Roof tent mounted

[Blacktop]

Hi guys,
Finally got my roof top tent mounted. Used Unistrut rails to secure it to the bed. I'll post some pics of the tent up when I can.
Alan

[1986F150Six]

Interesting! Looking forward to more information.

[Gary Lewis]

That's cool!  I'm not au fait with Tuff-Trek, but I see they are UK based.  Which model did you get?

You've mounted it lower than I'm expecting to mount mine.  But where you mounted yours would reduce the drag as opposed to my plan of placing it at the level of the cab roof.  And, yours will be a lot easier to get into.  

[Blacktop]

Yes, Tuff Trek are UK based but the same tents are available from other suppliers rebranded. Tuff Trek source these from the US I believe. My tent is the TT-02 1.8m https://tuff-trek.com/product/tuff-trek-tt02-1-8m-soft-top-tent/

The unistrut mounting is temporary as I will at some point fabricate a rack to lift it higher and allow more height in the truck bed.

Alan.

[Gary Lewis]

That's a nice tent, but bigger than I plan to go with.  I'm shooting for one that sleeps two.

And, the idea of placing it higher to get more access to the bed is exactly my plan.  Bullnose trucks are anything but aerodynamic, so I'm not bothered with the idea of the tent being up in the slipstream.  But I do want to be able to get to things in the bed easily.

Another thought I've had is figuring out a way to provide power inside the tent.  I'm thinking that lighting and being able to keep a phone or tablet charged would sure be nice.  I always charge my mobile devices at night, so would want my phone by me.  And if we get a rainy day and stay in the tent a while it would be nice to be able to keep them topped up.

But rainy days aren't a problem for you in GB - right?  

[Blacktop]

Ha ha, rain in the UK! Thats all we ever get!!!!

[Gary Lewis]

Yup.  But two things spring to mind.

First, I stepped out of the Conoco/Jet building right behind Selfridge's one evening and the sun was shining.  A gentleman on the pavement said "What did you think of our summer?"  

Then years later my boss when I was there, another Yank, and I were back to GB, basically Luton, for a meeting where a bunch of other Yanks were there for the first time.  We landed on a Sunday and the sun was shining so we told the others to enjoy it as it wouldn't last.  By Friday, with each day being 100% sunshine and the temps well into the 30's C, our credibility was toast.  Neither of us had ever seen that many sunny days in one stretch.  

[swampedout]

I see a lot of people mounting their tents with the top of the tent parallel with the cab roof, so you get visibility and storage space without the increased drag of having it above the cab.

RTTs seem great. Ive done a lot of truck camping and think about getting one every summer.

[Nothing Special]

Blacktop wrote

Ha ha, rain in the UK! Thats all we ever get!!!!

"Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.  If the sun don't come you get a tan from standing in the English rain."

[Gary Lewis]

Nothing Special wrote

"Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.  If the sun don't come you get a tan from standing in the English rain."

I am the egg man.

I think going back to GB would be a Magical Mystery Tour.  But it ain't gonna happen this year - in spite of us already having money down on it.  Maybe next?

[Nothing Special]

Gary Lewis wrote

I am the egg man....

I had no doubt!

[Blacktop]

In the south you have a better chance of sun and higher temps. Up here in northern england, you are lucky to get 2 or 3 days of fine weather!

Alan.

[Blacktop]

When I fabricate a rack it will probably lift the tent higher than the cab. As I’m not really concerned by the aerodynamics, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Alan

[Nothing Special]

Depending on the vehicle and usage, the height of the center of gravity may be more important than the aerodynamics.  If the intended use involves fourwheeling especially, but even winding highways, putting a few hundred pounds seven feet off the ground is undesirable.

But vehicle also matters.  A stock height F-250 that can carry a slide-in camper reasonably well may not notice it, while my narrower, lifted Bronco would be likely to get pretty spooky.

[Gary Lewis]

You have a good point.  That tent is 67 kg (147 lbs), so having it up high might hurt the handling on Alan's F150.

Alan - Do you have sway bars?  They'll help in that situation.

[Blacktop]

No sway bars are fitted on my truck and you are right, handling will certainly be affected if I raise it any higher. I can feel the difference now compared to before the tent was fitted.
I will look at retro fitting sway bars if I go ahead and make the rack. Are the sway bars available as a kit or will I have to source each component one at a time?

Alan.

[Gary Lewis]

The sway bars were originally available as a kit, but I've not seen those kits offered in many years.  Your best bet is to find someone that has a set to sell them to you and ship them over.

However, there may be aftermarket kits.  I don't know that.

[Blacktop]

Update!, pics of the tent up.
Its been a while but finally getting ready to use the tent after covid lockdowns and moving house.

[Gary Lewis]

Excellent!  Are you getting ready to go soon?  Please let us know how it goes and post some pics.

[Blacktop]

Hi Gary,
We are going away for 4 nights camping at a hot rod & custom car event over here in the UK. Really looking forward to finally getting to use the tent after so long. I’ll try and get some pics and post them up on here.

Alan