Rooftop tents x2

Q&A: Stuff to make your trips and camping more comfortable.
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Re: Rooftop tents x2

Post by Peter Connan »

Dirk, when faced with this same dilemma I manufactured my own big rooftop tent.

It is 2.45 x 2.1m, and accomodates my family of four quite comfortably, and I have enough space left on my rack for three jerry cans and a gas bottle. Add to that the hi-lift jack and awning already on the rack, and you can see that I have a lot more weight on my roof than any recomended figure you will find anywhere, and I have not had any issues. Despite travelling far too fast on very rough roads.

That's around 190kg when travelling, and another 270kg when the family is in the tent.
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Re: Rooftop tents x2

Post by offroadbiker »

Peter Connan wrote:Dirk, when faced with this same dilemma I manufactured my own big rooftop tent.

It is 2.45 x 2.1m, and accomodates my family of four quite comfortably, and I have enough space left on my rack for three jerry cans and a gas bottle. Add to that the hi-lift jack and awning already on the rack, and you can see that I have a lot more weight on my roof than any recomended figure you will find anywhere, and I have not had any issues. Despite travelling far too fast on very rough roads.

That's around 190kg when travelling, and another 270kg when the family is in the tent.
190+270=460kg :surprised:

Taking those weights into consideration I should then be able to put two rooftop tents on without any problems.

Going to the Beeld show this weekend, will see what is available and clime into a few to look at what sizes will be comfortable.

Was thinking of getting a jerry can fitted to the "small" back door if necesarry otherwise will have to look at long range tank, need to speak to Ben to hear if a landcruiser tank can be fitted to a Patrol as I can get my hands on one of those.
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Re: Rooftop tents x2

Post by Alex Roux »

Peter Connan wrote:Dirk, when faced with this same dilemma I manufactured my own big rooftop tent.
....That's around 190kg when travelling, and another 270kg when the family is in the tent.
Hi Piet
Do you think the GQ's roof is stronger than the GU?

I am not 100% sure whether in your case your campers:
a) sleep in line with the car (with half of them on the side of the car and not all campers' weight on the roof)?
or
b) sleep perpendicular to the car (all campers having most of their weight on the roof)?

Can option (a) be done with a ladder strong enough to act as a pillar? Else perhaps with additional support from those pillars that the alluminium gazebos have?
This would be something I will definitely want to consider (for the Kgalegadi Lions)
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Re: Rooftop tents x2

Post by offroadbiker »

Was thinking the same thing, if one knows that the weight might be a bit "suspect" on the roof, what hinders one from sleeping -wrong way round- so that the upper body is on the part of the tent that folds open and is not directly on the roof.

If I fit the one tent to open over the bonnet and the ladder rest on the bumper of the GQ I am sure that it will be able to carry the weight of two people?

The two tents themselves is not a problem as they come in far below the the recomended weight on their own.

Will pose these questions to the manufacturers this weekend as well.....
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Re: Rooftop tents x2

Post by IanT »

Option 3! I have what they call a spider frame it clips onto your roof rack and bolts into your RTT, and has four legs that come in a bag, the idea behind it is when you reach camp you put on the legs drive the patrol out from underneath and it is self supporting (you can even sleep in it with the legs down so no weight on the roof! ) I paid R1500 (second hand last year) I think new they are about R3500 to R4000, If you are interested I will let it go for what I paid for it
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Re: Rooftop tents x2

Post by IanT »

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Re: Rooftop tents x2

Post by ricster »

That is friggin awesome.... not cheap ( for the new one I mean).... but great idea
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Re: Rooftop tents x2

Post by offroadbiker »

IanT wrote:Option 3! I have what they call a spider frame it clips onto your roof rack and bolts into your RTT, and has four legs that come in a bag, the idea behind it is when you reach camp you put on the legs drive the patrol out from underneath and it is self supporting (you can even sleep in it with the legs down so no weight on the roof! ) I paid R1500 (second hand last year) I think new they are about R3500 to R4000, If you are interested I will let it go for what I paid for it
Ian do you have pic where u have used it?

What size tent can it take?

It will fit on GQ?

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Re: Rooftop tents x2

Post by IanT »

No, never had a chance yet to put it together tent and the frame are still lying in my factory. My idea was that I would put it together and leave it erected at my factory then just reverse in clip it on and away I go. (my patrol does not fit into my garage with a RTT)
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Re: Rooftop tents x2

Post by IanT »

Sorry did not read the rest of your questions, It can be fitted to any size RRT and yes it would fit the GQ
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