“It doesn’t have to be annoying!”
Not all vehicles are the same when it comes to roof mounting options and roof racks, and installing a rooftop tent can be annoying at times. There are vehicles with crossbars, siderails, gutters, tracks and roofs with fixed points and many many versions of roof racks. And depending on the vehicle you drive and the roof rack you are carrying; your mounting options will be different.
There are three things to consider for fitting a rooftop tent:
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How much weight can be carried on top of your vehicle, the dynamic load rating. The weight limit of your vehicle’s roof should never be exceeded when driving (total weight of all items fitted to the roof). See the section, Dynamic vs static load rating explained below.
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The positioning of your rooftop tent on the bars, roof rack, and vehicle. To both maintain an even spread of weight and access comfort.
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Measurements. The width between crossbars; number of crossbars on the vehicle and the height between roof and roof rack.
Don’t let the mounting of your rooftop tent be a total pain. There isn’t a one size fits all answer to which mounting option is the best. It will vary from vehicle to vehicle so give WKND Warrior’s a call and we can work through your specific requirements. If you are in Perth WA, we also provide a custom fitting service.
When purchasing a rooftop tent, there are a number of considerations that will help with your decision. The weight of your rooftop tent should be one of your primary ones. In short, you will be looking for as light a tent as possible.
Dynamic vs static load rating explained.
There are two load ratings that you need to be aware of, static and dynamic.
The dynamic load rating is the maximum weight your car can handle while driving. It is the maximum weight specified by your vehicle manufacturer while driving and includes the total weight of all items fitted to the roof, including rooftop tent and bars.
The static load rating is the weight limit that your car can take when the car is stationary, the tent is set up and the ladder is out. The static load rating is usually three times the dynamic load weight as the ladder adds extra support. This load rating tells you the weight needed to hold the tent and the people inside.