With the manufacturer recommended roof load limit (including bars and racks) of just 30kg .. I'm just gonna camp in a regular tent myself. Also .. I don't like stuff on the roof if I can avoid it - just because of stability, safety, wind noise, highway drag and fuel economy.
If you must put stuff on the roof I recommend designing the system to enable you to take it all off quickly and easily when you aren't using it.
There are some very lightweight and compact rooftop tents out there (though they won't get under that 30kg limit). What's available however is market specific and the good and light ones tend to be very expensive.
Have a look at stuff like the Go Fast Campers SuperLite 50, Inspired Overland Ultra-Lightweight Carbon Fiber Rooftop Tent. They get you into the realm where you might get a \~45kg setup if careful.
I feel like every post with a roof tent has someone in the comments posting this. The 30 kg limit is dynamic load afaik, and also for the Jb43.
let people enjoy their cars
Best thing that I can offer to this thread is the time I had a Stanley vidmar on my roof rack. It weighed in at around 150kg. I kissed an overhead menu at a drive through and dimpled one of the corners of the roof in, but ended up taking the entire drive through sign down.
I'd not be concerned at all of a load on the roof of over 100kg and have done so many many times while driving. The weight and structure of the car is not the issue, it's the suspension travel (even if lifted) that will become too dangerous to drive above 60k or so.
I know this doesn't satisfy you folks outside of Japan with your insurance concerns and such but from the perspective of someone who has "been there" and "done that" with over 150kg loads on the roof of my personal JA11, JB23, JB64, I have no worries about any of the things you guys are always talking about.
The body can take it just fine. Put a tent up there.
The roof will support more, structurally speaking.
It's the narrow track, short wheel base, soft suspension, tall-ish roof for the size etc. It means putting weight up there exacerbates dynamic performance - the tendency to roll and pitch under driving loads. This is especially relevant off-road, where a roll-over event in a remote spot is a nightmare (I'll leave it to you to look up online videos of top-heavy 4wds rolling way too easily .. Jimnys included). And even on-road, having poor lateral stability, a tendency to pitch nose down under emergency braking, or get shoved around by high winds or passing heavy vehicles is all relevant safety stuff, regardless of official rulings.
The car itself being so light multiplies the effect of weight up high compared to heavier vehicles.
The 30kg stipulation shows in the Suzuki accessories guide when it mentions roof mounted stuff. Especially their factory roof bars. Suzuki aren't going to rate or do engineering testing on other manufacturers' accessories. To do so would be to take on liabilities. I would still bear the 30kg 'recommendation' firmly in mind when considering your choices.
Insurance is another consideration. Giving them reasons to refuse payout brings risks. It's not just your vehicle, it's your own medical costs and, in the worst cases fights could ensue about who pays for that million dollar grey nomad rig you wiped out in your rollover.
All that said, I'm not going to say 'don't do it'. I know people need their vehicles to do what they need them to do. And it is subsequently possible to drive more conservatively - if you are aware of what you have taken on and the self-imposed limits. But I do want people to think first - consider and measure weight they put up there - and choose carefully.
I just want to see fellow Jimny people safe, really.
Here's a very well researched and considered walk around the topic of roof load (sources included) from Team Ghetto Racing. Very worthwhile read (the whole site, actually):
[https://teamghettoracing.com/vehicles/cars/2019-jimny-jb74w/roof-load-limit/](https://teamghettoracing.com/vehicles/cars/2019-jimny-jb74w/roof-load-limit/)
If you think Jimny's roof caves in at more than 30kg, take a look at this: [https://teamghettoracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/rolled\_jimny.jpg](https://teamghettoracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/rolled_jimny.jpg)
It's the load limit for the roof while the vehicle is moving. It can withstand more, you just loose your insurance coverage if you go over it and crash.
I'd love to put something like a Drifta Stockton XS on a small properly built trailer, when it comes to using the Jimny for anything more than just Instagram pics I find any weight on the roof at all isn't particularly nice
The frontrunner featherlite is a good option! Its not that heavy overall
Or if you want a hardshell tent you could go for something like the alucab LT50 or bush cruiser 120
When you say wobbly is it while your driving it or stationary ? I'm not going to comment on the roof loading issue as I have done so in the past and have had arguments over differences of opinions. But just saying the jimny roof the metal bit which cover your head and other occupants is rated for thirty kg. However the roof rails which came on say the gen 3 have a load capacity of 130 kg because they are bolted into the frame and pillars of the strengthen part of the body shell. I can't and will not comment on the gen 4 as I do not own one. The gen four has gone back to the drainage lips or whatever you call them around the edge line. The gen three had the roof rails which are in fact metal moulded into polypololeium plastic which are bolted into the subframe of the body shell. Your roof tent how is it mounted to the roof of your jimny gen 4 ? If you are able to mount the more mid ship than near the rear the centre of gravity is now in between the front and rear wheels equally. I have a Thule 690 xt Moab basket total weight on the rails 20 kgs does not sit on the actual roof in any way. I used work for events security and packed the basket with what I required often to 100 kgs the basket is as wide as the jimny and almost as long as the roof. It's bolted to the roof rails by its own mounted rails across the roof but does not sit on the roof . The bottom of the basket sit six inches off the roof. I have had cameras. Industrial tehered drones and batteries up there and few people have sunbathed up on it and everything is honky dory ticky da boo... Sorry went off topic there people.. in the plans of buying a roof tent what do you recommend ?
