Choosing your roof bars
Go Overland roof tents are designed to be installed on vehicles equipped with compatible crossbars, whether city cars, vans, SUVs, utility vehicles, pickups, station wagons, etc.
An essential part of your setup, roof bars will allow you to securely attach your roof tent to your car. Let's take a look at the key factors to consider when choosing them.
What type of bars should you choose and where can you buy them?
First, it is crucial to distinguish between crossbars and longitudinal bars.
Longitudinal roof bars
These are the bars that come with your vehicle as standard. Longitudinal roof bars are not necessary for installing a roof tent. However, if you have them, you need to check whether they are decorative or functional (original bars are generally not functional). If they are purely decorative (solid or hollow), they cannot be used to install a roof tent.
In the case of non-decorative longitudinal bars that are sufficiently strong, you can add cross bars with clamps, which attach directly to the longitudinal bars without requiring mounting feet.
Crossbars
This is the essential and necessary component for installing your roof tent. The tent will be attached to these bars. It is therefore essential to choose them carefully.
Depending on your vehicle, these bars can be attached:
- On the longitudinal bars
- On the roof anchor points (or rails)
- In the gutters located on the roof of the vehicle
The choice of these bars must be made according to your vehicle model. To install a roof tent, two cross roof bars are sufficient.
Which roof rack should you choose?
Go Overland tents are compatible with most roof bars, whether they are ultra-thin or very wide (up to 11 cm), round, square, or flat. However, a few criteria must be met to ensure optimal installation. The shape of your bars should be as simple as possible.
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Our tent is compatible with all roof bars approved for a load greater than the weight of your tent. |
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The width required to attach our mounting system to your roof bars, also known as the usable width, must be 70 cm. |
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The distance between the roof and the top of the roof rack must be greater than 5 cm to allow our fasteners to fit. |
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The width of the roof rack tube must be less than 11 cm. |
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The distance between the two roof bars should be approximately 70 cm. |
For panoramic or opening roofs, the bar fasteners (transverse or longitudinal) must be placed on the metal bodywork, not on the glass parts, so as not to damage the roof.
Can my poles and roof support the tent and its occupants?
Yes, even on a small vehicle. Your roof bars just need to be able to support the weight of the folded, empty tent.
It is essential to differentiate between the load capacities of the vehicle roof, the roof bars, and the tent itself:
- The roof: although the bars are not attached directly to the roof, they are attached to the safety arches, which are capable of supporting the weight of the vehicle in the event of a rollover.
- Roof bars: when in motion, they support the weight of the closed tent.
- The roof tent: once stationary, the tent supports the weight of the occupants, according to the capacity indicated for each model.
Where can I buy my roof bars?
You can find suitable roof bars by entering your vehicle's reference number on various websites such as Oscaro, Avatacar, Mister-auto, AccessAuto 4×4, France Attelage, or at stores such as Norauto, Feu Vert, and your car dealership.