RTT Rails Bowing on Bed Rack

[YaBoiHuni]

Hey Folks!

Just got my rooftop tent installed! I happened to notice that there seems to be a bit of bowing happening on each side of the rails that rest on the bed rack.

I made sure the bolts/nuts were tight but I still had some turns to go before it was 100% tight. I stop tightening the nuts when I noticed the metal brackets just starting to bend upwards.

Should I continue to tighten down those nuts until I can’t tighten anymore or should I loosen them?

 

[Deleted member 14476]

Hey Folks!

Just got my rooftop tent installed! I happened to notice that there seems to be a bit of bowing happening on each side of the rails that rest on the bed rack.

I made sure the bolts/nuts were tight but I still had some turns to go before it was 100% tight. I stop tightening the nuts when I noticed the metal brackets just starting to bend upwards.

Should I continue to tighten down those nuts until I can’t tighten anymore or should I loosen them?

Is there brackets for the middle piece of your bed rack?

 

[YaBoiHuni]

Is there brackets for the middle piece of your bed rack?

My RTT didn't come with the additional set, only 4. Should I order another 2 for the middle?

 

[Deleted member 14476]

My RTT didn't come with the additional set, only 4. Should I order another 2 for the middle?

I'm not sure, I don't own a RTT. Just thinking out loud at what would be causing that to bow. I was thinking that maybe that would help even the tension across the rails. Unless those rails are just a weak material I don't think the RTT would be putting enough weight there to be bowing it.

 

[smritte]

That's interesting. I'm assuming your mounting rails are parallel. Is the arc (bend) somewhat uniform or is it more on the ends. The pictures don't show it properly. The aluminum channels that support it should be fine. If it was going to bow, it should have done so in-between the supports.
What brand is the tent?

If I had that issue on mine, I would take some 1x2 or 1x3, 3/16-1/4 wall square tube and run it along the bottom of the rails. Longer bolts in the regular spots and add in a couple in between bolting the tent to the tube. You can get rectangle plugs that are used on wrought iron fence to plug the ends and make it look nice.

 

[KonzaLander]

My ARB Simpson III has done the exact same thing (bowed up in the middle) for years mounted on 2 crossbars. I've not had any issues with the tent or mounting setup.

 

[Tundracamper]

Tightening the bolts will not reduce any bending in those beams. They are metal and they can bend elastically, without experiencing a permanent bend. All beams due to some degree, it‘s just in many cases the bend is too small to see. Just because it is bending does not mean it is overloaded.

From the images, it does appear they are bending up in the middle. That could be a preload to prevent them from touching a roof when occupied. Or, it could be the center support is slightly higher. ??

 

[YaBoiHuni]

That's interesting. I'm assuming your mounting rails are parallel. Is the arc (bend) somewhat uniform or is it more on the ends. The pictures don't show it properly. The aluminum channels that support it should be fine. If it was going to bow, it should have done so in-between the supports.
What brand is the tent?

If I had that issue on mine, I would take some 1x2 or 1x3, 3/16-1/4 wall square tube and run it along the bottom of the rails. Longer bolts in the regular spots and add in a couple in between bolting the tent to the tube. You can get rectangle plugs that are used on wrought iron fence to plug the ends and make it look nice.

That’s a fair point, the arc is more so just on the ends. I can’t see any uniform curvature that would indicate it being higher in the center. The RCI bed rack is leveled across all 3 support cross beams when I put a leveler.

Also the brand of the RTT is the Smittybilt Overlander Gen 2 XL

 

[YaBoiHuni]

Tightening the bolts will not reduce any bending in those beams. They are metal and they can bend elastically, without experiencing a permanent bend. All beams due to some degree, it‘s just in many cases the bend is too small to see. Just because it is bending does not mean it is overloaded.

From the images, it does appear they are bending up in the middle. That could be a preload to prevent them from touching a roof when occupied. Or, it could be the center support is slightly higher. ??

Thanks for info! I didn’t not know that.

And you are correct the middle is a straight as I can see it to be. It’s only the ends, and I made sure to double check the height of the rack in general and all 3 support cross beams are leveled with each other. Seems like it may be normal/nothing to worry about according to other folks too.