Questions regarding RTT and COG

[outdoornate65]

Hey folks...

My interest in a RTT (Maggie vs Columbus) has recently gone from simmer to low boil.
I flirted with the idea of an adventure trailer but hate the thought towing/stowing/owing even a small Chaser-type trailer.

So for now, I'm hoping to make my 2008 4-Runner into a more capable adventure rig as well as continuing to be my daily driver.

I do have a concern regarding safety and the COG:

I already have a 3" lift on my rig....am I flirting with dangerous COG issues putting
a 100# Maggie up there? As I mentioned, this is also my daily driver.

The other PITA about the addition of a RTT is that my rig will not fit in the garage after I install the tent up there. I'm not one of those folks that likes to leave my vehicle outside if possible so I'd probably have to look at bumping the entrance height for my garage 6" or so.....not a huge deal but a big factor in this decision.

Thoughts....advice???

Thanks,

Nate

 

[jbird]

I think the cog change affects off road more than daily driving. Auto homes ride better than my eezi awn IMO. I think the garage is your biggest issue, how tall is your ceiling, will it leave enough room for your opener, etc.

 

[lwg]

Honestly I don't think it matters as much as you think. The biggest issue with a RTT isn't really the low speed off-road stuff as you'll likely still be able to tilt the truck much more than your comfortable with, it's the high speed stuff. The extra weight of any RTT will cause extra vehicle sway in the corners and such. I'm lucky in that my particular vehicle has what is more or less a hydraulic sway bar and keeps things nice and level, and then it basically automatically disconnects when off-road.

Regarding the Maggiolina versus the others, the only advantage the Maggiolina might have is that it's full length and thus would distribute the weight a little more evenly. They are all more or less the same weight at 100+ lbs depending on the size.

 

[outdoornate65]

Yes the garage issue will be a pain in the posterior. Thankfully I have an unfinished garage with a peaked roof that will allow for the possible modification. Just need to bump the header up 6" and scab in some new cripple studs. Hoping to be able to just add another panel to the existing garage door.

I'm assuming the AutoHome models are WAY more aerodynamic than say the soft-cover offerings?

 

[ssssnake529]

Get the Columbus Carbon and you can knock the weight down to under 90 pounds. Mount it on 3 Thule bars, and you save the weight of a full roof rack. Don't keep the RTT on the vehicle all the time if it's your daily driver. Just keep the RTT attached to the Thule bars, and store it in your garage. When attached to the Thule bars, it's not that hard to put on and take off of your rig. (10 minute job for 2 people.)

This is what I do with my Land Cruiser. The only downside is that the carbon fiber versions of the Autohome tents are a lot of money.

 

[outdoornate65]

SSSSnake....

Is that a Foxwing awning on your rig?

Love your set-up.

Nate

 

[xpdishn]

Put a RTT on about 8 months ago and haven't even noticed any difference in driving on pavement or off. Been on some fairly extreme off camber stuff and still didn't notice anything. I have OME medium on so its about a 2-3" lift.

I did have to remodel my shop to an 8' door from 7' though. Now I can get it out of the burning sun.

Good luck on whatever you do.

 

[Corey]

Get the tent as low as possible.
I ran my Maggiolina for two years on the stock FJ Cruiser rack on four Yakima crossbars, tent was to high, and I got knocked around a lot on the highway going South (home) with a wind coming out of the South.

A BajaRack model MG (they replaced that rack with the Utility rack now) was put on spring of 2010, and that lowered the tent down several inches, so it handles better now on the highway.

My tent stays on full time, so adding the new rack was a blessing.

Check with BajaRack to see is they have one for your rig.
http://www.bajarack.com/toyota-4runner

 

[ssssnake529]

Yep, it's a Foxwing. I love it.

SSSSnake....

Is that a Foxwing awning on your rig?

Love your set-up.

Nate

 

[AxeAngel]

I've rolled my truck before - it is not a fun experience and it happens easier than you might think....

-Sam

 

[outdoornate65]

I've rolled my truck before - it is not a fun experience and it happens easier than you might think....

-Sam

Am I to assume that increased COG was at play in the accident?
Would the rollover have happened regardles?

 

[AxeAngel]

Am I to assume that increased COG was at play in the accident?
Would the rollover have happened regardles?

No roof rack, no RTT.

Truck slid slightly and very slowly(very slowly) off the road toward an embankment. Once the contour changed it rolled. The slid was very slow but I was amazed that the truck rolled that easily, I was expecting to pucker and think "oh crap", that never happened.

Fortunately I was out with 4 other people from this forum that helped the recovery.

-Sam

 

[Lemsteraak]

Hope you don't mind me chiming in. I'm not associated with any rooftent manufacturers now.

My biggest concern eons ago when we were first bringing in the AutoHome tents was high speed stability and safety in an accidents. AutoHome had a trick way of mounting that worked with sport bars instead of only with baskets, so they shed about 90 pounds making them practical for any vehicle. AM General did two "sled" tests, simulated 45 MPH collisions with Maggiolinas. The tents passed. What was interesting was that the tents slid on their mountings about 2 inches to help soften the shock.

Frenchie called me a few years back, he was rear ended by a guy doing over 100 totaling his Cherokee. My first question was "what type of tent would you like next?" but he said his Extreme rode through the accident well and wasn't hurt. I think one of us mere mortals would have rolled the rig. The tent slid back a couple inches indicating the power of the impact. So, I feel good about having friends drive around with AutoHome tents. Frenchie invited to ride with him in Moab and another trip through Mexico. I was very interested in seeing how stable his lifted Cherokee handled 140 pound of Maggiolina Extreme. He explained that he could go anywhere he would go normally and proved it. A few times I had to "stretch my legs" when he was negotiating some really nasty bits.

I do have a few suggestions.

The mattresses in AutoHome tents are really heavy, I took the mattress out of my medium Columbus and it was over 35 pounds. That means that tent only weighs 75 - 80 pounds and for a roof box, that is extremely light. So, take the mattress out before you take the tent off the vehicle and it will make it much easier. Same applies if you are keeping the tent on full time, use the mattress as a spare bed.

Second, get a smaller tent. Bigger isn't always better, think of it like a sleeping bag, get just what you need. Especially if you keep the tent on full time. Yes, it is hard, the bigger ones are only a hundred or so bucks more. The Carbon tents are nice, yeah I got one, but the difference is strength, and a bit of flash, yeah and they are really light.

Oh, regarding the garage door height problem. Sometimes you can squeak through if you have a slanted approach to the garage. I was helping a friend with a Maggiiolina and his rig measured 3 inches higher than the door opening. Because the grade was steep enough and the tent's roof was curved, he had about an inch to spare, the rear tires were low enough while entering the garage. It's a geometry thing.

I could go on but the stories get progressively more boring......

Rich H.