A Pop up camper is great because it folds down into a compact size when not being used.
They are also very versatile and can be used for camping or even as a mobile office.
However, these vehicles come with some drawbacks. For example, they don’t always have room for a car seat or stroller.
Also, they aren’t designed to carry large items such as a boat or kayak. Fortunately, there are ways to add a roof rack to a pop-up camper.
This means you can take advantage of its benefits without compromising on space.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at how to add a roof rack onto a pop-up camper.
Table of Contents
How To Add A Roof Rack To A Pop-Up Camper
You will need:
- A pop up camper
- The right tools
- Some time
Step 1 – Remove The Rear Door Panel
The first thing you’ll want to do is remove the rear door panel.
If your pop-up camper has one, simply lift off the door panel by lifting on the handle located near the bottom of the door.
Otherwise, if your pop-up camper doesn’t have a door panel, just pull off the plastic cover that covers the entire rear end of the camper.
Either way, you should find the door panel easily removable.
Step 2 – Lifting Out The Back Wall
The next step involves removing the back wall of the pop-up camper so you can access the roof rails.
To do this, simply unbolt the two side panels that hold the back wall in place. Once these panels are removed, slide the back wall out of the way.
Step 3 – Removing The Roof Rails
Now comes the fun part. It’s time to remove the roof rails. To start, locate where the roof rail attaches to the roof of the pop-up.
There should be four screws holding the roof rail in place. Simply unscrew each screw and then pull the roof rail free.
Now that the roof rail is free, you’re going to want to remove the bolt that holds the roof in place.
In order to do this, you’ll need to disconnect the battery. Once disconnected, use a small pry bar (or similar tool) to gently push the bolt out of the hole.
Be careful not to damage any of the other parts of the roof assembly.
Once the bolt is out, slide the roof forward and then release the roof from the rest of the roof assembly.
Now that the roof is loose, you can remove the remaining three bolts holding the roof in position.
Step 4 – Replacing The Back Wall
Once the roof is free, replace the back wall of the trailer. Reattach the side walls and then reassemble the pop-up camper.
Step 5 – Driving Away
Finally, drive away! Congratulations, you’ve successfully added a roof rack to your pop-up camper.
Hopefully, this guide helped you learn how to put a roof rack onto a popup camper.
If it did, please share it with others using the social media buttons below. Thanks!
What Is The Weight Limit On Top Of A Pop-Up Camper?
Pop-ups are great because they offer an easy solution for transporting heavy loads.
However, when it comes to carrying more than a few pounds of cargo, they may become too cumbersome to move around.
That’s why many people choose to buy a truck camper instead.
These types of vehicles allow you to carry much heavier loads while still being able to tow behind a vehicle.
However, even though truck campers are capable of carrying much larger weights, they aren’t as portable as pop-ups.
How Much Can I Carry With a Roof Rack On My Pop-Up Camper?
When it comes to loading large amounts of weight into a pop-up camper everything depends on what kind of roof rack you add to the vehicle.
If you plan on adding a roof rack that supports only a single person, you could probably load up to about 200 lbs.
This would include things like skis or snowboards.
If you plan on adding a double axle roof rack, you could probably load between 400 and 500 lbs.
This includes bikes, kayaks, etc.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that if you exceed the maximum capacity of your roof rack, you won’t be able to transport anything else.
So before you go shopping for a new roof rack, make sure that it will support whatever amount of weight you intend to carry.
Things To Consider Before Buying A Pop-Up Camper Roof Rack
Before buying a roof rack, there are several factors that you must consider.
First, make sure that the roof rack you purchase will fit properly on the top of your pop-up camper.
Second, make sure that the height of the roof rack is compatible with the height of your pop-up.
Third, ensure that the roof rack has enough clearance underneath so that you don’t have to worry about hitting the ground when driving down the road.
Fourth, check whether the roof rack is designed to work with all kinds of different roof assemblies.
Fifth, make sure that the size of the roof rack matches the size of your pop-up’s roof.
Sixth, look at the quality of the roof rack. Seventh, determine whether the roof rack is made of steel or aluminum.
Steel is typically stronger than aluminum, but both materials tend to rust over time. Eighth, find out whether the roof rack is adjustable or not.
Adjustable roof racks can help you lift heavy objects without having to remove them from the roof rack.
Ninth, make sure that the manufacturer offers a warranty on their product.
Warranties protect you against any problems that might occur during use.
Tenth, check whether the roof racks come with instructions. Instructions will tell you how to install the roof rack correctly.
Lastly, check whether the manufacturer offers installation videos.
Installation videos will show you exactly how to attach the roof rack to your pop-up camper.
Final Thoughts
Roof racks are an essential part of transporting heavy items.
However, they’re also one of the more expensive accessories that you can get for your pop-up camper.
This means that you need to shop around carefully before making a final decision.
Also, make sure that you choose a roof rack that will work well with your particular pop-up camper because there are many different types of roof racks available.
Thanks for reading!
