How to Set Up a Ute Tray Tent For Offroad Camping

So, you’ve decided that your ute could be the coolest camping base since the invention of the tent. First off, kudos to you! Who needs a boring ground tent when you can have a ute tray tent? This guide will take you through the wild yet wonderfully practical journey of setting up a tent on your trusty steed. Grab your tools, a cold drink, and let’s get started!

What Do You Need for Your Ute Tray Tent?

Before you dive headfirst into this adventure, you need to consider a few important factors. First off, let’s chat about the static weight of both the tent and its occupants. Yes, that means you and your overly enthusiastic friends who think they can jump into your new setup. Check your ute's weight capacity in the manual (trust us, it’s there!) to ensure you don’t end up doing a bad impression of a low-rider.

The weight of the tent and the combined weight of its inhabitants should not exceed your ute's load capacity. You wouldn’t want to be the reason your ute ends up looking like it’s auditioning for a role in a wobbly circus act, right?

Ute With Roll Cover & Ute Without Cover

Now, let’s talk about the type of rack you need to mount your tent. This will depend on whether your ute has a roll cover or not. If you have one of those fancy HSP Roll R Covers, we suggest getting the HSP Load Racks. They’re strong, reliable, and can make you look like you know what you’re doing. 

And if you’re rocking an EGR Rolltrac cover,  then you’ll want to check out the Front Runner Slimline Load Bed Racks. These bad boys are super strong, can support just about any tent you throw at them, and come in a multitude of sizes. Plus, if you still feel attached to your sports bars, you can keep them with this setup—so there’s that!

Consider Reinforcing Your Setup

Now that you’ve got your rack sorted, don’t skip the importance of reinforcement. We highly recommend using a J-Brace to help bolster that tub area when you’re putting any significant load on it. Think of it as giving your ute a nice little hug; it will thank you later when it doesn’t bend or creak under pressure.

Roof Top Tent - by Front Runner $1,395 View Product

Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain (2020-Current) R.. $1,439 View Product

EGR Rolltrac J-Brace $225 View Product

Choosing the Right Ute Tray Tent

When it comes to finding a suitable roof top tent for ute, we’ve got just the product for you—the Front Runner tent. This tent is extremely popular, probably because it’s as sturdy as your uncle’s old guitar from high school (and much more comfortable!). It’s designed for adventure enthusiasts who want to camp without the hassle of traditional setups. Just pop it on your ute tray, and you’re ready to roll into the wild!

How to Set It All Up

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of setting up your ute tray tent. Start by ensuring your rack is firmly attached to your ute. You don’t want it wiggling around like a jelly on a plate while you’re trying to sleep. Once that’s secure, carefully place your tent onto the rack. Make sure it’s evenly distributed, just like your relationship with pizza—always share equally!

Next, use the provided straps to secure the tent to the rack. Tighten those bad boys up, but don’t go full Hulk on them! You want it snug but not ripping through fabric like you’re auditioning for a superhero movie.

Once the tent is securely mounted, it’s time to climb up and check things out. Make sure everything looks good up top before you go inviting your friends for a camping trip. No one wants a surprise “oops, my tent fell off” story on a weekend getaway!

Enjoy the Adventure!

And just like that, you’re ready for a ute tray tent adventure! Pack up your gear, grab that guitar, and head out into nature. If you think camping is only for ground dwellers, think again! With your roof top tent, you’ll be the envy of all your friends. They’ll be looking up at you, wondering how you managed to make peak camping cool again.

Don’t forget, we ship Australia-wide and our team is online via chat to help you find the right fitment. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or a newbie just starting out, we’ve got your back, or rather, your ute tray tent!

Now, go forth and camp like the champion you are!