Bar, Rails & (probably) Leaks...f'ing roof tent

[MarkDenise1978]

Right...I need a bit of help before I lose my mind!

So I have a 68kg roof tent arriving on Friday for a trip next week but I can't for the life of me get my head round what rails, bars, feet I can get to hold that weight. Leighton say their rails don't hold that much and Thule are almost impossible to get sense out of.

Has anyone got a successful set up that can cope with this much weight?

I was thinking of these - with liquid PTFE to stop leaks!!

KammBar Black For Volkswagen T6 Transporter 2015 - 2023 - Short Wheelbase - Low Roof (L1H1), 2 Aluminium Bars

¬ H2 and H3 (Mid roof and high roof) variants are not compatible with our roof-mounted products as there are no mounting points on these vehicles. Please check before ordering.

www.rhinoproducts.co.uk

 

[airhoguk]

Can’t help with the roof bars but if you’re keeping them on then I’d use a sealant as there is more than just a threaded hole. Usually they are sealed with rubber washers that perish after a time

 

[Skipperjonce]

Send it back and get a driveaway awning. Unless you're camping somewhere with Lions. Roof tents are a faddy nightmare. Bloody heavy, hard to store, impossible to mount alone, have to completely take them down just to drive to the shops even. And stupidly expensive!

 

[MarkDenise1978]

Send it back and get a driveaway awning. Unless you're camping somewhere with Lions. Roof tents are a faddy nightmare. Bloody heavy, hard to store, impossible to mount alone, have to completely take them down just to drive to the shops even. And stupidly expensive!

Amazingly I am camping with lions, can lift 100kg with one finger, can plan ahead so no shops and got it for free…if I only had somewhere to store it then I’d be home and dry!

 

[Skipperjonce]

In that case fill your boots

When you sell it next spring it's 100% profit!

 

[Vanderlust]

The specification of those bars states the limiting factor loadwise is the load limit for the roof set by the vehicle manufacturer vw so that would be a starting point to determine if they would be suitable. We had a roof tent before converting the van and loved it. IRO mounting, remounting, storage I got my local blacksmith to weld up a folding rack which made the job quite easy. I have attached some pics, obviously depends on your location as to whether similar would work for you.

 

[T6Paul]

If you can find a pair of genuine VW T5 roof bars they are load tested to 100kg.

I had roof rails and the T6 cross bars but they were very flimsy. The T5 ones are so much better.

 

[Pontius]

Are VW OEM roof bars an option here?

 

[darkman884]

Don't drive that van anywhere , until you sort its massive oil leak out .
Don't even start it up lol
Got to get the priorities in the right order

 

[Vanderlust]

Fortunately marks are from cleaning caravan which was usually parked on driveway. Sold caravan and roof tent in 2022 before converting van in 2023 . My t6 only leaks oil from vw built in oil ejection points eg crankshaft seal etc. ( just kidding oil seal replaced 2 years ago)

 

[darkman884]

Fortunately marks are from cleaning caravan which was usually parked on driveway. Sold caravan and roof tent in 2022 before converting van in 2023 . My t6 only leaks oil from vw built in oil ejection points eg crankshaft seal etc. ( just kidding oil seal replaced 2 years ago)

Ahh Mr vanderlust ,,,
I wasn't referring to your drive sir , but rather the OP,s van has a massive oil consumption leak to worry about, as discussed in his other thread

 

[Vanderlust]

My bad , assumed post was related to the thread it was in, hadn’t seen the other thread.

 

[MarkDenise1978]

Don't drive that van anywhere , until you sort its massive oil leak out .
Don't even start it up lol
Got to get the priorities in the right order

Excellent point…I’m doing my best to be optimistic! It’s currently back where we got it from with a loooong list of things for them to check. I won’t be unboxing the tent until we know the outcome.

 

[CaravelleDream]

Any joy on finding the right rails for your tentbox? I am in the same predicament and intending on going away in 2 weeks! Help!! T6 Caravelle. I already have rails on my van but I'm reading conflicting guidance as to whether I need to remove them first, or if I can buy bars to sit on top of them. Very confused!

 

[MarkDenise1978]

No clarity on rails yet really. I managed to get a response directly from Thule which was useful though. My set up is…
- Kit 187001
- Thule Evo Fixpoint
- WingBar Evo

They confirmed that it will take 100kg dynamic load.

Now all I need to do is get fitted so it doesn’t f’ing leak through the fix points haha