Roof top tents?

[dtrkyman]

Anyone have one?

Sick of having to empty all my stuff out of the back of my grand cherokee every night.

 

[MuleyFever]

I have no experience but I am curious why one would want a rooftop tent. To me a regular tent would be much more versatile and you would not have that thing stuck to the top of your vehicle.

 

[Chucklehead]

I got one last year. It's great in some situations and just ok in others.
Like you said, it's very nice not having to off load all your gear every time you want to spend the night at the vehicle. And it's way more comfortable than sleeping awkwardly inside my truck topper.
The only time I would prefer sleeping inside the vehicle would be in higher winds.

 

[Chucklehead]

I have no experience but I am curious why one would want a rooftop tent. To me a regular tent would be much more versatile and you would not have that thing stuck to the top of your vehicle.

Ever have to sleep in a parking lot or rest area? That's one big one. You can set it up anywhere. And setup time is only a couple minutes.
Shear comfort is a another one. No comparison to a regular tent. It makes a very quick setup/comfortable base camp.
It's definitely a luxury item though.

 

[RoJo]

I have one and love it when I am planning a vehicle-accessible base camp, but I put it on my off-road trailer. That works much better because it can stay in camp and my truck is free to use during the day.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I've though long and hard about these a couple times.
But always get hung up on what to do with muddy boots and getting up at night and having to climb down

 

[Chucklehead]

I've though long and hard about these a couple times.
But always get hung up on what to do with muddy boots and getting up at night and having to climb down

I got an annex that covers the tent entrance, so you can just take them off and climb on up.
If I don't have the annex on, I just use a pair of crocs and throw the boots in the truck.

 

[Magnum61]

Look up a local Over landing club. I was Eye balls deep into that in PDX and was In the first dozen or so to do the entire WA BDR trail in one trip.

They will have all of the details and you’ll probably find a lot of help to save money and to install it and some other ideas correctly, to your wants.

Happy to help with that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mike 338]

Seems to me you'd have to offload most of your stuff anyway. That's why you brought it.

 

[20DYNAMITE07]

dtrkyman... check out Expedition Portal. It is an Overlanding (vehicle based expedition/camping) website and forum. You'll learn everything you'd ever want to know about RTT's... and you may also find a new hobby while you're at it...

https://expeditionportal.com/

 

[alwayslookingwest]

Personally I think they are AMAZING, given the correct application. I use mine for fly fishing weekends in the mountains, general camping, and while I haven’t been on a big hunting trip with it yet I am headed to Yellowstone and surrounding areas with it in June for 18 days.

It’s super comfortable and my particular “tent” sets up in 30 seconds or less. Comes down I’m not much more.

On a camper shell gives you the best of all worlds. And while it may not be quite as versatile as a ground tent it’s soooo much more comfortable and your up off the ground away from snakes and any other critters you don’t want at eye level.

Plus camping is fun...

Full disclosure this is just a fun vehicle for me not a daily driver. If that was the case a tent in your roof might not be ideal. Though you do still see it...

-ALW

 

[Chucklehead]

Seems to me you'd have to offload most of your stuff anyway. That's why you brought it.

Why would you offload coolers before you kill something? Or after you got them loaded up with meat? Plus I have vehicle recovery gear that I hopefully will never use. lol
And personally I don't like leaving that stuff lying around waiting for the wrong kind of person to wonder by...

 

[aion2come]

Check out Pope Overland Expeditions HERE. They rent, which is great if you want to try one out without a long term commitment.

 

[dtrkyman]

I like the convenience of it for those questioning, been hunting javelina and it took me days to find any sign, so I was driving and camping in different areas every day.

Some scum bags stole my cooler in Jan. on a deer hunt in Az. so I haven't been leaving anything at a "base" camp since.

It would be on a daily driver but would think it is not too much hassle to remove?

 

[dtrkyman]

dtrkyman... check out Expedition Portal. It is an Overlanding (vehicle based expedition/camping) website and forum. You'll learn everything you'd ever want to know about RTT's... and you may also find a new hobby while you're at it...

https://expeditionportal.com/

That site may cost me some money!!!

 

[Chucklehead]

I like the convenience of it for those questioning, been hunting javelina and it took me days to find any sign, so I was driving and camping in different areas every day.

Some scum bags stole my cooler in Jan. on a deer hunt in Az. so I haven't been leaving anything at a "base" camp since.

It would be on a daily driver but would think it is not too much hassle to remove?

Bummer about the cooler. Sadly, you just can't trust everybody these days.
As far as removal; It depends on which one you get. I think mine weighs in at like 100 lbs or something. Two guys can handle it. I have access to a skid steer so I don't have to worry about it.
But if I didn't, I'd rig up a ceiling pulley system in your garage. That'd maybe work for storage and removal if you plan it out right and if you got decent headroom in your garage.

 

[MattB]

I've never understood the rooftop tent thing, seems easier to pitch a normal tent next to your vehicle. And midnight pisses aren't potentially fatal. ;-)

 

[Graves14]

We used one for 3 months on a road trip across the west this summer. It was exceptionally comfortable, completely waterproof, allowed us to pitch on literally any surface I could drive on, and you’re able to leave all of your bedding on the memory foam mattress. I wasn’t sure I’d like it but after 100+ nights in it, I’ll never take it off my truck.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

They seem great for expedition type travel where you’re staying in a different location every night, including just parking on the side of the road.

I don’t see the allure for “base camp” type hunting, as there is setup/takedown involved every time you want to move the vehicle and several other disadvantages.

 

[Sportsman]

I've never understood the rooftop tent thing, seems easier to pitch a normal tent next to your vehicle. And midnight pisses aren't potentially fatal. ;-)

I don't have one yet but camping in AZ desert, there is definite value in being off the ground from rocks to scorpions to snakes. Mostly rocks.

All depends on where you are camping.