Rooftop tent and camper shell

[jgatliff]

Hello everyone,
I am seriously interested in adding a rooftop tent to my 2013 toyota tundra. I have a leer camper shell with the Thule trackmount racks on its and I know that the suggested weight limit on the system wouldn't support the tent with my wife and I sleeping in it. I was wondering if there is an easy solution to adding more support to the camper shell so that I could add the RTT. I wish I could afford a flippac but it just isn't in the cards at the moment.

I know one option would be to add an external ladder rack but because my shell overlaps the bed I'd have to cut notched out of the lip and that isn't too appealing to me.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Jason

 

[k9lestat]

Assuming the shell is fiberglass, and knowing how, um, heavy i was when i had one on my old tacoma, i think if your rack can handle the weight you'll be fine.

I weighted about 300 pounds back then and stood on mine several times. With weight spread out like a rack or surface mount it wont even strain. just my opinion.

Sent from my QMV7A using Tapatalk

 

[MTaco]

If your rack was factory installed when you got it I would not hesitate putting a RTT on there. I have a Leer on my Tacoma with a factory installed Yakima rack and me, my wife and daughter (180+100+60=340) have slept in it close to 40 times in the last two years and it has held up just fine. I was very hesitant at first too but your shell will handle substantially more weight when it is parked rather that moving. Also the ladder takes some of the load off top.

 

[Titanpat57]

Addsome interior support ( at the cross bar locations) or use a "contractor" type rack that mounts to the bed but doesn't rest on the cap.

Kind of like an external frame for the tent and you guys.

 

[twincvcc]

So am I the only one that has thought about buying an XXL Thule box and using it for a roof top tent?

 

[Mike S]

Many of our customers (over 100 or more) have fitted tents to the tops of campers shells and. I have used tents on the standard ARE shell with a Yakima track system on my F350 with zero problems and no flexing at all.

I do not think you need to add bracing inside the shell to support the tent and occupants. A quality track system will assist in distributing weight on the camper.