Truck bed DIY crossbars

[HighVoltOverland]

Has anyone tried using unistrut/superstrut as a lower cost crossbar solution for mounting a roof top tent?
All Load tables I have found suggest that the structure would handily take a tent + camper(s) weight limit, but I have yet to see any real reliable feedback/ use cases.

 

[reaver]

I use 1 5/8 superstrut for the crossbars holding up my Ironman 4x4 nomad RTT on the rack in my Xterra.

I used 13/16 superstrut crossbars to hold another Ironman tent on my trailer for a year, and had zero issues so far. Been on some pretty washboardy roads as well. Just make sure to use lock washers and nylock nuts so things don't rattle loose, and it should work just fine.

 

[NCFireGuy]

My truck was started its life as a work truck so it already had a Adarac Truck Bed Rack. I then got 6 (really only need 4) Dinoot No Weld Trailer and Truck Rack Crossbars and got some 12g Unistrut for the cross members. If you do not want to get a Adarac rack you can look at the Dinoot No Weld Pickup Truck Bed Base Brackets. I used the Adarac so I can still use a Roll up cover with the tent mounted.

Please see Charles Pages Video on how he put his version of the rack together on a RAM 2500. Mine is on a 1500 with the 5.7 bed.

Note: I have extra room on the passenger side of the rack so I added a trailer hitch cargo carrier which I had.

Why?

1. make it easier to work with the tent.
2. hold the diesel heater
3. make it easier to get the spare tire ( and everything else) off the roof.
4. hold cooler and wood.
4. fill up the space ( This is really the reason! The others came later after I realized what I could do with it)

This system has been working since 2019 and has taken a number of hard hits without a problem.

If you have any questions please let me know and I will help in any way I can.