Is this a normal amount of "jiggle" for an RTT? (see video)

[ixo]

Hey all,

TL;DR: wondering if this is normal for an RTT up on a rack in the back, as viewed from the rear bed cam:



More detail:

I just got a great deal on a like new iKamper 3.0 Mini ($2k!) and was very excited to get it attached to my (yes, cheap) bed rack. It went up fine, and I've laid in it with my son (16 years old, not sure exact weight, but slim) and I (240 lbs) and it feels very solid. I'm not afraid it's going to collapse or anything, and the rack says it's rated for 500 lbs dynamic and 1000 lbs static. I take these values with a grain of salt, since it's clearly a cheap rack. To be honest, I've been very happy with the rack, and think it looks and works fine. Yes, I could spend $2k and get an Kuat Ibex or whatever, but I've spent so much already on the truck I'm trying to save some dollars on the accessories.

" Crafted from premium heavy-duty steel plate, this rack is exceptionally sturdy, capable of supporting 1000 pounds of weight when statically distributed and 500 pounds when in motion. It features a textured black powder coating for corrosion resistance and long-lasting durability. "

The RTT now completely blocks my rear bed camera, which sucks, but I was a bit shocked the first time I popped the camera on and noticed the tent bouncing around what feels a bit aggressively.

Previously, I had some rifle cases up there and did not notice this bounce:

Now I've got the RTT up there:

Any help or insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

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[TFOUTS]

It’s not the rack, the tent is experiencing turbulence, it’s the way your tent is mounted, show a photo of the mounting underneath. As to the camera being blocked, you can purchase tent risers RCI metalworks sells them. Several other places sell them.

 

[ixo]

It’s not the rack, the tent is experiencing turbulence, it’s the way your tent is mounted, show a photo of the mounting underneath. As to the camera being blocked, you can purchase tent risers RCI metalworks sells them. Several other places sell them.

Ah, you think that's literally the top of the clamshell bopping around in the wind? Hmmm, that didn't even occur to me, but when I close the clamshell if feels very tight/snug.

Just went out to the driveway to take these photos of the mounting, and that's not it. The clamshell is secure, I can make the whole rack and tent shake (slightly) if I put a hand against the side of the tent and rock it. The rack itself is mounted to the t-tracks inside the bed, so I think this is maybe just a 'natural' amount of play.

This is how the rack mounts:

And the tent is secured to the rack via bolts and washer going directly into a t-slot bolt:

6 mounting points total:

I'm not wild about how high up it is, shifting the center of gravity, I may get a rack that's lower in general, something like this:

..but we'll see. Anyone else out there have a rack/RTT combo and notice this?

Thanks~

 

[TFOUTS]

The clamshell is secure, I can make the whole rack and tent shake (slightly) if I put a hand against the side of the tent and rock it.

I wasn’t saying it was the clamshell of the tent. It’s the whole tent which is caught in turbulence. That’s why I was wondering if the tent wasn’t completely secure to the bed rack. But now you say, you can shake the whole thing, bed rack and tent. That shouldn’t happen. Well, you get what you pay for. I have a Kuat Ibex it doesn’t shake or move.

 

[ixo]

Yeah not sure I'm explaining it properly. I mean I can push against the side of my truck and make it rock, doesn't mean every bolt on the truck is loose. The bed is obviously separate from the cab, and I think the play between those two parts is what I'm seeing, plus the fact the camera (attached to the cab) is about 2 inches from what's being viewed (attached to the bed).

 

[Mitch33]

If you did want to try a lower mount option I've been using THESE low profile bars from Ruff Stuff Specialties for over a year and they've been great. They mount right on the bed so it kept my RTT tucked behind the truck cab which I liked because it was a little more protected and my mileage wasn't affected. That being said, you do lose storage height in your bed. It's cheap at $200, but you will probably want to get it all powder coated which I did for $75 at a local shop. Switching out for a wedge camper which is the only reason I plan on not using them anymore.

 

[Yotota]

It's your rack flexing side to side, because it's a lightweight inexpensive rack that's mounted to the truck in a not very secure way.

I'd personally find a better rack. One that actually mounts directly to the truck, not to the tie-down rails (which aren't designed to take the weight of an RTT anyway).

 

[TFOUTS]

I’m not pushing Kuat but this is an example of Yotota is talking about, it’s attached to the bottom of the rack that sits on the truck bed rail, it’s attached to the bed rail, and on the top there’s a bolt that drives down and pulls the rack to the top of the bed rail

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