iKamper RTT over R1T Bed -- how do you tighten the front mounts? SOLVED: HEX Sockets

[w0ger]

Hey guys --

I just got my Rivian branded iKamper SkyCamp Mini 3.0 roof top tent. In the process of mounting on Rivian cross bars above the bed. There isn't enough room between the mount and cab to fit the included hex tool. All my hex wrenches are too short. What did y'all use to tighten the front mounts?

Thanks.

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[VSG]

I bought mine long ago directly from iKamper and they used a long-reach hex bit with an electric drill to install it. As you discovered, the long tool provided with the tent is useless for the front mounting brackets.

Since then, I keep the tent attached to my cross bars and remove the tent/crossbars as a unit when I take the tent off the bed. This makes mounting/unmounting a 10 minute job, without having to worry about alignment or re-tightening. I occasionally check the mounts when the tent/crossbars are off the truck, to make sure the attachment is still tight.

 

[w0ger]

Thanks @VSG

I ended up buying some HEX Sockets and was able to use a ratchet with some extenders to get in there.

Thanks for validating my plan of just leaving it attached to the Rivian crossbars.

Happy adventuring!

 

[Scottm]

I’m able to tighten the front mounts with the long hex bit and handle they provided with the tent. It extends just out past the rear of the tent so I can manually crank it down. Did you not get that long bit?

 

[VSG]

@Scottm Did you install your tent backwards?

 

[Scottm]

@Scottm Did you install your tent backwards?

Well since it works I don’t think it’s backwards!

My tent opens to the right side on the truck so I’m not sure if that’s backwards or forwards but it’s the orientation I prefer. My memory is rusty but I thought you could slide those clamps through the channels in either orientation, so I chose the orientation that I could access from the tailgate with the long hex bit, but maybe I’m remembering wrong.

edit: see the 4:14 mark of this video:

 

[JacobAZ]

In the end, I purchased a 12", 5mm (I think that's the size) hex wrench and cut it down to about 10". Long enough but not too long to tighten the front hex bolts in the bracket and long enough for the back bracket bolts. But first attempt was to use the 1 meter wrench iKamper provides, by turning the front clamps around so the hex head faced the back of the tent. This worked but was very difficult taking well over a half hour just to tighten the clamps. I contacted iKamper asking if in the future they could include a 10" hex wrench for the Rivian version of the tent. Their response was they have no problem using the 1 meter wrench ... implication, it must be a user problem.

 

[Scottm]

In the end, I purchased a 12", 5mm (I think that's the size) hex wrench and cut it down to about 10". Long enough but not too long to tighten the front hex bolts in the bracket and long enough for the back bracket bolts. But first attempt was to use the 1 meter wrench iKamper provides, by turning the front clamps around so the hex head faced the back of the tent. This worked but was very difficult taking well over a half hour just to tighten the clamps. I contacted iKamper asking if in the future they could include a 10" hex wrench for the Rivian version of the tent. Their response was they have no problem using the 1 meter wrench ... implication, it must be a user problem.

Yeah I started using my drill once I got the bit engaged. It’s a little tricky to get it docked in the front mounts but once you’ve done it a few times it’s much easier. Then the drill tightens it down in a few seconds. I switch over to the manual tightener they included right at the end so I don’t over-tighten.

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