I have had the Crows nest for just over 6 months now. My only complaint in the cover bag over the ladder is extremely loose and acts like a big parachute when driving. Did a few tests and got an extra 1.5 to 2km/l depending on speed by making the top flat. Going to have a new cover bag made with the ladder removable. When you driving and see another feldon check it out.
That's a decent saving in fuel eh. Do you keep pillows/sleeping bags in there all the time to keep it bulked out? Makes a big difference to the bag (also what Feldon recommend to avoid fatigue on the hinges) Keen to hear how you go though if you do make the change
Thanks for the video! Do you track fuel economy enough to say the difference between when it was stock, then after roof rack, then after shelter? I know that in the mix you’ve got new wheels and tyres… but any real world info on the fuel economy would be great to know - 11L per 100km real world?
Cheers mate! Stock it was doing ~8L/100. Tyres bumped it up to just over 9. Roof rack bumped it to just over 10. And with the tent it says 11.4L/100. More than happy with that given the weight and stuff
Hardshell ones are way easier to setup and pack away - softshells are lighter and you can keep gear inside I haven’t tried a hardshell (yet) so hard to know - I do love the soft shell though, keeps all the sleeping bags and pillows out of the car
Hey mate, What's your understanding of roof load rating?. I got a fortuner, similar to yours, with the Rhinorack pioneer platform and have put a 23zero 1600 dakota on. And I also have a batwing awning, which I swap in and out on some trips. My understanding is that the fortuner has a total load rating to 70kg. I got this rating from a local Toyota dealer. But I took it with a grain of salt, as I've had no issues with anything caving in on me lol. But from a liability prospective, I am a little worried. Keen to hear your thought on this
Heya - obviously I'm not a lawyer, these are purely my thoughts on the issue. There's no roof rating for the Fortuner, merely the max amount you can carry on their racks (can't remember the exact wording in the manual but it doesn't say anything about the roof, just the luggage carrier. I wish they'd provide a number for the roof but here we are). No normal clamp on roofracks have a super high rating. The rack itself isn't going anywhere, it's got 10 bolts holding it down to the roof and spread out well. The roof can support the weight of the car in an accident, structurally it'll be fine. Worth remembering you've removed 8kg or so from the roof too when you took the factory rails off
Hi, Hey we just purchased a Feldon Crows nest for the Jimny BUT there's no way we can safely remove the tent from the roof. It feels like once we get it past a certain point it will just be way too heavy and just smash into the back door. Not sure what to do. We have decided to keep it on for now and padlock it so it's secure. Tricky. Any advice??
Hey mate - when I take mine off, I get a mate to help so we can just lift it up and walk it back fully off the car before dropping it down. They’re not too heavy with two people
Are you happy with the suspension on your fortuner? What suspension do your recommend for being able to carry weight and have a smooth ride at the same time
Yeah more than happy with it - sits nicely and doesn’t that the bump stops all the time with the weight. Rides a tad rough day to day with no weight, rides well when loaded up. Still feels like a Fortuner though, no getting away from that - it’s a Hilux at heart
hey mate - do you reckon this would fit on an audi station wagon? been eyeing this for a couple months now, but i have a stock-low avant and unsure if it would fit.
Heya - I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Obviously a bit of weight - but I’ve seen them on wagons around the place. As long as you have 75kg roof capacity you should be good
I have had the Crows nest for just over 6 months now. My only complaint in the cover bag over the ladder is extremely loose and acts like a big parachute when driving. Did a few tests and got an extra 1.5 to 2km/l depending on speed by making the top flat. Going to have a new cover bag made with the ladder removable. When you driving and see another feldon check it out.
That's a decent saving in fuel eh. Do you keep pillows/sleeping bags in there all the time to keep it bulked out? Makes a big difference to the bag (also what Feldon recommend to avoid fatigue on the hinges)
Keen to hear how you go though if you do make the change
You doing great keep it up
Thanks for the video! Do you track fuel economy enough to say the difference between when it was stock, then after roof rack, then after shelter? I know that in the mix you’ve got new wheels and tyres… but any real world info on the fuel economy would be great to know - 11L per 100km real world?
Cheers mate! Stock it was doing ~8L/100. Tyres bumped it up to just over 9. Roof rack bumped it to just over 10. And with the tent it says 11.4L/100. More than happy with that given the weight and stuff
What's your thoughts on the new slim line hard cover version? Trying to decide (Wellington - NZ), Cheers
Hardshell ones are way easier to setup and pack away - softshells are lighter and you can keep gear inside
I haven’t tried a hardshell (yet) so hard to know - I do love the soft shell though, keeps all the sleeping bags and pillows out of the car
Whats doing the deed like in the tent?
Depends on your suspension? 😂
Hey mate,
What's your understanding of roof load rating?. I got a fortuner, similar to yours, with the Rhinorack pioneer platform and have put a 23zero 1600 dakota on. And I also have a batwing awning, which I swap in and out on some trips. My understanding is that the fortuner has a total load rating to 70kg. I got this rating from a local Toyota dealer. But I took it with a grain of salt, as I've had no issues with anything caving in on me lol. But from a liability prospective, I am a little worried. Keen to hear your thought on this
Heya - obviously I'm not a lawyer, these are purely my thoughts on the issue. There's no roof rating for the Fortuner, merely the max amount you can carry on their racks (can't remember the exact wording in the manual but it doesn't say anything about the roof, just the luggage carrier. I wish they'd provide a number for the roof but here we are). No normal clamp on roofracks have a super high rating.
The rack itself isn't going anywhere, it's got 10 bolts holding it down to the roof and spread out well. The roof can support the weight of the car in an accident, structurally it'll be fine. Worth remembering you've removed 8kg or so from the roof too when you took the factory rails off
Hi, Hey we just purchased a Feldon Crows nest for the Jimny BUT there's no way we can safely remove the tent from the roof. It feels like once we get it past a certain point it will just be way too heavy and just smash into the back door. Not sure what to do. We have decided to keep it on for now and padlock it so it's secure. Tricky. Any advice??
Hey mate - when I take mine off, I get a mate to help so we can just lift it up and walk it back fully off the car before dropping it down. They’re not too heavy with two people
Are you happy with the suspension on your fortuner? What suspension do your recommend for being able to carry weight and have a smooth ride at the same time
Yeah more than happy with it - sits nicely and doesn’t that the bump stops all the time with the weight. Rides a tad rough day to day with no weight, rides well when loaded up. Still feels like a Fortuner though, no getting away from that - it’s a Hilux at heart
hey mate - do you reckon this would fit on an audi station wagon? been eyeing this for a couple months now, but i have a stock-low avant and unsure if it would fit.
Heya - I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Obviously a bit of weight - but I’ve seen them on wagons around the place. As long as you have 75kg roof capacity you should be good
The big question - what's happening with that one now?
Surly a Feldon hard shell tent ?
I seriously thought about one - most of the hard shells are a little wide for the Fortuner though, doesn't work for me aesthetically 😅