hood RTT, which is aluminum, but I also permanently mounted it on my SnugTop shell. I did not want the sun beating down on my RTT when it is parked in the driveway in NorCal. I purchased a custom made cover from this company: https://www.coversandall.com/

I used the dimensions of the shell and chose the strongest material, the CoverTuff, used the standard drawstring corners, but had grommets every 12 inches to attach bungies during windy weather.

 

[BagiMT]

Thanks, might need to consider plastidip. The tarp would be fine if the vehicle was mostly parked, but it is still a daily driver so the tarp might not be too great for that.

 

[continentaldrifter]

plasti-dip wont work, a wrap may hold up but would be pricey and a pain to replace every 5 years.....imo, what TheDesertRat did is a GREAT idea as it completely covered and out of the sun, plus stays clean, GREAT IDEA

 

[rruff]

I just got a hard shell roof top tent (ABS shell) and was wondering how many of you mount them permanently on your vehicle with the vehicle parked outside (don't have a garage).

Paint the top white... no worries.

If you are worried about the ABS overheating, I don't think the cover will help a lot... unless it's white.

 

[TheDesertRat]

Thanks, might need to consider plastidip. The tarp would be fine if the vehicle was mostly parked, but it is still a daily driver so the tarp might not be too great for that.

I added bungie cords front to back and side to side and driving with it locally isn't a problem. But I typically take the cover off on long trips just to keep the wear down on the cover.

 

[calicamper]

Yep paint has uv blockers in it. Paint it

 

[dstefan]

I live in Phoenix. Not on a RTT, but for lots of other plastic or vinyl, I’ve had good luck with 303 applied several times a year.