Snugtop Topper + Roof Top Tent

Hey all!

Trying to figure a cost effective way / not completely changing the truck setup to add a roof top tent.

Purchased the truck with a Snugtop topper, which has been great. However, I don’t know model and struggling to find out if it the regular model, or potentially the sportsman package, which can support considerably more weight. Calls to Snugtop have been woefully unhelpful. In all likelihood, I have the standard topper with only a 150lb or so (as per the Snugtop rep, which seems really low).

Are there any alternatives to buying a new topper or an all-in-one solution (topper + tent) that I may be missing? I’ve read on some other forums about “reinforcing” with steel bars, but don’t know how cost effective or realistic that would be for me.

I don’t wheel particularly hard, couple of visits to Moab / Colorado mountain passes each year.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

Picture? 150lb max seems exceptionally low. That could max out with a bike rack and rocket box on top. I thought those things could support 400lbs minimum.

 

It's disappointing hearing that snugtop customer service isn't helpful. It makes me not wanna do business with them. They are a big name brand with a lot of other competitors.

 

I agree, but quick screen shot of their website + the truck for giggles!

 

definitely agree. It is frustrating but perhaps it was just the representatives I got connected to? Either way, they should be able to look up what model I have through the Serial Number and tell me the static and dynamic weight load.

 

I used to have a used snugtop and could not figure out if it was reinforced and could handle tracks or not. And if a place could even put tracks properly to mount a rack to hold gear, without me giving them the rack first. Just wanted tracks to start.

figured my best bet is to sell it and keep my eye out for one that came with tracks and was ordered properly from the start and not ordered by someone smoking lead.

these companies are generally pretty hard to get ahold of and for some reason direct you to independent parties whose main interest is selling you a whole new shell for thousands that may or may not even have what you want, with a long wait, even if you already have one.

 

Totally understand this- I've already added tracks + 8020 roof rack / bars for "light duty"

I didn't really foresee a RTT in my future during this process, but here we are.

 

I mean if you already added that and have the shell
Might as well ask snugtop and/or a shell shop
and find serial no

I really don’t know if there’s a way to tell if it’s reinforced. I heard reinforced ones have wood and 1” thick.

the center of mine was thick and from what I understand is simply a weak honeycomb structure designed to avoid paint cracking outside.

another option but this costs more
There are exterior tube racks that can fit over a shell. I think a place in Canada makes them custom.

don’t know if that would have worked on my snugtop. The outer lip seems to drop down a lot below the bedside top, more than other shells, to the point where it took paint off my bedsides.

have a Softopper now. Rack could fit that too. Just don’t know how difficult it’s gonna be to come up with solutions so it acts like a shell in terms of mesh window breathing, privacy, etc.
I guess could have an upholstery place add things like that. Or sew it on myself. Onto the sides. Some zipper windows curtains etc mount a fan somehow.

 

You even gave them the serial number and they couldn't give you any information? That makes it even worse through a customer service lense. What if people need new weather seals on windows or latches? They just gonna try and sell you a new shell lol. I'd call back and talk to a different person.
I actually wanna get a snugtop hi-liner or a leer 180, but I've been reading and hearing that snugtops quality all around are better than leer. I Got to save up for one though, they are definitely $$$.

 

I don’t think they sell better windows.

why
what quality
It’s a decades old design fiberglass shell. There is no difference. If anything Leer looks designed better.

if you want quality look at something like GFC, RLD, RSI, etc with support from the company

not putting a 30yo 200lb fiberglass boat upside down on your bed.

you get a shell because it’s cheap used not new.

 

I'll check those other brands out ..I just heard of bad quality control issues "lately" with leer... Window seals leaking, bad paint, windows with chipped edges, not as good handle and windoor mechanism. Obviously they been around for ever though.

 

That's so weird IMO. So, if I literally sit on it, it caves in and breaks? I previously asked a LEER dealer about capacity on the 100R or XL I believe. I think they're pretty similar structure, just different windows... He said 350-400lbs I believe and it would support a roof top tent with a person, and I think that is the apples to apples comparison of models across brands.

 

I wonder if this is for their Sportsman Package. Apparently that has a reinforced top and can hold up to 500lb.

I'm also wondering if the 150lb is just the rating of the Yakima crossbars?

 

Bingo; they have to provide the weight rating based off of the weakest component, which would be the crossbars very likely. I really don't think any topper company's provide the numbers you're looking for on fiberglass shells, because its probably a liability or accident waiting to happen. FWIW, I have non-reinforced Leer shell with an 80/20 DIY rack and giant XL RTT. It hasn't failed yet. While it works just fine, I think a RTT on a fiberglass camper shell (reinforced or not) is just a shitty setup altogether for reasons other than structural integrity, but here I am doing it anyways.. I think the truth is, your topper would hold it just fine, the static weight likely wouldn't be an issue, and the dynamic weight is probably also just fine, but idk how much I'd trust it in a real offroad setting. I think normal driving conditions on road, there's seriously probably no worries, but this is purely my personal opinion, and even I don't like my own opinions sometimes, so don't take it as factual in any way. All I'm saying is plenty of people have ran the same setups for years and years with no issues. There have also been a handful who have experienced issues, like bedsides splitting, cracks in camper shell, etc. I've still never heard of a catastrophic failure though, so I'm not convinced that any fiberglass shell on the market couldn't handle a RTT, with only a minimal chance of damage. My perspective is always open to feedback and evidence to change my opinion though, so again, I'm not right - just not convinced otherwise yet.

 

I had a sneaking suspicion. Do you run bed stiffeners? Does having the RTT change your approach to any potential wheeling you do?

 

I do. And definitely. I don't do any wheeling to begin with really, so if its not a forest road/hunting trail thats halfway maintained, I'm probably not getting into it to begin with, but I'd be much more willing to go through some off camber stuff if the tent weren't there. Thats not to say I/you couldn't wheel with it there, I just imagine the stresses of off camber/real wheeling could introduce alot more potential for damage than my normal uses.

Like I said, its only my personal opinion, but I'm under the impression a RTT is probably fine on a camper shell for most people. For those who want to wheel hard, I'd only consider a tube bed rack (not one of the flimsy "modular" racks out there that bolt together) because that would actually act as a major support and wouldn't be flimsy/flexy like thin aluminum or fiberglass.

 

I have a snugtop rebel and on mine the reinforcement is visible as a step in the carpet lining where the 1/2” thick honeycomb panel covers the underside of the roof stopping just before the roof curves down on all 4 sides. I have roof tracks as well as ditch tracks modified to fit an AC and have carried easily 500lbs up top though I did add bed stiffeners to help with the lack of shear strength at the gate/rear window. If you’re in doubt or just want to beef it up you could add some internal frames to support the load.

 

Can you confirm if this looks similar to your reinforced top? It doesn’t feel like 1/2.

I wish Snugtop would have mentioned this yesterday when I called them to ask about weight capacity, again.

 

I'm guessing these internal frames are custom right, there's nothing I could purchase off the shelf? Unfortunately, don't know how to weld / bend steel/tube... would be neat though!

I also uploaded some pics if you could see if my top interior looks like your reinforced top.

 

Yup, that’s how it looks.