Posted 19 August 2024 by Vanultra
At the Overland Expo, Pacific Northwest in Redmond, Oregon we met Kevin, a 4x4 enthusiast with a third-generation 4Runner. Kevin was struggling with mounting his roof top tent and shared his experience with us. Here’s how our low profile roof rack roof top tent mounts provided the solution he needed.
Challenges with Roof Top Tent Mounting: Kevin's setup includes a 4x4 Colorado Alto Elite tent mounted on a Sherpa Equipment Company roof rack. Like many, he faced the issue of the tent sitting too low on the roof rack. This left minimal clearance between the rack bars and the vehicle roof, making it nearly impossible to access the mounting points without disassembling parts of the rack.
Additionally, Kevin wanted to mount a 270° awning, but the factory-supplied brackets were too tall to fit between the crossbars and the tent. The tight space left him unable to use the factory brackets, leading him to fabricate custom mounts—a challenging task, even for an engineer like Kevin.
The Need for a Better Solution: Kevin's main concerns were:
- Limited Clearance: The low-profile tent left no room for hands-on access, making installation and removal extremely difficult.
- Awning Mounting Issues: The factory brackets were incompatible due to the tight space, forcing Kevin to create custom mounts.
- Unwanted Tent Rattle: The tent's close proximity to the crossbars caused annoying vibrations during daily driving.
The Vanultra Solution: Our low profile roof rack RTT mounts are designed to address these exact issues. Here’s how:
- Increased Clearance: Our mounts slightly elevate the tent, providing enough space for easy access to the mounting points. This small adjustment also allows for the proper installation of awnings without custom fabrication.
- Reduced Rattle: By lifting the tent off the crossbars, our mounts eliminate the aluminum-on-aluminum contact that causes unwanted noise.
- Quick Attach/Detach Feature: Our design allows for fast and easy tent removal. Kevin was particularly excited about this, as it meant he wouldn't have to disassemble his rack or remove his awning every time he wanted to take off his tent.
Kevin’s Experience: Kevin is set to test our mounts on the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route. As an engineer with a keen eye for detail, his feedback will be invaluable in ensuring our product meets the needs of our customers. We’re confident that our solution will make his adventures smoother and more enjoyable.
Conclusion: Kevin’s story is a common one among roof top tent users, but with our innovative mounts, we’re providing a practical, high-quality solution. Stay tuned for Kevin’s feedback as he puts our mounts to the test.
If you’re facing similar issues with your roof top tent setup, our low profile roof top tent mounts could be the solution you need.
Explore our range of roof top tent mounts and make your next adventure more enjoyable and hassle-free.