Roof Top Tent Max Load

[stephenc1984]

I want to put a rooftop tent on my W123 240d for our summer road trip/vacation. I understand that MB says the max load is 200lbs. What is the most you guys have put up there? I've seen the pics of the wagons with rooftop tents but not the sedans. Also, apparently, the ladder to the tent is load bearing as well. Between my wife and I, I'm looking at roughly 500 lbs with the both of us and the weight of the tent. I just don't see the roof rails holding that kind of weight. What do you think?

[oldsinner111]

a 50's or 60's car,not a Benz for sure. Germans started this crappy unibody junk

[t walgamuth]

I think you'd be fine.

I don't think the uni body of a mercedes is crappy at all. The idea of a weight limit on the roof I suspect is more about making the car top heavy and more likely to overturn.

But seriously how bulky is it? I imagine it will cost you fuel mileage and reduce your comfortable cruising speed.

Has anybody tried these?

[stephenc1984]

Originally Posted by oldsinner111

a 50's or 60's car,not a Benz for sure. Germans started this crappy unibody junk

I'm not quite sure what you are referring to. What does a 50' or 60' non unibody car have to do with roof top cargo weight?

[stephenc1984]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I think you'd be fine.

I don't think the uni body of a mercedes is crappy at all. The idea of a weight limit on the roof I suspect is more about making the car top heavy and more likely to overturn.

But seriously how bulky is it? I imagine it will cost you fuel mileage and reduce your comfortable cruising speed.

Has anybody tried these?

I'm planning a Hwy 1, 101 and 395 trip. 45-60MPH not too worried about the loss of MPG. I figure at that speed, it would be negligible. Static load versus dynamic load is a huge difference. I just don't want the roof to cave in or the rails to break in the middle of the night because I ate an extra cheese burger the night before.

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by stephenc1984

I'm planning a Hwy 1, 101 and 395 trip. 45-60MPH not too worried about the loss of MPG. I figure at that speed, it would be negligible. Static load versus dynamic load is a huge difference. I just don't want the roof to cave in or the rails to break in the middle of the night because I ate an extra cheese burger the night before.

I wouldn't worry. But seriously how are you getting up to 500#? Seems like it would be tough to get much above 400.

[dieselbenz1]

A very long time ago I put 4 sheets of dry wall on the roof of my 200d with the supplied cardboard roof racks from the drywall supplier. The roof caved in but popped out without any problems or visual damage.

[t walgamuth]

What is a cardboard roof rack? Really?

[Falegname2682]

Isint most of the roof rack weight distributed to the roof drip rails which are thick just like how work vans are. I would be more concerned with the roof racks ability to support the intended weight. You might have to beef the racks up with something.

[dieselbenz1]

Cardboard roof racks are cleaverly folded triangles around 3" the full width of the roof. They could hold a fairly heavy load and prevented scratches. One placed at the front and another at the back under the load. Placement was critical to avoid contact with the curved roof. I haven't seen those in a very long time come to think of it.

[t walgamuth]

Never seen one.

[stephenc1984]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I wouldn't worry. But seriously how are you getting up to 500#? Seems like it would be tough to get much above 400.

The tent itself is 116# then the roof rack to hold it. Plus sleeping gear, miscellaneous items. I weigh 165 and then the Mrs. probably 450 to 500 lbs.

[stephenc1984]

Originally Posted by Falegname2682

Isint most of the roof rack weight distributed to the roof drip rails which are thick just like how work vans are. I would be more concerned with the roof racks ability to support the intended weight. You might have to beef the racks up with something.

I didn't think to see what the capacity was of the roof rack. I will check.

[moon161]

I used to have an audi 90 and I used rails for a ski rack and plywood to make a 4x8 rack for lumber and drywall. The feet bore on the roof instead of the gutter and left an imprint, but I figure i'd driven with at least 2-300 lb of drywall and lumber on the roof.

If you have the kind of rack that bears on the gutter and clamps to it, I don't the the gutter is the weak point. I think all 8 feet or so of gutter on the roof of a 240D, properly loaded would support the entire car. I think the rack is the weak point and you could test that.

Edit:
Not W123's, but similar and contemporary:

[oldsinner111]

in the old days,a man could sit on the hood of a car,they had springs too. now adays most cars have a metal prop to hold hood open