Installing Rooftop Tents

[Bootloot]

Here’s the solution that I used. I can put it on and take it off without any help. The lift was pretty easy to make and I would share the details if you are interested.

Not only does this look like the best solution I have seen, you could probably start selling this as a solution!

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[JimLee]

Harbor freight has these gantry cranes, I have mine setup in my backyard because neither it or my Jeep fit in the garage. I'm going to add a HF winch to it. Pull Jeep in, connect winch to battery, hoist RTT (and rack, for me) drive away until next time. Warning, this thing is a bitch to pick up from HF and set up, have a friend or two.

 

[redsyphon]

Not only does this look like the best solution I have seen, you could probably start selling this as a solution!

Looks similar to something like this https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/hme-hitch-hoist-with-swivel-and-gambrel

 

[Kansascoast]

If you can share those details, that would be great. I was originally thinking of a hoist on the ceiling of my garage that could be used to remove the hard top plus a roof top tent. I was then thinking about possibly having to remove the ladder to hopefully gain 6" so I can squeeze through the door.

Your solution looks like it fits the bill plus you would be able to use it to remove/install the hard top. It looks like me and another poster are interested in it so if you can share it, that would be most excellent!!!

Thank You!

Since I didn’t document this as I made it I’ll just try to explain. First I started with the receiver (pic 1)...it is 2” square tubing with a short piece of 2 1/2” od pipe welded to it. This serves as the swivel. Inserted into this is the “heights” section which is 2” od pipe. This could be all one piece or sectioned sectioned (as I did) to be able to break it down more. On the very top is another 2” square tubing that extends far enough to reach the center of your tent. My overall height is 88” and the square tubing extends 42”. On top of that is mounted two pulleys to guide the cable from my winch. I bought a Harbor Freight winch that is remote controlled for around $49 on sale and hook it up to my battery when I use it. For the lift bar I welded two pieces of angle iron together (for strength) and then cut slots in the ends (pic 3 & 4) to run straps through for lifting...this keeps things from slipping. The 5th pic is of the whole setup along with the tent stored on the garage wall.

If you were to try to use this to remove the top it would have to be a lot higher to allow the top to swivel and clear the roll bar.

 

[redsyphon]

Since I didn’t document this as I made it I’ll just try to explain. First I started with the receiver (pic 1)...it is 2” square tubing with a short piece of 2 1/2” od pipe welded to it. This serves as the swivel. Inserted into this is the “heights” section which is 2” od pipe. This could be all one piece or sectioned sectioned (as I did) to be able to break it down more. On the very top is another 2” square tubing that extends far enough to reach the center of your tent. My overall height from On mine that is 42”. On top of that is mounted two pulleys to guide the cable from my winch. I bought a Harbor Freight winch that is remote controlled for around $49 on sale and hook it up to my battery when I use it. For the lift bar I welded two pieces of angle iron together (for strength) and then cut slots in the ends (pic 3 & 4) to run straps through for lifting...this keeps things from slipping. The 5th pic is of the whole setup along with the tent stored on the garage wall.

Awesome!

 

[Shamwedge]

Here’s the solution that I used. I can put it on and take it off without any help. The lift was pretty easy to make and I would share the details if you are interested.

This is awesome. What roof rack system are you using?!

 

[Kansascoast]

This is awesome. What roof rack system are you using?!

I made my own system...which transfers the weight from the top to the body of the Jeep by adding inside supports. The only thing that ”shows” is the eyelet on the top when the RTT is removed. This system allows the top to be removed by only removing the factory hold downs. The tent supports are permanently mounted to the tent and I can attach the tent by just using the four bolts that pass through the eyelets.

 

[ThinkOutdoors]

I made my own system...which transfers the weight from the top to the body of the Jeep by adding inside supports. The only thing that ”shows” is the eyelet on the top when the RTT is removed. This system allows the top to be removed by only removing the factory hold downs. The tent supports are permanently mounted to the tent and I can attach the tent by just using the four bolts that pass through the eyelets.

I'm assuming you made that bracket/support piece that sits against your hardtop yourself(in pic #1)?

 

[Kansascoast]

I'm assuming you made that bracket/support piece that sits against your hardtop yourself(in pic #1)?

Yes...I made a template from cardboard and then had the brace made out of heavy gauge aluminum.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

I just use my Racor storage lift. It pulls my RTT more than high enough to get it up on my the Jeep or my Raptor.

 

[Av8Chuck]

Here’s the solution that I used. I can put it on and take it off without any help. The lift was pretty easy to make and I would share the details if you are interested.

How tall or long is the vertical? Very nice work.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

How tall or long is the vertical? Very nice work.

I've seen that one before and it looks nice. Personally, I ended up going another route because I'm not confident in my welding and had trouble trying to source parts.

I ended up buying two deer gutting stands that stand maybe about 10' tall. I put a few 2x4's between them and raise and lower the tent onto the Jeep using this method. I don't think that it's the greatest, but then again, other than being able to pull into a garage or overhang, I'm not sure there's a best way to do this.

 

[jim00]

Be sure to watch this first attempt disaster before building your own garage RTT lift.

 

[jim00]

I've seen that one before and it looks nice. Personally, I ended up going another route because I'm not confident in my welding and had trouble trying to source parts.

I ended up buying two deer gutting stands that stand maybe about 10' tall. I put a few 2x4's between them and raise and lower the tent onto the Jeep using this method. I don't think that it's the greatest, but then again, other than being able to pull into a garage or overhang, I'm not sure there's a best way to do this.

Any pics for us of how that works - seems like an interesting option!

 

[nU7OuxIx]

Any pics for us of how that works - seems like an interesting option!

Hopefully this link works...



I got the idea for it here. I bought the same hunting stands. Like this person, I have an iKamper, that weighs about 160lbs. He used two 2x4's as crossbars. I did that, but started to see a pretty big deflection in the wood when raising it. I ended up screwing another 2x4 so it's really mostly a 4x4, except for about 5" at the end, where it connects to the coathanger part of the deer stand.

I also have a Yakima crossbar set from years ago. I ended up bolting the yakima crossbar to the ikamper and then insert an (maybe) 10' long piece of black pipe through the yakima crossbar. I then tied it into those 2x4's mentioned above. The reason for this is because when it's sitting on the 2x4's, it's not attached to anything, possibly causing the tent to go sliding forward or backwards.

I tried to build the following:



I followed this guy's instructions to the T, but it wasn't strong enough. When I was using my winch, I think that the winch wasn't smooth enough and caused the top 2x4's to bounce enough to where it started cracking the wood. Once it cracked, the one failed. Then the other 2x4 failed. Then my tent slid down the a-frame and by some miracle, instead of falling 8', it only fell about 4' and the black pipe got wedged in the a-frame part. There was some scratches in the tent, but overall, I was extremely lucky. This is why I ended up probably over-engineering my hunting hoist platform.

Let me know if you have any questions. Like I mentioned above, I think that a ceiling mounted hoist system is the cheapest, safest, and easiest option. I personally can't pull my Jeep into the garage with the tent on it so that method is out. I've used the hunting stand method twice and while it works, I still cringe a bit when I load/unload it.

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