I didnt love the idea of a roof top tent at first but I have one now for a few main reasons and glad that I do! 1. I camp mostly while traveling to go on mountain bike rides so I already have a ton of gear non camp related and just being able to have all my blankets and tent on roof of car does save a good bit of space in 4runner. 2. Being off the ground is soooo nice. I just don't worry about critters or insects and if a rain storm decides to come in middle of night I don't worry about waking up in a puddle(Its happened in a ground tent for me 3. I have a clam style hardshell and yes it packs and unpacks super quick. I went with hardshell for that reason because yes soft rtt have same amount of time or more time to set up over ground tent.
Thanks for this. Just bought my first 4Runner, and looking at RTT for exactly this use case. Camp at the trailhead, go shred while the family is still sleeping, keep the cabin free for bike(s) and some luxuries to keep the wife happy to be camping. And having an annex where I can change and wipe down without getting dirt in a tent after a ride? My god that sounds nice. And yes, it does seem a lot easier to be off the ground, and to not have to find that clean level spot not in a drainage to setup every night. Do you find it comfortable compared to a good ground pad? The wife has back issues and can get messed up for days by a bad bed, but it’s usually too soft that causes a problem. I would hope the mattress would be better than something on the ground, but I’m wondering if I should plan to add something to help with that.
@@blakebennett2575 From what I've seen all RTT seems to lean towards a firmer mattress but a lot of them are made so you can leave blankets in and still close it so you could probably put a mattress pad to dial it in for her!
Thanks for your post. I was looking at a soft shell, but then today I've watched some videos on roofnest, cvt and a couple others like it, I'm 6,2 I'm already liking the idea of how quick and easy they look, hard shell should be less impact on mpg on my subaru so I can just leave it mounted
Biggest advantages 1. Speed - you can setup by yourself in under a minute. This is for hard shell models. 2. Comfort - off the ground with a nice thick foam mattress. 3. Durability - material tends to be the thickest reinforced poly you can find, it won't get damaged in stiff winds as the skeleton is usually large diameter tubing. I've never slept as well as I do in a RTT.
Video Title: “What I don’t like about roof top tents”. Content directly related to that topic, 30 seconds. But 8 minutes spent talking about why he likes about ground tents. 🤔 Should have been called “Why I like ground tents”
The guy has a convuluted mind. Talks about how many pickups/trucks he has, then goes to talk about the tires needed for offroading, then why he doesnt like the rooftop tent for less than minute, and finishes with different types of lightweight tents. Lol. He doesnt know what to focus on
He could make a simple, light weight platform and use his favorite ground tent on top. Apparently he doesn't know how to think outside of the box. Must not be a diy person.
If you compare the worst rooftop tent setup style to the absolutely best ground tent then it will be faster. My rooftop tent sets up in under a minute and takes about two minutes to put away. Where I live in the South, it rains quite a bit and being up off the ground is ideal and using a ground tent puts you in a mud hole a big portion of the time. The whole “I have multiple vehicles” thing is not an “issue” most people don’t have to worry about. I also keep all my bedding inside my tent so it’s ready to go as soon as I pop it up. To each it own and I do realize that taking the opposing view of anything popular is a great way to get views.
You make a great point about the multiple vehicles Chad, I am kicking myself for leaving that in the video. What I was trying to articulate is that an RTT is a challenge to take on and off your vehicle, I should have just said that.
Different strokes for different folks. I've had my Tepui for four years now. Camped all over Canada and up into the Yukon. I love being high and dry and away from the snakes and other creepy crawlers. As for set up and take down, 5 minutes max from start to finish. I can certainly live with that. After all, when your camping, you have all the time in the world. I love the built in memory form mattress for comfy sleeps. Enjoy your ground. I'll enjoy the sky. Happy camping everyone. 🍻🇨🇦🍻
“I love being high and dry”…Buy a waterproof tent. “and away from the snakes and other creepy crawlers”…Zip it up. “I’ll enjoy the sky”…You’re only no more than 6’ higher. On open land it won’t make a difference, you’ll still see the sky.
