Hard Shell Roof Top Tent on Ute

Hi all,

I'm back considering Roof Top tents again (I still like my centre pole touring tent).

I have had a look at the James Baroud Tents and can't really fault them except for the width. They would hang a fair way over my Hilux canopy. The tent is 1450mm wide and my roof rack is only 1236mm wide.

The Maggiolina's have an excellent reputation (other than the price). They have models that are 1300mm wide.

The question I have is that my Hilux has a steel canopy with Rhino Tracks and a Pioneer Roof Platform. The Roof Platform is 1236mm (W) * 1528mm (L). The Rhino Feet that are holding the platform are only about 1100mm apart.

This would mean that more than half the length of the roof top tent would not be supported. I estimate that 1M of the Roof Top Tent will be hanging over the platform. The last section of the platform that is supported by the Rhino feet is around 500mm from the front edge of the Rhino Platform.

My option is to have another Rhino Track installed on the Cabin part of the ute, this way the Roof top tent is fully supported. I have read that it's not advisable to fasten long loads between the Canopy section and the Cabin.

Does anyone have any experience with work arounds for securing long loads between the Cabin of a Ute and the Canopy?

This would be quite an expensive project and as I'm planning on keeping the vehicle for a long time it will be travelling the usual corrugated tracks and the last thing I want is issues.


Thanks in advance
Phil P