This Camping Craze Needs to STOP! 

$3000+ for a rooftop tent? Makes those $700+ dyneema trekking pole tents seem downright affordable.😂

Honestly, I'd sooner throw an airup mattress in the back of a 4runner or truck with a camper shell than get a rooftop tent for my jeep.

I had one for a while and sold it. My biggest complaint was once setup my truck was stuck in place unless I packed it all back up. No exploring during the day.

1. Speed and Ease of setup/tear down 2. Mattress, sheets, blankets, pillows can remain in the tent when collapsed on most models, meaning less to pack and unpack 3. Because it's mounted on the vehicle, it doesn't take up space inside the car I think they are ideal for people who are traveling long distances and want to be able to drive, then go right to sleep without the setup/teardown or need to reserve a true camp site. They aren't ideal for people going on true camping trips, but better for those going on hunting, fishing, road tripping, or overlanding excursions who need a quick and easy place to spend the night. I think they are overrated for most people but fill an important niche for those who fit this description. That said, for the several thousand dollars most of these setups cost, I'd rather just sleep inside my SUV.

I can sort of understand the appeal of that style of camping. You do not have to worry about finding a spot (though you do need to find a spot to park your vehicle that is kind of level), you are raised up from the animal life (though a bear will have no problems reaching you), and that is really about it. Down sides are it is heavy, decreases fuel mileage (weight and wind resistance in particular), they can be a pain in the rear to set up on the taller vehicles, you have to climb a ladder over and over again, they are limited in size, and they are very expensive some of them.

Rain is the big one for me. I have no place to dry a rooftop tent without either removing it or putting the vehicle out of commission while letting it dry.

I’ve put a lot thought into this subject. My conclusions are. There is no one best solution. All camping set ups have their pros and cons. Whether it’s price, weight, hassle, safety, fuel efficiency etc.. One person’s gripes are another one’s non issue. That being said, you gotta be going camping every weekend to justify putting a semi permanent tent on your roof.

I hired a Jimny with a roof tent to go around Iceland with my wife. We absolutely loved it, so got one for my Hilux here in Borneo. Unlike the Jimny's ultra-quick pop-up hard-shell design, I got a larger, more complicated flip-over thing - which I came to hate! Too much hassle, especially when alone, as it really needed 2 people to put it away. I bit the bullet and bought a hard-shell pop-up type, and we love it like the Jimny again. Never going back to normal tents. For hiking I use a hammock.

Isn’t this craze more for overlanders and not people going to normal campgrounds?

0:32 “when I’m out camping, [electric] power is my biggest need” - words never uttered by John Muir😂😂

They're actually amazing. I recently converted my pavement princess into a dedicated mall crawler and it really gave my rig the look I was going for.

I spent $6,000 on a fiberglass snugtop. It has carpet, double thick roof, hinged side and front windows, paint color matched, usb ports, lighting, roof rack. Always ready for sleeping. no set up or breakdown needed. 400 pounds.

The weight is NOT a non-factor for rooftop tents. Most roof racks are only rated for a few hundred pounds (usually around 200lbs). You have to be very careful you don't exceed that or you could damage your vehicle. Not to mention the extra damage if you get in a crash from an improperly secured one, and your insurance is likely to use that as an argument against paying out the policy (especially if the tent is over the weight rating...). Explore Southwest did basically this exact same video a few years ago, I recommend checking that one out too.

A cot tent like a camp-rite is a great alternative to both a tent and a roof top tent. Off the ground, stays there during day trips and super light and fast set up.

This is something I'd use while hunting in swampy area.

I spent 30 dollars to turn my truck bed into an awesome tent. Better than any rooftop tent. PVC pipe, good quality tarp, some plastic clamps, and a big roll of bug netting. Our air pads are a perfect fit too

Hi Steven, We use an RTT frequently, as in Germany, it is the only way to legally spend a night outdoors. You are not allowed to wild-camp, even not to bivouac in most states, outside of official camping sites, that is. RTTs are in the grey zone, so overnight stays are not illegal. My better half prefers them to a tent, so ours is in frequent use. It extends our outdoor portfolio, saves a lot of accommodation costs, but everyone as they please.

