Roof top tent

KND

Well-known member
Hello everyone,

I'm have a 1997 D90 NAS with safety roll cage, I'm looking to install a hardtop roof top tent for camping this summer.

I just wonder if I can get away with just the load bar and roof top tent mount exactly like the defender 90 below. I have no need for a full roof rack so that's why I'm better off with just the load bar. The tent weight about 160 pound.
 

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    Defender 90 roof top tent.jpg
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javelinadave

Administrator
Staff member
The tent weight about 160 pound.
Plus whoever is sleeping up there and whatever gear you haul up while you are sleeping up there. I'm going to guess you will far exceed the crossbar manufacturer limits. I wouldn't try it myself but then again I'm not a gambler. You could fab up something strong enough to bolt between the A and B pillar external roll cage sections.
 

Adam

Well-known member
As @javelinadave says, two cross bars is probably not enough. But that doesnt mean that spreading the weight across three or four wouldn't be ok. You need to figure out the static weight you'll be loading up and talk to a roof rack manufacturer. The front runner load bars may work out - call them and talk to them on the phone about what you are doing.

Also, safety devices has roof tent mounting brackets here:


I'm sure some combination could be worked out.
 

El Pinchi

Well-known member
Hello everyone,

I'm have a 1997 D90 NAS with safety roll cage, I'm looking to install a hardtop roof top tent for camping this summer.

I just wonder if I can get away with just the load bar and roof top tent mount exactly like the defender 90 below. I have no need for a full roof rack so that's why I'm better off with just the load bar. The tent weight about 160 pound.
Dave is correct. I was yakima and Thule distributor for almost 30 yrs. I wouldn't put all the weight on the rain gutters. Would it hold the weight of the load bars, tent, 2 adults, and gear probably for a while but inevitably the rain gutters will start to bend. Max load wt. on most vehicles with aftermarket roof racks is 160lbs. I would suggest what Dave said...buy or fab up so towers to mount to the external roll cage (which SeriesDefender sells) and mount 2 more cross bars in the middle and rear for weight distribution. If you plan to use the yakima 1A high rise or the Thule gutter mounts, the front mounts may have to be a custom one to match the height in the rear. pm me if you need more inf.
 

El Pinchi

Well-known member
As @javelinadave says, two cross bars is probably not enough. But that doesnt mean that spreading the weight across three or four wouldn't be ok. You need to figure out the static weight you'll be loading up and talk to a roof rack manufacturer. The front runner load bars may work out - call them and talk to them on the phone about what you are doing.

Also, safety devices has roof tent mounting brackets here:


I'm sure some combination could be worked out.
That SD mount is too low of a height to match up with the rear.
here is the link to SDO https://www.seriesdefender.com/exterior/nas-crossbars.html
 
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Uncle Douglas

Well-known member
Callsign: delete
These were designed by @Tiktaalik for use like so with a front runner rack & NAS style front cage:
View attachment 16436

He shared the cad files with me back in 2019 - this may be another option. If he's ok with it, I'd be happy to share them with folks.

You can see he has a variety of solutions for managing tents on 90's
http://instagr.am/p/BR3elu5hd0O/ http://instagr.am/p/BRKQuHdhVia/ http://instagr.am/p/BPQYmVcD-hz/
View attachment 16434View attachment 16435

View attachment 16437
Really like how that rack looks and fits, think thats the way to go on Trey's 90.
 
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Adam

Well-known member
Really like how that rack looks and fits, think thats the way to go on Trey's 90.

Yes, I was a big fan of the front runner gear - had one on my Xterra, but its pricy. On the 110, I'll try and bolt the tent directly to the cage.
 
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KND

Well-known member
Thanks everyone for the head up.

I went with front runner load bar with custom attachment for the roll cage.

I asked Derek from URBAN OFFROAD. He made me the 2 set roll cage clamp with machine steel tap. I still need to measure and drill two holes then voila I'm off to camping.
 

Uncle Douglas

Well-known member
Callsign: delete
Yes, I was a big fan of the front runner gear - had one on my Xterra, but its pricy. On the 110, I'll try and bolt the tent directly to the cage.
Have the shorter rack that Front Runner sells for double cabs on the green 90 you drove a couple years ago. Its one of the original one piece welded Wind Cheatah ones. Have had it for a decade now. Great company and have dealt with their US distributor, a SA lady out in California, she got me replacement hardware when I lost some of mine, wasnt to busy to deal with a small need.
 

mitherial

Well-known member
I have used two Front Runner load bars with a soft top RTT without issue, but did not leave it on for a long time. More bars would definitely be better, or one of the racks that mounts all of the way around the gutter (no because of the strength of the bars, per se) but the roof gutter.

LR-RTT-04.jpg
LR-RTT-04.jpg


Hello everyone,

I'm have a 1997 D90 NAS with safety roll cage, I'm looking to install a hardtop roof top tent for camping this summer.

I just wonder if I can get away with just the load bar and roof top tent mount exactly like the defender 90 below. I have no need for a full roof rack so that's why I'm better off with just the load bar. The tent weight about 160 pound.
 
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