I want to start camping again. (The unintentional build)

Will the spider mount safely without using epoxy on the little blocks that sit in the roof channels?

 

They say it will, but I am not aware of anyone that mounted it without the epoxy. Personally, I would use the epoxy to be safe. I do know of one who was able to remove the epoxied blocks with some time and effort. He put it back to stock look.

 

Honestly, I'd look at how much of a gap the RedTail or the GFC leave on a stock setup and at a minimum I would try to replicate that amount of space. Question though, why do you want the spider rack and the Redtail?

 

Problem is there are no pics of the Red Tail on a pickup. All the pics out there are on large SUV and a JEEP hardtop. Also, the setup will vary depending on the bed rack model and height, which I’ve yet to decide on.

I’m needing a cab roof rack to hold 2 Roam boxes (83L model) and a Waterport weekender (8 gallon). So far all of my camping with the new RTT has been fairly close to home so gear needed was minimal. Getting ready to break out to longer trips. Getting ready to head to the mountains then following that up with a week in KY/TN ending up at the TundraCrew Tennessee Takeover. Then shortly after that embarking on a 3-4 week cross country adventure to attend Tundras to Sedona. So long answer to your question is I have a lot of gear to haul and a roof rack is best equipped for that.

 

Have you decided on the bed rack you will use for the RedTail? There are lots of racks that can reach above the roofline. The Leitner ACS and the Overland Vehicle Systems Freedom Rack both come to mind. They also provide storage/attachment options to the side, and that can help keep the center of gravity lower than a roof rack.

For the current setup, have you considered mounting some of that stuff to the tracks on the tent base? I know it's designed to have stuff like a waterport and/or awning attached. As for the boxes, so long as the bed rack provides enough security, I would just put them in the bed below the tent. Maybe I'm just not following the concern here?

 

All good suggestions. For the future rack to mount the Red Tail, I have a ReTrax XR Tonneau so I only have 3 options for bed racks. Leitner ACS, UpTop and KB Voodoo. Since I use KB now they will most likely be easiest to retrofit to full size cab height.,

For the current setup, the tracks on the RN RTT are in the case top. So anything mounted mists be light enough to still open the case. It just does not seem practical to mount a Waterport or Roam boxes to the tent. I’ve also considered mounting the boxes and/or Waterport between the tent and tonneau however I do not want to loose rear view mirror vision. This is why I choose a 14” rack so that I could still have a good line of vision out the back window.

So now I’m doing what you were doing by turning circles with pros and cons. After discussing with you, I feel like the Thule crossbars may be the best option. Will hold the Roam boxes and Waterport and easily come off when not needed.

 

It's a fun rabbit hole, ain't it?


Have you considered something like a topper with a set of bars on top? It would provide security so the boxes could stay in the bed of the truck, and with bars up top it would lift the RedTail above the roof. A window up front and rear would also preserve your rearview mirror visibility a bit as well. I know the RSi SmartCap is popular, and I posted a link to a give away a little bit ago. Can't hurt to enter, right?

 

Haven't really considered a cap. Did look at RSI just now and entered their sweepstakes. . They do look pretty cool but current conditions are obviously affecting them.. You can’t order one for the Tundra right now. Perhaps I’ll consider this route When the Red Tail gets closer but I still have a long wait. Hopefully by then we’ll be closer to normal.

However right now I need to figure out how to deal with all the gear for the next year and a half.

 

On the note of current set up solutions, do you have any fab skills, or know any fabricators that could possibly make you a bracket? The reason I ask is because I see a couple possible options for the waterport/box mounts.

The circled channel to on the bottom of the tent runs on all 4 sides of the lower tent frame. Front and rear have the gas struts mounted to them, and the passenger side is fairly inaccessible when the tent is folded out, BUT the driver side only has the tent hinges on it. If you had a set of brackets fabricated to go on either side of the tent hinges in that track you could possibly mount your waterport there. You'd have to have the brackets hang down a bit to clear the tent where it opens, but it might be possible. You might even be able to use the middle or upper track on the driver side of the tent to mount the waterport so long as it could rotate with the lid without impeding the full opening of the tent. It wouldn't be putting as much strain on anything being that close to the hinge point.

Next, let's talk about the lowest oval in the picture. That side rail might be able to be used to mount something on the inside if you put a block or bracket between the outside and inside edge for support. You could possibly mount the waterport or one of the gear boxes under the rack in the bed like this, and being behind the driver side toward the front you could have a minimal impact on visibility.

Finally, the silver track in your bed rack. (Pardon the rhyme.) Again, with a bit of a drop down bracket to keep from interfering with the strut and latch above, you could hang the waterport there. The downside would be loss of rearview mirror visibility, but plenty of drivers do fine with only side mirrors.




