What do you think about this advice from Overland Pros?
Posted by True-Tourist1635@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 15 comments
My email:
Hi! We have a 2020 Subaru Forester. Would the Baja Vertical Wedge tent be appropriate and safe for our vehicle? We would be using it with Thule Wingbar Evo. The owners manual of our Forester says the maximum dynamic weight is 176lbs.
Their response:
You'd be pretty close to that and potentially over. You have to decide for yourself if you're comfortable with that or not. Most people, including myself have gone over that limit without an issue. If you're a hard set at staying under that limit I would suggest you look at one of our soft shell tents instead
The tent in question:
https://overlandpros.com/product/new-baja-2-person-vertical-wedge/
What do you think?
JWSamuelsson@reddit
Take the roofbars off? Remove the ladder and travel with it in your car?
theninjaseal@reddit
If you have the tent in your possession I can't imagine going over by 10lbs to be an issue. If the roof would be damaged at 175, then what about 175 lbs of gear wheeling hard after being soaked then a night of heavy snowfall?
What about 175lbs of kayak poorly positioned to put the weight on one end?
IMO if you're mostly going to stroll up and down forest service roads and to trail heads, send it and be comfortable. Maybe don't squeeze much extra gear inside. But if 10lbs was going to make the difference between damage and a-ok they would have lowered it.
Wheel and enjoy.
AnotherIronicPenguin@reddit
Yeah, everyone acting like that extra 10 lbs is going to cave in and make the wheels fall off or something. I don't get it. I guarandamntee everyone here as overloaded their vehicle slightly and never even noticed the difference.
skinny_tom@reddit
This.
There is a safety margin factored into the "dynamic load" number.
usernameS4@reddit
You'll be over the dynamic weight with that RTT and the weight of a rack. Go with something lighter if you intend to travel off road at all.
True-Tourist1635@reddit (OP)
Updated post with some important context I left off.
usernameS4@reddit
The update doesn't really change anything. You're going to be over the dynamic weight. Close enough that it's likely negligible for on road use (honestly, I'd run it on my own vehicle).
The concern is metal fatigue at the mounting points of the rack from the added forces when bouncing around off pavement. This may present a problem and that problem may not be apparent until you're back on pavement and you need to panic brake and that tent and rack decide their time on a roof is over.
NickleDaPup@reddit
No idea why these are getting downvoted, it being a gift does change things since I’m guessing you can’t really return it.
Honestly you would probably be fine but those weight limits are there for a reason. I personally wouldn’t risk it. If you’re stuck with it then it would probably be best to try to sell it. You definitely could get a good price for it by just explaining the weight limitations were the reason for not using it.
Ripley1046@reddit
I’ve had 300+ lbs on my stock roof rack on my 2010 Outback, you’ll be fine.
Cruisn06@reddit
I am way way over my dynamic load rating, but with a different vehicle. I drive to conditions, lower tyres as required, and try to avoid racing with the roof fully loaded.
have I had issues, yes, 1. I cracked the roof after racing with the roof fully loaded, so 100% my fault. otherwise no issues.
my dynamic is 80kg, and I normally have 180kg, and 260 when I ride on the roof. this was all for africa, so no nice roads.
Naive_Adeptness6895@reddit
Look at a gazelle tent. On the ground so you can leave camp without breaking everything, down up in 60 seconds. Weight up top is scary in dynamic situations.
211logos@reddit
Can you live with breaking something up there? foregoing the ability to add anything more on top? what would be the worst consequence if 30 miles down a washboard road the top cracks? maybe you could live with just limping out and back home.
Otherwise stay within the load range.
eugenelee1987@reddit
Actually thinking about it that’s gonna be reaaaaal limiting on the forester. To be that far over with rack and tent and any accessories will be a problem, especially the way the rack mounts onto the rails on the roof.
Other vehicles like my jeep attach the rack to the crossbars inside so it’s a lot sturdier and can handle a lot more. Now I see why a lot of normal vehicles have the slimmest tents available
eugenelee1987@reddit
If you’re worried just go lighter.
I have a Freespirit popup tent but they have a wedge too.
https://gofsr.com/products/aspen-pro-rooftop-tent?_su_rec=U-lE_0_HSC-WoREyJCqanzboetmvAOVqxrwS6D3VKPMQI5escHjXqmvFrVEdGvSeCzbekkPboxcd53sIdM3ZlGcS_cJ_5JeOUj7xtdBxKwtPLEwoWCHZwTDzsILySLd2hRGWgUy7ux_waANM8n1N1U_wKWpK7HwGZihf3AafvAOKm-emakSLlC0Ji6h-Fzi3ymXZd5I612Iy8yzf5HxXE4AgF-MPxx5d-FUOGKUplW9LatF1HKnDJAmUy5gkpxuPDiXr9TknfojfqZQUQUV3IKEz3Trt1ho5z52Mvw1H0LyFFZVhV5KeiI0gIPUoGFL2NlBC2xixakYNECvTL90I7dAyVIjGqbrLiyjBhDrYjhUfmA&_su_rec_id=330a7b06-93d5-4fdb-b35c-11a9c4e83eea-1778908741
Amazing tents really.
And dynamic limits pretty important especially since off road surfaces can be pretty jarring. After overlanding for a bit I’ve learned to take the least and lightest things I can.
True-Tourist1635@reddit (OP)
Updated post with some important context I left off.