From Swag to Rooftop Tent: Why the Alu-Cab LT-50 Tops My Jimny

1. The Swag Was Great…Until It Wasn’t

I’ve rolled out a swag in everything from coastal sand to Scottish peat bogs. It’s bomb-proof, but after a 900-mile winter tour I finally admitted the downsides:

• Condensation & mud – In sustained rain the swag’s PVC floor turns into a slip-n-slide that follows me into the Jimny.

• Pack volume – A rolled swag plus mattress eats half the cargo bay; not ideal when jerry cans and recovery boards are already fighting for space.

• Setup time – After a 12-hour driving day, crawling around pegging a swag is the last thing my lower back wants.

2. Jimny Roof-Load Maths: Why “Lightweight” Matters

The JB74 owner’s manual quotes a dynamic roof load of 30 kg; some markets list 50 kg, but anything over that is flirting with insurance-void territory. teamghettoracing.comGeordie Jimny – Suzuki Jimny Camper

With my Rhino platform (14 kg) installed, I had roughly 35 kg to play with—so every kilogram mattered when shopping RTTs.

2.1 Factory limits vs real-world practice

Plenty of owners run 60 kg tents without dramas, but they also trim speed and air up their rear springs. I’d rather stay beneath the conservative figure wherever possible.

3. Why I Chose a Rooftop Tent Over Upgrading the Swag

1. 30-second deployment – Flick two latches, let the gas struts work. Bed’s made, kettle’s on.

2. Off-ground comfort – No more burrowing roos or soggy groundsheet; I’m 1.2 m off the mud.

3. Interior space reclaimed – Bedding lives inside the tent, freeing the Jimny for tools, spares and camera kits.

4. All-weather habitability – With roof and rain-fly up I can sit up, read and cook on the tailgate in filthy weather.

4. Why Specifically the Alu-Cab LT-50?

4.1 True weight on the scales

• Tent-only: 46 kg; with mattress: 50.5 kg Alu-Cab GlobalTiny Rig Co.

• That leaves me at ≈64 kg total (platform + tent)—just inside the Swiss-quoted 50 kg limit only once I slow down on rough tracks.

4.2 One-hand, 30-second deployment

The LT-50 is a wedge-style clam: pop two latches, push and the gas struts lift the rear to 1.45 m. Closing is just as quick, even solo in a head-wind.

4.3 Weather, insulation and three-door access

The 172 mm-thin aluminium shell is foam-insulated, dead quiet in hail and has doors on both long sides plus the tail—ideal for the Jimny’s passenger-side awning setup.

Other perks:

• Low profile = less drag (and less asking from that 1.5 litre petrol).

• Internal roof rails let me bolt in a 12 V fan and LED strip without drilling.

• Local dealer support in the UK if I mangle a latch mid-trip.

5. Alternatives I Considered (and Rejected)

6. The Setup: Rack, Brackets and Total Roof Mass

• Rhino Rack Pioneer 5-slat platform – 14 kg

• Alu-Cab universal brackets – 4 kg

• Alu-Cab LT-50 (with mattress) – 50.5 kg

Total: ~68.5 kg static / ~64 kg dynamic (after ditching two slats). I’m ~14 kg over the book limit, so I cap speed at 65 mph, run firmer rear springs and check rack bolts every service.

7. Key Take-aways

1. Comfort & speed – Rooftop tent wins on setup, pack-down and poor-weather comfort.

2. Weight is king on a Jimny – At 46 kg the LT-50 is the lightest hard-shell I could source with proper insulation.

3. Future-proof – It’ll bolt straight onto the planned tow-rig when the Jimny becomes trail-only.

4. Roof-load discipline – Stay mindful of limits, drive accordingly and the tent becomes an asset, not a liability.

Swag memories will always be part of the adventure—but with the LT-50 popped and the brew on in under a minute, I’m not going back. See you on the roof!