July2009 DIY Roof Top Tent
My Family and I decided we'd join the Kokopelli Expedition this year, but heard that the desert has snakes and scorpions. This concerned me a bit, since my son is 2.5yrs old and my wife was 13weeks pregnant and the nearest hospital was easily 60miles away. I thought long and hard about buying a roof top tent. My wife even approved it, like she does all my mods (cracks whip). However, the least expensive RTT I knew of was $850, excluding shipping. Some can even go for as much as $3,000 . . . ouch. Knowing that we'd probably only use such a tent 2-3 times year, I could not justify such an expense. I told my wife “I can do this...I'll do it myself”. She just gave me that look, you know, the one where she is thinking "mmm hmmm".
I started thinking about my options and then I came across a unique Roof rack, The African Outback. It’s main unique feature is an integrated channel system. The rack comes with a hefty price tag of about $1100, but it is made of aluminum, so less weight on the roof. However the channel system gives endless add on options. DIY lock box, DIY slideable light tabs, DIY jerry can holder and no…drilling…ever!
Not knowing exactly how I would mount a DIY RTT, I ordered the rack anyway. A week later, it was in my garage waiting to be mounted. I leaned it against my FJ...Yes, I leaned it against my FJ, those that know me, know why ;). I gave it a good look over and then noticed it not only had a channel system on the top, but on the bottom as well. I grinned, because I knew this was going to be super easy and cheap to do. So off to the hardware store I went. I Spent the next day fabricating my DIY RTT and got my wife’s approval once finished and setup. She was really surprised at the outcome and how fast I got it done. I was glad too, and super happy that my kid loved it.
So here it is...Behold the Ghetto RTT.
Mounting Materials List:
8x 3"x5/16" carriage bolts
4x 2"x5/16" eye bolts
12x washers
10x 5/16" wing nuts
2x square 5/16" nuts
2x hex nuts 5/16"
7' x 7' Tent
Price estimate = ~$80, depending on tent quality
Slide out and platform Materials List:
4x 4'x 1"x 1" steel or aluminum tubing
40x 1" 5/16" bolts
40x 5/16" plastic washers
40x square 5/16" nuts
Loctite
Silicon
4' x 7' Plywood or HDPE
Price estimate = ~$60, depending on source and if plywood is used or HDPE
All parts to build Ghetto RTT cost ~$100.- + $39 tent = $139 RTT
The rack however is $1100, but is super versatile and 100% Aluminum.
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