ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2020
- What’s up people who do things. I’m uploading this video to show you how the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee looks with a Roofnest Sparrow rooftop tent AND how the front overhang issue can be solved! The way the Jeep WK2 tailgate opens, makes it so you have to mount the Roofnest far forward on the rack. Jeep has no way of reprogramming the tailgate to open lower… that would have been nice. Cough cough. At speeds over 60mph, there was MAJOR floppage. It was concerning and annoying.
RoofNest Affiliate link :) - www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Instagram: / kasstty
Fast forward to 2:00 to skip my blabbering if you wish :)
These are the products I used to make the front support:
Steel bars: www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-...
Seasucker suction mounts: www.seasucker.com/products/6-...
(Search around online for a retailer with supply in stock and fast shipping. I found mine on boatoutfitters.com)
Additional mounting hardware: Roofnest support team
1/4in screws and washers from Home Depot. Make sure to get the right threading.
Additional tools used:
Vice, hammer, spray paint, the will to live.
I hope this helps, please feel free to leave comments below.
Love, peace, happiness, Kass out. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Wow, I am switching over rtt’ stop one with a lot more front overhang and I’ve been trying to figure out a solution to the overhang on my WK2. Just stumbled across this and I’m going to implement this setup. Thank you very much for documenting it. I would not have thought of this.
I have a Grand Cherokee 2020 and am in the process of searching what gear I want for my roof tent.
I had alredy decided on getting the Roofnest spirow XL for my girlfriend and toddler but I got confused on the best way to set it up in a secure way.
Your two videos were soooo helpful and I feel now pretty confident on what to buy and how to proceed!
Thank you for your videos!
can you please explain in detail how you attached the steel bar to the suction cups? You mention about needing additional mounting gear to attach the cups. I'm planning on getting the roofnest falcon 2. Thank you in advance and you have an amazing setup and vehicle!
I have the same Jeep GC TrailHawk and I have a Dalmatian dog, for a dog owner your best option is a ground tent! I have a roof basket with modular utility boxes to store recover gear and a quick deployment ground tent, which we love and find super practical! Just a thought!
Thanks for the comment. I've used many o' ground tents and for various reasons chose to upgrade :)
Hi Kass, I bought a Sparrow Eye months ago and was finally able to install it onto my 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk this past weekend. I had Jeep branded Mopar bars which Roofnest assured me would be find for mounting their tent on. Same issues that you have I found, having to mount the tent so far forward due to the space needed to open the trunk fully. After mounting the tent the amount of flex and movement in the tent at any speed was unacceptable in my opinion. I called Roofnest to express my concern especially since it was their site that said the Sparrow Eye would fit our car just fine. Had I known of this overhang issue I would have purchased a tent with a smaller footprint. On the phone they acted like it is not a big deal or a concern on their part. They actually mentioned your video and how a woman posted using suction cups to fix the problem. I agree, it was a good idea and does work. My friend and I wanted to try a different route and ended up buying 1" x ⅛" aluminum flat stock. We created 4 brackets 8"long that we bent and bolted to the exterior aluminum frame on the underside of the tent. This wrapped around the end of my newly purchased and much more sturdy Yakima Core Roof bars holding everything snug. The issue is that the rigid aluminum frame is not attached to the slotted rails down the center of the tent. I think RN just cut some corners and didn't spend the money to reinforce things properly. I just took it out for a ride and it is much MUCH more rigid. There is still a little movement in the front but it is greatly reduced and from the first support bar back it is rock solid/rigid. I am looking into purchasing a iKamper wind deflector. (www.ikamper.com/collections/skycamp/products/wind-deflector). I think that might take car of the remaining movement? I wonder if it would sit in front of your two suction cups and help you in any way? If you have the time and ability I really think adding the aluminum brackets are worth it. It really does make things far more rigid. If anyone wants to see pics as I cannot post any here, id be happy to send photos of what I did. All we used was a Dremel, a Vice, a Drill and some hardware to fasten. All in it was under $50 worth of material from Home Depot. We were even able install them so that I can still lock and unlock my Yakima Skyline Towers.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment! I’m surprised they were so nonchalant about the fact that it overhangs.. the stress is puts on the crossbars and tent at higher speeds was freaky... It was a real hinderance especially when you’re used to cutting time on road trips lol.
You should definitely post photos in the Roofnest Flock Facebook page! I’m sure it will help lots of people with similar issues :)
I will likely be getting a truck soon so I will be mounting it over a bed rail system or bed cap. Thanks again and happy exploring :D
Clever idea! I'm actually having this exact issue with my grand cherokee. Heading out of town this past weekend I noticed the tent was bounding a lot more than usual, and it was causing some flex from the tracks and roof. I ended up using a tie down through the back windows over the top to secure it for my trip but when I returned home I removed the tent until I could figure out if my roof rack was damaged, or if I needed to upgrade my roof rack to keep this on my roof. I tried lifting the tracks without the tent and they still seem very secure. This seems like an interesting option, though i'm not sure if i'll just look for an upgraded more secure rack for mine.
