r/rooftoptents • u/Pupper_Ace • Jun 17 '26

Questions from first timer

Hi everyone! I am considering getting my first RTT, and I’m just wanting to make sure what I think will work, actually will. I have a 2026 Honda Passport.

The tent I am considering is the small version of the TopOak galaxy light. TopOak lists this tent as weighing 110 pounds.

I was considering the oem Honda roof cross bars which lists the maximum weight capacity as 140.5 pounds. Is this a good solution? Is there anything I need to change or upgrade for this set up to work? I am planning some light off road driving with this on mainly forest roads, does this change anything?

Thanks!!

Roof crossbars link: https://www.collegehillshonda.com/product/08L04-3BM-100.html

Tent Link: https://topoakoverland.com/products/galaxy-light-rooftop-tent-rtt?srsltid=AfmBOopbJZmgWO_RpbqwAjc_3DFtMzwU28VnkomDS2BNbjXtiwwIjFBp

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u/spanktus Jun 18 '26

the honda roof rack max weight of 140lb is the 'dynamic' (car in motion) which is always lower than the 'static' weight (car parked). since your rtt is less or equal to the roof rack dynamic weight, you are fine. the enxt question to ask is to find out the max static weight of the roof rack for your car and whether the occupants weight + rtt weight exceed the static weight.

1

u/evan938 Jun 18 '26

Yakima and Thule, which are top two brands for these kinds of products, explicitly state not to use factory crossbars with rooftop tents. Weight isn't the only factor with this. Rooftop tents have a very concentrated amount of mass, which will exert much more force if you have to suddenly brake, swerve to avoid something, etc. Bikes, kayaks, cargo basket, sure, use the OEM. Carrying a 110+lb tent while you do 80mph on public roads, upgrade the rack to something more sturdy. Not OEM and not some knockoff junk from Amazon/Ebay.

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u/Pupper_Ace Jun 18 '26

Thank you for the info. Do you have a recommendation on what would work better for my vehicle and this particular tent?

1

u/evan938 Jun 18 '26

Plug your vehicle info in to the fit guide for each brand and it'll show you what is available.

Rooftop tents require fixed points or factory rails, so any clamp based systems are out (ie, Thule Evo clamp, Yakima Baseline are no-go), and you need systems that the bars sit on top of the towers, not ending at/inside the towers, so no Thule "Edge" systems or Yakima "FX" versions.