In my quest to get my wife and kids to tag along on camping trips, I think my wife and I might have reached a compromise: a rooftop tent.  My wife is dead set against sleeping on the ground where she considers herself to be bear food and has been asking to look at RVs.   I have resisted the rooftop tent for a long time, but it seems that is the only middle ground.

What are my options for a rooftop tent to be mounted on a SD rack?  How easy is it to attach to the rack?  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Very easy if you want it to come straight off the back.  Attaching is easy as tightening 8 nuts around a metal plate, once you get it up top (on most tents).  Expect to need a buddy to lift it up there.

If you want it off the front, You'll need to get a bit creative.  The lower section of the SD rack isn't quite long enough for traditional mounting.

Here are a couple pics showing the same truck with two mounting variations for the SD rack - one has the RTT mounted on top of the rack rails, the other has the RTT mounted inside the rack by removing the rear section of railing.  Not sure if this is the exact rack as seen in Todd's picture, though...it looks like the side rails are a bit taller on this rack.  Anyway, might help.

I would like to put a tent on top of the M146 trailer I am outfitting as a camping trailer. My frend has a Maggolina on his trailer but I think that a rooftop tent is going to give me a bit more room. Where can I compare the two options? I have only seen them and not been in one.

Morris

2x on what Craig said.

I wrestled with keeping both the SD rack and a roof tent for some time but also ended up removing the rack. The rack has not been back on since, even though the tent is mounted only when needed. I’ve attached a dedicated set of Thule crossbars to the bottom of the tent base to save time and use Thule’s 450 Crossroad towers – the tent is then clamped directly to the roll cage. Before I settled on that solution, I did try putting the tent on top of my SD rack for one outing. I didn’t like it much. Using the Crossroad towers allows you to clamp the tent onto round tubing very easily so it's easy to "try before you buy"; if you have access to (or, can borrow) a set of the Crossroad towers, you might see how you like it.  I didn't like it much but every truck is different. In my case, I found the tent way to high when mounted on top of my SD rack and all of the negetives Craig mentioned apply. I also worried I’d be tempted to use all that storage space and would just make the COG problem even worse. I definitely like the simplicity and flexibility of the Thule system.

So to lend my thoughts, although they are for the RRC and not the Disco SD Rack...

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED my ARB roof rack.  Tent was great on top but their new touring rack is even a better situation.  That being said, I am considering mounting Thule or Yakima gutter mounts directly to the tent and doing away with the rack altogether.  I am also considering a Thule or Yakima basket for the front for when I want to carry lightweight items up top, or add my Oasis tent to the mix, or a second (traditional) RTT.  http://www.racktents.com/Eeziawn.html   I have done it on the SWB rangie and could easily do it on the LWB.  It gives me a modular design that I can adapt to the trip at hand, and take off for daily driving.

As much as I like the 3-4 person tents for certain occasions,  They are awfully big for most trips I do.  Adding a second is far more reasonable from both a cost an complexity standpoint, or for your situation maybe not necessary at all (and that's from a guy that sells them). 

Considering that the Rack is probably as heavy as the tent, and adds height -  for family trips it might be a better compromise to leave the rack at home.  I totally understand the fact that the roof rack is so stinking cool (both aesthetically and functionally), and I miss mine very much.  But for a purpose built rig with a roof tent, I think this might be a better option for me.  Only loss of functionality is the roof rack as "tree slider" which the tent ruins anyway.  

Having both the RTT with guttermounts and the SD rack gives you the option to equip your vehicle for the trip at hand, one-other-or combo.  But if you decide to sell the SD rack, it could fund the tent, or partially so.   

Anyway, my .02.  I agree that with the RTT, the need for a full rack is less.  If I had a Disco with a SD rack, you'd be hard pressed to talk me out of though.

Mike,

For me, the roof rack is a very much needed "roof slider" and for the most part, if I am going to a location that requires the rack, then the family usually doesn't want to go anyway. On the flip side, when the roof tent is the most usefull (for me) is when I am treking in an area that has terrain that is more sutable for the higher CG of the tent/rack combo.

So, my thought is that if the idea is to coax the family to come along...  Buy the roof tent, mount on your SD rack.  Chances are that if you go some place technical enough to not want the tent, then you probably won't take the family either and can just leave the tent at home.  It has worked for me so far.

Just my .02 

Britt

I had a bear run in front of my truck on the Wallowas/Hells Canyon trip summer before last.  But you don;t need to mention that Mike...

Besides, Roof top tents just freak bears out.  I think they expect tornadoes as it looks even less stable than a single wide trailer.

Posted By Mike Rupp on 01/31/2008 11:24 AM
Thanks for all of the input. It all might be moot as my wife's paranoia seems to be back. I keep telling her that we are more likely to be killed on the way to the camp site than by a bear once we are there. Now my wife wants to stay at home.

Well then, tell her she's more likely to be accosted by an intruder while you're out camping.