Vincent
Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2024
- Messages
- 199
- Reaction score
- 24
- Rivian
- R1T
I met a R1T owner in our Rivian club who recently got the Yakima sky rise hd (basically the same one as what's in the gear shop). He said he prefers having the tent higher up so he's planning on putting it over the cab instead of over the bed.
For someone like myself who has owned the R1T for a long time, I advised him to not put it over the cab. If he wants his RTT up higher (for usable space in the bed), but not over the cab. The preferred solution was an Xtrusion Overland bed rack, with the tent mounted above the bed. IMHO, there are a few key advantages to this setup versus over the cab.
1. It is easy to mount and remove. The mounting brackets are easily accessible from outside the bed. Have fun accessing mounting brackets when mounted above that fragile sunroof, without damaging the sunroof. I have seen this same tent mounted on a Toyota FJ with a low profile rack. It was a PITA to access the mounting brackets. Good thing that roof was metal. On his R1T, using some tie down/ratchet straps attached to rafter hooks. He can do this himself so no problem there.
2. Mounting over the cab is sure to create annoying wind noise. Mounting behind the cab over the bed, has resulted in no noise, in my case.
3. I have seen only minor efficiency impact with my setup, but YMMV. I don’t think that would be the case with something mounted much further forward and necessarily significantly higher above the cab.
For efficiency sake, the goal is to keep the tent as low as possible, while clearing the roof spoiler all the way up to the antenna fin. I did not want mine up above that fin. That would have added at least 4” of additional height. My hardshell tent is about 78” long, much longer than most foldable tents, so it does stick out the back a wee bit, but no deal. I can mount my large frame E-MTB in the bed, under the rack, along with whatever other gear I have, and it is all very accessible.
For someone like myself who has owned the R1T for a long time, I advised him to not put it over the cab. If he wants his RTT up higher (for usable space in the bed), but not over the cab. The preferred solution was an Xtrusion Overland bed rack, with the tent mounted above the bed. IMHO, there are a few key advantages to this setup versus over the cab.
1. It is easy to mount and remove. The mounting brackets are easily accessible from outside the bed. Have fun accessing mounting brackets when mounted above that fragile sunroof, without damaging the sunroof. I have seen this same tent mounted on a Toyota FJ with a low profile rack. It was a PITA to access the mounting brackets. Good thing that roof was metal. On his R1T, using some tie down/ratchet straps attached to rafter hooks. He can do this himself so no problem there.
2. Mounting over the cab is sure to create annoying wind noise. Mounting behind the cab over the bed, has resulted in no noise, in my case.
3. I have seen only minor efficiency impact with my setup, but YMMV. I don’t think that would be the case with something mounted much further forward and necessarily significantly higher above the cab.
For efficiency sake, the goal is to keep the tent as low as possible, while clearing the roof spoiler all the way up to the antenna fin. I did not want mine up above that fin. That would have added at least 4” of additional height. My hardshell tent is about 78” long, much longer than most foldable tents, so it does stick out the back a wee bit, but no deal. I can mount my large frame E-MTB in the bed, under the rack, along with whatever other gear I have, and it is all very accessible.
