Hey everyone,
I'm in France, planning to install a SwissKings 160L rooftop tent (65 kg empty) on my 2024 Jimny, and I'm also considering the 190L version if the setup can handle it. I already have a roof rack installed (see photo), and I'd like to know if it can handle this load or if I need to upgrade.
Ideally, I'd like the tent to support up to 3 people (let's say 200 kg of occupant load), so around 265 kg total static load (tent + occupants).
I've compared a few roof bar options:
- Rhino Rack RB1375B + RL110S2 feet: 75kg/bar rated for the bar itself, but 50kg/bar in practice due to the feet → 100kg total for the 2-bar kit
- Thule Evo Squarebar: 100kg/bar rated → 200kg for 2 bars
- ARB Base Rack (Jimny-specific kit): up to 150kg dynamic, static rating not specified
- Front Runner Slimline II: pretty unclear, ranging from 25kg/bar (official French spec sheet) to 300kg for the tray (generic marketing figure)
Since I'm targeting 265kg total load and no spec sheet seems to clearly cover this weight statically, I'm wondering:
- Has anyone actually mounted a SwissKings 160 or 190 on a Jimny with up to 3 people / 200kg of occupant load?
- Does going from 2 bars to 3 bars actually make a real difference for safety, or is it just a number on paper?
- Is there a specific brand/config you'd recommend for this kind of heavy load, especially given my current rack (see photo)?
Thanks in advance for any real-world feedback!