Ready to scream. Prinsu pro roof rack

RachelEvO · Nov 6, 2024

I purchased the prinsu pro rack for my 2024 LC. I also purchased the San Hima RTT. Here’s the thing.. how tf are you suppose to secure the tent to the crossbars on such a low profile rack where the design doesn’t allow side access.
When I try to secure them to the bars I have access to, the brackets stick out on one end.
That cannot possibly be safe!!
Is there a trick or a hack to securing a rtt to a prinsu rack?

The second picture as you can see there’s no side access to tighten bolts on brackets.

Please help.

RachelEvO · Nov 6, 2024

See how there’s no access on the side of the rack.

Seratti · Nov 7, 2024

The whole setup seems precarious to me, but if you really want to put a tent on top, can you secure the bars to the tent while it is off of the truck, then lower it down into the rack and secure the bars to the sides at that point?

RachelEvO · Nov 7, 2024

Seratti said:
The whole setup seems precarious to me, but if you really want to put a tent on top, can you secure the bars to the tent while it is off of the truck, then lower it down into the rack and secure the bars to the sides at that point?

That’s absolutely impossible as I won’t be able to access the bolts at that point.

kmk2199 · Nov 7, 2024

It look like we have the same rack, Topoak?

Anyways, I tighten the front through the sunroof. Just sit in the drivers seat and open the window. The rear is a bit more tricky. I reach in as far as I can and will use a rod to assist with getting it extra tight. I have the clamps an screws already on before I lower it from the ceiling so all I need to do is twist on the caps. Hope this helps!

RachelEvO · Nov 7, 2024

kmk2199 said:
It look like we have the same rack, Topoak?

Anyways, I tighten the front through the sunroof. Just sit in the drivers seat and open the window. The rear is a bit more tricky. I reach in as far as I can and will use a rod to assist with getting it extra tight. I have the clamps an screws already on before I lower it from the ceiling so all I need to do is twist on the caps. Hope this helps!

If I had a sunroof this would solve all my problems but mine doesn’t have one. So I’m back at square one. I’m just really pissed that this is so complicated when it shouldn’t be, and I’m a pretty handy person.

kmk2199 · Nov 7, 2024

RachelEvO said:
If I had a sunroof this would solve all my problems but mine doesn’t have one. So I’m back at square one. I’m just really pissed that this is so complicated when it shouldn’t be, and I’m a pretty handy person.

Ahhh ok. I'm really sorry but without taking off the front panel of the prinsu rack every time I'm not sure how you can do it. That may be the only way to access the front clamps of the RTT.

advnt4re · Nov 7, 2024

I had a RTT on my prinsu / 5th gen. There's two avenues you can take here; first being getting rtt risers to mount between the crossbars and tent. This will give you some room to work but also create a gap. The other (my method of mounting) was mentioned above, decide on which crossbars to mount to, remove them and secure (with measurements) onto the crossbars, and then drop the crossbars in and secure to the siderails. This will give you a clean low-profile look. You will need some additional hands for the later.

RachelEvO · Nov 7, 2024

kmk2199 said:
Ahhh ok. I'm really sorry but without taking off the front panel of the prinsu rack every time I'm not sure how you can do it. That may be the only way to access the front clamps of the RTT.

You mean the wind deflector?

advnt4re · Nov 7, 2024

RTTs & racks, while most are universal, will require some fiddling and messing around with, and maybe even testing different mounts.

RachelEvO · Nov 7, 2024

advnt4re said:
I had a RTT on my prinsu / 5th gen. There's two avenues you can take here; first being getting rtt risers to mount between the crossbars and tent. This will give you some room to work but also create a gap. The other (my method of mounting) was mentioned above, decide on which crossbars to mount to, remove them and secure (with measurements) onto the crossbars, and then drop the crossbars in and secure to the siderails. This will give you a clean low-profile look. You will need some additional hands for the later.

You can’t secure to bars and drop because the bars are under a lip so you I won’t be able to “drop it down”. I’ll probably get the mounts instead. Although I still don’t understand this very serious design flaw. You assume the company is aware not everyone has a sunroof

advnt4re · Nov 7, 2024

RachelEvO said:
You can’t secure to bars and drop because the bars are under a lip so you I won’t be able to “drop it down”. I’ll probably get the mounts instead. Although I still don’t understand this very serious design flaw. You assume the company is aware not everyone has a sunroof

That's right, the pro version wasn't around when I had my prinsu. With some tent risers you should have more room, but expect it to still be a bit tight fitting the average arm underneath

RachelEvO · Nov 7, 2024

kmk2199 said:
Ahhh ok. I'm really sorry but without taking off the front panel of the prinsu rack every time I'm not sure how you can do it. That may be the only way to access the front clamps of the RTT.

