Anyone using some kind of rooftop tent with their Equinox?

[GaryLaPointe]

I went traveling/camping this summer and setting up the tent is fine when I am staying for days, but sometimes campgrounds are more set up for RVs and don't have much of a flat spot for tents (and I don't know how bad until I get there).

Sometimes, I'm just camping for the night and I'm arriving in the dark, I'd like to have a quick setup and quick take down, so I can pull in, sleep and head out.

I see lots of items that say they fit the Equinox, but not a lot of photos on an actual Equinox.

Anyone have any experience with something like this, or can point me somewhere that might give me more specifics?

From a weight perspective, it'd likely just be me and I'm 160 pounds. I've seen the 220 pound roof limit, but that's for driving, I don't know about the static limit (but I assume that would be way higher and could handle two people).

I have the two rails on the roof of my 2020 Equinox, but also have the sunroof (which is a concern: because if something breaks, I'm breaking the glass, instead of denting the roof).

EDIT: I see the one is 90", that would hang off the front quite a bit, or I'd have to remove the Equinox antenna off the back. Maybe I need one of the more complicated models that flip open and hang way off the roof.


Looking at something like this:

Which folds down in a hard case like this:


Or maybe something bigger like this:

Which I think folds down similarly.

I'm not tied to these, but just wanted to share exactly what I was looking for.

 

[GaryLaPointe]

Here are some more specific links for the two above:

• Angled one https://overlandjunction.com/products/ikamper-bdv
• More flat one https://overlandjunction.com/products/overland-junction-golden-roof-top-tent

The bigger one seems to be the cheaper one, but they are different brands (the less expensive one is the brand that matches the website).

I have NOT shopped prices at other sites yet.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

2020 Equinox with the 2 rails and the sun roof. If I didn't have the sunroof, I'd be less concerned about it caving in if something broke.

 

[azjeff]

I just looked at my 2020 owner's manual and it says this:

Loading cargo on the roof rack
that weighs more than 100 kg
(220 lb) or hangs over the rear or
sides of the vehicle may damage
the vehicle. Do not load cargo
exceeding 100 kg (220 lbs) and
always load cargo so that it rests
evenly between the crossrails and
does not block the vehicle lamps
or windows.

Nothing about driving or static, where do you get that info? You're looking at exceeding the weight limit by 100 lbs.

 

[rawhite318]

I just looked at my 2020 owner's manual and it says this:

Loading cargo on the roof rack
that weighs more than 100 kg
(220 lb) or hangs over the rear or
sides of the vehicle may damage
the vehicle. Do not load cargo
exceeding 100 kg (220 lbs) and
always load cargo so that it rests
evenly between the crossrails and
does not block the vehicle lamps
or windows.

Nothing about driving or static, where do you get that info? You're looking at exceeding the weight limit by 100 lbs.

My guess would be common sense. Driving down the road you have wind drag and bumps that put excessive force on the roof so on and so forth. I do agree that putting one over the side probably wouldn’t be a good thing. If you tent on your cross rails and hang off the side you will turn the mount closer to you into a lever putting more force on the farthest one away. I’m probably not right but something to think about