We have a truck bed tent, which is kind of a happy medium. Inexpensive. Sets up in about 5 minutes. Gets us off the ground. With a homemade platform in the truck bed, we’re able to use a memory foam mattress and still have storage for gear. No change in gas mileage from normal truck use. The hard part is that for campgrounds we never can get a consistent answer as to whether or not it can be considered OK for the sites without power or water (aka rustic), since we don’t need the power or water but some places don’t like vehicles in their rustic locations and they don’t seem to like camping in their parking locations…so we sometimes end up having to pay the higher rate for power/water sites. For boon-docking, though, it’s hard to beat.

1) Enables parallel parking in inner cities during journeys, where larger mobile homes or caravans may not fit or be allowed to park. 2) Unless you drive a raised pickup truck, a car with a rooftop tent would be low enough to fit inside some parking garages. 3) Depending on the country, some mobile homes or caravans may require expanded driver licenses to be driven legally on public roads. A car equipped with a rooftop tent wouldn't. This camping solution was intended for people who alternate between traditional nature camping and inner-city exploration. Whereas a hiker or mobile home owner may rely in part on private or public transportation options, or their own pair of feet to get from their campsite to the inner cities, a rooftop tent effectively creates no such dependencies.

As a roof top tent owner for over 7 years, what I can say about them is they have a specific purpose. Many people who have them, don't use them for the specific purpose they're built for and would likely be fine in a ground tent or hammock, but they want to look cool. The specific purpose is speed, space and reliability when being remote for several days. On trips like that, you are setting up and tearing down camp every morning and night, so being able to save time means you don't need as much prep time to setup or get going, which can be really beneficial when you arrive late to camp and need to sleep. Space is also a big one, for many we carry fridges and food and chairs and supplies for several days away from civilization, so by getting our tent out of the vehicle, we free up space. And if the tent can use cross bars, we gain back space again. Sure, we lose MPG, but that was already a losing game for us because of bigger tires, lifts and payloads, so in the grand scheme, the rooftop tent doesn't matter much. And finally, reliability. We are often in hard weather conditions, bad rain, snow, wind, and we don’t necessarily have a choice to pack up and go home sometimes, so we have to tough it out, and especially these hard shells like the one you tested (and I’ve owned for 3 years) hold up to the worst of the weather you can throw at it while keeping you warm and dry. And they can take a beating from branches and trees on the trail. (obviously hike in campers have to deal with this too, but from the same perspective, the ones who spend big are the ones who want something that can weather the elements better than the others.) The honest truth is that if you aren’t using your setup for point to point travel like this more than 50% of the time you use it, yeah, you could definitely save a bunch of money and use a ground or hammock tent. But if this is what you do, the comfort, speed, and reliability gained is unparalleled. BTW, this is not just to justify my purchase, I totally want to get a nice light ground tent soon to start doing some hike in camping too, and a rooftop tent can’t get that job done at all.

In Australia these are used quite often as we do a lot of touring across our country and especially for the people that don't necessarily expect to stay in one spot for more than a night while traveling huge distances or tow a caravan, these are absolutely perfect. Another thing that would be perfect for a review is the swag, especially as its kinda the poor mans roof top tent over here as you can just roll out and you're good to go

I have Gazelle tent and later bought Gazelle screen room. I have over 80 nights in tent. Set up is about 5 minutes. It pops open. Sturdy, does great even during Sierra storms. Screen room easily fits over picnic table. Necessary when besieged by mosquitoes or yellow jackets. In a pinch could work as a tent. Just a great, easy and reliable set-up for quick or long trip. Not affiliated w company--but wanted offer quick set up alternative to rooftop.

I had one for a few years, most expensive mistake I’ve ever made. You nailed most the points, the up high is nice for a view but animals aren’t a worry in the uk and bathroom breaks at night are a pain, also having to change position of the car is a pain having to put it up and down. I lost 10mpg on fuel with mine. The other big issue in the uk is with it being high up you can’t get shelter from the wind which is 90% of the days. When people ask me the only real pro’s I had were not having to find flat ground or rocks and it’s comfier. I can see why people buy them though, a very cool looking bit of kit and the idea is great, looks great in social media life. Personal got rid of mine and just summit camp on the top of the mountains now 👍🏻

Roof top tents make a lot more sense for true over landing. You’re not in campsites so you’re less likely to have a good area to pitch a tent. Water and mudd are more likely to be an issue so again, off the ground makes sense. Having the hard shell makes sense in high winds or harder rain…. All that being said 99.9% of those using it today are staying at camp grounds or designated spots in wildlands/national forests negating the need for most of this. Just spent two weeks in Iceland and with the high winds the only people that were truly protected were sleeping in their cars, vans, or hard sided campers. The real reason to have a roof top tent? Status symbol.

