A tub rack is a frame that bolts to the tub (the tray or bed) of a ute and lifts a load clear above it, and yes, you can mount a roof top tent on one, but only if the rack is rated for a tent and the tent fits across it.
This guide covers what a tub rack is, the load rating to check, how to keep access to the tub, how the tent length sits across it, and how to fit it with cross bars. For the wider choice between cab roof, tub rack and canopy, start with our guide to the roof top tent on a ute. This post goes deeper on the tub rack only.
What Is a Tub Rack on a Ute?
A tub rack is a metal frame that sits over the tub of a ute and carries gear above it. It usually has uprights at the corners or sides and a set of bars or a flat platform on top. Some bolt to the top of the tub rails. Others fix to the tub's inner walls or to the chassis, depending on the model.
Not every tub rack is made to carry a tent. Many are built for ladders, kayaks or timber, and their load figure may assume a spread load, not a 72 kg box with people sleeping in it. RIGDUP does not sell racks, so you will buy one from a rack maker. Pick the rack first, then check the tent against it.
What Load Rating Should You Check on a Tub Rack?
Check the rack maker's rating for a roof top tent on your exact ute, and use the lower of that and any limit on the ute itself. Two numbers matter, and both should be in writing from the maker.
- Dynamic rating: what the rack can carry while you drive. The tent and everything else on the rack must fit under this.
- Static rating: what the rack can hold when you are parked, with people in the tent.
Makers usually quote a dynamic figure because driving loads a rack harder than standing still. Use the figure the maker gives for your rack. If the maker gives a separate off road figure, use that one for tracks.
Do not borrow a number from a forum or a mate's ute. Ratings change with the rack model, the ute, the year and how the rack is fixed. If the maker will not state a rating for a tent, treat the rack as not suitable for one.
| Check | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Rack dynamic rating for a roof top tent | Rack maker's spec sheet or fitting instructions |
| Rack static rating | Rack maker's spec sheet |
| Rack weight | Rack maker's spec sheet |
| Which ute and tub it is approved for | Rack maker's fitment list |
| Tent weight | Tent maker (the Nomad 1.4M is 72 kg) |
Add the tent, the rack's own weight if it counts against the rating, and anything else you carry up there, then compare the total with the rack's dynamic rating. Our guide to roof rack weight limits for roof top tents walks through the sum step by step.
Can You Still Use the Tub With a Roof Top Tent on a Tub Rack?
Yes, if the rack is tall enough, but the tub is where height and access get decided. The tent sits on top, so what you can carry underneath depends on the rack height and what you keep in the tub.
Think through these before you buy:
- Tall gear. A fridge on a slide, a drawer system, jerry cans and a water tank all take height. Measure the tallest item with its lid open.
- Tailgate. Check the tailgate can still drop and the tent or rack does not foul it. Check which way the tent opens and where the ladder lands before you mount it.
- Reaching in. A high rack makes it harder to lift heavy items in from the side. A low one makes it hard to stand a tall item up.
The trade-off is simple. A tub rack gives you a strong, central mount and keeps the cab roof free, but it uses the space above your gear. Plan the layout of the tub before you lock in the rack height.
How Long Is the Tent Across the Tub Rack?
Measure it and compare it with your rack, because a full size tent can be longer than the rack is wide. The Nomad 1.4M measures 217 x 150 x 18 cm closed. That is a 217 cm side and a 150 cm side, and which one runs across the ute is your call, as long as the rack supports it properly.
A few things decide how it sits:
- Rack width and length. Measure the outer faces of the bars, and the gap between mounting points. Do not use the width of the tub alone.
- Overhang. A tent that hangs well past the rack or the sides of the ute adds drag and wind noise, and may stick out further than you want. Check your state transport authority's rules on overhang and width.
- Opening direction. Work out which way the tent opens before you mount it, and make sure the lid has room to open over the cab, the tailgate or the side.
