roof top tent in the way of vent fan

[drjenk]

Hi,
We're getting a teardrop built by a manufacturer in Oregon called Teardrops NW. We're having a Yakima roof rack installed, one use of it will be to put a Tepui roof top tent on it for our teenage kids. One downside of this configuration is it will preclude us from using the fantastic fan while it is mounted, becuase it will barely clear the fan cover. So I'm brainstorming some ideas on how to perhaps make or mount some sort of stand off, such that the tent sits 4-5 inches higher to make it possible to open the vent enough to activate the fan. There are roof top racks like this one:
http://www.yakima.com/shop/cargo/gear-b ... oadwarrior
that could serve to raise it up, but I'd have to cut a hole in the bars where the fan is. I'm wondering if there isn't something out there that anyone knows about before I design and build something. I'm thinking a simple aluminum frame, secured to the yakima racks, and have some through holes for the tepui tent brackets. Or something. Anyone have this problem before and solved it? What did you do?

Thanks for any ideas,
David J.

[doug hodder]

I see no specs on the weight capabilities on these racks, do you think it will support 2 teenage kids on the roof? I'm assuming that they are still growing right? I'd also let the builder know that you are planning for the tent and additional weight of bodies on the roof as that may effect his design. You might be better off with a custom built roof rack type system as opposed to the basket thing. That way, you can get the support out to the edges to better handle the weight and the height to make the fan work. For me, I'd think since you have to set up a tent for them, 1 on the ground, or a side attach room type thing would be a much better approach. For the fan, there are other options other than the fantastic fan that have a lower profile top. Others opinions may vary. Doug

[Redneck Teepee]

Just went through the same thing, but mine was not for a tent. You would have to have some type of flat base for a tent bottom I would think... viewtopic.php?f=21&t=60566

[tony.latham]

David:

Congrats on your pending teardrop!

I've spent hundreds of nights in tents. All on the ground in Idaho, Alaska, Montana, and Utah. Those Tepui roof tents are unique, but I don't get their advantage. Perhaps there's creepy-crawlys in your neck of the woods that I haven't slept with.

I'm just glad I don't have a couple of teenagers on top of my teardrop rocking the boat –plus I really like my fan. (Wouldn't everyone be happier if they were allowed to pitch a tent a few yards away from your 'drop?)

I was going to throw a link on here how Redneck Teepee addressed the same problem, but he beat me to the punch.

Anywho, you've got some great times ahead of you.

Tony

[grant whipp]

Hey, David!

How far does the lid have to be open in order to turn the fan on? I've never messed with a Fantastic Fan vent, so I have no reference.

However, I encountered a similar problem with my own teardrop several years ago when I decided to add a cargo basket to my roof rack system ... I had mounted the bars low enough that bike rails and kayak carriers would just clear the roof on either side of the roof vent, but had never considered the clearance problem with a basket or other flat-bottomed platform. I solved the problem with four cast-aluminum adaptors that slipped over the ends of each cross bar that held another cross bar a couple of inches higher ... it lifted the basket high enough that I could open the vent a couple of inches and get some air circulation going, and that really helped a lot ... ...!

If the lid to your vent has to be open a certain amount for the fan to operate, this solution might not work, but you could use it to make similar extenders, only longer. (If I can find a pic, I'll come back later to add it to this post)

Good Luck, and in the meantime ...

CHEERS!

[ParTaxer]

Can you mount the basket upside down? That would give you some additional clearance.

Mike W

[citylights]

The offroad types like the vehicle mounted rooftop tents because you get comfort of a nice bed pad without hauling it out and setting it up. (And typically without hauling a teardrop trailer which can be challenging for very rough trails!) Most rooftop tents are flip open setup which is faster and easier than on the ground tents. They also keep you away from on the ground nasty creepy crawly, slithery things that might want to sleep with you. My only problem with them is up and down the ladder at night while half asleep and having to pee in the middle of the night. I have a hard enough time getting out of the teardrop like that without doing a face plant.

For the posted problem....

