TLDR; For folks running with the T4, T4 Plus, or T8, how do you transport it? If you're putting it on the roof rack, how tough is getting the T4 Plus or T8 up there?
Ok, to make the long story as short as possible... Managed to land a T4 Plus when Gazelle had a few last month (still hoping for a T4, but didn't want to risk not having anything come Expo East). Rig is 2021 Grand Cherokee, pretty much stock at the moment, which means no cross bars on the roof rack. Now, if it really came to it, I could put the tent in the back, and just shift the cooler position and all to accommodate it, but I'm trying to avoid that. Ultimately, I'm hoping to have a fridge/cooler slide next to my drawer cube (both the whole platform is removable), which would mean I wouldn't have room for the tent inside as it's a couple inches wider than the inside of the rear doors. I plan on getting a Chief roof rack next year, so I need something for the short term, and I'm trying to decide between getting a cheap set of cross bars, or a hitch mount cargo carrier.
The hitch mount idea has the advantage of being low, which means not trying to lift the bulky and not to mention 50lb T4 Plus up to the roof rack. Plus, probably a little better on the gas mileage front. On the con side, it would limit off road capability in the short term as it kills departure angles. And as I'm building a drawer cube with a slide out for the cookstove, I'd have to remove it when stopping to be able to access the back (without destroying shins). Back on the pro front, even once I get a permanent roof rack, I'd have that as an extra option when I needed.
The cross bars would be a temporary solution until getting a better one, but would hold the tent, would not need to be removed on site, and wouldn't change off-road capabilities. But...it does mean having to shove that thing up there, not to mention the efforts to strap it down. And ultimately a throwaway solution. I suppose I could sell the bars, but probably not for a ton.
So for the folks who are rocking the Gazelles, how do you transport them? If you put them on top, is it crazy trying to get them up on the rack?
Ok, to make the long story as short as possible... Managed to land a T4 Plus when Gazelle had a few last month (still hoping for a T4, but didn't want to risk not having anything come Expo East). Rig is 2021 Grand Cherokee, pretty much stock at the moment, which means no cross bars on the roof rack. Now, if it really came to it, I could put the tent in the back, and just shift the cooler position and all to accommodate it, but I'm trying to avoid that. Ultimately, I'm hoping to have a fridge/cooler slide next to my drawer cube (both the whole platform is removable), which would mean I wouldn't have room for the tent inside as it's a couple inches wider than the inside of the rear doors. I plan on getting a Chief roof rack next year, so I need something for the short term, and I'm trying to decide between getting a cheap set of cross bars, or a hitch mount cargo carrier.
The hitch mount idea has the advantage of being low, which means not trying to lift the bulky and not to mention 50lb T4 Plus up to the roof rack. Plus, probably a little better on the gas mileage front. On the con side, it would limit off road capability in the short term as it kills departure angles. And as I'm building a drawer cube with a slide out for the cookstove, I'd have to remove it when stopping to be able to access the back (without destroying shins). Back on the pro front, even once I get a permanent roof rack, I'd have that as an extra option when I needed.
The cross bars would be a temporary solution until getting a better one, but would hold the tent, would not need to be removed on site, and wouldn't change off-road capabilities. But...it does mean having to shove that thing up there, not to mention the efforts to strap it down. And ultimately a throwaway solution. I suppose I could sell the bars, but probably not for a ton.
So for the folks who are rocking the Gazelles, how do you transport them? If you put them on top, is it crazy trying to get them up on the rack?