Km, seems like your idea to remove the deflector might work after all. Good thing I’m petite and thin, if it were a big person I don’t know how’d I’d lift myself even with a ladder it’s still difficult. I’m on my way to the hardware shop so I’ll report back in a bit.

brianz · Nov 7, 2024

I got the prinsu pro rack as well. I have an RTT on it and it's really just not much fun at all to deal with. I moved the tent back and it was actually easier to remove the cross bars of the rack - it is such a low profile that I can't even reach the back bolts. These were on backorder in July, but I got a set now - should make putting tent on/off a lot more sane:

1" Tent Mounting Feet for Secure Installation | Prinsu

Shop our Prinsu 1" Tent Mounting Feet. Raise your rooftop tent with these mounting feet and make it easier to add to your Prinsu Rack. Sold in sets of four.

prinsu.com

RachelEvO · Nov 7, 2024

brianz said:
I got the prinsu pro rack as well. I have an RTT on it and it's really just not much fun at all to deal with. I moved the tent back and it was actually easier to remove the cross bars of the rack - it is such a low profile that I can't even reach the back bolts. These were on backorder in July, but I got a set now - should make putting tent on/off a lot more sane:

1" Tent Mounting Feet for Secure Installation | Prinsu

Shop our Prinsu 1" Tent Mounting Feet. Raise your rooftop tent with these mounting feet and make it easier to add to your Prinsu Rack. Sold in sets of four.

prinsu.com

This rack has been such a hassle that once it goes on it’s staying on.

EOD Guy · Nov 7, 2024

I don't know if you've ever heard of these or if it would be an easier way to secure your clamps. I use them on my jigs and are a big time saver. I call them quick nuts and are basically a nut with 1/2 of the thread in the nut and a spring loaded pin with the other half of the threads. You push the pin and 1/2 of the threads disengage allowing you to slide the nut to the clamping surface, release the pin and the threads reengage and finish tightening with a wrench (normally 1-2 turns) I've never had one come loose.

https://cdn.mscdirect.com/global/images/ProductDataSheet/pds_sku_399755_technicaldatasheet_technicalspecifications_1_spec.pdf

RachelEvO · Nov 7, 2024

EOD Guy said:
I don't know if you've ever heard of these or if it would be an easier way to secure your clamps. I use them on my jigs and are a big time saver. I call them quick nuts and are basically a nut with 1/2 of the thread in the nut and a spring loaded pin with the other half of the threads. You push the pin and 1/2 of the threads disengage allowing you to slide the nut to the clamping surface, release the pin and the threads reengage and finish tightening with a wrench (normally 1-2 turns) I've never had one come loose.

https://cdn.mscdirect.com/global/images/ProductDataSheet/pds_sku_399755_technicaldatasheet_technicalspecifications_1_spec.pdf

Thank you! I’ll check them out.

Seratti · Nov 7, 2024

EOD Guy said:
I don't know if you've ever heard of these or if it would be an easier way to secure your clamps. I use them on my jigs and are a big time saver. I call them quick nuts and are basically a nut with 1/2 of the thread in the nut and a spring loaded pin with the other half of the threads. You push the pin and 1/2 of the threads disengage allowing you to slide the nut to the clamping surface, release the pin and the threads reengage and finish tightening with a wrench (normally 1-2 turns) I've never had one come loose.

https://cdn.mscdirect.com/global/images/ProductDataSheet/pds_sku_399755_technicaldatasheet_technicalspecifications_1_spec.pdf

Wow those are super cool. I can remember dozens of times those would have come in handy for all sorts of projects.

EOD Guy · Nov 7, 2024

Seratti said:
Wow those are super cool. I can remember dozens of times those would have come in hand for all sorts of projects.

If you have access to a machinist......... I have made some 2.5" knurled collars that have a hole drilled through the side that allows a piece of round stock to slide in and push the nut pin in, the collar slips over the nut, fastened to the nut with 2 grub screws. No wrench is needed to tighten the nut/collar.

RachelEvO · Nov 7, 2024

Thanks. I got it on.

What I did was remove the wind deflector (as recommended by a user here, thanks!) as well as the last cross bar so I was able to reach the knobs much easier. I used the crossbar second from the front, and I believe the 3rd bar in the back. Thanks to all who chipped in to help.

Ps only bad thing is that the prinsu handles are now covered by the tent so I’m unable to grab them. It’s always something right?

Ready to scream. Prinsu pro roof rack

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