How much weight is to much? CG?

[RollinWest]

I’m debating on adding an awning. The new 270 awnings are awesome but I’m concerned about being top heavy. The good news is I have a large offset wheel with heavy 10 ply tires with a low CG inspired lift. However, I have an RTT (135 lbs), full roof rack, and I keep about 40lbs of gear up top most of the time. Is another 60 lbs for an awning going to start significantly limiting my ability to lean the vehicle on challenging terrain?

( please ignore the bikes in the attached picture. I don’t take those on challenging trails).

 

[Billiebob]

I'm going with, since it is lifted plus all the gear/weight already up top, an awning is not going to slow you down, or tip you over. Keep the awning on the uphill side lol.

 

[CubbyRunner]

When I made the decision to add a roof top tent with that weight up high, I knew I was reducing my capabilities. When I have a tent I’m in overland mode and not rock crawling mode. Adding another awning only enhances my camping goal. The trick is learning the new limitations that extra weight will bring. Only experience and not pushing too far will teach that lesson. I say go for it.

What 270 awning are you looking at? I went with the Rhino Bat Wing to save weight. The trade off is that it is not self-supporting and needs the ground poles.

 

[RollinWest]

When I made the decision to add a roof top tent with that weight up high, I knew I was reducing my capabilities. When I have a tent I’m in overland mode and not rock crawling mode. Adding another awning only enhances my camping goal. The trick is learning the new limitations that extra weight will bring. Only experience and not pushing too far will teach that lesson. I say go for it.

What 270 awning are you looking at? I went with the Rhino Bat Wing to save weight. The trade off is that it is not self-supporting and needs the ground poles.

Great thoughts. The goal is Overland adventure with my family, but I don’t want to overly limit our ability to get somewhere cool. With that said I do believe in staying on trails and not destroying the land so I figure we will probably stay on the tamer side of things. We would like to do the popular trails around Silverton and Ouray Colorado for example.
I agree I need to establish my operating parameters. I was thinking about installing a clinometer so I can keep track of what I’ve done and compare to what I’m getting myself into.

As for awnings I was thinking OVS. But I should look into lighter 270 options. I do like the free standing feature of OVS, but that comes with weight. On the other end of the spectrum is the Slumberjack tarp which would add no weight but be a little more cumbersome to deploy. I thought about just doing a square awning because of the screen room option but that leaves me cooking in the rain haha.