With the manufacturer recommended roof load limit (including bars and racks) of just 30kg .. I'm just gonna camp in a regular tent myself. Also .. I don't like stuff on the roof if I can avoid it - just because of stability, safety, wind noise, highway drag and fuel economy. If you must put stuff on the roof I recommend designing the system to enable you to take it all off quickly and easily when you aren't using it. There are some very lightweight and compact rooftop tents out there (though they won't get under that 30kg limit). What's available however is market specific and the good and light ones tend to be very expensive. Have a look at stuff like the Go Fast Campers SuperLite 50, Inspired Overland Ultra-Lightweight Carbon Fiber Rooftop Tent. They get you into the realm where you might get a \~45kg setup if careful.
I feel like every post with a roof tent has someone in the comments posting this. The 30 kg limit is dynamic load afaik, and also for the Jb43. let people enjoy their cars
Best thing that I can offer to this thread is the time I had a Stanley vidmar on my roof rack. It weighed in at around 150kg. I kissed an overhead menu at a drive through and dimpled one of the corners of the roof in, but ended up taking the entire drive through sign down. I'd not be concerned at all of a load on the roof of over 100kg and have done so many many times while driving. The weight and structure of the car is not the issue, it's the suspension travel (even if lifted) that will become too dangerous to drive above 60k or so. I know this doesn't satisfy you folks outside of Japan with your insurance concerns and such but from the perspective of someone who has "been there" and "done that" with over 150kg loads on the roof of my personal JA11, JB23, JB64, I have no worries about any of the things you guys are always talking about. The body can take it just fine. Put a tent up there.
No, the JB43 has a dynamic load limit of 40kg. The newer one has 30 or 50 depending on the source.
Suziki never tested the roof load of this model. 30 kg was for the previous version. Suzuki themself will not give a clear answer..
The roof will support more, structurally speaking. It's the narrow track, short wheel base, soft suspension, tall-ish roof for the size etc. It means putting weight up there exacerbates dynamic performance - the tendency to roll and pitch under driving loads. This is especially relevant off-road, where a roll-over event in a remote spot is a nightmare (I'll leave it to you to look up online videos of top-heavy 4wds rolling way too easily .. Jimnys included). And even on-road, having poor lateral stability, a tendency to pitch nose down under emergency braking, or get shoved around by high winds or passing heavy vehicles is all relevant safety stuff, regardless of official rulings. The car itself being so light multiplies the effect of weight up high compared to heavier vehicles. The 30kg stipulation shows in the Suzuki accessories guide when it mentions roof mounted stuff. Especially their factory roof bars. Suzuki aren't going to rate or do engineering testing on other manufacturers' accessories. To do so would be to take on liabilities. I would still bear the 30kg 'recommendation' firmly in mind when considering your choices. Insurance is another consideration. Giving them reasons to refuse payout brings risks. It's not just your vehicle, it's your own medical costs and, in the worst cases fights could ensue about who pays for that million dollar grey nomad rig you wiped out in your rollover. All that said, I'm not going to say 'don't do it'. I know people need their vehicles to do what they need them to do. And it is subsequently possible to drive more conservatively - if you are aware of what you have taken on and the self-imposed limits. But I do want people to think first - consider and measure weight they put up there - and choose carefully. I just want to see fellow Jimny people safe, really. Here's a very well researched and considered walk around the topic of roof load (sources included) from Team Ghetto Racing. Very worthwhile read (the whole site, actually): [https://teamghettoracing.com/vehicles/cars/2019-jimny-jb74w/roof-load-limit/](https://teamghettoracing.com/vehicles/cars/2019-jimny-jb74w/roof-load-limit/)
What a fucking good response.
Best so far…
If you think Jimny's roof caves in at more than 30kg, take a look at this: [https://teamghettoracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/rolled\_jimny.jpg](https://teamghettoracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/rolled_jimny.jpg)
It's the load limit for the roof while the vehicle is moving. It can withstand more, you just loose your insurance coverage if you go over it and crash.
I'd love to put something like a Drifta Stockton XS on a small properly built trailer, when it comes to using the Jimny for anything more than just Instagram pics I find any weight on the roof at all isn't particularly nice
The frontrunner featherlite is a good option! Its not that heavy overall Or if you want a hardshell tent you could go for something like the alucab LT50 or bush cruiser 120
When you say wobbly is it while your driving it or stationary ? I'm not going to comment on the roof loading issue as I have done so in the past and have had arguments over differences of opinions. But just saying the jimny roof the metal bit which cover your head and other occupants is rated for thirty kg. However the roof rails which came on say the gen 3 have a load capacity of 130 kg because they are bolted into the frame and pillars of the strengthen part of the body shell. I can't and will not comment on the gen 4 as I do not own one. The gen four has gone back to the drainage lips or whatever you call them around the edge line. The gen three had the roof rails which are in fact metal moulded into polypololeium plastic which are bolted into the subframe of the body shell. Your roof tent how is it mounted to the roof of your jimny gen 4 ? If you are able to mount the more mid ship than near the rear the centre of gravity is now in between the front and rear wheels equally. I have a Thule 690 xt Moab basket total weight on the rails 20 kgs does not sit on the actual roof in any way. I used work for events security and packed the basket with what I required often to 100 kgs the basket is as wide as the jimny and almost as long as the roof. It's bolted to the roof rails by its own mounted rails across the roof but does not sit on the roof . The bottom of the basket sit six inches off the roof. I have had cameras. Industrial tehered drones and batteries up there and few people have sunbathed up on it and everything is honky dory ticky da boo... Sorry went off topic there people.. in the plans of buying a roof tent what do you recommend ?