Overlanding RTT options

[seal13il]

Greetings All,

Just purchased a new ecodiesel rubi and starting the build, will go 3.5 teraflex alpine and 3 3 falcons, 37" tires and the idea is a daily driver that will be used as the family overlanding/mid level off roading trails, coming from a LC200 where we had lots of room plus our FSR high country 63 to fit my wife, daughter and full size doodle, the JT is much smaller, trying to figure out the rack or camper options that will support our rtt and gear, on one hand, I love the half rack concept that puts the rtt lower center of gravity and easier access,on the other hand, im afraid it will limit our ability to carry our gear plus big fridge (75L) and be able to utilize a cover that will allow for that, a full rack will give more space but will still be challenging in regards to the fridge and keeping gear safe and dry....plus... like with the camper... high center of gravity.... on the Land Cruiser, it wasn't too noticeable but I was also only rlunning 34" tires (on a good day) and a 2.5 lift.on amuch wider rig.... so...what are you guys using on similar setups (3.5 lift with 37 tires), pro and cons? How do the camper shells (rci/alu-cab) handle a big rtt on top?

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[PuddleJumper]

Greetings All,

Just purchased a new ecodiesel rubi and starting the build, will go 3.5 teraflex alpine and 3 3 falcons, 37" tires and the idea is a daily driver that will be used as the family overlanding/mid level off roading trails, coming from a LC200 where we had lots of room plus our FSR high country 63 to fit my wife, daughter and full size doodle, the JT is much smaller, trying to figure out the rack or camper options that will support our rtt and gear, on one hand, I love the half rack concept that puts the rtt lower center of gravity and easier access,on the other hand, im afraid it will limit our ability to carry our gear plus big fridge (75L) and be able to utilize a cover that will allow for that, a full rack will give more space but will still be challenging in regards to the fridge and keeping gear safe and dry....plus... like with the camper... high center of gravity.... on the Land Cruiser, it wasn't too noticeable but I was also only rlunning 34" tires (on a good day) and a 2.5 lift.on amuch wider rig.... so...what are you guys using on similar setups (3.5 lift with 37 tires), pro and cons? How do the camper shells (rci/alu-cab) handle a big rtt on top?

I got a half rack and a CVT 3 person fold out. I really like it but its a bit heavy for Mojave suspension. A diesel would barley notice it back there though. You got the right rig for weight management, but I'd still recommend get the lightest variant of whatever tent you buy. especially if you go with a full height rack. 100lbs with that much leverage is noticeable. 150-280 is even more so. I'm switching to a camper topper to shave weight and add room. I plan on getting the Mesa from Topo Toppers. Its the lightest and the only one that can be shipped to your door. saves money on install and time traveling to an installer. All said and done it should shave me 100 pounds in the bed.

 

[HooliganActual]

Greetings All,

Just purchased a new ecodiesel rubi and starting the build, will go 3.5 teraflex alpine and 3 3 falcons, 37" tires and the idea is a daily driver that will be used as the family overlanding/mid level off roading trails, coming from a LC200 where we had lots of room plus our FSR high country 63 to fit my wife, daughter and full size doodle, the JT is much smaller, trying to figure out the rack or camper options that will support our rtt and gear, on one hand, I love the half rack concept that puts the rtt lower center of gravity and easier access,on the other hand, im afraid it will limit our ability to carry our gear plus big fridge (75L) and be able to utilize a cover that will allow for that, a full rack will give more space but will still be challenging in regards to the fridge and keeping gear safe and dry....plus... like with the camper... high center of gravity.... on the Land Cruiser, it wasn't too noticeable but I was also only rlunning 34" tires (on a good day) and a 2.5 lift.on amuch wider rig.... so...what are you guys using on similar setups (3.5 lift with 37 tires), pro and cons? How do the camper shells (rci/alu-cab) handle a big rtt on top?

I guess I'll start with saying that none of the following diatribe is second guessing any of your decisions. Just sharing my experience and my many years of building out Jeeps for camping and wheeling. I currently have 3:

The first thing you should really make sure you consider is function over form. There are lots of cool things made for Jeeps (like fake bed mounted sport cages) that are purely for the aesthetic and not truly functional for what they appear to be. So really do your diligence when considering each part of your build. I've spent lots of money on the wrong things only to spend the money again to make it right. There is an old saying: "Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from bad decisions".
I'll share some thoughts for what they are worth.