Being on the ground is part of the fun of camping & backpacking! Also, I just came back from a wonderful trip to Yellowstone. These pop ups are not allowed in the campgrounds frequented by Grizzlies; only camping in hard sided vehicles allowed.

I've never used a rooftop tent, but it seems like a really good option for one or at most two people who usually arrive at the camp, stay the night and then move on. If you go to one place stay for an extended time and then return home a trailer or ordinary tent is better IMO.

they probably shine a little more in the spring,fall and winter when the ground can be muddy or snowy. my solution is to just roll in a Yukon xl and sleep in the back though.

The Oztent actually sets up in under 1 minute and that is for my RV3, a 3 person ground tent. The top heaviness of the RTT also effects your vehicle stability on and off road. Ask anyone who has a Toyota and has gone down Black Bear Pass with a RTT. Don't forget the price of the roof rack that you have to install just to transport the RTT.

I looked at roof-top tents and the biggest downside for me was having to put it away if I needed to go someplace with my truck. I may eventually get a trailer, which can stay at a campsite, but for now my body can still handle a tent (with a really good mattress)

While many great points are made, I'd say anything that gets people out and exploring nature is a great thing in my book!

My biggest draw for a rooftop tent is that it enables sleeping in whatever footprint you can fit your rig. Crappy gravel forest service road with no tent suitable sites?.... not a problem. But this is also why I just sleep in the truck bed.

When I camp alone I use DeepSleep and it’s perfect inside Bronco. When I bring my 2 large dogs, I take 80lbs Inspired Overland RTT and don’t need a ladder and it’s great.

Fast, weather-proof setup in the rain is the primary reason for an RTT for me. We can arrive and pitch a completely dry tent in 30 seconds, like a replacement for a hotel. Shoutout to the Roofnest Flock.

The funny thing is, I see so many 50+ Seniors with these things.. I bet they’re having a blast climbing up and down all the time..

Good points, exactly why I went with the Gazelle tents which are cheaper, bigger, faster to setup, and less cumbersome to use.

I camped all over eastern Canada in a rooftop tent from Canadian Tire bolted on to a Maverick back in '68. At that time, it was cheap. I would highly recommend it.

Love our roof top tent (iKamper Skycamp mini). It's on our Taxa Woolly Bear so it functions as a basecamp - easy day trips with the car once everything is set uo. Small enough for 1 person to wrangle, simple to level, and great sleep.

I just enjoy seeing the people who drive around town with them on their rig 365 days a year.

Rooftop tents are: - Trendy - "Cool" - Instagrammable - Good for car ads - A status symbol For all these reasons (and more I can't think of as of now) I doubt we'll see less of those any time soon.

Interestingly last year hiking the W Trek in Patagonia we saw RTT's set up on elevated platforms at the Refugios as preset rental tents...

I love the gas comparison!! I've watched a fair amount of @TFLtruck (The Fast Lane) about their pickup truck comparisons for towing RVs, and they do a very similar Controlled experiment, doing the exact same route and tracking miles per gallon based on e.g. big mirrors, "air dams" under the chin of the front, etc. Nice!

Perfectly laid out argument once again, thanks. I've never considered one and in fact not really into car camping in the first place. But we did a night car camping last week, the first time I did it in 33 years (!). It was pretty nice, being directly on a lake without having to limit our stuff to whatever I can carry in a backpack, and also really cheap of course. Rooftop tent at 3 grand (plus another couple grand to upgrade my car's roof rack to hold it!) makes a good argument for continuing with AirBNB. I car camped with the Zpacks triplex though, which is kind of laughablly small as I have a big old traditional tent at home I should have brought which costs me $100 25 years ago, but we were also backpacking that trip so needed the Zpacks.

Got my Overland Vehicle Systems RTT for about 1100 bucks. One of the best purchases i ever made. Kids love it. I daily drive my rig because im not rich, so gas mileage hurts a bit, but i knew that going into it. Couldnt care less now as the benefits of having a ready to roll rig is well worth the price of admission.