I would unscrew the fantastic fan plastic rooftop cover and remove it. They are very easily removable with a couple of screws for replacement if they crack and break. This will release the pin that keeps the fantastic fan from running with the cover closed. The cover is to prevent rain from entering the teardrop, and the rooftop tent will do that anyway. As long as there is an inch or two between the bottom of the tent platform and the lip of the fan frame, you will get good ventilation and be able to operate the fan. (I would be happy with two inches clear.)

When the rooftop tent is removed, reinstall the fantastic vent cover.

I would check into what the bottom platform of the tent is like. If it is not stiff enough, I would build a stiff platform for it to ride on so that it does not sag down when loaded with rambunctious teenagers. Good luck!

For anyone more interested in rooftop tents, here is a link to some very nice, but expensive ones!

http://www.autohomeus.com/rooftop/maggiolinaAirlander.php

[Redneck Teepee]

City....expensive was an understatement!

[Mary C]

ok first, two 11 year old girls are quite different from 15 and 16 year old boys, Why do you want them sleeping over you? if not on the ground why not hammocks? buy cots they would be cheaper than all you are going thru for, plus when one falls off you are not going to be happy sleeping up there. and you will go to all the trouble for kids up to age 16 then they don't want to sleep up there. I asked my boys, they both said not in a million years. Just my thoughts.

Mary C.

[glenpinpat]

Have you considered a side awning with a awning tent. I have an arb 2500 awning with the matching tent. To set both up takes less than five minutes, take up less room, will not affect roof vent. You can always use the awning and if the kids are not coming for a trip you do not have to use it. There are many styles on the market. Just a thought.

[drjenk]

citylights,
That's a great idea. I just wonder during travel going down the freeway, if it's raining, if water could blow in there. hmm. But that just might work. The tent itself is 57" long so would probably be long enough to prevent that problem, especially if we mounted the tent a bit forward of the vent. So your idea is #1 in my mind at the moment.

All,
Ya we've thought about other tent options besides a rooftop and actually tried a couple. But we've had the tent for a while, and our daughters actually quite like it, largely due to the easy setup, and they just think it's fun, kind of like their own tree house. They're 15 and 14 right now. Yes we have talked to the manufacturer and they're on board, going to add some extra cross members for support. We just actually visited their shop today and another customer was having a roof rack put on as well, he was showing me how they're going to mount it (they're way ahead of us in build schedule). We were talking about options on how to solve this dilemma and it may in fact be possible to move the fan over a notch out of the way of the tent. He told me to send measurements of the tent. So that may solve this issue.

We've had the Tepui on our tow vehicle, but want to move it to the the trailer just to make it more convenient when we want to use our vehicle to drive somewhere while we're camping. Yes it's very easy to put up and down, but it would just be more convenient to leave on the teardrop so we didn't have to take it down when we take off in the vehicle.

There's already built in support on the floor of the tent, mattress, everything. It's really a very well built neat quick solution so we're bent on trying to make this work before bailing for another option.

glenpinpat, Those side awnings are neat though, bookmarked.

And grant ya that's kind of like what I was thinking, sort of a stand off. If you remember yes I'm a very visual learner so a picture would be great, only if you get a chance. Thanks

I think this problem can be solved one way or another.
Thanks
David J.

[drjenk]

Can you mount the basket upside down? That would give you some additional clearance.

Mike W

Ya that crossed my mind too

[grant whipp]

... And grant ya that's kind of like what I was thinking, sort of a stand off. If you remember yes I'm a very visual learner so a picture would be great, only if you get a chance. Thanks

Hi, Dave!

This isn't a real good pic, but I think you can get the basic idea ...



... this particular adaptor only raised the basket a couple of inches, but it was enough for me to open the vent and get some good air flow. Replicating it to get the tent mount higher shouldn't be too big of a problem (I'd do a proof-of-concept out of wood, then transfer that to a block of aluminum, though four wooden ones might hold up longer than you think, perhaps longer than your boys will want to keep camping with you like that ... ...!).

Good Luck, and as always ...

CHEERS!

[drjenk]

Grant, yes exactly, same concept as what I was thinking, but looks to be a better implementation. Making something out of wood is actually not a bad idea too, thanks

[Kharn]

What about switching to a flat top for the fan cover instead of the usual bubble top? That may allow you to open it just enough.