@@damiion666 . Telling other people what they like? What to do? If it doesn't rain IN the tent, when you get out you're full of mud to get to the vehicle. You are safer from bears & people. 2 women in a tent were killed after the Gabby Petito case. I bet they wouldn't be dead if they were on top of their vehicle! You have to open the tent to come & go, that's when the snakes & creepy crawlers get in genius. Up top that won't be happening/ It's faster to set up because the much more comfortable bed is already there. You have a extra safe space for kids (or adults) that you just added on, AND a SEPARATE space to give a teen their own space. AND you've just added a lot of storage space. It's not flat open land everywhere' That you have a better view of the sky is not up for debate, stay on the ground with the other critters. Sleep in the snow & enjoy it when it melts & your tent is swimming in mush. And have fun with the wildlife, try Florida in the swamps. Everything he said was a lie, biased on his personal preference, when guess what? Just like you,. no one cares! ground tents can be just as expensive, good luck with warmth ( or catching a breeze & staying cool while sleeping on the ground. The truth is they both serve a purpose, but there are many advantages to the rooftop, which is why people like them. I just don't like your ignorant narcissistic attitude telling other people what they should do, with blatant lies no less.
@@julielea8344 “when you get out you’re full of mud to get to the vehicle”…lol eventually you have to leave the tent to get to your grill, take a crap, etc. wear your boots when u step out. “You are safer from bears & people”…Sleep with a 10mm handgun. “You have to open the tent to come & go, that’s when snakes & creepy crawlers get in”…Again, zip it up as you leave, zip it up when you come back. “It’s faster to set up because the much more comfortable bed is already there”…Use a memory foam trifold mat and throw it in. 2 seconds. “You have a extra safe space for your kids”…Again, sleep with uncle Glock. What are u so afraid of? Lol. “a SEPARATE space to give a teen their own space”…Wtf lol you’re camping, tell that teen to join the fam for a change 🤣 (btw they sell multi-room tents smh). “It’s not open flat land everywhere”…Lol is it really that hard to find a few feet of earth that’s level enough? “Sleep in the snow & enjoy it when it melts”…Again, waterproof tent and zip it up. People winter camp comfortably all the time. I do too. “And have fun with the wildlife, try Florida in the swamps”…Actually, I have. Refer to mr Glock. If you’re that scared of wildlife, I’m not sure camping is really for you. You take a few precautions and you’re gtg. Or just stay home if u don’t know how to weather the elements and fend off the critters 😂
@damiion666 think they said there in Canada so you can't take handguns in to the bush only long guns we also have polarbars bred with grizzlys 9mm won't do much slugs have enough trouble
I like my RTT for several reasons. 1. I don’t have to find the best terrain--I’m sleeping on 4” of foam, not rocks. 2. Stays dry when the flooding begins. 3. Never had any bugs or snakes. 4. I sleep a lot on bear country and just feel a little better (I may not be, but I feel like I am). I have one on my trailer and one on my car, so I can detach the trailer and claim my spot. 5. Never have to clean the ground off my tent or the ground tarp. Just my thoughts.
I think the bear country reasoning is pretty sound, higher off the ground and you're 'part of the vehicle', a big scary mass of metal, seems to me like a bear wouldn't really take that much interest in at RTT
The only reason I prefer the roof top tent is because I feel a little more secure being at a higher vantage point and hard to access especially on top of a tall suv with the ladder pulled in. Everything else I totally agree with.
I'll give you that, but come on - anyone who camps near Salt Water Crocks deserves what they get., and for those down under you might as well toss in those insane (Ill burn down my house) spiders.
@@curiosityredpill7030 The 2 types of snakes that I would worry most about, Eastern brown and Taipan, are more ground dwelling and prefer burrows so I personally feel you would be safer up high 😀
I have a adventure hammock system hammock mount and I think about a roof top tent and then remember that I’m not likely to use the roof top tent when I like sleeping in my hammock
Ok, all other things aside... that buggy with the track wheels and the roof top tent you shower near the start... omg that is the coolest thing i have ever seen that i would never use if i owned it(ok i might once or twice for giggles)
I bought a burb, built out the back. I have 2 60+lbs dogs, it's hard enough to then up in the back bed with me ha. Extra storage goes below bed or on the roof. Roof top tents are for a very specific type of camper.
I like the idea of a hard shell roof top tent. A lot more aerodynamic, you can keep your bedding up there, and it goes up and down much quicker. For me on the wet west coast, its kind of nice to be off the ground in the wet and the snow. Also give me a sense of security. It does weigh a ton up on top of the jeep though. The body roll is noticeable
Since I have a RTT (hard shell) I don't even look at my regular tent anymore! It's mounted on a 1984 Fj45, so I don't care about mileage, center of gravity, etc.... because that's the car I use for slow and relaxed overlanding..! I love setting up in 20 seconds (ARB Esperance), it has already a mattress and the sleeping bags and pillows are already inside. It's also super fun for the kids
We have our 23Zero that we love and while there are some negatives to Roof Top Tents, these listed outside of cost, aren't them. For the added warmth, better construction and the "its always there" factor, it makes basic overlanding just easier. Also we do bring a ground tent in case we get in somewhere late and want a 30 second set up compared to a 10 minute set up, but its rare we use the ground tent.