I purchased a nice RTT for $1,200 from a couple of guys who imported them from China. It has been great. The drawbacks are real: you are off the ground! I love it because I don't have to empty my truck to sleep inside. I mostly camp in the winter in DVNP and it gets cold. I love being inside out of the wind and cold. They are not the end all, but, for me, my RTT is just what I wanted. Not for north of $3k...

Thru hikers must love these 😏😂🤣

roof top tent make the most joy on top of an adventure trailer, only good for picture on top of vehicle for showing you love gear or for catching a lil more air circulation if heavy vegetation.

I used one to travel through Canada with some family. It was as so nice not having to pay for places to stay. And we were able to spend much more time on the road.

I think I agree with choosing all the different choices traditional tents that are out there. One thing my wife and I are contemplating is buying a smaller and lighter offroad camper trailer and adding a rooftop tent to the top of that.

Let's not gatekeep people from going outdoor though. Whatever gets people outside and doesn't hurt others or the environment is what I'm all for. Admittedly, the RTT market is insanely overpriced, that 'overland tax' these days.

I think rtt useful niche is more a part time alternative to van or cheaper RV travel and road trips, sleeping in car parks or laybys with a view, where you can't pitch a tent, rather than a different kind of tent camping. If you're doing a long distance road trip there's a big appeal of not having to pitch a tent and pump up mattresses at the end of a long drive when you're hitting the road again at first light.

I spent months, researching a RTT until I saw one in-person and watched some RU-vidrs use them in .........WIND. That's when I bought a Hiker Trailer.

Another great topic and well done. Enjoyed it.

The leaving camp was my biggest issue, I do some overlanding and I put my rooftop tent on a trailer so I do not need to haul it everywhere I drive as well. When I do have it on my SUV when overlanding I don't always have good ground to set up a tent and the always "flat-ish" roof of my jeep works well. I can add that over my last few camping trips I have been in the roof top tent, an RV and a tent so I just choose the right tool for the job. Overall great videos and keep it up.

Tank you for this post. I was enamored with these, but in the end I think it was just accessory envy.

I think you made a balanced presentation. Depending on budget, needs and situations, both ground and RTTs have their advantages and disadvantages. Just remember, critters of all kinds can climb ladders.

Spot hopping and boondocking off grid style is why we love our RTT. It was $1000 and the mattress sucked so we had to buy a better mattress which was $300. We have camped for 30 years in ground tents and love them if we’re staying for more than 2 nights. It’s tricky cuz both styles are awesome on their own ways. Nothing Beats Solo backpacking where everything is on your back but, for us personally, we like to get off road and find spots to camp that are away from traditional campground sites (although those have their place as well)

Off the ground is the main benefit of a RTT. So I took my RTT and mounted it on a $450 Lowes trailer. Off the ground and I don't have to break camp to go exploring, and no hit to the mpg. Stores in the back corner of the garage. I keep my camp cook box, chairs, water jugs, fire pit, and EZup awning stored on the trailer. Just hookup and go.

For me, ease of setup and staying clean. Staying in a region where it rains all times of the year the rain mixed with the local soil makes the tent very dirty. A plus that you don't have to deal with floods and pooling water.

If my wife finds out about the whole "no need to deflate a sleeping pad" bit, I'm gonna be out $3000.

It depends on the situation. I have one. It's great for long road trips when I want to set up and break down quickly. It's great for music festivals. It's great for when I want to take the family camping but my back hurts. And it's great for the days after backpacking all week.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. I just picked up a Cybertruck and my goodness, I would never get the Cybertent. I have a dozen or so ground tents or hammocks to suit every occasion for the price of one rooftop tent. Everything from a Duration X-Mid Pro 2 to a Cabelas 8 person dome. I do have a 20 person Tipi on the wishlist, but no rooftop tent.

Putting the rooftop tent on a trailer solves all the problems. Frees up your car/truck. Added storage. Saves your camp spot. Easy setup. Gets you off the ground.

One of the biggest drawbacks that was barely mentioned here is that you pretty much can’t use the racks on top of your car for anything else. Want to carry a kayak, rocket box, lumber? Probably not gonna happen.

I have a GFC, which is an under 30 sec setup...yes it's expensive, but on my truck it actually increased my mpg vs just a taneau cover. It really depends on the total setup. I do recommend folks do research and even more research to make sure their setup is what they truly will get the value from. It is very individual and situation specific.

