Roof top tents?

[Clinch]

I’ve been thinking about one of these myself. I like the idea of folding up in a few minutes and being on the road. I figure I can build a frame and mount it on a trailer I have. Then I can load my quad in my truck and pull the trailer, or pull it behind my Bronco. Or build a rack and mount it on my truck bed with room underneath for coolers and such.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[coop2424]

I got one for a good deal and plan on giving it a try. I am still torn if I like the idea or not. For quick 1 nighters with the kids being able to throw it open and bedding and everything is already in it and not having to set anything up really is a plus. When getting the kids out anything to make life easier is worth the money in my mind.

During the season I like staying mobile and not having to unpack the truck. Sleeping in my canopy with gear last year got frustrating at times especially with my 5.5ft bed and being 6’ 5”. Time will tell if I like this or not and worse case I sell it for what I paid.

 

[RedFox67]

I've had a rooftop tent for a couple of years now. We love ours (my wife feel safer higher up). we are side sleepers so we carry inflatable sleeping pads for extra padding. we can only leave two sleeping bags in it when folded up.

If you can find a good deal on one, they are hard to beat. We paid 550$ for ours. A few of my friends have the SmityBuilt versions and they have held up really well. Sites put them on sale for <$700 multiple times a year.

 

[sodaksooner]

Love mine, That said the last elk hunt i took it on the only night I slept in it was in a rest area on the way to CO. We still had the option for a mobile 2nd base camp, but packed in everywhere we went. We have a 12 x 20 Alaknak for base camp.

I left it at home last year. Love it with the Fam and when just camping. I also stick it on a military trailer so I can leave it set up. Super Comfy with the mattress too. No rocks sticking in your back.

 

[Aeast]

Love my cvt, it stays on my tundra 24/7. I use it quite often but it does have its drawbacks, ie. Having to fold it up when you want to move, but it literally takes 2 minutes if you dont have the anex on, so not really a big deal. Most comfortable nights sleep I have while camping.

 

[Wmmichael20]

Keep trying to talk the wife into one and mount it on my roof rack of my jku or on her equinox for quick trips out of town, she keeps saying the kids won't like it and I tell her that's the point lol and mount it on a utility trailer and it seems like a nice light weight option for vehicles that have limited cargo space and or low towing capacity.

 

[Blockcaver]

A fellow that bear hunted with us in N BC had an "ARB Touring" RTT on his Land Rover last week. He really liked it and was set up to go to bed in a few minutes. Same for takedown. Looked good for the hunter moving a lot.

The main drawbacks I'd see besides climbing the ladder would be decreased gas mileage, extra wind noise and potential overhead clearance issues with garages. Otherwise they have some very definite positives!

 

[fmyth]

I have a Smittybilt XL with the annex on a bed rack on my truck. I can set up elk camp in 30 min and tear down and load up in 45 min. I have room in the bed of the truck to carry a 55 gal drum of water so never a worry about running out. I purchased it to use primarily in AZ where we have lots of sharp rocks, scorpions, rattlesnakes and rats. It does suck to climb down the ladder at 3am to pee but at least the annex room makes a nice place for bucket/toilet and my buddy heater. I stayed in my tent most of Sept in CO/WY in the Routt Forrest and in Flagstaff AZ for a December Mule deer hunt. With the Buddy Heater hooked to a 20lb propane tank I kept warm down to 20 deg. I do see a 1 mpg diff with the tent mounted on the truck.

 

[Hucker]

I have a CVT also. Absolutely love it for camping in AZ. I have used it down to 18*. With a down bag and down quilt, I sleep like a baby.

I took the wife and kids on a weeklong Pacific Coast Highway trip, and sleeping on the beach with it was awesome. Climb up the ladder, sit on the edge, and wipe the sand off your feet before bed. No sand in the tent. Try that in a ground tent!

As for the Q about what to do with shoes, there is a "bag" you can get as an accessory that hangs next to the ladder where they hang under the rain fly to dry out/not stink up the tent (if you are one of those).

Pic of camping in the high desert snow:

 

[Berger]

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.

 

[Berger]

Rojo - I’m new to the forum, so just now responding to older post.
i love the short bed Off road trailer w RTT setup.
is that trailer stock at those dimensions or modified, if stock, to you have a trailer model number, I haven’t been able to find a trailer with similar proportions.
regards Berger

 

[RoJo]

Rojo - I’m new to the forum, so just now responding to older post.
i love the short bed Off road trailer w RTT setup.
is that trailer stock at those dimensions or modified, if stock, to you have a trailer model number, I haven’t been able to find a trailer with similar proportions.
regards Berger

Unfortunately, the guy that was building these trailers went out of business years ago. There are companies making off road trailers, but they are all quite expensive as I'm sure you have noticed.

 

[Cutknife]

Couple years ago I purchased an Oztent RV5, absolutely love this tent.

Found out about it on the overland forums, folks who didn’t want to deal the rooftop stuff went the oztent route.

Pops up in 30 seconds.
The floor is bombproof, you can set it up in a creek.
Top notch materials and build quality.

 

[LASTINLINE]

i got the itch to try a RTT and narrowed it down to these 2 hard tops for my suv. Go FAST is made in Montana and weight only 80lbs https://www.ganderoutdoors.com/trus...Vk-DICh06pwTOEAQYASABEgJDlvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds. the Gander one gets good reviews but closer to 200 lbs. https://gofastcampers.com/superlite-roof-tent/

 

[KBC]

What’s with all you guys getting out of the tent to pee at 3:00 am? Isn’t that what big Gatorade bottles are for?