Mounting a Roof Top Tent on the Santa Cruz

[@ricknotd1cc]

What happened in Colorado 😳

[@AdventureGT]

We heard a dog down the mountain absolutely loose its shit haha. It saw something... but we never did... there's a whole overlanding story arc starting at the Bonneville Salt flats if you scroll back a bit!

[@ricknotd1cc]

@@AdventureGT nice nice! I have a Santa Cruz too and I want to get it trail ready. Your channel has been awesome!

[@billybobjoehon]

I love you!!!!! I wanna throw my snowboard rack on the truck, but I don't have roof rails like yours. I saw the other video on adding them, but that's outta the budget this season. Wanna same the inside the bed under the roll cover for the rest of the gear and snow-covered boards on the rails. You're a life saver!!!!

[@AdventureGT]

Glad the video helped!!

[@roadstories007]

What I really appreciate is that you just do it. You don't care if you're grinding on the new paint etc. Get er done and enjoy. My CruZ is coming sometime in the next few weeks and I wanna get Just doin it hahaha

[@AdventureGT]

Welcome to the Cruz club!! Let the mods begin!

[@user-cl2es9iu1j]

I sure enjoy your installation videos!

[@AdventureGT]

Glad you enjoyed them!

[@jjcrt2outdoors]

Bro. Thank you! Going to be doing this to my ‘24!

[@norsefalconer]

Interesting 🤔 Thanks for the install demo. Btw, I have the factory roof rails and crossbars. I believe they're only rated at150lb.

[@AdventureGT]

I heard these bed bars are rated at 300lbs. But 150lbs static should be good enough for a two person RTT just don't bounce around on them haha. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@norsefalconer]

@@AdventureGT Yeah, it says 300lb in the product description. I was just reinforcing that you made a good call vs the factory rails & racks. Not having them may have been a "blessing" in disguise 😉

[@bruceyyyyy]

It's strange to me some of the design decisions they've done with this vehicle. Those pockets are pretty standard on trucks. My Silverado I had (The one with all the contractor stickers. I bought it that way.) had those indentations and I put in deployable hooks you show at the end. As far as cutting, I would use an oscillating saw. They're relatively cheap (corded non Milwaukee stuff anyway) and would make quick work for plunge cutting thin material like this. If you have a miter saw it would likely be able to cut thin aluminum like these bars, even with a wood blade. Would be nice for making a straight cut. Good job on the hearing protection! I've got regrets about that myself. Interested to see what you think about roof camping! We skipped from hammocking to sleeping in the Suburban. Wherever we go: we have arrived.

[@AdventureGT]

Yeaaah, 😅 I'm definitely lacking the right tools. Always getting creative with the wrong tools! I'll be taking some notes. How do you like sleeping In the Suburban?

[@bruceyyyyy]

@@AdventureGT I really like it. We have done a lot of backpacking and I miss my hammock at times for the breeze but the versatility is hard to beat. I still need to finish the interior (plan to add a second full height shelf and a ceiling, similar to SubOverland) but life keeps getting in the way and it's functional as is with the one half shelf and the roof fan. I've got some odd plans for external storage I would like to have ready for extended trips. We bring our dogs with us most places and I would love to not have to rearrange anything. I like what you're doing with this Santa Cruz. The rooftop tent being at or near the roof line of the truck makes sense to me for travel. I've never liked having items on the roof for mpg / noise reasons but the Suburban doesn't seem to mind. We drove 400 miles on the highway with a large roof box and it still got 17 mpg with 33" AT tires. Not that isn't it's own bag of problems, but anything with 330k is gonna have them.

[@socalrenegal9409]

Nice alternative

[@AlexLeonor]

Awesome video, what is the slot called that you're using to connect the rails? I want to do something similar, but can't find any bars that use that connection or how to even search for it besides the Putco Venture Tech rack.

[@Euragone68]

I'd want my tent higher than the rear window so you could see out of it, plus that height might allow more stuff to be carried in the bed!