It was a tent designed for a particular purpose overlanding. It makes perfect sense for that. You get to your spot. Set up your tent. Cook a meal and go to bed. Wake up cook breakfast tear down camp and leave. Less time setting up tearing down packing finding a level spot for your tent if you can find a spot for one. More time on the trail works on a 4x4 where a trailer won't. unfortunately most people are using them like a pop up camper than their intended use. I only saw one used properly. And that was a convention campground (parking lot with bathroom facilities and hook ups.) Where it was required you have you camp space on wheels. (Motorhome travel trailer) guy set it up on his pickup bed and used the loop hole.

Recently got rid of my nice-but-not-perfect RTT. I could give my own list of pros and cons but I'll summarize with this: IF you can store your bedding in the RTT, they're awesome for time/energy savings at camp. I've rolled into camp very late and gotten to bed without much effort. My tent still required me to deal with bedding up and down the ladder which was kinda tiring. I would only own another if it saves me bedding set up. That also saves a ton of other space for people when out camping.

My thoughts exactly. Love you for this one!

I totally agree . They have to stop ! I love camping in deserts and mountains. It’s always windy at night ! Tent fabric flapping in the wind ! Plus you have zero chance of stealth camping in a town or even a Wal mart parking lot. I love stealth camping in my van on streets and lots. It’s so much cozier and no set up . If there’s trouble and you need to get out of there in a hurry at 3 am you can . What if some thugs show up and you’re up there in that tent ? You are screwed !

If I lived in Papua New Guinea, I'd probably want a roof top tent. I live in Bend Oregon, home of CVT a rooftop tent maker. I'm convinced that most rooftop tents serve the same purpose as a hood ornament.

We use ours on top off our overland camper van for when we bring the kids with us. We mostly camp off old logging roads so it works out really well for us when there isn't any place to set up a tent. Plus the kids feel safer not being on the ground without us in the tent with them. Also I got my Tepui before all the hype and only paid $1300 with a queen size mattress and all the bells and whistles.

Mandatory NPC checklist 1. Toyota product with RTT. 2. Hot brewed beverage (starbucks) permanently mounted to hand ( bonus points for yeti) 3. Video on your SM of you standing in shower for 30 seconds with brand new Arcteryx jacket saying " look its waterproof"

I use a cheap RTT. Mine sits on top of a frame built over a motorcycle trailer. For me, its easy and convenient to hook up the little trailer and take it with me when I go camping, and I can always leave it at the site I stay at if I need to drive somewhere. Its convenient for me because it makes short weekend trips easy because I don't have to worry about the whole setup process for a short stay.

We have (for us) the best solution which is an off-road trailer with the RTT on top of it. We can quickly disconnect the trailer to do exploring or run trails and camp is still setup. Being able to setup and tear down super fast is a major convenience (especially in less than ideal conditions). We certainly prefer to be off the ground to help avoid animals, creep crawler insects, potential flooding in the rain, and not needing to deal with cots or air mattresses. All that said, we still own ground tent equipment for those times when we want to go somewhere that the trailer isn't capable of going.

I really like my RTT but a bigger regular tent is also awesome. For me it depends on what vehicle I take. The RTT is on my Tacoma and the tent is in my wife's Forester. Both are amazing options.

Excellent video. You can add to your cons that it reduces your clearance height, raises your centre of gravity on the vehicle and more importantly greatly impacts your gvm capacity & roof/roof rack weight limits. Two things i guarrantee the great majority of users don't even know about. Thanks for your great channel and really good personality. JT from downunder. 🇦🇺

Great points and video. I've never seen a single explanation of why it's necessary to be that heavy. And I've certainly never seen a damn bit of reasoning of why it needs to be 5-10 times the cost of a quality camping tent. Take a good, roomier 4-person tent, add some floor padding, and if you're really committed to the rooftop aspect, buy a basic stowable ladder and engineer a fold-out platform of some kind that could travel flush with the roof rack. If all that costs more than $800 (because you wanted to do it with quality and comfort and went a little overboard), you've gotten way off track.

I don’t own one because I have a van, but they are certainly not for everyone. They work well for my camping style, which is play all day and then find a boondock site before dark. Then have breakfast and roll off to the next adventure.

We Van camp and my sons are getting too big for all of us to fit inside. I like the idea of a roof top tent but I don’t like the price. Thanks for the vid. We are going camping tonight!

