Roof top tent on cab or on shell? And why?

Where should I put my RTT?
On top of the cab
On top of the shell

I will be setting out to live in my truck for the next year, and had been looking for a more comfortable sleeping Options. Due to a recent hand surgery and a tight timeframe, a rooftop tent seems like the route rather than building a wedge.
I will also be mounting Pelican cases to the roof, and I am torn on which should be in front considering fuel mileage and the amount of driving I’ll be doing.

Any thoughts opinions and experiences you all have to share?

 

I don’t have first hand experience, but I’d do the tent on the shell.
Wind fairing in the front of the pelican cases, and let it step up from: fairing to cases to tent. This should make the wind drag a little less (at least it sounds like it would in my head).

 

This. Sylvansport.com Extremely versatile and as much as the good RTT cost you’ll probably been near the same cost.

 

Definitely like trailers but I’m in need of a bit more mobility. Also a far bit out of budget . Thanks for the input!

 

Was thinking that same thing for wind breaks but was also thinking that the heavier weight placed more central over the suspension would likely keep the back end from sagging giving me better mileage. Thoughts?

 

@Drainbung you might know a bit more about weight on a taco. Any input or ideas?

 

Subbed for ideas.

 

Shell!

 

Do you feel that the added weight displaced over mainly the rear rather then displacing the weight more centrally has affected fuel mileage adversely? All I imagine is that lowering the rear and keeping the front end high.

 

I came so close to pulling the trigger on one of these, but then I realized that it's 3/4 the cost of a decent pop-up with an air conditioner. So I bought that instead.

I vote shell. Purely aesthetic reasons.

 

I feel the weight in the rear at high speed; decrease in aerodynamics.

No issues with sag in the rear when your springs are rated for 1k.....

 

What type of RTT are you going to run? The traditional fold over type or the pop up clamshell variation?

The weight of the tent should be roughly the same regardless of the style so you shouldn't have much issue there.

The benefit you would gain by mounting it over the cab and keeping the truck leveled out will most likely be negated by the sheer face of the tent buffering all the wind. (Unless you're rocking a slimer hardshell tent)
Mounting over the cap gives you more space up front to direct the wind up and over with a deflector. I would also advise bed stiffeners if you go that route.

I saw one at a gas station once that was mounted half and half over the cab and cap, I couldn't find the picture though. They had a big deflector up front and some boxes out back over the cap.

 

I run mine on the shell.

 

I'd go over the shell and consider a hard-shell tent. I'm just about flat over the top with a low rack and a clamshell tent.
Hardshell will be shorter and easier to put up/take down: soft/clamshell is cheaper and gives you more room.
You can also adjust your case height up to match tent height: you'll still take an aerodynamic/mpg hit, but gain more storage. My set-up is fairly quiet.

 

Tent on the shell is no problem. If you're on stock springs a quick an easy fix is the Firestone Ride Rite airbags with Daystar cradles.

 

Don’t know if the thread is still alive but I’ll try anyway......

considering a RTT myself and I see all the talk of decreased MPG’s, what kind of decrease is everyone seeing?

 

Really depends on how fast you drive. About 2 mpg at 65.

 

Thanks for the reply! I see comments all the time about losing it but that’s the first time I’ve seen anyone actually say roughly what you’d lose. Thanks for the info

 

I run mine on the cab to accommodate the high rise shell, works well in this configuration, i don't notice the weight of the tent really but i do notice the wind drag. I had it mounted on the shell of my last taco, I liked that configuration too because i had the tent open to the rear and i'm short enough I could stand under it and cook at the tailgate.

 

I've often thought about it. I would mount it on a short bedrack as others have done, to keep it more level with the cab.