How much safety margin is built into roof racks?

by "nermal" (nermal)
Published 03/29/2017 at 15:53

Tags: It's a suggestion not a limit ; brexit ; bad math ; what could possibly go wrong
STARS: 3

I just got one that goes over my truck bed for a rooftop bed-top tent, but the tents I’m looking at weigh more than the 165 lb limit of the rack.

So, is it ok to go with, say, 180 lbs on the rack without worry? How about 250?

Brexit is happening so lbs are worth less now and it should be ok, right?

Replies (9)

"e36Jeff now drives a ZHP" (e36jeff)
03/29/2017 at 15:57, STARS: 0

My dad once brought home a 600lbs glass shower door on the roof rack of his Audi 5000. He slightly crushed the mount points, but it was otherwise OK.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
03/29/2017 at 16:04, STARS: 5

No. My experience has taught me off the shelf racks are barely rated to their rating. That being said those limits are dynamics limits, meaning you can put more weight in those racks when stopped with your tent open.

If you plan on going off road at all then it’s a hard no.

"vicali" (vicali)
03/29/2017 at 16:05, STARS: 1

What kind of rack? and how does it mount? 165lbs sounds kind of low imo.

Rack/roof limits are usually calculated to be dynamic - like the limit while you are moving.. Once parked you can climb into your RTT without worrying too much about it.. or you can get something made;

"nermal" (nermal)
03/29/2017 at 16:08, STARS: 0

It’s one of these:

https://www.yakima.com/bedrock-2

"facw" (facw)
03/29/2017 at 16:19, STARS: 0

I think the solution is to load 50 3lb tents instead. Lots of room, and you even have some safety margin. Probably setup would take a bit longer.

"benjrblant" (benjblant)
03/29/2017 at 16:23, STARS: 1

Seems ideally suited for a bike or other type of outdoor sporting cargo, RTTs excepted. You could always double up on the number of load bars and this would help more evenly support and distribute the weight.

Anecdotal tidbit, take it with a grain of salt: I have seen RTT’s run with 4x or 5x Yakima/Thule crossbars. Didn’t discuss it in detail so can’t say how well it would perform.

"vicali" (vicali)
03/29/2017 at 16:31, STARS: 0

https://tepuitents.com/pages/faq

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bed-rack-options-pic.327119/

google Bedrack RTT - there is a thread on Expo but I can’t link it..

The Outdoorsman or Xsporter have +300lbs weight limits.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
03/29/2017 at 16:37, STARS: 1

What Ben said, put on on a third bar for more load. Then you should safely be able to get 200+ lbs as long as all the bars are working together. I figure each additional bar is worth 50 lbs dynamic load. So 2x = 165, 3x = 215, 4x = 265 etc. Again, so long as they are all in play.

"BLCKSTRM" (BLCKSTRM)
03/29/2017 at 16:52, STARS: 0

IDK, but probably not enough to handle both the overweight tent and your ass, too! (despite the lower exchange rate)!

[Sorry, I had to!]