Tepui / Gobi / JK height considerations?

[NatersXJ6]

Hey all,

I have a question about overall rig height and balance / highway manners. I have a JKUR on the stock tires. It is not getting lifted.

Currently, my Tepui is mounted on the factory rails to the upper level of my Gobi rack. it works nicely, but deploying it requires a bit of stretching and acrobatics on tires and bumpers. I plan on solving that with the application of a small stepstool...

I would like to use the rack storage for the light and bulky stuff I haul, such as canvas chairs and plastic tables and such. One of the main items would be my fold up kitchen at about 7" thick. In order to make this work, I'm planning to mount the tent on drawer glides so I can pull them off the storage area. In order to make the system work, I need to build side brackets that will lift the bottom of he tent by at least 6". Given the cost of this setup, Im wondering if I'm making a poor choice and should just strap stuff on top when needed, saving the height when not.

Does anyone else raise he gear on top of their rig to that sort of height? Any photos or suggestions?

Thanks!

Nate

 

[Box Rocket]

If it were me I wouldn't raise the tent like you describe. The further away from the COG the tent is the more leverage and the greater the negative affect on vehicle dynamics. Also you already said it is somewhat difficult to open up the tent with the way it's mounted now. That will get even more difficult after raising it another 6", but maybe your stepstool solves all of that.
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Does your rack have room in front or behind the tent for your camp kitchen?

 

[NatersXJ6]

If it were me I wouldn't raise the tent like you describe. The further away from the COG the tent is the more leverage and the greater the negative affect on vehicle dynamics. Also you already said it is somewhat difficult to open up the tent with the way it's mounted now. That will get even more difficult after raising it another 6", but maybe your stepstool solves all of that.
.
Does your rack have room in front or behind the tent for your camp kitchen?

It would have plenty of room if there weren't 2 tents?...

I've been considering the vehicle dynamics issue quite a lot, but the reality is that the wrangler dynamics are pretty worthless to begin with, and 200 or so lbs on top versus 6" higher probably isnt making the difference between rubber up and rubber down... In most situations.

But, I came here for opinions, and certainly appreciate your input! I'm having the same thoughts, but then I think I'm probably over thinking it...

I'd like to see more collective input before I start going overboard and calculating stuff. Thanks everyone.

 

[ZMagic97]

Personally, I would mount the items elsewhere/up top when needed.

If you're very determined, I don't think your drawer sliders will create any issues. My 08 JK is a 2 door with 35s, 3" lift, Gobi stealth, and a Rubicon RTT (Same as the Tepui Ayer I believe) and it handles just fine on the highway. I just did a trip by myself in September from Goodyear, AZ to Silverton Co, Lake City, and then home with that setp-up. I will also be doing it again this May. The balance was fine. I could only see it becoming an annoyance in very windy conditions, which would just mean decreasing your highway speed.

My main concern/thoughts would be having slides strong enough to support the tent and an individual, and having an adequate way of locking it in position. You may have that thought out already.

Keeping my set-up in mind, I may be mounting my RTT more above the front of the rack for better weight. I haven't looked at where it is best mounted. I may also do so and face the ladder to the rear of the vehicle as to take off a lot of weight from the ladder. I'm still not sure...

 

[Yarjammer]

I understand your predicament Nate. I have a '12 JKU w/ 2.5" lift, 35's, Gobi and recently installed a Tepui Autana. My JKU is nearly 8' tall now and I haven't noticed anything adverse handling-wise since installing the RTT. It sways a tad more, but nothing that someone who doesn't drive it everyday would notice. I lost one MPG, but I expected that. I've always used my Jeep as a jungle gym to strap stuff down on my Gobi, so deploying and stowing the RTT didn't seem all that different to me although I did need to add a tether to the ladder.

Do you have the Gobi sunroof insert? You should be able to take advantage of the space in front of your RTT(s?) in that space. The insert can support in the neighborhood of 200lbs. I would recommend getting either good weatherproof boxes or bags/duffels (I use a SeaLine dry bags) depending on the size you get to put your "soft" items like linens or clothes in and strap them on the rack insert. At this point I consider the rack space under my RTT as dead space. I would then put your fold-up kitchen in the cargo area.

FWIW, I have toyed with the idea of having some riser blocks made that would elevate my RTT off the rails a few inches to make the space underneath accessible. The other, more logical and existing option is to buy a set of removable Gobi crossbars to mount the RTT to. This will make it less of a chore to remove the RTT entirely for those trips my wife insists on using our Kodiak ground tent as well as allowing me to undo one side of the crossbars to tilt the tent up to access the space underneath.

 

[NatersXJ6]

Project Suspended

I ended up chickening out on the drawer build for now. One of the issues was going to be the complexity of the entire deal in keeping and mounting it all square and right with the world.

Instead, I just cut some unistrut and ran it across the rack perpendicular to the vehicle centerline. It bolts on with spicer 1310 ujoint cap bolts really nicely. My issue was that I could only find perforated strut at home cheapo and it was Saturday, so no real electric suppliers open.

Anyway. A quick weld on of a small metal plate set it up for a bolt down nicely, and located the holes well too.

If I ever make it home in the daylight, I'll post up some pics. $50 plus 2 hours solved the issue I was having with the Gobi bar spacing!

The tent sits about 3/4" higher than it does with the Tepui factory crossbars.

I still can't really use the cargo rack.

 

[ZMagic97]

I'm excited to see the photos.