ASK THE EXPERT – WHAT ARE THE WEIGHT LIMITS WHEN LOADING ON YOUR ROOF?

Hey Adam,

I want to fit a rooftop tent to my 4WD but I’m worried about the weight limits and the drivability.

Any suggestions on where I can start for decent information?

Trent, Brisbane.

Hi Trent,

Most manufacturers will have a kilogram rating for the roof. This weight being a safe limit for when the 4WD is in motion. From memory most Toyota’s are around 100kgs but you will need to check on that.

This weight limit will include anything you fit on it. Roof rack, tent, high-lift jack, Maxtrax. You will have to take it all into consideration.

When the vehicle is parked and stationary it is fairly normal to exceed those limits, as two people in a rooftop tent with the weight of the rack and the tent will easily weigh more than the limit.

Drivability with a rooftop tent can also change. I find, with mine, that it is very floaty. We tend to roll and sway around corners a bit more with the roof top tent on, and out on the tracks I am extra careful of what we do because the vehicle is more top heavy.

That being said though, I love my rooftop tent and wouldn’t trade it for the world. I find it easy to set up and am very comfortable in it.

Hope that helps.

GO NUTS!

Adam