Rooftop Tent for 2 adults 2 kids

[Jason Rhea]

Hey guys I am in the market for a rooftop tent for family overlanding fun. Anyone have any recommendations on tent and flat roof rack? Also looking for info on swing arms for moving the spare to the rear of the truck to free up space for other items. Thanks

 

[Jason Rhea]

Anybody have a rooftop tent on their Expedition?

 

[mjp2]

The rear spare tire carrier is a custom rear bumper build. Find a good fabricator and expect to drop a couple grand.

As the rooftop tent, check out this site: https://www.adventuredriven.com/ford-expedition

I don't see where they mention any specific brand for the rack or tent but you might be able to surmise something from the pics and videos.

 

[mjp2]

Found details in the truck's for sale thread: https://expeditionportal.com/forum/...ford-expedition-bullet-proofed-engine.203870/

 

[ExplorerTom]

Eezi-Awn platform rack.

(not a great picture of it).

 

[Grover6]

check out rigd supply for a hitch mounted tire carrier, or wilco offroad. Rooftop tent options are extensive. Look at Tepui, CVT, Treeline, iKamper, James beroud, smittybuilt. Lots of options, mostly based on budget. Racks are similar, like ExplorerTom with eeziawn, there is rhino rack, forerunner, and a few I can't think of right now.

 

[Cterrebl]

@ExplorerTom It doesn't look like Eezy Awn has a kit specifically for the Expedition. Can you tell me what you ended up using? Looking to do the same thing.

 

[ExplorerTom]

@Cterrebl I bought this kit:
https://www.equipt1.com/products/toyota-4runner-5th-gen-k9-roof-rack-kit

You remove the part that bolts to your roof, transfer the holes from that to the K9 roof rails that take its place, bolt on the K9 rails to your roof, then attach qty 10 of the K9 feet into the rails, lift on the Eezi-Awn platform rack and bolt them together.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Here is my roof rail on my 2000 removed with the K9 rail in its place. I’ve had this EeziAwn rack on 3 different vehicles.

 

[Grover6]

Any increase in wind noise?

 

[ExplorerTom]

At first. But then I added a wind deflector for my sunroof and it went away.

It does come with its own deflector, but when used as intended, it would deflect the wind right into the sunroof.

If you have a sunroof and don’t want to mess with that, get a less long rack.

 

[bluerooster02]

How big are the kids? I'm running a Free Spirit Recreation High Country 80 on a rack on the back of my F150 for myself, my wife, and twin 3 year olds, and it's plenty of room. My brother-in-law is running the 23Zero Walkabout 87 for himself, wife, 14yo and 5yo.

I haven't tried to mount it on the Expy, simply because we have the truck.

 

[Cterrebl]

@ExplorerTom Thanks so much for the info and picture! One other question if you don't mind - how much weight do you guess you've had up on your roof? I'm looking to put a rooftop tent up there - gotta believe that it'll hold a 175 lb tent and a couple people. The manual says that the stock rack only holds 200 lbs though

 

[ExplorerTom]

So I believe the 200 lbs is a dynamic rating. Statically, a tent with people inside of it is different.

I haven’t had that much weight up there. I’ve sat on it (240 lbs). I have a ground tent and have had 20 gallons of gas up there.

I’m in an overlanding group and people have RTTs on all sorts of rigs. I know someone with a 1st gen and a RTT.

You’ll be fine as long as you don’t drive down the highway with the RTT full of people and hit the brakes really hard.

 

[Cterrebl]

@ExplorerTom Hey one more question for you - it looks like you secured your Eezi Awn rails at more connection points than what I'll have when I remove the factory rails. Did you screw into the roof?

 

[ExplorerTom]

@ExplorerTom Hey one more question for you - it looks like you secured your Eezi Awn rails at more connection points than what I'll have when I remove the factory rails. Did you screw into the roof?

Nope. Transferred the holes to the rail from the factory rack. I want to say it’s secured via 5 screws on each side- but I could be mistaken. No new holes thru the roof.

 

[Cterrebl]

@ExplorerTom Thanks for your help on this. I don't think I'd have the confidence to buy a $1400 rack system without knowing it had been done before! Very happy with the Eezi-Awn - it's really solid. I feel a lot better about putting an RTT up there now.

I put the RTT on Yakima bars with the factory rails for one night and while it did seem ok I wouldn't trust it for the trip I'm taking out west in a few weeks.

The only problem I had with installing the Eezi- Awn is one of the bolts holding the factory rack down was seized on the rivnut. Had to remove it and install a jacknut in it's place. Other than that it was pretty smooth. Thanks again!

 

[madspirit]

Here is my roof rail on my 2000 removed with the K9 rail in its place. I’ve had this EeziAwn rack on 3 different vehicles.
View attachment 68263

Does the rail have some flex to fit ? thinking doing this setup for 2020 expedition (non max) . but not sure if the rail will seat well .

thanks for any information