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Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Storage, Racks, Bed Conversions, Cargo area modification, tie-downs, extra fuel, roof-tents, awnings, curtains, cooking devices, water makers, water heaters, navigation devices, communication systems, tinted glass, flooring treatments, power and battery controllers, and all that other stuff you don't really need but is nice to have for big trips.
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stevegsmith
Posts: 2666

Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Post#1 » Sun Jul 02, 2017 7:47 am

Did this in 2003(?) right after we got the truck and just came across the pics. Might be helpful to some.
Rack was simple, homemade, and was designed to be as low to the roof as possible.
Rack towers ( Quik-N-Easy ) : https://www.nrs.com/category/2967/kayak ... easy-racks
Aluminum tube : 1.5" x .75" x 0.125"
Columbus Small Autohome RTT
Attachments
Quick-n-easy_rack_fab_instruct.jpg
QuickClampmod3.JPG
QuickClampmod2.JPG
QuickClampmod1.JPG
IMG_1384.JPG
IMG_1383.JPG
IMG_1382.JPG
IMG_1381.JPG
Steve

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Rcarradine
Posts: 91
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Re: Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Post#2 » Fri May 03, 2019 1:05 pm

Nice looking rack. Any idea how much weight you can hold up there?
http://gwagen.net/280ge/

4x4Puch
Posts: 86

Re: Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Post#3 » Fri Nov 29, 2019 5:00 pm

Seems there is very little love for the convertible G's when it comes to RTT installs. I had to make my own roof rack. Took it to the treffen in Vegas to see how the rack did on the highway (noise, vibrations...). Wife did not notice any change in the G's performance and noise level, which was a good thing. Mounted my RTT to the rack when we got back and took it for a little off roading trip to see how the rack and tent work together. Everything went very well. I thought maybe some of the other convertible G owners might be interested to know they can mount an RTT on their vehicle. Excited to use my G now for more overland type trips.
Attachments
Wickenburg box canyou 010.jpg
1991 Swiss army 230GE
1972 Swiss army 712M Pinzgauer
1975 Swiss army 710M Pinzgauer
1956 Dutch army DAF YA 126

TorontoPuch
Posts: 207

Re: Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Post#4 » Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:10 pm

I like the idea of a roof rack/roof-top tent for a convertible G. Could you kindly post more photos of how your DIY rack to provide a sense of how you did it?
3 x Swiss Army Puch 230GEs, Agate Grey, Tangerine Orange, and China Blue
+ 2 Swiss Army Puch 230GE sold.

4x4Puch
Posts: 86

Re: Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Post#5 » Sun Jan 05, 2020 6:13 pm

will start another post for this so as not hijack this one.
1991 Swiss army 230GE
1972 Swiss army 712M Pinzgauer
1975 Swiss army 710M Pinzgauer
1956 Dutch army DAF YA 126

4x4Puch
Posts: 86

Re: Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Post#6 » Sun Jan 05, 2020 6:22 pm

Does not appear I can start another one.
Attachments
74300411_10214152056623461_6878921725531127808_o.jpg
RTT mounted annex room not installed in this photo
75252977_10216032502830326_2499926022904872960_o.jpg
attachment at front roll bar utilizing the existing bolts that were used to retain the soft top
75246580_10215996365326911_1414227886126137344_n.jpg
showing low profile front
73546232_10215937714340673_1459390197388017664_o.jpg
low profile rear
75308457_10215995039493766_8992127316851163136_n.jpg
Rear hoop. will design a better tie in point once I come up with a rear bumper that suits my needs better.
1991 Swiss army 230GE
1972 Swiss army 712M Pinzgauer
1975 Swiss army 710M Pinzgauer
1956 Dutch army DAF YA 126

TorontoPuch
Posts: 207

Re: Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Post#7 » Mon Jan 06, 2020 6:43 pm

That is very, very clever. I like the way you essentially surrounded the soft-top without touching it and kept the height virtually the same as the antenna/flashing light mount. Sorry about the post hijacking thing -- I am new to this!
3 x Swiss Army Puch 230GEs, Agate Grey, Tangerine Orange, and China Blue
+ 2 Swiss Army Puch 230GE sold.

4x4Puch
Posts: 86

Re: Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Post#8 » Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:53 pm

I do a similar roof rack for my soft top pinzgauers. In the case of the G I am still working on a rear bumper design I can live with. Not impressed with what I have seen to date. Once I settle on a bumper design I will make the attachment to the rear bumper cleaner. For now I just wanted to get some trail time on it. The whole rack is actually very light. I can lift it off by myself. The material is .065 wall 1X2 for the rack and the back hoop is .125 wall for a little more stability. Works great so far.
1991 Swiss army 230GE
1972 Swiss army 712M Pinzgauer
1975 Swiss army 710M Pinzgauer
1956 Dutch army DAF YA 126

TorontoPuch
Posts: 207

Re: Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Post#9 » Fri Jan 17, 2020 4:02 pm

Just wondering, did you consider using the bolts at the top of the windscreen pillars as an attachment point? Do you think they are too weak?
3 x Swiss Army Puch 230GEs, Agate Grey, Tangerine Orange, and China Blue
+ 2 Swiss Army Puch 230GE sold.

4x4Puch
Posts: 86

Re: Roof Top Tent - RTT - Autohome - Columbus

Post#10 » Sat Jan 18, 2020 9:23 am

I looked at using those bolts. My experience with the pinzgauer front rack and using the windshield was a solid mount but the noise was unbearable. I have been able to load up as much weight as I like on the rack with no ill effects. Since the windshield frames are designed similar I would suspect that the G windshield points would work. Picture of the pinz rack attached. You can see that I used the antenna base as another mounting point since it is very stable. The front rack I kept seperate from the back of the pinz rack as I use them independent of each other.

I like how nice and quiet the G is and did not want to add any outside noise. one of the considerations when making the rack for the G was to keep it as low as possible and still be able to work the canvas. I built this rack before my trip to the G treffen in Las Vegas so I could see how much noise it actually made. Traveling over 700 highway miles and revealed that the rack added very little noise. I was happy that I did not have to make any changes to the design. The noise issue was one of the major considerations for keeping a "flat" rack design. I intend to weld in a couple of pieces of E track near the front and back of the rack as attachment points when not using for the RTT. I have many different E track tie down options already in stock so that is my preferred option. I know the A track is gaining in popularity and a good option.
Attachments
100_3493.JPG
roof rack attached to front windshield
1991 Swiss army 230GE
1972 Swiss army 712M Pinzgauer
1975 Swiss army 710M Pinzgauer
1956 Dutch army DAF YA 126

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