Roof tent mounted

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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



1984 F150 XLT short bed 4x4 351w 4speed manual
1980 F100 long bed 2wd 300-6 3speed manual project truck
🇬🇧UK based truck enthusiast🇬🇧
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Re: Roof tent mounted

1986F150Six
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Interesting! Looking forward to more information.
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Re: Roof tent mounted

Gary Lewis
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In reply to this post by Blacktop
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.  
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Roof tent mounted

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.
1984 F150 XLT short bed 4x4 351w 4speed manual
1980 F100 long bed 2wd 300-6 3speed manual project truck
🇬🇧UK based truck enthusiast🇬🇧
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Re: Roof tent mounted

Gary Lewis
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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?  
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Roof tent mounted

Blacktop

Ha ha, rain in the UK! Thats all we ever get!!!!
1984 F150 XLT short bed 4x4 351w 4speed manual
1980 F100 long bed 2wd 300-6 3speed manual project truck
🇬🇧UK based truck enthusiast🇬🇧
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Re: Roof tent mounted

Gary Lewis
Administrator
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.  
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Roof tent mounted

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.
Sam
1984 F250. 460. C6. 4x4.
 MSD Ignition. Airbag rear suspension
Whole buncha problems
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Re: Roof tent mounted

Nothing Special
In reply to this post by Blacktop
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."
Bob
Sorry, no '80 - '86 Ford trucks
"Oswald": 1997 F-250HD crew cab short box, 460, E4OD, 4.10 gears
"Pluto": 1971 Bronco, 302, NV3550 5 speed, Atlas 4.3:1 transfer case, 33" tires
"the motorhome": 2015 E-450-based 28' class C motorhome, 6.8L V-10
"the Dodge": 2007 Dodge 2500, 6.7L Cummins
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Re: Roof tent mounted

Gary Lewis
Administrator
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?
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Roof tent mounted

Nothing Special
Gary Lewis wrote
I am the egg man....
I had no doubt!
Bob
Sorry, no '80 - '86 Ford trucks
"Oswald": 1997 F-250HD crew cab short box, 460, E4OD, 4.10 gears
"Pluto": 1971 Bronco, 302, NV3550 5 speed, Atlas 4.3:1 transfer case, 33" tires
"the motorhome": 2015 E-450-based 28' class C motorhome, 6.8L V-10
"the Dodge": 2007 Dodge 2500, 6.7L Cummins
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Re: Roof tent mounted

Blacktop
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
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.
1984 F150 XLT short bed 4x4 351w 4speed manual
1980 F100 long bed 2wd 300-6 3speed manual project truck
🇬🇧UK based truck enthusiast🇬🇧
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Re: Roof tent mounted

Blacktop
In reply to this post by swampedout
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
1984 F150 XLT short bed 4x4 351w 4speed manual
1980 F100 long bed 2wd 300-6 3speed manual project truck
🇬🇧UK based truck enthusiast🇬🇧
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Re: Roof tent mounted

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.
Bob
Sorry, no '80 - '86 Ford trucks
"Oswald": 1997 F-250HD crew cab short box, 460, E4OD, 4.10 gears
"Pluto": 1971 Bronco, 302, NV3550 5 speed, Atlas 4.3:1 transfer case, 33" tires
"the motorhome": 2015 E-450-based 28' class C motorhome, 6.8L V-10
"the Dodge": 2007 Dodge 2500, 6.7L Cummins
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Re: Roof tent mounted

Gary Lewis
Administrator
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.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Roof tent mounted

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.
1984 F150 XLT short bed 4x4 351w 4speed manual
1980 F100 long bed 2wd 300-6 3speed manual project truck
🇬🇧UK based truck enthusiast🇬🇧
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Re: Roof tent mounted

Gary Lewis
Administrator
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.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Roof tent mounted

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.



1984 F150 XLT short bed 4x4 351w 4speed manual
1980 F100 long bed 2wd 300-6 3speed manual project truck
🇬🇧UK based truck enthusiast🇬🇧
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Re: Roof tent mounted

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Excellent!  Are you getting ready to go soon?  Please let us know how it goes and post some pics.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Roof tent mounted

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
1984 F150 XLT short bed 4x4 351w 4speed manual
1980 F100 long bed 2wd 300-6 3speed manual project truck
🇬🇧UK based truck enthusiast🇬🇧