RoofTop tent AND spare wheel

[edddo]

Hi

I am contemplating load configurations for a Simpson crossing next year. Intially I thought I would use the roof basket to carry a spare and a couple of jerry cans and use a tent packed in the vehicle for accomodation.

but

I have a good rooftop tent which is far more convenient for road trips. However if I use this I was thinking I couldnt also carry a spare on the roof. I am now rethinking this. I could put a spare in front of the RT tent either attached to bars ( which I have) or in a smaller basket/rack. I would then look at getting an auxilary tank for the extra fuel instead of jerry cans.

Would this be too much weight to have on the roof of the D1 for a trip like this? I seem to recall seeing quite heavy loads carried on the roofs of Camel discos so suspect it would probably be ok.

thks for any advice/experience

Lindsay

[juddy]

I think you have to bear in mind the Camel Trophy Discoverys had a heavy duty roof rack, and a internal roll cage, I think the rack was even attached to the cage.

However, a roof tent and spare wheel should be fine..

[Chops]

I had a long roof rack on both my D1 and D2, and had heaps of room for extra stuff, including a large BBQ (bloody awkward and heavy-ish to get on and off) aswel as chairs etc, and of course the RTT.
The same rack is now on the defender although shortened to suit the dual cab, and I carry my spare wheel up there as well.
Travels well and doesn't feel top heavy at all,, I'm running factory suspension.

[Discomark]

I did the Simpson with a rooftop tent and rack sack up the front and it was fine.
Mind you I had heavy duty springs and Bilsteins which reduce body roll and swaying as some of the tracks are at quite an angle. I never bothered with a 2nd spare wheel and just carried a plug repair kit and a tube. I did get one puncture on the old ghan railway track which I plugged but no problems crossing the Simpson.
Cheers
Mark

[streaky]

I'd be looking at the positioning of the load and what type of roads/tracks you'd be driving.
I did a road trip last year with a Front Runner roof rack and spare wheel stored near the front and my RTT at the rear. After a 40km run down a heavy corrugated track I started to get nasty knocks from the top of the windshield...the Pillar had cracked where it meets the roof line.

In preparation for an Indian expedition next year I've invested in a dual rear wheel carrier which should help reduce the weight up top.

See here http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-1/154184-roof-load.html

[edddo]

Thks Streaky
That is exactly the kind of thing I want to avoid. I had a RR classic that had cracked frt pillars as well, but at the bottom.

I will be doing desert and off road trips so my setup has to cope with corrugations and shocks. I'm loathe to do a trip like the simpson without a second spare. Im happy to put the RTT as it is on 3 supports at the rear of the vehicle..but how do I carry the second spare? Or is carrying a plug kit sufficient as long as I have 5 good tyres? If the companion vehicles share tyre sizes then that might solve it for this trip....

Lindsay

[weeds]

i carried two spares for my simpson trip and didn't use either

i did start the trip with 4 brand new tyres BFG AT's

[Discomark]

One of the other guys on the Simpson trip (Pajero) just strapped a tyre casing to his existing spare on the back door and it stayed there without any drama's.

[weeds]

the only problem with a casing is most have not changed a trye manually.......

i had to change heaps in a previous job. a changed one by hand prior to my simpson trip convinced me to take a full spare. i would rather have a beer at the end of a days drive and let somebody else change/repair my tyre

Linds, if yo go down this track, once you buy the tyre changing gear have a go in your back yard prior to your trip:cool:

[Judo]

I have never tried to change a tyre on rim before and I hope I never have to. I can only begin to imagine how much swearing would be involved. I would avoid that idea at all costs. I could see myself not being able to do it at all and still being stranded with a perfectly good tyre and a perfectly separated rim.

[weeds]

I have never tried to change a tyre on rim before and I hope I never have to. I can only begin to imagine how much swearing would be involved. I would avoid that idea at all costs. I could see myself not being able to do it at all and still being stranded with a perfectly good tyre and a perfectly separated rim.

LOL.......i wonder how many have eneded up in the middle of nowhere no being able to change.

i have only done it 10 or so times before, 9 of them because the boss said i had to. I normally swapped the wheels on my car with other cars that were in for repair :cool::cool:

[DieselDan]

........ I normally swapped the wheels on my car with other cars that were in for repair :cool::cool:

Ha, good work!
I've had to change a few tyres manually, it IS flamin' hard work, but I used a set of Tyrepliers beadbreaker and bars so it wasn't too bad.
Still a useful exercise in expletive generating though :D

[streaky]

Changing tires in the field isn't a problem if you have right tools. A high lift helps to break the bead and a set of good tire irons. A bottle of soapy water is useful.On a recent desert trip we replaced two tires in the same day from DII's that didn't have second spares.

For outback trips and two spare wheels.
If the other vehicles in your group have same size rims, bolt patterns, same spare rubber etc then chances of everyone losing two tires are pretty slim so you should be able to pinch one from another car untill you get yours repaired.
Me and my mate are both taking two spares each to India next year on account of BFG AT's are pretty much extinct in that part of the world.

[SLOWBOAT]

The weight of the roof rack you select will have a big bearing on what to put up the top. I have been looking and asking people I have seen what they have and the best advice (which was my conclusion anyway) was to use an alloy rack to save weight.
Alloy rack 22kg (will have a couple of the welds re done first)
my roof top tent 42kg
my fast awning 10kg
my second alloy spare wheel 15kg
Total 89kgs.

PS. steel racks are from 50 to 60kgs depending on brand.

[edddo]

I mount the RTT on 3 Rhinobars. So not much weight there. I was thinking of putting the spare on another 2 Rhinobars somehow. But IMO the weight of a good roofrack is counteracted by having the weight distributed more evenly along the gutter - this cant be achieved with Rhinobar legs which is a concern for weight at the front of the roof.

Still not decided exactly what I will do but I wont be putting much weight at the front.

[waltsd]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the "legal" roof load limit for the disco is only 50kgs, including roof rack, which legally limits the weight you put up there??:(

[PhilipA]

I don't thnk that there is a "legal" roof limit, just a manufacturer recommendation for stability and longevity of the structure.

Bajarack does a D2 expedition rack with a basket at front and flat at the back. We also do a jerry can carrier and spare wheel spike for the basket.

It has 4 legs each side to spread the load, but it is BIG and weighs 49Kg. AFAIK it is about the only rack with a rise to follow the Disco roof which looks good and cuts down resistance.


We don't have stock at the moment as they are very popular and back ordered with first availability December or January . If you live in Perth sit down before asking about the freight cost as TNT and all others carriers HATE them!

Regards Philip A

[Judo]

I don't thnk that there is a "legal" roof limit, just a manufacturer recommendation for stability and longevity of the structure.

Bajarack does a D2 expedition rack with a basket at front and flat at the back. We also do a jerry can carrier and spare wheel spike for the basket.

It has 4 legs each side to spread the load, but it is BIG and weighs 49Kg. AFAIK it is about the only rack with a rise to follow the Disco roof which looks good and cuts down resistance.


We don't have stock at the moment as they are very popular and back ordered with first availability December or January . If you live in Perth sit down before asking about the freight cost as TNT and all others carriers HATE them!

Regards Philip A
I've seen those racks and they do look fantastic. I've got a full length steel rack with 4 legs on each side. Not sure exactly how much it weighs, but must be close to 50kgs. I've put lots more weight on that a few times and so far no problems. (Not to say I won't eventually though).