Why are most RTTs located as far to the rear of the vehicle as possible?

[aleks77]

Hey guys just started noticing that most RTTs are located at the very rear of the vehicle/roof rack. I have mine set-up right in the middle, that way the weight is distributed more evenly and also I have room in the rear of to place jerry cans on the roof rack. Just curious what are the pro/cons for running the RTT as far to the rear as possible? Thanks!

Pic of my setup;

 

[UK4X4]

middle here...or at least was....

Others though with the swb landcruisers with the side opening doors had theirs opening to the rear to act as an awning, cover

 

[MANUCHAO]

ours used to be on the rear to minimize wind noise...
Cowichan Lake, VI

Atigun Pass

Now with the columbus although it takes the whole rack.. its much lighter and no wind noise
Eastern Sierras

 

[java]

Mine is all the way forward. I can fit a little stuff behind it that way, but its not a very big rack.

 

[fike]

I noticed with my Maggiolina on my Forester that it actually is very un-aerodynamic because the front extends past the top of the windshield. This makes it so that all the air deflected off the front and hood of the car is rammed up into the bottom of my rooftop tent. The result is that I have a cr@pload of bug guts on the bottom of the tent, and I think my fuel economy suffers for this situation. I think it would be far more aerodynamic if I could have it further back. I have considered making some sort of air-dam to shed wind off to the sides, but it just looks like it would be way too klugey to work well.

soooo...I think farther back probably impacts fuel economy a bit less.

 

[Martyn]

More aerodynamic the further back it is.

 

[stevil]

I would like to mount my rtt towards the middle, but my gobi rack can't accommodate it... Yet. Im running a Jeep unlimited. My main reason for wanting to move it forward is so the annex falls between the wheel wells.

 

[lostworldexpedition]

I placed it further back so that my Pelican could be in front of it to deflect branches and bugs... aerodynamics? Who would I kid... I drive an unstoppable heavy diesel brick on wheels

 

[1leglance]

I tried moving my RTT around the roof rack of my FJ cruiser.
The front was a great option and I had the ladder come down in front of my ARB bullbar.
However a buddy who had a changing room under his tent liked it off the back to enclose that area.

 

[dstock]

I would like to mount my rtt towards the middle, but my gobi rack can't accommodate it... Yet. Im running a Jeep unlimited. My main reason for wanting to move it forward is so the annex falls between the wheel wells.

If you get the accessory bars for the Gobi you can mount it where ever you want.