SPECIALIST VEHICLE FITTERS

All Dual Cab Utility vehicles 'flex or Articulate between the Cab and the Tray/Chassis - Making them typically more difficult and Expensive than 4wd Wagons to fit up with Pole Less awnings and or roof top tents. 
 

While the vehicles listed above are all different makes - they do share in common only  1250mm or so of Rack length and width available at each end (1250 over the cab and 1650 over the tub) - (The American Trucks get a bit more) But Neither mounting surface is ideal to mount a Roof top tent on an common commercially available roof rack built to date. . If you just bollt a RTT to both front and rear racks, you will quickly destroy the tent or the rack or both. (Due to the twist of the vehicle.). 
 

Tough Touring pioneered the design of Dual Cab  Over cab / Dual cab Roof racks specifically for installation of Roof top tents by building heavy duty one piece folded foot rails and oversized rack feet, creating a super solid / heavy load bearing rack that is up to 1550mm wide and  1750mm long - allowing RTT to be mounted over the Cab totally independently, (As long as you centre the tent ). This leaves the rear rack free to flex independently. We also took the next step into 'Flexing front and rear" RTT rack mounts with Guidance from quality /practical engineering skills of Isolated Industries in Melbourne -  

 

The point of the whole column here is to convey the notion that correct foundations under your roof top tent - ie - racks that allow RTT to be  installed centrally can 'balance' the tent between the vehicles twist and body roll to an even compression rate on both front and rear wheels - and that minimises handling issues whilst carrying weight on top. It also is functional - providing major benefits to available storage space infront or behind tents, keeping vehicle handling on and off road at its best is paramount. 
 

Customers wishing to install longer Roof top tents, or wishing to install their roof top tents centrally over the 'Bridging gap between cab and Tray  must be supported behind the front 1750mm rack space- with a secondary cross bar on the canopy  - we use 'flexing' roof rack load mounts fixed to a rear rack plank that allow for articulation of the tent-  but prevent tent ' sag and flex' over its length - The Flexing cross bar supporting the rear end of the tent against downward compression.

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The Simplest solution for Pole Less awning mounts is to mount the awning directly to the RTT - using 'Awning to Tent brackets - as it provides adequate length to support the awning properly (As long as the tent itself is strong enough to landle the twist loads. (See our supported Tents list and the brackets used here )

 

If Independent Awning to tent Installation is required to allow maximum use of the available rear rack space, it is important to note that the rear rack MUST be wider than the Roof top tent on the front (To sit beside it) and the front Over cab Roof rack must also be wider than the tent (Same as the rear) and the front awning bracket must be allowed to flex also - We achieve this kind of install using Flexing front Awning  brackets designed here by Tough Touring. 
 

ROOF RACK COMPATABILITY - MOUNTS FOR RACKS ARE NOT ALWAYS INSTALLED FROM FACTORY
Before purchasing any vehicle for a Touring Build - check to see that your Dual cab has roof rack mounting holes in its roof - as many do not -Roof cavities where the mounts would be are often jammed full of airbags - requiring internal mounts to be fitted under the roofs internal lining - (This means to install a roof rack you have to take the internal roof lining out) rack mount point insertion is a done from inside the cab - its difficult / time consuming and dangerous job (airbag charges  can explode if hit by drills etc)  - We do new rack mount point installs into cabs  using 'Reverse dome nut' mounts.  - a necessary pre-curser to any roof rack being fitted, the Reverse Dome nut mounts (once installed) allow Air bags to deploy without puncture - and allow through bolt insertion of solid High Tensile bolts to hold your roof rack. (foundations). If your vehilce has no Front Rack mounts - Budget in 2-3Days extra labour + {arts to get your rack installed properly. 

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TUB REMOVAL - CONVERSION TO TRAY

If your going to remove the Tub and Instead install a 'flat bed Tray' and then canopy - 'lift off' your also able to potentially install RTT and Awning to the Canopy for full Jack off Removal. This works well on single cab utes, but tents on shorter Dual cab canopies overhang forward around 600mm - 1m if installed flush with the back of the canopy - this can lead to rear axle overloading issues. Dual Cabs are typically not ideal vehicles for full jack off set ups unless your running a Chassis extended 79 series, or one of the larger American Trucks. 

 

CANOPIES

f your going to install a canopy - you need to avoid - 'GULL WING' side doors (Hinged on the top of the canopy like batmans car). Canopies with Gull wing doors are typically unable to be fitted with either a Roof top tent or an awning, as the doors  lift up through the roof - You just can't mount anything ontop. Some manurfacturers offer Racks that are pre installed to these type of door set ups, but these add height and do not fix the issues presented with Gull wing doors at all as the racks have to be really high or really narrow. Gull wing canopies add more height = more body roll and higher ladders. and limited options for tents and awnings.

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If your purchasing a canopy - go for one with doors that hinge from the sides of the canopy - and get a canopy that is as close as possible to the height of your cab when installed. 

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See the Images of Vehicles below for customers that have upgraded their dual cab utes to Roof top tent, pole less awning, and rack storage vehicles, probably the ultimate capable and yet spacious off road tourers they can be.