Another thought that I didn't plan for in the pic, if you don't mind a bit of set up/tear down time you could possibly put some kind of mount in any of the tent rails with a quick detach mount of some kind. Mount it up, drive to camp, pop it off, deploy the tent, enjoy camp for days, pack up the tent, pop stuff back on the tent and secure it, and then motor on home. Just thoughts here.

 

The waterports also mount up pretty easily to the Toyota bed rails. An then there is the decked system instead of roof boxes. After that you may be taking too much stuff.

 

Theae are all good suggestions. Can’t tell from the pic but the driver side of the bed rack is where my Rotopax tanks are mounted. I have 2 water packs (serious coffee drinker), 2 diesel packs (heater) and 2 gas packs. While I don't really need the gas packs for east of the Mississippi River for gas stations are plenty but could use them when I head out to the mid-west for just in case scenarios.

Continuing on you suggestions. I could fab a couple of “V” brackets and potentially mount the Waterport on the inside of the driver side rack above the tonneau. It would then be positioned behind the driver side head rests and not block rear view mirror vision. It’s important that I don’t block rear view mirror because my Son and/or daughter will be accompanying me and they are younger drivers with not a lot of experience driving my mega size truck. So when they give me a break in driving, it will be easier for them to see out the back window.

I’m glad I’m discussing this back and forth with everyone because it’s allowing me to see beyond any tunnel vision caused by the “I want” syndrome. While I really like the Spider roof rack, I just realized that the crossbars are 54” on the spider and the width of the Red Rail is 56”. So the Red Tail tent would overhang the side rails of the Spider rack which is not a good thing. The more I think about it, this Red Tail is massive on top of having to use the kids inheritance to pay for it

So if I can get the Waterport under the rack, this leaves the 2 Roam boxes. I see my options as:

• Mount the Thule crossbars on the cab for the 2 Roam boxes. Easy solution and the cross bars do not require drilling or epoxy and can easily be removed in seconds with not truck alteration.
• Mount a Spider no drill roof rack for the current setup and ditch the idea of the Red Tail RTT. This would lock me into a shorter RTT for the future but provides plenty of storage space.

 

Good ideas, but I have the larger Waterport weekender. It will not fit under the tonneau.

I have absolutely no desire for the decked system. Too heavy and takes up too much room in my opinion. I have my bed layout organized fairly well to hold totes, recovery gear, jack, tools, etc.

 

Ah, ok, you have the weekender. Designed to be on a roof or rack. I like tonneaus (have had them in the past) but sometimes they really complicate things. So you are needing all these boxes for security? Or weather proofing things? Just trying to understand.

Also maybe the weekender can get under the tonneau using these....(not sure on length though?) I have my battery box mounted to these. Bulletproof.

 

Yea, those Rago brackets are pretty cool. I currently use a set for my shovel and hatchet mount. You got me thinking though and even though it’s snowing outside, I took the Waterport out to the truck. Since I have the Retrax tonneau, I loose about 11” for the can that the tonneau winds up into. However there is just enough room over the driver side wheel well hump where the large Waterport will fit. I have about an inch to spare while closing the tailgate and several inches above it for the tonneau to close. So, this bracket may work in mounting it under the tonneau and still won’t take up too much floor space where the totes go.

https://thewaterport.com/product/platform-rack-mount/

 

Sweet. An yeah it's a good spot for the water to be also, right where you will probably use it the most while camping

 

I love seeing the discussion and thought process!

A major bonus to the waterport is that it isn't dependent upon gravity to function, so you can really mount it anywhere it fits. It's size really is it's only limiting factor.

As for the RedTail being canned or not, that's a totally personal thing that you and your wife will have to figure. That said, if you're willing to work within the limitations of a RTT as a result, and you were considering the RedTail budget wise, I would really recommend taking a deep dive into the GFC. It would replace the bed cover and rack, but adds way more enclosed space, plenty of mounting options, and you could even put those Roam Boxes on the top of it if you wanted them out of the bed. Just for clarity of access needs, would you be willing to share the items you keep in those two boxes? Are they frequent access items, or more emergency situation things? I ask because it can help visualize the feasibility of having them mounted somewhere you might have to move them to sleep, like on top of the tent, or if they need to mostly be static and untouched.

 

Yea, I really like the back and forth discussion as well. Really helps to iron things out in a logical manner by getting others point of view.

With everyone’s help, I think I have a solid plan now. I’ll take @Wallygator s idea and mount the Waterport on the driver side bed under the tonneau but over the wheel well hump. This will still give me the needed bed floor space for totes and other larger items. Also keeps the 91lbs of the full Waterport at a lower center of gravity.

