Qtn for fellow roof top tent owners

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 00:08
ThreadID: 68124 Views:4546 Replies:7 FollowUps:5
This Thread has been Archived
Hi all,
I have recently put a roof top tent on my 90 series. It is an ebay version however bears remarkable similarities to the ARB series 2.

I have concerns about the strength of the aluminum anchor points particularly when we hit the corrugations. The system used seems to be quite generic across a number of makes of roof top tents. There is essentially 4 bolts holding the entire tent on to the vehicle.

Has anyone else noticed this and made their own mods to strengthen it?

Anyone who wants to play the line about quality can forget about it, I have done plenty of research and they are all using the same or a very similar system. In fact, the worst set up I have seen so far was an ARB tent on an ARB ute at the ARB stand at the camping show.

Tim

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - Royce- Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 00:25

Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 00:25
Take it for a test run.
AnswerID: 361000

Follow Up By: Tim - Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 00:39

Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 00:39
Its been on for a few weeks and had a few good runs (4-5 hours on the highway) but its the 2 months at the cape/top end in July I am thinking about.
Tim
0
FollowupID: 628734

Reply By: obee1212 - Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 05:19

Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 05:19
we traveled with friends who had a rooftop tent and we did some pretty tough work. Maytown to laura and all the way to the top over bad corrugation. They and the tent setup survived. I would not worry too much.

We took the camper.

owen
AnswerID: 361004

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (Malanda FNQ) - Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 15:17

Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 15:17
Owen - Then did You drive the Old Coach Road with a camper van? Cheers Tony
0
FollowupID: 628814

Follow Up By: obee1212 - Friday, Apr 24, 2009 at 13:39

Friday, Apr 24, 2009 at 13:39
camper trailer. It was a bad year after a lot of rain (cylone) and we would not have made it without a bit of a tow in a couple of places. Nearly tipped over at one point and we had to separate the trailer and drag it up in stages with a length of rope. Took all day to get up on the flat and then we had to deal with a grass fire. It was hard work but I never regretted it.

Owen
0
FollowupID: 628970

Reply By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 07:46

Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 07:46
Tim,

I have an earlier model ARB pilbara which I mount directly onto a standard ARB full length roof rack (necessitating a ladder extension). I did away with the aluminium mounts all together for exactly the reasons you’ve articulated. Rather I have mounted the tent directly onto the top of the roof rack using 12wmm high density foam tape from Clarke Ruber as cushioning. Four x 7mm flat head bolts with 50 mm washers on top, direct through he top bars of the roof rack and Nylock nust beneath. It has certainly stood up to a couple of very rough trips I’ve thrown at it. My tent opens to the rear.

Cheers Mick.

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found
''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 361013

Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 08:55

Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 08:55
Tim

Is it the one from Hilltrack the blue/green looking one?
AnswerID: 361032

Follow Up By: Tim - Friday, Apr 24, 2009 at 08:54

Friday, Apr 24, 2009 at 08:54
Mine is the same colour as the one above on the patrol. That tent doesn't have the fly on in that pic and my fly and roof come out over the top of the ladder as well.
0
FollowupID: 628928

Follow Up By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Friday, Apr 24, 2009 at 09:03

Friday, Apr 24, 2009 at 09:03
ahh no worries

I got one of the ones from hilltrack and my ladder is not long enough :(
0
FollowupID: 628934

Reply By: The Landy - Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 12:17

Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 at 12:17
Hi Tim

Put my own channeling on top of the Landy and put bolts down through the floor of the tent unit....sturdy as.

Cheers
AnswerID: 361057

Reply By: Member - Greg T (ACT) - Saturday, Apr 25, 2009 at 15:30

Saturday, Apr 25, 2009 at 15:30
Hi Tim,
I have the simpson 2 ARB roof top tent. with two roof racks attaching it to the roof. iv been on some pretty serious corrigations and havnt had a single problem with the whole set up.
got some pics on my profile.

the 4 bolts shouold hold up fine
AnswerID: 361454

Reply By: tim_c - Monday, Apr 27, 2009 at 16:07

Monday, Apr 27, 2009 at 16:07
I had a roof-top tent on my Jackaroo for a few decent trips which included Strzelecki Tk, Birdsville Tk, Oodanatta Tk, Finke River Tk, Tanami Rd, Gibb River Rd, Mitchell Plateau, etc.

Mine was a Howling Moon with the roof extension over the ladder (65kg) and had two aluminium channels bolted to the underside of the floor (is this the aluminium system you are referring to?) with only 4 bolts. The aluminium channels were then bolted to the roof bars (Rhino system) with another 4 bolts (2 in each) and that whole setup worked well with no problems.

Just don't get sucked into that stupid "track mount" system that Rhino seems to promote (the "tracks" are rivetted to the roof of the car and one of them started to pull out of the roof of the car towards the end of the Tanami)
AnswerID: 361878

Sponsored Links