5 Reasons Rooftop Tents Suck 

Been loving your videos. I have a 2007 FJ Cruiser that I've been slowly (very slowly) modding for the last 7 years. I opted out of the roof top tent because: 1. It's big, heavy, and takes up way too much storage space. FJ's need all the room you can get and I use the roof rack to fit big bulky items I can't fit in the cab 2. I have 2 large dogs and there's no way I'm getting them up or down from there 3. Getting in/out of the ground tent is just easier...especially if you have to wake up at 3 AM to go pee 4. They're not super roomy I went with the Gazelle T4 Hub tent instead that solves those problems for me. Setup takes 3-5 minutes by yourself if you're not rushing it and if there isn't any wind/rain. If weather is really bad, it's also big enough to fit 6 people inside to hide from the elements. Thanks for all the content! Been going through your other vids :)

appreciate you playing Devil's Advocate. Still trying to decide between roof tent and stealth sleeper with seat delete. This helped me gain some perspective.

We use a Napier truck bed tent, we just got back for an overnight and my wife finally said, “let’s get a RTT” lol. We understand the downsides but for us we don’t ground camp in AZ due to the critters in the desert. So we are just tired of unloading the truck bed, putting up the tent, unpacking the totes, etc. A RTT depending on the model can save space too because you can keep your bedding in it. We are just trying to figure out what model to go with (buy once, cry once lol).

The air out thing was a good thing to know! Thanks!

Daily drivers are unique with the RTT, but you can also pack a ground tent and take it with you on your RTT trip and use one or the other depending on your itinerary. You can also mount your RTT to a small trailer and have a micro version of a “pop-up” system that gives you mobility and convenience to go where you want, when you want.

These are some good things I haven't seen anyone list! Great vid

Here are some of the pros. If camping in the cold, RTT is much more comfortable compared to ground tent with respect to insulation, I personally experienced this on 25 F night. If you are a city guy like me and just getting into exploring the wilderness, the first thing you would probably try is ground tent camping in a developed campgrounds to get a feeling of safety from small critters or even bears. I stuck to developed campgrounds for many years for this reason. Got an RTT during COVID and tried camping in remote places (National forest and BLM lands) and after couple of nights me and family overcame the fear of being alone in the dark in a forest, animal sounds, crawlers etc. The RTT gave us a sense of safely and we could sleep peacefully. Now we seek out remote places during our travels and switch between RTT(in bear territory) or ground tent camping because of some of the reasons you mentioned (daily setup/takedown time & mobility). I tested gas mileage on three 2K mile road trips and found that I got better gas mileage with RTT by driving about 5MPH slower than I normally would without RTT. For us RTT was (and in certain situations still is) a phase that we had to go through to better experience the outdoors.

Thanks for your thoughts. Will driving desert tracks for a month and wanted to be off the ground. Snakes, centipedes, scorpions etc.

You’ve covered some very interesting points here ! 👍

1-min set up for The WoodsBuilt Sequoia roof top tent. :) Love it!

how did you mount roof top tent to tube rail on roof of FJ Cruiser?

You make some good - valid points. Thank you for the advice. This will help me decide whether I need to bring my ground tent or the RTT.

Someday maybe you’ll mount it on top of a utility camping trailer. That will make the whole experience much more enjoyable. We have a Crua Aer Maxx tent. Amazing and comfortable.

After having the tradition clam shell roof top tent and now a hard shell roof top.. id never go back to swags or a ground tent. However the hard shell is quick n easier than the old bulky canvas clam shell. Pouring rain - animals raiding the camp sites, i love being above it all

Im getting a rooftop because: I never stay 2 nights in the same spot. Tents, blowups, pillows, sheets, take up 1/3 of my storage space inside my jeep.. you can keep all of that inside a harshell. I’m getting a tent that takes less than 5 min to setup.. that’s the only kind I’m interested in

Hi what’s the weight limit of your roof rack

Good points👍

There are cons of course but I love RTT for the simple fact that I can sleep elevated, away from bugs, animals and all those elements. Ground tents gross me out for some reason. RTT is the best.

