Steel racks, they rust and drip on the roof. Check out Prinsu and @FJtest RTT & awning setup.

Installing an ARB 2.5M awning on a Prinsu roof rack with...

After reviewing a multitude of awning types, styles, sizes and price ranges, I selected the ARB 2.5M X 2.5M. I wanted an awning that would essentially shade the entire side of the vehicle, utilized high quality materials, and has been in production long enough to uncover any inherent design or...

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I hear you. I am a big ARB person (always had great luck with them on all of my previous vehicles) so did some digging on their aluminum base rack and went that way instead. My main question was about the 44 inch wide vs 49 inch wide but since the alloy version of the ARB base rack comes in 51 inch or 45 inch, I went that way. I love the look (and utility) of a full rack so got the 84x51.

 

RTTs and roof racks are great if you have a quick release system…I have a Baja rack which is a PITA to attach, especially if you have large hands.

 

When I installed a Prinsu rack as a mount for a hard-shell RTT, I fabricated 80:20 crossbars that were 52" wide, 2" wider than the "standard" Prinsu crossbars.

I also fabricated low-profile standoff mounts for the rack that allowed it to sit closer to the vehicle roof (1/2" shorter, if I recall).

I just leave the RTT in place all year round, as the low rack height makes it a PITA to access the fasteners that secure the RTT to the rack.

After years of use, I love the aluminum Prinsu rack and the Maggiolina RTT, probably the best mods I have made,

Regarding steel vs aluminum racks, if you are adding the weight of an RTT you want the lightest possible rack to minimize the change in vehicle handling dynamics.

And, even in the year-round dry weather here, almost every welded steel rack I see eventually shows rust.

The aluminum FrontRunner racks are also nice.