Nothing Special Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 I am the egg man.... I had no doubt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacktop Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 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. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacktop Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 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. 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nothing Special Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 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 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 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. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacktop Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 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. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 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. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacktop Posted May 30, 2021 Author Share Posted May 30, 2021 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. Update!, pics of the tent up. Its been a while but finally getting ready to use the tent after covid lockdowns and moving house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Update!, pics of the tent up. Its been a while but finally getting ready to use the tent after covid lockdowns and moving house. Excellent! Are you getting ready to go soon? Please let us know how it goes and post some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacktop Posted May 30, 2021 Author Share Posted May 30, 2021 Excellent! Are you getting ready to go soon? Please let us know how it goes and post some pics. 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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