The elusive L track mounted roof top tent with fully closing tonneau

[RM Rilke]

I finally managed to cobble the parts together and build my rack and modify my tent. The tent is a Thule Ayer 2 with winter pack. It was too tall so I ordered hinges from Thule for the Low-Pro 2 and mounted them on my tent. Thule doesn’t make either anymore. Then I used Simpson L brackets to lower the mount a bit. I had to ovalize the mounting holes a bit sink with L track. I used 1x4 and 1x2 rectangular tubing. The tent fits perfectly. It does require the aero flap to be removed in order to deploy the tent. I need to hit a service center to order the quick release kit. It is really easy to do it with the T 30 bolt and a drill though. I stuffed a towel in the track below in case the bolt dropped. No problem. Takes seconds. Added a second set of C tube mounting rail that I got from Thule to mount the tent to the rack. I can use the rack for other things as well.

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[Shadowmite]

I like that a lot more! Keep the aero profile at all costs, some of these rigs seem insane to just have a vehicle mounted tent and loose 20% range doing so.

 

[RM Rilke]

I like that a lot more! Keep the aero profile at all costs, some of these rigs seem insane to just have a vehicle mounted tent and loose 20% range doing so.

Thanks. It works really well. Still have 14.5” of clearance from the bed floor to the bottom of the rack. So the bed is still usable. Including the smugglers bay. Also much faster and less complicated to set up and take down than the Cybertent. Takes maybe a couple of minutes at most up or down. Better in the cold and also blocks sunlight and heat. The rain fly will also have a layer of reflectix so sleeping in won’t be a problem. All in it cost me right around 1k for the entire thing. Including the tent. It was used, but just barely. I also have a cool and bomber bed rack that I can build a shelf or do whatever with. Pleased with how well it came together.

 

[Lowcoe]

Looks great!

 

[BrockN]

That's a nice system. I think the tent is designed to be deployed 90 degrees from how you've done it, because it would normally be on a roof. Good to recognize that rotating like this allows it to fit nicely... probably other tents would be workable too!

Sad that it's been discontinued (?)...

 

[RM Rilke]

That's a nice system. I think the tent is designed to be deployed 90 degrees from how you've done it, because it would normally be on a roof. Good to recognize that rotating like this allows it to fit nicely... probably other tents would be workable too!

Sad that it's been discontinued (?)...

You can still find new Low-pro 2 tents on Amazon. There is also a Low-pro 3 that are still in inventory some places. The 3 is a bigger tent so I’m not sure it would work. Frankly, I doubt it. The insulation pack is more tricky to find. You can also find them on Craigslist or whatever. Many people buy them and use them only a few times like the one I found locally. The Low-pro is only 7 inches tall when folded on the thin end. 11 on the thick end. So it works with the angle on the bed rail and keeps a large space under it. I wanted to fit a spare tire, eventually have room for the range extender, and keep as much space as possible under the tent. All other roof top tents are at least 11 inches on both sides. Usually more. I looked. That would mean less than 10’ from the bottom of the rack to the bed floor. Also the bed tapers to be more narrow as it goes down. So the mounting studs for the L-track will be too short and extending them would put too much torsional force on the track. I don’t think any other RTT besides the Cybertent will work. The Low-pro or converting an Ayer is the only option with an Oxford cloth folding RTT that retains the functionality of the bed. The Cybertent is silicone impregnated nylon. Not what I was after.

 

[L3it3R]

Any chance for direct links for the parts list?

 

[Nexus6]

You can still find new Low-pro 2 tents on Amazon. There is also a Low-pro 3 that are still in inventory some places. The 3 is a bigger tent so I’m not sure it would work. Frankly, I doubt it. The insulation pack is more tricky to find. You can also find them on Craigslist or whatever. Many people buy them and use them only a few times like the one I found locally. The Low-pro is only 7 inches tall when folded on the thin end. 11 on the thick end. So it works with the angle on the bed rail and keeps a large space under it. I wanted to fit a spare tire, eventually have room for the range extender, and keep as much space as possible under the tent. All other roof top tents are at least 11 inches on both sides. Usually more. I looked. That would mean less than 10’ from the bottom of the rack to the bed floor. Also the bed tapers to be more narrow as it goes down. So the mounting studs for the L-track will be too short and extending them would put too much torsional force on the track. I don’t think any other RTT besides the Cybertent will work. The Low-pro or converting an Ayer is the only option with an Oxford cloth folding RTT that retains the functionality of the bed. The Cybertent is silicone impregnated nylon. Not what I was after.

I think I may try to make the Front Runner RTT work. I particularly like the quick release mounts that make storing the Tent on the wall in the Garage convenient.
https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/front-runner-roof-top-tent.html

 

[RM Rilke]

Nice. I did get my tent to fit and be set up without ever requiring the removal of Aeroflop. I’m not sure I ever made that update. Fits like a glove. It clears by maybe a quarter inch. I like the quick release and garage wall mount on the dometic. Very nice. My tent is going strong. I am considering the Urander full pop up, but my tent works so well and is so easy to install and remove I am not fully convinced. Stoked to see how yours turns out.

