Roof Rack advice for D1

terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
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I am interested in buying a full length roof rack for my 98 D1. It needs to be well suited to a roof top tent as a first priority.

Any advice / recommendations would be appreciated.
 
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Toran

Well-known member
Feb 3, 2017
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Ohio
Also keep in mind during your research:
D2 racks fit D1 cars but will appear a little longer to the untrained eye.
D1 racks fit D2 cars but will appear a little shorter to the untrained eye.
 
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terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
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Like the Front Runner as it is designated specifically for a D1. Looks a lot like some the “multi fit” ones like RhinoRack sells but just a bit more expensive.

Rovers North sells them for the same price as direct from Front Runner as well.

I’d still like to get other opinions.

Thanks for your thoughts, so far.
 

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,163
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Raleigh, NC
Curious as to why you wouldn't? I've seen plenty of Discos with RTT. I can't remember a single person having any issues.
Too top heavy.
Too much of PIA to fold up everytime you want to go somewhere.
It works for some people, but I wouldn't want one on my truck either. If I had to have one, it would be on a trailer that I can leave at base camp.
 
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jymmiejamz

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Dec 5, 2004
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Los Angeles, Ca
Curious as to why you wouldn't? I've seen plenty of Discos with RTT. I can't remember a single person having any issues.

I'm pretty confident most people want them because they think they look cool. Personally, I think they look really stupid. They are heavy and take up a ton of space on the roof rack. Unless you are getting one of the hardshell ones, they are pretty comical to watch people pack up, especially when went. I think the only thing I like about RTTs is that you can store your bedding in there.
 
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terryjm1

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Jan 23, 2011
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I don’t think it has ever taken me more than 10 minutes to unfold it or pack it up, and usually less (a lot less than my old ground tent). Most I typically camp is a few days so needing to pack it up to go on a “supply run” hasn’t been needed. My wife and 9 year old cant take more than a few days. But if I did have to leave unexpectedly, it packs up pretty quick. Additionally, when I get home, the pulley system in my garage has it off in about 10 minutes.

When the ground is wet, I really appreciate the elevation. It never gets soiled. It is also a lot easier to air out when it gets wet. I just open it up in the garage. My pick up isn’t a daily driver. So, leaving it mounted for a fews days to dry is not an issue.

Before I bought mine, it was those positives I considered based on a friend’s experiences compared to what I didn’t like about my ground tent.

Never really thought about how it looked. Never considered it to be cool looking or ugly. Before I saw one camping I didn’t realize what they were when I saw them running around. I assumed they were some sort of roof cargo carriers. I just didn’t give it much of any thought, barely caught my eye at all.

I currently use it over the bed of my pick up, on a hard tonneau / rack system. I keep all the other camping stuff in the bed of the truck. Set up and pack up is really quick and easy.

It is heavy, that is the main downside to me. I agree on the top heavy negative as well. Obviously, I haven’t used it on a D1 but I would be concerned on a rough off road run that there would be problems in a few different ways. However, if I were going to be doing rough off-roading I wouldn’t be with my wife. I’d use my old ground tent and probably camp longer than a few days. That would be a totally different camping approach for me.

Considering it for the D1 just to give another option.

Like everything, everything isn't for everyone.

Please do keep the thoughts on roof racks coming. It is much appreciated.
 
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logan_gibson

Well-known member
Dec 20, 2016
258
47
Alabama
Running a RTT on a standard D1 SD Rack.
Works fine, isnt too top heavy, you notice it but it hasnt effected anything offroad. I havent cut on my SD rack yet(hoping to find a crappier rack to cut) but I would chop the top rail so it can sit down lower.

I've also had it on a custom half rack I built.
Lower to the truck, which was nice. I used some thinner metal and a flux welder (throw in some shitty welds from me) and it would crack at the welds with the swaying of the tent. You can see the holes in the 2nd image where I had to bolt some plates onto it to hold it together after a trail at the GC helped a weld crack all of the way through.

You can kinda see the height different from the photos.
Homemade rack
DSC_0161.jpg
IMG_20190127_150038.jpg
DSC_0061.jpg

SD Rack
DSC_0444.jpg
 
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p m

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Apr 19, 2004
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www.3rj.org
It is heavy, that is the main downside to me. I agree on the top heavy negative as well. Obviously, I haven’t used it on a D1 but I would be concerned on a rough off road run that there would be problems in a few different ways. However, if I were going to be doing rough off-roading I wouldn’t be with my wife.
All it takes is a single emergency lane change.
 
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Todd-Squad

Member
Aug 7, 2010
15
1
Salt Lake City, UT
I've got a full length Rhino Rack on my D2, with a hard top RTT. It works great. I specifically shopped for the lightest full size tent I could find. I wouldn't do hard off-roading with the RTT mounted. It usually takes 2-5 min going up and down. Most of that time is spent intalling the rods for the window awnings. The Rhino Rack is a flat aluminum rack similar to the Front Runner, only the slats run front to back. I believe the Frontrunner uses side to side slats. To each their own.
 
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