kylealden
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
I finally got around to setting up a storage solution for my Condor Overland RTT, which I thought I'd share for anyone who is looking for a similar setup. This would work for any RTT that mounts to the factory crossbars (or indeed anything at all on the crossbars, up to 400lbs).
I wanted an easy way to get the tent on and off the truck by myself, after struggling to install it with a broken ankle and a friend over to help lift it. This gets it out of the way when I'm not using it, lets my truck be a truck with full bed access when I'm not camping, and makes it really easy to drop the tent in the garage with a dehumidifier running if I need to air it out after a wet trip (I just hoist it down to the floor, open it up, and leave it out overnight.)
Tl;dr: you want the Truck Top Lifter by Smarterhome – SmarterHome (mysmarterhome.com). This has four individual winches which pair into a combined hoist system that slots right into the Yakima t-slots that the Rivian crossbars use. With a pretty simple install (just lag bolts inserted into ceiling beams in your garage) you can lift up to 400lbs right off the truck bed - as simple as unlock, unlatch, and hit a button on your phone.
Here's what it looks like in my garage:
Empty hoists:
Interface to the crossbars:
You can see the mounting interface slides right into the t-channel and screws down. I just leave it in there full time and all I need to do is lower the cables, slide four pins into the pulley extension there, and release the latches and up she goes. The hardest part is that I have to release the latches two at a time (from each side of the truck) since the will re-latch if you don't hold it open, but with a little tension on the cable it's no problem. Takes me about a minute to stow my tent. I picked up a spare set of crossbars for other accessories so I can just leave the tent ready to go at all times.
It's not the cheapest solution, but ultra convenient. Highly recommended.
I wanted an easy way to get the tent on and off the truck by myself, after struggling to install it with a broken ankle and a friend over to help lift it. This gets it out of the way when I'm not using it, lets my truck be a truck with full bed access when I'm not camping, and makes it really easy to drop the tent in the garage with a dehumidifier running if I need to air it out after a wet trip (I just hoist it down to the floor, open it up, and leave it out overnight.)
Tl;dr: you want the Truck Top Lifter by Smarterhome – SmarterHome (mysmarterhome.com). This has four individual winches which pair into a combined hoist system that slots right into the Yakima t-slots that the Rivian crossbars use. With a pretty simple install (just lag bolts inserted into ceiling beams in your garage) you can lift up to 400lbs right off the truck bed - as simple as unlock, unlatch, and hit a button on your phone.
Here's what it looks like in my garage:
Empty hoists:
Interface to the crossbars:
You can see the mounting interface slides right into the t-channel and screws down. I just leave it in there full time and all I need to do is lower the cables, slide four pins into the pulley extension there, and release the latches and up she goes. The hardest part is that I have to release the latches two at a time (from each side of the truck) since the will re-latch if you don't hold it open, but with a little tension on the cable it's no problem. Takes me about a minute to stow my tent. I picked up a spare set of crossbars for other accessories so I can just leave the tent ready to go at all times.
It's not the cheapest solution, but ultra convenient. Highly recommended.
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