Thanks for the comment! I’m sure you can find a lower profile rack configuration? I hope you find something that meets your needs and fixes the flopping. 🍻
Very happy to see this video - finally someone talking about RTT on Jeep GC... I really need suggestions for which cross bars to use to RTT... me and my wife combined are 550 pounds...
Thank you for watching and commenting! I just uploaded a video showing my current rack set-up. I also briefly talk about static vs. dynamic load ratings. In the description you can find an article by Yakima explaining how racks are rated. I always recommend getting quality and name brand rack systems as they are tried and true :) here is my video with the links in the description. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
th-cam.com/video/g8XkCdkydcc/w-d-xo.html
Hey there! We are looking at the sparrow xl. Love your extra supposes because we will have the overhang as well. But also a question - Does your roofnest block the antenna- does your gps still work?
Because of covid I haven’t traveled into unfamiliar places where I’ve needed GPS. I always use my phone or have it mapped out on paper. Sorry I don’t have an answer for you!!
Hi Kass, thanks so much for this vdo. My wife and I are looking to do exactly what you did. Wondering for the bolt, what length bolts did you use to screw into the suction cup? 😊
I’m not exactly sure! I brought the suction cup into Home Depot to find the perfect size! Sorry I’m not more help :(
Thank you for sharing this tip. I am not sure I will need it, but I have worried about it so it is nice to have a solution. Also, your message at the end while you are washing your vehicle is awesome. Thank you for sharing the positivity. You are so right. One question, do you leave those suckers on all the time? Where did you get them? Thanks.
Howdy!! Thank you 🙏🏼
The tent and rack system including the sea suckers stays on all the time. This car is my daily driver, so I needed a durable and non invasive solution.
I searched high and low for the mounts at a discount but was unable to find any on sale. I bought them on boatoutfitters.com because they had the fastest shipping AND I ended up getting 10% off with a random code I found online in Sept. I hope this helps :)
Excellent..
I like your style and how you think...great fix
Wooo, thank you! It worked great in the long run too.
@@kasstty
I have a sparrow adventure XL but it's on my Ram ...I have an 18 GC but I don't think the roof will handle it. And saw your vid...if I need to put it on the GC I'll remember this upgrade
@@prodigy6000 awesome!! I now have it on the back of my Titan on adjustable rails and it has been great. The one thing that was nice about having it on top of the GC was that it insulated the cab so well. It never got super hot 😂 Adventure on 🌲
Just bought a white Sparrow during their Black Friday sale. Haven't mounted it yet, but looking forward to using it.
Hell yeah! It makes traveling a breeze. I hope it works out for you :D
Hi kass. What was the liquid that you put under the suction cups
Blooper tube. Can you please tell me so I can buy it and fix my problem with the wind. Thanks kass
Lube tube! www.seasucker.com/products/5g-lube-tube?currency=USD&variant=27749566481&Google%20Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-obB79_v8gIVDIaGCh2VSQCcEAQYASABEgIodvD_BwE
It’s actually to keep the pump seal lubricated so it holds vacuum!!
I was thinking of getting one for my Jeep, thanks for the headsup on the overhang issue. On a sidenote, has this RTT affected your mileage?
Howdy! Yes about 0.5-1.5 mpg. Not as bad as I was expecting
I am getting a condor xl for my truck. How has yours been since you put it on. I am excited to get mine.
Super late response, but my tent is now on my Nissan Titan truck. Hope you're loving it :)
Nice message at the end
Thanks for watching!
How did you decide on your tent? I just bought one and am having a heck of a time with the roof rack I almost want to return the tent and start over a few months from now…
OH NO! I'm so sorry to hear that. I chose this tent because I used my friend's earlier model tent, and loved it. I also like that it pops up (instead of clamshell style) so that I can move the car with it open and that in under 30 seconds I can get the tent open and ready to sleep in. With all the pros, there is obviously the fact that it is massive and harder to accommodate on smaller cars.
I've seen on the facebook group page that people are having issues with mounting it since it has such a large footprint. It took some finagling to get it right with those seasucker mounts but depending on the size of your vehicle you might consider a clamshell tent so that it's smaller and easier to fit on your car.
If you have any specific questions, I'd love to help :)
What the name of the suction caps
Seasucker! The link to them is in the description!!
I’m curious why you decided to sleep in the RTT instead of in the Jeep, especially with a dog.
I have 2011 jeep grand cherokee with a nomadic 3 on top.. . Exact same problem. Feared my tent would rip the rails right out of my roof at high speeds. Love the solution you found. Holding strong still? I'd like more info. Thank you!
Yes, it held perfectly for the year it was up there! Now I drive a truck so I’m trying to navigate the new set up :)
@@kasstty awesome. Thanks for responding. I order the stuff to do it. Gonna give it a shot. 👍. I liked the look also. Hellboy horns!!
@@colinabell614 of course! I did have to pump the suction chops occasionally clean under them twice. Other than that it was an easy and non invasive solution! I hope it works out just as well for you 😊
@@kasstty good to know. Thanks. Yeah I have a ratchet strap going over the top and thru my cabin right now. Very annoying.
I'm sorry to see that someone bumped into your front door. Best way to remove that dent is to get a bigger dent from offroading! Jeep Life!
