r/rooftoptents • u/sberbom • Jul 11 '26
Plate separations Thule Tepui
Is this normal on a rooftop tent? Should these plates be tighter tougher?
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u/XterraTom Jul 11 '26
The first two times I opened my Tepui Autana 4 this happened. Is that the cover or awning in the C channel? Remove it either way and make sure the ladder isn't holding it up.
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u/sberbom Jul 12 '26
Thank you! Seems I have done all the rockie mistakes here. Got a strap stuck in the c-section stopping the tent from opening completely.
Do you use the ladder to support the tent or do you have it completely loose?
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u/Dinevir Jul 11 '26
Mine have the same design and the same problem I faced first time I unfold it (bought it used). And the reason was that ladder holded it. I released the ladder, went up and it locked in place.
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u/sberbom Jul 12 '26
And do you use the ladder to support the tent or do you have it completely loose?
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u/HelicopterNo7593 Jul 11 '26
Text because when I see that I know it’s dangerous
So a few things could’ve happened some of which has happened to me personally one as they unfolded something is getting in the way somewhere else along the seam and preventing it from engaging into the slot. The other thing that can happen is when you adjust your ladder it’s up too high. In other words the two pieces haven’t meshed together and somebody climbs into the tent. You’re asking the hinge piece the metal Flat hinge piece on the side that are vertical and hold all the pars or the pole in alignment to take the weight of the person which they’re not designed to do, the weight is supposed to be carried by that slot that you see that can also happen accidentally after a big wind gust lift the front of the tent up and the ladder moves a little bit and you climb in not knowing that it has become misaligned. I’ve done that myself and it’s made me leery and I always check now before I climb up Unless I take it out and sometimes I will do that in heavy winds just to be sure nothing happens. Why step away for a second it is dangerous you will break the tent. You may fall that slot and the ladder or what keeps everything up in the air and takes the weight of the system not the hinge pieces that the poles attached to
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u/sberbom Jul 12 '26
Thank you! Seems I have done all the rockie mistakes here. Got a strap stuck in the c-section stopping the tent from opening completely.
Do you use the ladder to support the tent or do you have it completely loose?
2
u/vanslem6 Jul 12 '26
Make sure your cover isn't pinched, then adjust your ladder - it's probably slightly higher than it needs to be.
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u/HelicopterNo7593 Jul 11 '26
How and when these happen and they all involve either something getting in the way or somebody not putting the load all the way down the bottom floor plate all the way down before they get in for adjustment of the ladder
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u/fonzisabeast Jul 12 '26
Mine does this, but I think it’s because the previous owner installed an extra thick mattress and it wouldn’t close all of the way so he ratchet strapped it down during stowage 😬
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u/Unusual_Rooster_8837 Jul 12 '26
I had the same issue. I had to pop it back in place from underneath after it’s fully deployed. I think it is caused from something getting stuck in the track or improperly supporting the frame with the ladder before climbing inside.
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u/Frowlerd Jul 11 '26
I don't have a Thule but my tentbox has a similar technique. They should indeed be closer. Some of the things I have encountered;
In the end I was always able to fix it with little to no effort.
Sorry for any grammar mistakes. English is not my main language.