I'm quite comfortable with my traditional ground tent. Just can't justify the expense and all the negatives mentioned in your report. I can also hike just about anywhere with my ground tent. Roof top tent is a no for me. Thanks as always for your excellent content!

I don't own a rooftop yet, but I am considering one. This video has given me things to think about. I agree that using a rooftop instead of a traditional tent at a developed campground is not ideal. While I see plenty of people doing it these days, the video makes a strong case for not buying and using a rooftop in that scenario. But there are two similar situations I think I'd really benefit from one. The first is for camping at trailheads before a backpacking trip. I often need to arrive at a trailhead the night before a hike. Sometimes there are spaces available to set up and use a tent on the ground, but not always. I have found myself having to drive around to find a suitable place to pitch a tent, or even start my hike in the dark until I can find a spot on the trail for the first night. I would love to have a rooftop to have an easy and restful night before slinging on my pack in the morning to start my real trip. The other is similar. I like to disperse camp in national forests or BLM land, often near parks like Yosemite where it can be nearly impossible to get a campsite. There's a lot of places along 4x4 roads where you're allowed to spend the night, but there aren't always spots to pitch a tent. So I have found myself on some trips drive for a lot longer than I otherwise need, passing plenty of spots where a truck with a rooftop or campervan could easily spent the night, to find somewhere with enough open ground for a tent. So I'd like a rooftop to allow me to camp in a lot more spots. Perhaps the best way to put it: a rooftop would allow me to stay anywhere a campervan could instead of always having to find a place suitable for a ground tent. But all that said, I appreciate the video and it has made me look at them in a different way.

Can't wait to use the roof-top tent and Solix when backpacking the AT next year.

On the topic of hammocks, you should try the Amok Draumr. I had the same problem with tacoing you did with the Haven Tent, but the Draumr sleeps completely flat. Just make sure you use either their sleeping pad, or another LW-size pad with lengthwise baffles. It needs the long tubes for structure.

It all depends on how you camp. When I go out my family does not come with my 90% of the time. Rooftop tents work really well on trucks with a short height overhead rack, I have enough room to store the families camping supplies in the bed of the truck and pitch a smaller tent for the kids.

There’s also the expensive option of the blow-up truck shell, by Flated, out of Carlsbad, CA. Very robust, one person on, one person off, and they make lots of expensive inflatable accessories as well, but looks VERY well made. $2k for 8’ bed topper. Pic shows a quad parked on top of it.

As a RTT owner and a backpacker there are definitely drawbacks in the RTT idea most that you mentioned. But I will say that the vehicle you drive can also make a big difference. My tent sits in the back of my 2021 F150 Powerboost. The bars that the tent mount too allow for the tent to sit below the cab while still 8" off the bed which means my mpg is pretty much not affected.

For that price you can easily buy both a top-end ultralight backpacking tent AND a top-end car camping tent (comfort oriented but heavy).

I love my rtt. Main reason I love it is when it is raining for days on end and the ground is a mud pit. Plus my rtt gives me a place to sit under and get out of the elements and cook or just sit. That said I always have a ground tent as a backup. Depending on my plans/situation the rtt may not workout. I just came off a 30 road trip and only 2 did I have to use my ground tent.

I don't own one. But the single biggest advantage to me would be sleeping in roadside rest areas. We live in Texas. Everything fun is a 15-30 hour drive. We drive straight through in our camper van and sleep a few hours in a rest stop before hitting the road again. You can't do that in a ground tent, but you could in a rooftop. Once we get where we're going, we park, load up our packs and go camp in the backcountry. Both methods are valid in different circumstances. I don't understand why ground tenters have a problem with that.

I'm in the rain and snow so much and have no place to deploy one to dry it out between trips, got a 1960's garage on my house that was just built to fit a Nova in that is so low I almost hit my head on the door. I could see it just becoming a ball of mildew. This is a complaint of a buddy that has one mounted on an old military trailer. He finally got a house with a big enough garage to deploy it and dry it out. I use the roof basket on my rig constantly for gear, trash cleanup, found firewood, spare tire for the spare tire if I'm really gonna get out there far, place to throw muddy soaked recovery gear. And if it is not raining I just throw my bag on a cot under the stars. No tent needed at all. Even at the spot we see a resident mountain lion roam through camp so most critters is not really a concern, they just don't bother us. Super mosquito infested: ground tent. Winter storm camping, which we do a lot: sleep in the back of the rig.

