Moveable rooftop tent on roofrack

[offroadbiker]

So this is a question for the smart/practical people out there.

I am looking for a sulotion on how to mount a rooftoptent to my roofrack, but be able to move the tent forward and backwards as the need arises without having to drill a new set of holes for every 10cm I might want to move the tent......

[MarkASmith]

Hi Dirk.

I would think the easiest would be to install a slider rail beween you roof rack (assuming you have a full length rack) and the base of the tent. Then fit spring loaded locking pins to lock it in place in the position you require. Only thing that may be a problem is dust but you could make a rail using carpet rather than bearing. This is how I have installed my solar panels under my roofrack but this will be more difficult to slide due to the friction.

Good luck,
Mark

Mark

[ricster]

Dirk,

You can get aluminium extrusion like this. I am going to do this to fit my RTT on my roofrack ( one day when I get some damn time ). If you get two of the same length running from front to back, then if the RTT needs to move forwards or backwards its just a matter of loosening the slide bolts that connect the RTT to the channel. The bolt will then slide in the channel ( with a bit of a push I think ). I think this will be the easiest way. unless you want ot buy some fancy shmancy gadget with a big price tag.

50x50 Ali Extrusion.jpg (252.37 KiB) Viewed 3362 times

50x50 Ali Extrusion 2.jpg (284.25 KiB) Viewed 3362 times

[ricster]

found a pic with the bolts...

50x50 Ali Extrusion 1.jpg (263.65 KiB) Viewed 3360 times

[offroadbiker]

Looks like a plan - BUT....

What size bolts can this extrusion take? would think that one cant go smaller than an 8mm bolt on a roofrack to ensure it is properly "tied" down?

Following that, one then needs to open the tent, remove the matress and floor and then loosen the 4 nuts, and then slide the tent where one wants it? Sound like it can work

When are we doing this

[ricster]

What size nuts you have..... I mean what size bolts you need.... Not too sure, but depending on how your RTT looks on the underside can make it a little easier. Mine has a steel square tubing frame attached to the RTT. This I believe is to mount it to a trailer lid. On this steel framework there is a flat plate with two holes each side where the bolt from the aluminium extrusion fits into. That is what hold the RTT to the extrusion. I seriously doubt that it will fall off. I've had mine fitted with only 4 smaller bolts and done Rust de Winter, Serindipity and a few other challenging places without ANY issues. I'm not an engineer, but with that in mind the only forces on a RTT are wind sheer forces and a minimal amount of flex and that's pretty much it. So unless you have a head on collision where I doubt some serious bolts would even pass the test you should be ok.

When are we doing this..... hmmm the time she is running fast fast away.

[Tinus lotz]

I look at these plans and think.....very cool ....but there are still runners ect in the way of the rest of the rack.....so ....drill 4 holes for position 1 and 4 holes for position 2 easy ...bolts down to roof rack witch eliminates movement between stuff ect .....are there really so many diff places to move the tent to?
Of one locks the bolts in place with thin nuts only need to undo the nuts at bottom of rrack lift it out the holes and move to next posision probably easier for me becouse iam tall but way less complicated. ......... this is just my

[ricster]

something like this ....

50x50 extrusion roofrack.jpg (419.7 KiB) Viewed 3340 times

[offroadbiker]

So where can one source this extrusion?

Tinus my tent is to heavy to lift in the air so dont want to go that way.

Once again thinking of the two tents hear, but if only one is on then I can move the other tent to a more suitable position, or if one wants to fit water of jerry's on top depending on the needs....

[ricster]

What length would you need?
What height would you need?

My roof rack has a railing around it so I need the bottom of my RTT to be flush with the top of the roof rack rail to allow the tent to open fully.
My rail is about 100mm high and the square tubing frame takes up about 45mm so I'd need a 55 - 60mm extrusion on mine.
If you give me the sizes I'll ask swambo to see what price she can get from work. She works for Tectra Automation and they use a lot of these types of extrusions for the robotics etc.

Let me know