We have TentBox Lite 2.0 ❤ It takes less than 4 minutes to deploy or pack. What’s the problem? (Loved the video, you’re absolutely right to highlight these points but they all have, arguably a counter upside to the argument too).

I came into watching this video debating my plan. I have a small utility trailer that I intend to put a rack on for boats, with a quad underneath. Can fit through my gate in my backyard to air out, can be detached from my vehicle to go to the store etc, only drawback would be if I ever wanna take it off the trailer. I think I'll buy one. Tow it with the quad where trucks can't go

Man- that’s a fantastic looking FJ. Nice work.

Yeah. The fact that you're grounded at camp unless you pack your RTT up first is the main reason I'm still trying to convince myself to buy one. You hit the nail on the head when you said "in an emergency".

Another potential con with RTTs is when you pull up at a river, lake or beach area, but can't get your vehicle to the ideal camp spots for various reasons. You can just carry your ground tent in, but then the offset is having to lug extra gear from your car (cooking etc). Life is always swings and roundabouts.

I think a hard shell RTT would save so much time setting up/tearing down. I currently have a soft RTT from 23zero. Used it for 30 days + so far and love it but it is getting old with the setup/tear down. Currently looking at hard shell like Armadillo or going all out to James Baroud.

Most of those points only apply for tents that aren't hardshells.. A James Baroud pops up within seconds and is taken down within 1-2 minutes if you have some experience. Plus you can ride with them open if you're just moving to a spot close by..

Light weight, hardshell takes less than 2 minutes to setup and pack up. There light weight to take off if you want to do that. We usually use a 270 awning (also fast to pack up) if ya wanna use the car. Most the time we have dirt bikes to explore with anyway but just incase its fast. As for the campsite, we use a huge market gazebo so the site is still there to come back to anyhow 👍🏾👌🏽

Very Fine points u brought up.With 3 Pets & such.i wanna go to the grocery & not be encumbered

"Roof tents such, but I still like them. Here's my counter-psychological sales pitch I got paid for."

I pull a larger fishing boat so the rooftop is nice for this purpose.

I have camping set up for the inside of my Fj. just never could do the roof top tents. to hard to put on and I always felt like my Fj was going to tip over lol😂

Love me Roam Vagabond Lite RTT. Taking my time. It takes 8 minutes to set up completly. 12 minutes to put it away. I was used to survival camping. 2 person ground tent. Sleeping on the ground. With my RTT. Im feel like its a huge step up. I never slept better in the wilderness. Some points are invalid. You said if you have to leave. You cant cause your tent is set up. But if your ground camping the same applies. Its actually quicker with the RTT. Throw everything in trunk and put tent down and go. 12 minutes plus time to throw stuff in trunk. Ground camping takes me forever to take apart and put away poles. Also who leaves all their camping stuff unattended to driving around? My 2 person ground tent cost hundreds of dollars. Im not leaving that there. Plus the sleeping bag. Insulation pad. Gear. Thats over $1000. Who leaves that there to drive around? I feel like these people are just making up excuses to hate on RTT's. If you dont like them. Cool. Dont get one. But dont make up scenarios that dont make sense. I love mine. Only con is that I dont get to use it in the summer due to tropical heat.

I drive around first and have my fun with my truck before I set up camp…… once I set up camp it’s to eat, relax, and sleep….. that’s why I get the quick cam shell type of tent…. I don’t need a fancy one that opens up at the side and has extra room. I don’t need all that……. 2 each their own.

We used these a lot in SA, and it's nice when bush camping because of animals, but in almost all other cases they're crap. They're heavy, draggy, obvious, and if you stay in a spot for more than one day, you have to pack it up every time.

Checkout Quechua Van 500, it's an inflatable RTT from Decathlon. I didn't test it but I believe it could be setup on the ground too.