This vid is so funny. I can’t even tell you the number and different types of vehicles I’ve seen with these things on top.

You can add and or make a porch that slides out under the tent and have a place to set up chairs and stuff so if you need to go to the bathroom you have a porch to stand on and have your ladder placed several feet away from the tent opening

I never respond to these questions but feel i can give a good answer to this one. I have both tents and honestly, prefer the RTT for several reasons. Best example is this, a cheap motel and a 5 star hotel. I live in East Texas and when everyone else is enjoying comfortable fall and spring weather, we are either starting summer or still in summer. The temperature difference being up off the ground is extremely noticeable. Plus, our weather tends to go from extreme to just as extreme. I have slept like a baby in my RTT during winds so high the jeep was rocking with raining coming down so hard you cant even see 10 feet way. I didnt have a care in the world. Yes they are expensive, but the peace of mind, ease of setup and take down, 10X more comfortable sleep makes it worth it, 100%. I do a lot of overlanding as well, and have been to some really remote locations where even finding a good camp spot would take more work than leveling the jeep. My tent is great for backpacking trips, but for a comfortable hanging out type weekend, RTT hands down every time.

- Thicker mattress, can reamain in the tent, no need to inflate etc. - Some RTTs can be put up in 30 seconds Yes there are some ground tents that you can just throw but you need to put the mattress in, the sleeping bag, pillow, you need to anker it. - Up means also no cold from the ground no moisture from the ground - Mounted on the car, so more space inside the car I dont know why it needs to stop - it just isnt for you.

Enjoy your channel. What I think you're showing is that there are no perfect tent choices. I have a little bit different arrangement than what you were testing. I have an offroad trailer and yes it has a 3-person RTT on it. My son and I camp quite a bit when weather allows and we really enjoy our trailer and RTT. We've slept through serious thunderstorms and strong winds and never gotten wet. What I love about my trailer and tent is that I can set up a basecamp and then leave to go on adventures. I see your point about the tent being mounted on the vehicle and don't disagree. I wouldn't want to break down my camp every time I wanted to drive to an adventure spot. However, I love being off the ground for the reasons you mentioned. Try sleeping in a hammock during strong winds and a thunderstorm. As for climbing the ladder, I have to wonder what you have in your tent that you have to climb the ladder multiple times to retrieve. Most campers will have their food and cooking gear stored in their vehicle or in a bear box and not in the tent. As for climbing down the ladder to go pee, just pee in a plastic jug if it's just you. During the spring my kids and I were camping and we had two nights of thunderstorms. One of our camping neighbors was forced to leave in the middle of the storm and the other neighbor was dealing with soaking wet sleeping gear after the first night. I say we should make whatever tent choice works best for us and not worry about what other people think. The idea is to get outdoors and enjoy ourselves. Cheers and happy camping.

I solved the majority of the problems with owning a rooftop tent by installing it on a lightweight Harbor Freight trailer. I can now go into town simply by unhooking the trailer from the car. Towing a trailer provides its own set of complications, but the benefits of having my entire campsite and supplies loaded on a trailer that’s completely separate from my vehicle outweigh those cons. I was also lucky enough to have bought a Smittybilt Overlander RTT for $700 a few years before the massive interest/inflation of camping gear. $700 was expensive enough for a tent. Seeing tents smaller for $3,000+ makes no logical sense to me.

Really good to see some views like this, on the other side of the argument. Thanks for making this.

My brother has one and they use that instead of a caravan when driving all the way down to visit, it makes sense for them to have it. They like to go places that are a bit off the beaten path sometimes as well, a caravan would not work and I think he wants to keep his wife comfortable. He uses regular tents or hammocks when going on his normal (solo) forest adventures. I would never get one, they cost way too much and I am more interested in backpacking.

It clearly doesn't work for u. But that's the joy of customization: Do things that work for u, not things that don't. One-size-fits-all doesn't.

For me it’s the view. Your bed is elevated, there’s large windows. You get to wake up to and sit and enjoy views you won’t typically get with a tent at ground level.

I guess it depends on where you’re at. Some areas have snakes and scorpions 🦂 🐍 so I’m not thrilled about dealing with those critters. More importantly, if I’m doing a quick sleep and need to get on with my travels, a RTT is very convenient. In the end, I chose a small travel trailer with high clearance and off-road suspension.