Tepui Tent

[Red GSXR]

Has anybody mounted a tepui kukenam 4 tent on their bed? I am thinking about yakima outpost and retrax pro xr cover.

I am worried about the weight allowance of the yakima adapters and also the tent hanging over tail gate.

https://tepui.com/products/ruggedized-series-kukenam-4

The specs show
Size (Closed) 72" x 48" x 12" (W x L x H)

Thanks in advance.

 

[17Fiddy]

I’ve got the xl smittybilt tent. It hangs past the tailgate a bit. Hasn’t bothered us any.

 

[cjs]

I have the autana 4 with annex mounted on my truck, which is the same size as the kukenam. Yeah it hangs over a little bit, but we usually don't notice. I did get the non-ruggedized version to make it a little lighter to take on and off. It's been solid mounted on frontrunner load bars on some rails I added to my diamondback cover.

 

[amREADY]

I have the autana 4 with annex mounted on my truck, which is the same size as the kukenam. Yeah it hangs over a little bit, but we usually don't notice. I did get the non-ruggedized version to make it a little lighter to take on and off. It's been solid mounted on frontrunner load bars on some rails I added to my diamondback cover.

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Great setup. That was the way I was going to go, but ended up going Retrax for easier access to the bed. Trade off is less strong, less watertight, and encroaches on useable space below. It was a tough decision.

 

[amREADY]

I went with an Autana 3 ruggedized and the retrax/Yak overhaul hd adjustable. In order to reduce torque on the rack attachment, I run it at it's lowest height. Not sure how much difference it makes, but has to make a little bit. As a result, I am running at or just above the offroad capacity of those racks/adapters/rails. It feels rock solid and even on a rough trail there is zero play or movement in the setup.

As far as the 4 sticking out, it is a consideration for sure. If you are mounting it low like that, you'll lose the ability to stake out one of the windows with the spring poles. I am right on the limit of clearance for mine at 18".

 

[allenilly3]

I have the autana 4 with annex mounted on my truck, which is the same size as the kukenam. Yeah it hangs over a little bit, but we usually don't notice. I did get the non-ruggedized version to make it a little lighter to take on and off. It's been solid mounted on frontrunner load bars on some rails I added to my diamondback cover.

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View attachment 144222

What do you do about accessing the bed with the tent on top? Just crawl in from the tailgate?

I have a Retrax and honestly don’t really like it. I’ve been considering the Diamondback with Frontrunner bars/rack but can’t wrap my head around how to make the bars or rack useful when camping if I can’t access the bed easily.

 

[cjs]

What do you do about accessing the bed with the tent on top? Just crawl in from the tailgate?

I have a Retrax and honestly don’t really like it. I’ve been considering the Diamondback with Frontrunner bars/rack but can’t wrap my head around how to make the bars or rack useful when camping if I can’t access the bed easily.

For the first year we were crawling in from the back... I always loaded the common things we used during the day at the back, and when we set up for the night we ended up pulling most of the gear out to avoid constantly having to crawl into the bed. I also got some pelican storm boxes to keep everything in, so it's easy to pull stuff out and put it on the ground (plus it keeps it clean in the bed too).

About a month ago I added a bedslide to help with that, but it does give up a few inches of vertical space in the bed, it adds more weight, and it still only opens 75% of the way. Yet another tradeoff. So far it seems worth it for us and we don't have to completely unload the bed to get to things.

I love that I can stand on the diamondback without watching where I put my feet/etc, and that makes so many of the operations with the tent easier, from getting it on and off to opening/closing it. And being lower down makes it a lot more doable to carry my 60 pound dog up into the tent. I just have the rails, not the full rack, because I don't have the tent on all the time, and a solid rack blocks the diamondback from being able to open. I've been thinking about adding the side rails only so that I could use some of their rack accessories.

 

[allenilly3]

For the first year we were crawling in from the back... I always loaded the common things we used during the day at the back, and when we set up for the night we ended up pulling most of the gear out to avoid constantly having to crawl into the bed. I also got some pelican storm boxes to keep everything in, so it's easy to pull stuff out and put it on the ground (plus it keeps it clean in the bed too).

About a month ago I added a bedslide to help with that, but it does give up a few inches of vertical space in the bed, it adds more weight, and it still only opens 75% of the way. Yet another tradeoff. So far it seems worth it for us and we don't have to completely unload the bed to get to things.

I love that I can stand on the diamondback without watching where I put my feet/etc, and that makes so many of the operations with the tent easier, from getting it on and off to opening/closing it. And being lower down makes it a lot more doable to carry my 60 pound dog up into the tent. I just have the rails, not the full rack, because I don't have the tent on all the time, and a solid rack blocks the diamondback from being able to open. I've been thinking about adding the side rails only so that I could use some of their rack accessories.

This is what I get caught up on. $2k for the Diamondback, $500+ for Frontrunner bars and $1k+ for a bedslide. At $3500 it's about the same of an RSI Smart Cap.

I had an MX4 previously and loved it, but I sold it since I needed more storage and it wouldn't work with a rack. I bought a Retrax XR and was planning on adding a Frontrunner Slimline rack but I don't really like the lost bed space and definitely not the leaks. Now I debate if I should go back to the MX4 for daily driving and replace it with a Smart Cap when camping, or, go with the Diamondback + bars and a Frontrunner rack on the roof instead.

I know it's all a matter of preference, but would you do anything differently in hindsight?

 

[Ruger]

This is what I have:

https://www.napieroutdoors.com/shop/truck-tents/backroadz-truck-tent-19-series/

No hardware required. Just the tent. Simple.

 

[Booth9999]

This is what I have:

https://www.napieroutdoors.com/shop/truck-tents/backroadz-truck-tent-19-series/

No hardware required. Just the tent. Simple.

I have always been worried that the straps would chaff the paint if the wind kicks up, any experience with that yet?