1. You mentioned center of gravity, if you haven't bought your 3.5" lift yet, maybe reconsider...My 2020 JTR is on 37's with 2.5" Icon lift and it is more than enough clearance. Every inch of lift will raise your COG, increase your wind resistance profile running down the road, etc. I have taken my rig on some serious, serious trails and yes, my COG is higher than either of my Wranglers, I have yet to put it on it's side (just knocked on wood). The real answer is understanding what your COG is and not trying to do a trail like Pritchett Canyon in Moab or Poughkeepsie Gulch In Colorado. Does an RTT on a full height rack or canopy come with limitations? Sure. But ask yourself if you are really planning on doing ridiculous things with it. "Worry is a dividend paid to disaster before it is due." Be smart about your build and where you take your rig. I've had mine off camber by as much as 22 degrees and not laid it over.
2. 3.5" lift is right at the edge of needing to change your drive shaft set up because the pinion angles are a bit steep at that point. I believe I've read that 4" is the magic cutoff but be aware that your 3.5" is precariously close and will increase the wear on those components faster than a 2.5" will.
3. My next thought is related to the fact that you are coming from an FSR that fits your family. If you are happy with it, just keep it and mount on a full height or canopy if it is too long for the bed; it can overhang the cab.
4. I too wanted to go with a rack initially for similar reasons; keep the weight down, looks cool when done right, doesn't limit bed access as much as a topper/canopy.
   1. BUT I wheel and camp with guys that have racks with RTT's and the first thing they have to do when we stop is basically clean everything before they can start getting things out of the bed. What if it's raining or worse, been muddy on your trip in to a campsite...
   2. I think you recognized that you may be limited in using some kind of tonneau-like cover with your fridge. I've read on this forum where guys have found fridges that will work underneath a tonneau, but they aren't as big as 75L
   3. At the point where you buy a quality bed rack and a quality tonneau and a new fridge that will fit under that tonneau, you are 2/3 or more of the way to a canopy. There are some new canopies out there that don't weigh much more than the rack and tonneau. Check this out: https://venturoustrucktops.com/products/ozark-truck-cap/
5. EDIT: I almost forgot security. I'll admit that seeing a nice rack with it's Roto-Pax and shovel and recovery boards hanging off of it looks full of bada$$ery, but it is just an invitation for ne'er-do-wells IMO. My old man always told me to "keep the honest people honest" so hanging all my gear off the side of my vehicle is just a temptation for thieves. Generally, everything of mine is inside the canopy which does have locks, but a thief doesn't know that there is anything inside that he wants without some effort. If they want to try to steal my solar panels or RTT or awning, I hope they brought friends and have a few hours to kill. It can be done but because I know how much effort it took to install those things, I personally would not want to steal them for the effort required. Not saying the canopy is theft-proof but I would wager it is more theft-resistant than what a rack offers.
6. My personal preference was to go with a canopy/topper, I have the first gen Alu-Cab Explorer Canopy, mainly because that was probably the best one on the market back in 2020. I just don't have to worry about my gear being dirty or wet or height restricted. Here's some gratuitous pics:

 

[seal13il]

WoW! great looking setup and what a detailed and insightful response! ill pm u if ok, would love to pick your brain

 

[Tennessee Gobi]

I was shocked at how similar HooliganActual's setup is to mine, even the Gobi color. I have a Alu-Cab Contour Canopy with no side windows, a James Baroud Evasion RTT and the Alu-Cab 270 Shadow Awning on a Rhino Rack. The RTT, Awning and Rack were all moved from my JK Wrangler to the Diesel Rubicon Gladiator for a much improved overlanding rig (JT + Diesel = Great for Overlanding). I need to add some pics of mine in overland trim.

But I wanted to comment and suggest that the OP look into the new JT Load Bearing Enclosure that American Adventure Lab is offering. It's basically half rack height canopy that will support a RTT and still provide clearance for a large fridge on a slide and it's lockable to protect your gear.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

No mention of GFC yet?!?!

 

[seal13il]

I must say it is intriguing..

https://americanadventurelab.com/product/jeep-jt-load-bearing-enclosure/

 

[TheOpa]

I must say it is intriguing..

https://americanadventurelab.com/product/jeep-jt-load-bearing-enclosure/

Hahaha, this is now the newest thing I must have even though I didn’t know I needed it until I just saw it. #jeepgladiatorforumstrikesagain!
seriously though, I really like this. If I could leave this on full time I think it might just suit my needs perfectly with the slide outs and a RTT.

 

[jeepers29]

I must say it is intriguing..

https://americanadventurelab.com/product/jeep-jt-load-bearing-enclosure/

If it had the side doors, it would be perfect.

 

[NotSo Bright White]

I run a JTRD with the Mopar 2 inch lift and 37’s. I went with the Harker Outdoors EDC. The wedge tent goes out to cover the tailgate allowing you to a place to stand up to get dressed. Important as you get older. It sets up quick and the customer support has been outstanding.

 

[HooliganActual]

No mention of GFC yet?!?!

Not mentioned in the thread yet, but the OP and I have been talking on the phone and it was something I recommended.

Honestly, for those that may have the same sort of plans as the OP, I would say that if I was doing it all over again, I would probably do something like the GFC or AluCab integrated canopy camper. Not unlike @Tennessee Gobi 's comment above, I had my Wrangler built out as an overlander and when I bought the Gladiator, I just transferred things over from the Wrangler. Since I already had about $10K invested between the James Baroud RTT and the Overland Kitchen (which was built to fit the Wrangler), I decided that my most cost effective route was to get the canopy.

However, if I was building it from the ground up, I would go for the integrated canopy camper. While there is not a ton of living space afforded by the bed of the Gladiator, it would be nice to be able to hop inside if a rain storm comes up. With my current build, the only "indoor habitat" we have is either the cab or the tent.

 

[HooliganActual]

If it had the side doors, it would be perfect.

Agreed with that. There is a lot of dead space that looks like it would be hard to access with the AAL enclosure. My initial build tried to account for this same problem:

Conceivably, this could be done with the AAL enclosure. My only gripe with this setup was that it really created even more dead space. The slide worked well and I could reach the stuff forward of my kitchen but it just created various dead spaces that I couldn't use because it needed to slide. It was also a PITA if anything fell behind the slide when it was extended. Live and Learn

 

[seal13il]

The biggest concern I have with the Harker is weather seal and wind resistance...im in high desert here in northern nevada and most our areas are extreamly windy at times....im going to reach out to them though and chat, as per GFC, it's the "crawling into your bed and size...we are 2 adults, a soon to be teen and a big golden doodle lol

 

[HooliganActual]

The biggest concern I have with the Harker is weather seal

This is the biggest concern I have heard from folks with the full size Harker, specifically around the tailgate. I've seen people do various things after purchase to try to make it better.

Maybe @NotSo Bright White could comment on his experience and/or what he may have done to improve that issue.

 

[NotSo Bright White]

I actually complained to Harker about the seal on the back hatch. They said bring it in and we will make it right. They replaced the seal and added some weather stripping at the bottom.
I also bought a tailgate seal to help reduce the dust and it is pretty well sealed.

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