 

[hemiarch]

So did this endeavor end up much cheaper than a cybertent?
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s really cool and am in awe of all you did to make it work, I’m just genuinely curious if it’s a way better deal.

 

[ABILISK]

The permanent “crossbars” in the bed are a deal breaker. I’ll pay a couple extra bucks for a CyberTent.

 

[RM Rilke]

So did this endeavor end up much cheaper than a cybertent?
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s really cool and am in awe of all you did to make it work, I’m just genuinely curious if it’s a way better deal.

All in it was about 1k.

The permanent “crossbars” in the bed are a deal breaker. I’ll pay a couple extra bucks for a CyberTent.

To each their own. You do you. I didn’t do it for money, but once I was building it it is fun to try to build it cheap for sure. My tent is overall much faster and less fuss. Cross bars come out in the time it takes to loosen the bolts on the L- track and brackets. I use a drill. What? 5 minutes maybe. Hardly permanent. The Aeroflap, silnylon, and elaborate time consuming setup and takedown of the CTent is a no go for me. I can deploy my tent once mounted in the bed in less than a minute. Same to fold it up and stow it. Speed at the campsite is my important metric. CTent is lighter. 70 pounds to 95.

Once someone makes a hard sided topper like hiatus https://hiatuscampers.com/ or a similar top for the Cybertruckco/Urander rack(s) then that wins. Until then, a tent is a tent is a tent. The Thule is 260g poly-cotton blend, reinforced with 600D ripstop polyester. Oxford Cloth. With a separate 420D silnylon rain fly. The CTent is 420D silnylon. My tent has a winter quilted liner as well. True four season tent. I already used it in 13 degree F conditions with a simple under desk panel heater. Slept with a light Patagonia Nano-Puff blanket. I was too warm and had to turn down the heater. Also in 98 degree temps with my little bouge rv ac. Dark, cool, and cozy. I like to sleep in. A silnylon tent simply won’t perform like that. Silnylon is hot in summer and cold in winter.

If I were going current RTT on a rack I would go FreeSpiritRecreation Explorer XL—or other FSR RTT. Excited to see the new Urander tent with removable floor, but FSR uses quilted wall material. To me quilting is absolutely necessary without the best option of a hard side. Hopefully the Urander tent will have a quilted liner. If it were hard sided I would buy it day one.

 

[hemiarch]

All in it was about 1k.

To each their own. You do you. I didn’t do it for money, but once I was building it it is fun to try to build it cheap for sure. My tent is overall much faster and less fuss. Cross bars come out in the time it takes to loosen the bolts on the L- track and brackets. I use a drill. What? 5 minutes maybe. Hardly permanent. The Aeroflap, silnylon, and elaborate time consuming setup and takedown of the CTent is a no go for me. I can deploy my tent once mounted in the bed in less than a minute. Same to fold it up and stow it. Speed at the campsite is my important metric. CTent is lighter. 70 pounds to 95.

Once someone makes a hard sided topper like hiatus https://hiatuscampers.com/ or a similar top for the Cybertruckco/Urander rack(s) then that wins. Until then, a tent is a tent is a tent. The Thule is 260g poly-cotton blend, reinforced with 600D ripstop polyester. Oxford Cloth. With a separate 420D silnylon rain fly. The CTent is 420D silnylon. My tent has a winter quilted liner as well. True four season tent. I already used it in 13 degree F conditions with a simple under desk panel heater. Slept with a light Patagonia Nano-Puff blanket. I was too warm and had to turn down the heater. Also in 98 degree temps with my little bouge rv ac. Dark, cool, and cozy. I like to sleep in. A silnylon tent simply won’t perform like that. Silnylon is hot in summer and cold in winter.

If I were going current RTT on a rack I would go FreeSpiritRecreation Explorer XL—or other FSR RTT. Excited to see the new Urander tent with removable floor, but FSR uses quilted wall material. To me quilting is absolutely necessary without the best option of a hard side. Hopefully the Urander tent will have a quilted liner. If it were hard sided I would buy it day one.

That hiatus camper is way cool. Love it. Do you know if they have any plans for a Cybertruck version?
I do very much like your setup. Impressive engineering to make it work. Well done. I was only asking about cost because I’m not sure what I paid for my cybertent was reasonable. Had a pretty good Tesla tax attached to it.

 

[RM Rilke]

Thanks mate. Hiatus has state of the art design and fab quipment and they say they can fit any truck. I haven’t reached out to them about what that looks like or it applies to the CT. I assume it does. The company was started by a guy and his then girlfriend (now wife) and they have done incredible work. I will shoot them an email if you like and let you know. The price for them is probably a bit out of my league. Old retired public defender here. The hard side on tents is already being done in China. They are available on Aliexpress. It’s a matter of time until they become more common over here. The CTent is super cool and I have no problems with them. I just happen to be late morning sleeper so I need a dark and well insulated tent. Here is a little fun over by Elephant Rock and Zion today. Well yesterday now. Cheers.

 

[hemiarch]

Very cool. Most of my family is in Bellingham and I didn’t even know they existed. Thanks for the tip.

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