And the tires are crap imo... I have Nitto graplers on my tacoma and I can't wait to swap them out with some BFG KO2s. The Nittos are garbage in snow and rain. They lose traction just trying to go up a damp paved hill.
The way I camp and travel, a RTT fills my needs. I'm looking at it from the perspective of someone considering a small camper trailer. And it has a lot of advantages when comparing those.
If I get a RTT, I am leaning towards a Roofnest, either the new Sparrow2 or the new Condor2. Am torn about having one that stays above the vehicle entirely like the Sparrow2 versus opens sideways and has to use the ladder to support one end like the Condor2. That side to side version concerns me a bit, getting it fully level inside, finding level enough ground where the car is to solidly plant both ladder legs, or a big rainstorm turning the ground soggy and making the tent droop on that side, or even a bear or moose knocking into the ladder and down I go. Round and round.
I'm lazy. I simply stuff a queen-size air bed inside my '08 Expedition (standard wheelbase), then cover the windows with bath towels. There's decent luggage space underneath the bed and by the feet and legs areas on top. 😁
iKamper mini fits on my 5ft truck bed and the bed rack I have puts it right at the roof line. it actually made my fuel efficiency better because it streamlined the top. I set mine up in 1 min if im hustling. and tear down is 30 seconds.
Plus if you encounter a much larger animal like bears and such you can just drive off if necessary. Yes, all your stuff is going to be left behind but you're alive and can go back later to get whatever you left after it's safe.
Seems to me that the complaints about slow to setup and put away are more to do with the choice of roof top tent than roof top tents in general. Hard shell tents are quite fast to setup and tear down. It's literally ready in under a minute. Other advantages of a rooftop tent: frees up space in your vehicle, it's away from the ground so you don't have to worry about wildlife or creepy crawlies (other than bears I guess). And you get a much better view from up there when you wake up in the morning. Drawbacks: Weight on top of your vehicle, they are a pain to install and remove from the car (if you have a garage a winch helps a lot). Oh, and they are expensive mofos, but still much cheaper than a camper van
What if you have to move your vehicle? That's why I don't understand why people are so gaga over these things. If it takes you 6 minutes to pack everything up, then that means it'll take you TWELVE minutes to move the tent to a new location and that does NOT include driving time.
@@Derzull2468 Don't be silly, of course it isn't. If you are camping for a week in a lovely campsite then there may be many times you want to either explore the surrounding areas in your car or get some shopping or even go to a pub or restaurant. You just leave your tent in situ and drive off no problem.
For me a ground tent suits me best . It all depends what your doing. For example I set up then go exploring the nearby town then go back. Way easier than carrying the whole truck .
Very valid points to be honest. I’ve got a wedge style Rtt and I only use it when I’m in a spot with a view, bugs / wildlife around, or I need to load down my bed with gear. Otherwise, I use my camper shell with a 4” foam mattress. I do find that the Rtts add a level of stealth, if you’re traveling in cities. Most assume that the Rtt is the only spot to sleep, therefore if it’s not deployed, no one’s sleeping in the truck. Saved thousands on hotels over the years and never got a single knock from law enforcement. Just something to think about.
I have an Intech trailer that I'm going to put a rooftop tent on. I could sleep in the trailer, but it is nice to have the extra space and it is nice to haul gear in the trailer. If you had a trailer it would address your concerns of mobility.
Useful video, thanks for sharing. I'm going round and round about getting a rooftop. If I went ground tent, then I could continue to get max use out of opening the Diamondback HD bedcover I plan to get for my F150, and would not be so high up and top heavy should I want to put bikes or kayaks above. If I go ground tent, I am considering getting two to always have with me. One, a lightweight, portable backpacking one should i need or want to hike far enough from my vehicle to pitch it or just pack in somewhere. But two, for a base camp sort of set up, right near my vehicle, or frankly in my backyard, a larger one than these, still nicely compactible and quick set up, and not canvas because takes too long to dry, but that I could stand up in, put a cot and a table and chair inside if I wished, such as if raining out, have an awning in the front for the sun large enough to put my table and chair under, all with plenty of mesh for airflow but of course a solid rain cover too. I'm still torn though. There's a great camping gear company in Utah called Teton Sports. They have the best cot I have ever found, the Universal XL, though they have a regular length as well as a XXL for extra width, but the Universal XL is incredible. And they have some very nice tents. But ironically, the only ones that this particular XL cot will fit in without risking tearing the fabric are the canvas ones, and mainly for the reason stated above I don't want one of those. They have a great, 2, 3 and 4 person version of one of their tents that is fantastic, but not quite long enough, at least for the XL or XXL cots. So I would have to buy a tent from someone else. It's really too bad. Teton Sports makes great stuff across the board. Just this one little irony.
