MoJoBear
Test Drive
- Location
- United States
Does anyone have a rooftop tent on their Xterra?
Do you use the stock roof rack?
Thanks
Do you use the stock roof rack?
Thanks
This topic was covered pretty well over on Expedition Portal http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/119812-roof-top-tent-on-factory-xterra-rack
I have one, been almost as long as I've owned the truck, so I've had an RTT for over 5 years now, put a new cover on her last year. I've used it for my camping trips as well as with the annual Adventure Weekend Nissan club off-road weekend. The rack and the tent are solid. I had to get longer bolts because the ones included weren't long enough for the Xterra rack, but that's it, no extra mounts of straps. We've slept 2 in it, and sleeps very comfortable. One note from the comments I've read, my crossbars are not used at all to hold the tent. The tent's rails were set up width ward so the tent bolts down to the actual rack itself and not the crossbars, I wouldn't trust those at all. The crossbars don't support any of the weight of the tent at all.
Dumb question but how do you open/close the tent on the roof to set up camp/tear down before departing site?
Like what steps?
Looking at the pics, I don't know how you could fold it down without being on the roof somehow?
Thanks for the write up. That helps.
And I'm assuming the teardown is similar in reverse order? As you push the ladder upwards and it'll just fold flat like that?
I honestly look at RTT's thinking I should get one. Then I keep thinking I don't want one always on my vehicle. Then I'm like they are so easy to setup. But I can't put anything else on my roof. I keep going back to I could build a tear drop camper for 2-3 times the cost of a RTT. I don't know what I want.
I think some clamps (three pair) along with some square tubes to actually set the tent on might be a good solution. The clamps are from a Garvin Adventure Rack.
I'm curious... What's the difference between roof racks that open to the side vs ones that open towards the hood? Are there any beneficial differences or is it just preference?
Something like this:
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Our Autohome is the model shown here. Much smaller than the canvas fold over type of RTT but very simple to crank up and crank down.
It is great when I go solo but when I (235 lbs) am with my wife (110 lbs) it fills up fast. Several of the Autohomes come in three widths - ours is the narrowest.
My ultimate goal is to get an off road trailer and move the rack to the trailer but it is nice to be able to have it on the roof for quick 1, 2, or 3 day outings.
Thanks for all the tips and discussion.