Degree with taking in and out, is a really pain in the ass and you need at least 2-3 persons.

Do as I do: put a hardshell rooftop tent on your lightweight yet tough Alu-Star Camper trailer. Tow it with a Suzuki Jimny 5-dr GLX AT.

...oh man...love my RTT! lol

I never got the pt of a rooftop tent, other than they are cool, since every animal worth fearing can either knock the vehicle over or climb up there.

I love my alucab tent. But it is a clamshell hard top. I don’t like the tent ones. My rrt takes about 2 minutes to completely set up. Look into alucab rtt.

Also forgot that the fabric ones wear out

The main reason I don't want one is because once you setup the tent ....you're not moving your vehicle unless you pack the tent up. This is a problem for having a Basecamp. I want to unload and just go out and explore in my truck....and come back to my tent. Not set it up again.

Sounds like you need to go glamping dude😊

one question of many, after you are going to sleep the probability to have an emergency is down to 0? the solution to all of your problems is a camper :)

You forgot that they’re expensive!

Another disadvantage (at least here in europe) is that it limits your max speed from 130 to 110.

Ive seen guys drifting with their tents open 🤣🤣🤣

Agree 100%!!! Great vid as always!

I have a motorcycle tent that makes out into the Yaj Mahal in 20 minutes, by myself. I think it is superior to any roof top tent because I can unhook, put on a security lock and leave, so Ihave that emergency mobility you discussed.

I work at shows/events/or as you yanks say canies and got sick of sleeping in a swag on the side of a freeway under a tarp , I just got a rooftop tent as sleeping with my co workers is like sleeping near Viking reenactor's drinking and yes some are , I have not put the roof top tent on my ute but having the distance from a group of ANZAC reenactors when they start drinking with the yanks who bring out a bango and the miniature players who want to let lose ,yer I want to be away from them so I can start work at 4 am

That SUV is so cool what brand is it? It's not a European model.

nice. just setup. Looks great. ready to cook dinner...let's pop open a. brew.. oh wait ... where is the beer???forgot to buy the beer. wtf.. let's tear down. and get the beer. sucks

Also your roof space is permanently in use. No putting a kayak up top.

All I'm hearing is why YOUR RTT sucks, most of these points are completely and entirely inaccurate. My RTT is up in 1min, only weighs 50kg, barely added any fuel to my consumption, needs airing out just like any other sleeping device.

Could take 10 minutes to set up! I’ve got a camper trailer. Takes a couple of hours to set up. 20 minute pack up! You’re just winging about nothing.

they are super expensive for what they are. Like, come on, they ask way too much for simple tech, they dont even try to innovate. I would happily pay 1500 usd for a good rtt if they offered something that justifies the price, but most rtt are basically the same.

Ground tents suck! RTT's are the ONLY way I can get my wife or kids to go overlanding. Without that on, I'm going solo. Plus the grizzlies are more likely to bite my feet instead of my head lol

You are using the most complicated RTT. It takes mi 10 seconds to open it and a minute to close it.

you are giving confusing ideas Bro…u like it u don’t well people would know that and that being said people have different patience and understanding…get over it…

What's wrong with walking around? Everything is focused on wanting to drive around.

New James Baroud Odyssey is a disgrace. I regret so much buying that overrate crap 😢

Sounds to me like the "I want it now" generation maybe a little whinny... 🤣

I really dont like RRT's they are so over rated imo. Id rather have a 270° awning with walls.

These are some major first world problem you are discussing here…..if you can deal with the smaller size hard shell tents solve a lot of the issues you mention

Thank's, you had saved my money.

Top Heavy Tent one woman lost 5mpg

Buy iKamper 😂

Sounds like you bought the wrong tent

Sleep in the car!

Why a video with your sun glasses on?

Clam shell!!!

Bundutop.

Your reasoning is horrible.

Bullshit