That’s exactly what happened a few days after this photo... luckily the additional damage wasn’t too bad and they fixed up my door through insurance anyways 😁
@@kasstty That's good. I ended up leaving mine in there. Made it look one of a kind :D
I don't see a ladder in the back. Curious as to how you climb up there!
There is a telescoping ladder that stores in the tent!!
Kass Does Things cool!
Hey Kass...glad I stumbled upon your video! My wife and I are waiting for our Roofnest Sparrow XL (coming in about three weeks), and we have a Jeep Grand Cherokee as well, One question for you...did you notice the issue at only high speeds (over 65) or was it all the time? I'm pretty good at keeping at the speed limits (probably never over 70) so I'm wondering if we would have any issues. Thanks for the links in the video for the gear should we need to do the same when we install ours! (BTW we are in Northern California too...Santa Cruz area). Thanks again and hope you enjoy the Roofnest!
Thank you for your comment Chuck, you and your wife must be so so excited!! I’m an hour north of you but spend quite a bit of time in SC! If you ever see my car say hi 😃
The flopping was at speeds over ~60mph. The flop was frustrating, however my main concern was the stress that this put on the front cross bar. I have Thule bars, so they are substantial and quality... but I still was wary.
I would drive with it for a couple weeks and observe what it does and do what you’re most comfortable with (i did this because the suction cups took a while to arrive). If you’re planning on doing lots of freeway driving you might consider getting one suction cup for support. You could get an addition roofnest mount set, a third crossbar ( or a Steel Perforated Square Tube that acts as a crossbar) and Mount the suction cup to the middle of the crossbar.
Get excited for exceptionally convenient and comfortable camping!!
@@kasstty Hummmm...a third crossbar. That might work (with a door clamp style mount thingy). Your suction mount solution is also a great idea ( I use those suction mounts in my video production work to mount cameras and gear to cameras). We have some time since the Roofnest is not here yet so I'll give it a think.
Enjoyed your other videos as well (getting doggie up there was quite a fete!) and your musings on our recent nighttime at noon were spot on. (and I use to bike along Canada road when we lived in on the peninsula! so it was fun to see that).
Thanks again and we are excited for some trips very soon ( Pinnacles and Yosemite once the smoke and fires clear) with our Roofnest
I wish you and your wife safe and joyous travels. We are all in desperate need of escaping to wild and less traveled places.
Also, thank you for commenting!! When I saw your comment it made me so excited since I have so few followers and am such a novice at this.
Cheers!! 🍻
@@kasstty Oh, one more question... after the Roofnest install, did you find any issues with the Navigation reception or any Satellite Radio issues with the antenna being blocked with the Roofnest? We have Satellite radio in ours and really do enjoy it on long road trips.
Also happy to be a subscriber to your channel now. Looking forward to seeing more of "Things Kass Does" :). It's been a long time since I posted videos to my own channel (mainly used to promote my documentary from several years back on TH-cam Creators) so I know some of the struggles in starting a channel and keeping content going... keep at it!
Unfortunately I don’t have an answer to that, I haven’t used satellite since installing the tent. I don’t have XM and use my phone for navigation. I would think there might be some interference...? Hopefully not.
Thank you for the encouragement and follow! I’m going to try to spend more time on it and post my different art projects and nature adventure. 😊
What Cross bars do you have ? Or rails
They are these www.rei.com/product/102597/yakima-50-corebars-pair
I believe they are 60” though.
What are you doing with my Jeep??
LOL..🙂🙂
I have the same Jeep, white with that same black hood decal. But my wheels are Black and Aluminum.
Do you have the V8 engine?
Yes sir! I loved that Hemi! I actually recently got a v8 truck that I will be posting about soon :)
Is that a Roof Nest Sparrow XL or standard Sparrow?
Standard size! I would imagine the XL would be pretty hefty on top of the Jeep. Are you considering the XL?
@@kasstty I'm considering roofnest XL. Im not sure if it will be too big or not.
Should have got the Smittybilt hardtop only 2000 not 3500$$$$$? Same tent they just change the name on it
How are these holding up?
Hey! So they lasted years and then I got a truck so I no longer needed them. With proper cleaning and maintenance they were awesome. I’d have to pump them every couple weeks but that was no issue at all. I highly recommend. :)
@@kasstty I have a sparrow arriving soon. I'll see how it holds up. My new rack is bolted to the frame so that's not going anywhere! I appreciate you sharing the info!
A word of advice. Ditch the factory roof rack. It is not able to support the weight that an aftermarket roof rack can. The tent and you in it may go over the weight limit for the factory rack.
I considered that but the weight ratings were adequate for the weight of the tent when the car is in motion. Never had any issues
Have you liked how the Roofnest has held up? I am bout to order and want to make sure it is quality!
I’ve loved it. I bought it because my best friend has had one for almost 6 years and never had an issue. Mine has also been solid. There is a Facebook group called Roofnest Flock with lots of testimonies of good and bad experiences.
I dont love you car just i love you 😍
The hardship stuff all this stuff in the world... explained you just have to read the Bible it explains everything