Project 4Runner Backcountry is progressing nicely, and after the first round of mods, we now have greater ability to "get there." While getting there is half the battle, we felt it was time to figure out what to do once we are there. This month's buildup will focus on the installation of the ARB Touring Style Roof Rack and Series III Simpson Rooftop Tent, which will provide us with shelter for those extended backcountry expeditions.
The foundation for this installment is ARB's Touring Style Roof Rack. The Touring rack has a basket in the front and is flat in the rear to accommodate the mounting of ARB's rooftop tent. These racks utilize steel construction and are shot-blasted and coated in a zinc-rich primer, while the mounting legs are zinc-plated. Both are then coated in ARB's own millennium grey polyester powdercoat. These processes have been tested to withstand 1,000 hours of salt spray resistance.
As with the entire line of ARB roof racks, the 87x49-inch Touring model is engineered to support the full rated load capacity of the roof of the vehicle it is being installed on. ARB's universal racks can be mounted on a number of vehicles, thanks to ARB's wide selection of fitting kits. These engineered kits provide vehicle-specific weight distributing rails that support the load along the entire length of the roof channel for maximum load capacity.
Here is the ARB Series III roof tent in all of its camping glory and ready for its first b
Utilizing the Touring rack is the ARB Simpson III Rooftop Tent. The tent can be unfolded in just a few minutes and provides sleeping quarters off the ground, protected from the elements and critters. With a size of 55x94x52 inches when deployed (55x47x15 when closed), the interior of the tent is spacious and comfortable. As a bonus, all of the bedding can remain inside the tent when folded, freeing up valuable interior storage space in the vehicle, and allowing the tent to be put away quickly. Because of the way the tent is designed, it can be mounted to open up to either side, or even off the back of the vehicle.
The Series III tent is manufactured from high-quality cotton and poly Ripstop fabric that is breathable, waterproof, and mold-resistant. All of the aluminum components feature an anodized finish for improved corrosion resistance and appearance. When deployed, users can enjoy insect-screened doors and windows, condensation-reducing air vents, and awnings that allow the windows to be open, even in a rainstorm. The base is insulated to prevent cold from seeping through the floor, and the raised flysheet keeps the tent cooler in the sun. Included with the tent is a 2.5-inch high-density foam mattress with removable cover and a retractable aluminum ladder that also aids in the unfolding of the tent.
Installation was fairly easy, if not a bit time-consuming, but the professionals at Off Road Evolution in Fullerton, California, got the job done in just a few hours. Documented here is the overview of the installation.
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The first step of the installation of the Touring rack is to remove the factory Toyota rac
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Once the factory rack was removed, we wiped down the roof and prepared the ARB parts.
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These rubber gaskets ensure there is no metal-to-metal contact between the roof and the mo
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Because there is a right and left ARB roof rack rail, we verified the fit and placement be
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With the rail placement verified, we installed the provided stainless hardware and tighten
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Here you can see the ARB mounting rails installed and awaiting the new rack.
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Next, we lifted the new Touring rack in to place, being careful not to scratch the finish
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At this point, the bolt plate and support plate can be installed, though the hardware was
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Once the rack position was finalized, we tightened the hardware and turned our attention t
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The next step was to prepare the tent by installing the aluminum mounting rails to the bas
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After putting the rails in place, we lifted the tent and placed it on the roof rack.
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With the tent sitting on the rack, we were able to determine where to place the mounting b
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We then fit the retaining clamps and double-checked squareness of the tent to the rack bef
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The last step to installing the tent was to bolt on the ladder and ensure the tent could o
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As you can see here, the inside of the tent offers plenty of space for its occupants to ta
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ARB 4x4 Products
720 SW 34th Street
Renton
WA
98057
800-761-8192
http://www.arbusa.com
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Off Road Evolution
1829 W Commonwealth Avenue
Fullerton
CA
92833
714-870-5515
www.offroadevolution.com
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