[@AdventureGT]

That'd be a good idea with the Turbo modle. But the amount of drag you get put the lift and tires, really do a number on the power and mpg. But I feel you with the bed space lol

[@jamespugh]

Very cool 😎 set up. What's weight limits on that set up. I seen subaru outbacks wilderness at the car show in Pittsburgh 2022 I did full video on my channel. I fell love with it.

[@AdventureGT]

I believe that these bars are rated at 300 lbs which is like double the cross bars on every roof set up lol

[@stevooo6506]

Nice video. Will you be doing more off road videos on the Santa Cruz ?

[@AdventureGT]

Yep! That's the plan. Lift Springs come in, in 2 weeks. Then it's wheels and all terrain tires. Have a trip to the dakotas, and Montana later In the year.

[@stevooo6506]

@@AdventureGT nice, would love to see the lift springs and all terrain tires in action with that transmission.

[@johncarenza7236]

Have you looked into getting the aluminum skid plate for your Santa Cruz any time soon?

[@AdventureGT]

Definitely interested. But the skid plate might be behind the lift kit and tires lol

[@sfshilo]

A hacksaw is your friend for aluminum 🙂

[@AdventureGT]

I'll be more prepared next time!! 😅😂

[@luisespinet7224]

Hello! Thanks for the video Unfortunately, i clicked on the link and it said that’s unavailable. However I found the DEE ZEE DZ 99705TB Hex Side Rail but I don’t know if I can make the same with them. What do you think?

[@AdventureGT]

Yup! The important bit is 99705. TB just makes that's it's texture black insted of silver. Should work fine

[@kennethpeang642]

😊👍

[@amg2fast626]

Bro thats not a cutting blade... thats a damn grinding wheel lmao

[@AdventureGT]

Yeah it is lmao. Didn't want to drive to the hardware store.

[@SHTFHunter]

Do those brackets come with those rails?

[@AdventureGT]

Yes

[@dv5041]

What's the correct bullring pn#?

[@TyK622]

Hyundai sells a name brand tent that fits the Santa Cruz for $281 Cdn. It would be cheaper in the US.

[@TheSurvivor287]

Really? Do you have a link? I couldn’t find it.

[@TyK622]

@@TheSurvivor287 ...... I bought a 2023 Santa Cruz in June and the tent is offered as an accessory. I just checked Hyundai Canada website and the offer is still there. Take a look at the accessories when doing a build.

[@TheSurvivor287]

I have a couple questions I’m hoping you can answer. I’m looking to mount my roof top tent like you did and I’m wondering if those cross bars are strong enough to support the tent and the weight of people inside the tent. My RTT weighs about 140lbs it’s self and I believe you said those rails are only rated for 300 lbs. Have you had any issues with them?

[@AdventureGT]

300+ lbs each rail. Soes totall of over 600. This set up has already slept 2 adults plus a dog on many occasions with no issues. Hope it helps!

[@TheSurvivor287]

@@AdventureGT thank you so much for replying. I would have 4 in the tent (2 adults, 2 kids) roughly 650lbs including tent weight but not counting things like pillows, blankets, clothes, etc. you think it would hold up?

[@AdventureGT]

Hmm, it might depend on which tent you use. One of the fold out ones like mine might be alright. But I wouldn't gamble on a clam shell Or a pop up box with all that weight directly over the bars. Perhaps you could reinforce them a little bit. I think the weak point is where they mount into the steak pockets. Don't wanna steer yah wrong though. Can't give a better answer then that.

[@TheSurvivor287]

@@AdventureGT yea it’s a fold out one like yours it’s a SmittyBuilt gen 2 XL.

[@unzuetascorpdotcom]

Are there higher mounting bases that sit higher that the ones on the video? Not sure if there is something like that available?

[@AdventureGT]

There is but they get really expensive. The Putco rack puts the bottom of the tent parallel with the top of the roof. But last I checked it was 1700$ I'm planning on adding some steel spacers to mine to rise it up a bit.

[@freddyo2k10]

What happened in Colorado 🤔🤔🤔🤔????

[@kickadams8908ass]

What happened in Colorado?

[@AdventureGT]

We heard a dog down the mountain absolutely loose its shit haha. It saw something... but we never did... there's a whole overlanding story arc starting at the Bonneville Salt flats if you scroll back a bit!