Hello everyone, new guy here. I just bought a new OBW. I have an Overland Vehicle Systems roof canopy that I would like to use with the OBW. Subaru advertises that the OBW is designed for an RTT and says it will support 700 pounds. Great news so far.
The cross bars that Subaru offers are from Thule. I called and talked to Thule and they say those bars have a maximum weight rating of 165 pounds. The rods themselves have a maximum rating of 200 pounds, but the mounting “legs” are only rated at 165, so the maximum rating for the system is 165.
My tent is 150 pounds empty, which is pretty standard. Putting anything or anyone in there would be easily over the 165 max.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I have seen other use of RTT but not sure how.
Pay attention to the “static” and “dynamic” weight limit.
The 165 lbs limit on most “HD” crossbar systems is for dynamic weight, which is the “recommended” (not absolute) load rating when the vehicle is in motion. It’s just the physics of things since moment + mass = extra strength that your cross bars and roof rails have to be able to withstand and hold without breaking away from the car’s roof frame.
the 700 lbs capacity advertised by subaru in the OBW roof load is “static“the border for the desert rail, not the crossbars themselves. The Subaru marketing jargon is garbage at best and quite confusing to most average consumers. I had to do my research to make sure it wasn’t a scam and not make the mistake of buying with RTT
You may wish to contact your Thule customer representative and find out what the correct STATIC weight limit is for your cross bar/mounting leg system. the answer can be disappointing. I reused my old Yakima heavy duty round bar system (max capacity 165 lbs also for the yakima face) when I first got my OBW and mounted the first RTT up there. Granted, my RTT is only 95 lbs empty, so I have plenty of wiggle room for the dynamic weight limit. I slept in a tent for a long time without a problem and I was 220 years old at the time.
I have since upgraded to the first roof rack system with 300lbs max static load, 6 mounting feet vs 4 on the yakima, full aluminum modular setup and expandable with other mounting accessories. That way, if I upgrade my RTT to a hardtop, it would handle the extra weight well since most hardtops are around 160-240lbs empty.