I’m going to scratch the idea of the Spier cab roof rack. Instead going to go with the Thule cross bars on top of the cab and mount the 2 Roam boxes in the T-tracts of the cross bars. This gives me the above the cab storage without permanent install. This will also leave any future RTT wide open for any option.

For some reason the GFC really does not appeal to me. I think the tent is “ok”, but absolutely hate the rack portion. Can’t stand the look and think it looks too industrial. I know it’s a solid build, but it’s just my personal taste. I also have absolutely no desire for the pass through tent flooring. This does not sit well with me. Just not my taste. Also for the price, I’d rather go all the way and get all the bells and whistles of the Red Tail. I will stick with the plan of the Red Tail for I know the Mrs likes it and I’ll just get a cab height rack when it’s time for the Red Tail build.

 

Sounds like a well thought out and solid plan! If budget were no concern that RedTail would be sorely tempting, but the small one with no options is double a GFC, and I just can't wrap my head around it. Now, if I had a wife who wanted it, that'd definitely up the priority, cuz happy wife = happy life is a thing.

 

I was just checking out the Red Tail tent and man that thing is nice!!!!!

 

Yes indeed it is. Had several conversations with them and placed a deposit to get on the reservation list.

 

Well, I've wrestled long and hard with it, and I think I am going to give the iKamper Mini a shot. Maybe... I'd like to try and find one in a store I can look at to get a better sense of the size. Current iteration of it only has 2 things I'm not super keen on. The clear skylight on the rainfly can't be opened, and with my rack height the window toward the cab can't use the awning poles. The new version they are working on has a cool "blinds" feature for the window flaps, so that would actually make the front window more usable. Definitely neat, but I don't know if they did anything with the sky light. I don't think they did, and it's probably to keep it more waterproof.


Well, I was just browsing on Hot Shot Offroad's site. There's a camping section! and a tab for awnings and tents! but no tents.... @memario1214 when are you going to start selling iKampers so I can buy one from you?

 

I have grown to like the iKanper mini as well. There is a guy who did several videos on YouTube for UpTop overland that features the mini in his videos. The videos are primarily for the UpTop bed rack but has a mini mounted on it. So if you Google UpTop on YouTube you’ll find him. He has a Tacoma so that will give you some size perspective.

Believe me, you do not want to open the rainfly roof window. If they included a zipper to do so then There is no way the tent would stay dry. This is one of my beefs with RN is the clear window is sewn incorrectly in the roof and let’s water in.

I think the iKamper mini is a wise choice and truthfully wish I selected it over the RN Overland. But it is what it is and I can live with that.

 

I only want it to open for ease of standing on a nice day is all. Very minimal want, and I think you are right. iKamper likely didn't do the opening skylight because they were more concerned with quality than flash.

 

Bingo…. Has RN refunded you yet? They are still dragging their feet with my replacement parts.

 

They will refund once it is picked up. Still have to get it "boxed" up. They took so long I wound up missing my opportunity to get big beefy pallets from work. They got recycled. Then my next hitch for night shifts hit, so I haven't been able to coordinate getting it done.

I should be able to get it ready either tomorrow or Thursday. Then it'll be on whoever RN sets up to pick it up. Once it's ready to go I'll make sure I have pics for my records and I will let them know it is ready, but recommend they insure it as I am not responsible for any damages caused during shipping. I don't trust the slimy bastards and wouldn't put it past them to try and recall the refund because of shipping damage.

 

I agree, document everything. I don’t trust them either.

 

Well, I just received notification that the replacement tent material for the RoofNest Condor Overlander just shipped from the manufacturer overseas. What’s it been, a month and a half?

Apparently they realize the shorter struts will be needed by anyone who purchased this tent. All the shorter struts are being shipped to their CO office and will be distributed from there.

@AzureNightmare NtW, how’s your process coming along?

 

Glad to see you are making some progress. Sucks that it is taking so long for everything.

I got the tent packed, ready to ship, and emailed them as much yesterday afternoon. Today at about 11 AM I got a response... kind of. They forwarded me the automated response from Ian's email that says he will be out of the office until the 25th. They sent it twice.

I replied asking if he is the only person that can arrange freight. I want to get this resolved and I need the refund before I make any decisions on my build. I don't think they've ever heard of cross training and they all seem to be fans of the "it's not my job" mentality. Who TF sets up a company that can't handle basic business functions if one employee isn't in the office? Absolutely asinine.

It's been about 3 hours with no further response, so I expect I will be ignored until the 25th. Then I'm sure I'll get some excuse about how long it'll take for freight to be arranged because it'll be Friday. Par for the course for these half assed shit wits. Pretty sure that "getting top dollar for ineptitude" is their company motto.