- Cab clearance. If the rack sits close behind the cab, check the open tent clears it and that nothing catches when you close it.
If the tent is clearly longer than the rack in every direction, it is not a match, and a rack that spans a longer section of the tub is the usual fix.
How Do You Fit a Roof Top Tent With Cross Bars on a Tub Rack?
You bolt the tent's cross bars to the rack, then bolt the tent to the cross bars, and the rack must be rated to carry the lot. The Nomad 1.4M comes with cross bars in the box, but they still need a rated base under them. They are not a rack.
The general order looks like this:
- Fit and tighten the tub rack to the maker's instructions and torque figures. Do this first and on its own.
- Check the rack's rating and the tent's weight, and write the numbers down.
- Set the cross bars as the tent's instructions say, and square them to the ute.
- Fix the cross bars to the rack with the right fittings for your rack, not whatever is in the shed.
- With a helper, lift the tent onto the bars. The Nomad 1.4M is 72 kg, so get help lifting it on, and use lifting gear if you need it.
- Fix the tent to the cross bars as the tent's instructions say.
- Check the tent cannot shift, then check every bolt again after the first drive.
For the full process on any vehicle, see our step by step guide on how to install a roof top tent. The tent also has to be secured so it cannot move on the road. Check your state transport authority's load restraint rules before you drive, and ask your insurer if a rack and tent change your cover.
Is a Tub Rack Better Than the Cab Roof for a Roof Top Tent?
It can be, because a tub rack is rated for the job, while the cab roof comes with the vehicle maker's limit, which you find in the owner's manual. Here is how they compare:
| Tub rack | Cab roof | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | Set by the rack maker, so check it states a tent | Set by the vehicle maker, in the owner's manual |
| Weight position | Over the tub | Over the cab |
| Tub space | Uses the space above the tub | Tub stays free |
| What you buy | A tub rack rated for a tent | A roof rack rated for a tent |
| Best for | Utes where a rated tub rack is available | Vehicles where the maker's roof limit covers a tent |
Whichever you pick, the weakest rating in the chain is your limit. If you drive a Hilux or a Ranger, we have model guides for the Hilux roof top tent and the Ford Ranger roof top tent.
Does the RIGDUP Nomad 1.4M Suit a Tub Rack?
It can, if your tub rack is rated for a tent and its dynamic rating covers 72 kg plus the rack and anything else on top. The Nomad 1.4M is a clamshell hardshell with gas struts that sleeps 2. It is 217 x 150 x 18 cm closed, so it packs flat on the rack.
| Spec | Nomad 1.4M |
|---|---|
| Closed size | 217 x 150 x 18 cm |
| Open size | 217 x 150 x 150 cm |
| Weight | 72 kg |
| Shell and base | Aluminium shell, aluminium honeycomb base |
| In the box | Cross bars, 2.6 m ladder, 255W solar panel |
| Setup | Up in about 60 seconds |
The 18 cm closed height adds little to your total height. That matters when the rack already raises the tent above the tub. If you want a second opinion on your ute, the RIGDUP fitting guide covers vehicle and rack fit before you buy.
Ready to Check the Nomad 1.4M Against Your Rack?
Get the rack's tent rating in writing, measure the rack against 217 x 150 cm, and confirm the 72 kg total fits under the dynamic rating. If the numbers work, see the RIGDUP Nomad 1.4M roof top tent. Shipping is free Australia-wide.
FAQs
Can you put a roof top tent on a tub rack?
Yes, if the rack maker rates it for a roof top tent on your ute. Check the dynamic and static ratings in writing, and make sure the tent's weight and size fit.
Does RIGDUP sell tub racks?
No. RIGDUP sells roof top tents and awnings, not racks. Buy a tub rack rated for a tent from a rack maker, then check the tent fits under its rating.
Do the Nomad 1.4M cross bars replace a tub rack?
No. The cross bars come in the box and the tent bolts to them, but they need a rated rack or base under them to carry the load on the ute.