From my experience, the benefit for these rooftop tent is the ease of take down. When we need need to clear out, a quick wipe down, take out anything that needs washing and then just fold it back up. Compare to a ground tent where the pain starts with proper cleaning both the tent and the tarp. Then you have to make all the right folds to get things to fit in their bags. This becomes especially time consuming if there has been a rain with some mud getting between the tent and the tarp. Been using ground tents for 20+ years, but a few weekends w/ my friend's roof top tent has me convinced that if possible a roof top or some sort of RV is the way to go.
My experience is that a ground tent is easier to pack up, particularly if the RTT is on top of a listed vehicle. I do agree that no tent is fun to put away when it is wet though.
I’m 63 and have tent camped all my life. A couple years ago while in Colorado I had a bear visit me in the night as I lay in my ground tent. I managed to scare the bear off however I’m seriously looking for a RTT to put on a trailer to tow with my JKUR.
I mount my RTT on cross bars to a utility trailer. Alleviates many of it's negatives for me. Main benefit (still) being up and off the ground and the fact it's so very comfortable.
Considering this option for the very same reason. Avoids many of the negatives and means I can just hook up the trailer and I’m ready to roll. Can I ask how high off the ground your RTT is? I’m older and need that midnight pee break but climbing down 3-4 feet is much more appealing than 6-7 feet.
Yes, between 3 and 4 ft. I use one of those brown colored "pee" bottles, esp. when it's on the actual roof (or raining). I bought 2 of those spring pull down stabilizer bars for tent trailers and mounted then on the rear underside. This so it doesn't tip if unhitched. You have work out some kind of 2x4 support or just a 1/2 ladder for the fold out side. I think they are 3 inch (tube) cross bars I bought at a steel yard. Just drop a bolt inside. My Good luck!
I love my rooftop tent.. here in Australia RTTs are great cause high of the ground, the amount of times it’s poured with rain, and ground tent friends ended up being flooded out etc warm during winter etc I think someone who is happy sleeping on the ground isn’t going to see the value, but for people like me, I love camping with my RTT
Agreed, never saw the pt other than they look cool. But, practically, they make zero sense unless in areas where staying away from certain animals is required. It's the look not the function that most overlanders buy this for.
As a very very frequent camper and often on motorcycle I can tell you that having a self supported tent may be a little heavier but in all conditions it's best and in setting up camp in the rain..or at night..in the rain it's super helpful..I have seen people car camping and been in caravans where people have roof tents and if you know what you are doing they can be really really beneficial. Stop.. deploy the tent..do not get in it.. get whatever you need to eat or drink, sleeping materials, toss inside the roof tent and now critical..use the bathroom.. even if you don't need to go before climbing into the tent.. The ultra fast set up time.. especially in snow and rain and darkness is an advantage to digging all your stuff out and finding and clearing a clean spot..in my opinion.. when I am w people who have a roof tent they are saying goodnight..dry while I am still setting up
I have done the ground tent(s), roof top tents and now, at my older age, I have settled upon the Alu Cab Canopy Camper. I am 62 years old and have camped all over North America from the Arctic to the Tropics and setting up camp and breaking it down has never been easier. After putting up items like chairs, stove, table etc, it takes me roughly, when I am running relatively slow, about a minute to break camp, the same for setting it up. The breakdown ease is what I like the most though. We all know it is pretty much always easier to set up camp than to break it down, well, this solution, on my built up Gladiator Rubicon makes camping easy at my age. It ain't cheap, but it is the "Cadillac solution" to vehicle based camping in remote and hard to get to areas, especially if you are hunting, fishing, prospecting or whatever.
Next time try out a hard shell rtt, 30 seconds to put up, and 60 seconds to pull down. And anything up to a135mm mattress. Horses for courses as they say.
Any standard tent can be collapsed almost instantly in an emergency. Just leave tho poles in the sleeves and pull the bottom pole out of the bottom grommet and voila , you toss in the bed or canopy and book!
My buddy brags about his $2500 rooftop tent setup a lot. We went camping and he laughed that I was sleeping in a deepsleep mattress inside my jeep. The noise of his tent in the wind kept everyone in the camp up all night and it took like at least 15 min every time setting up or taking down. It's cool that it's a family sized rooftop tent but... I have a 6 person coleman that was $65, a bug net hammock for $50 and my jeep mattress was $185. That's 12% of the price for 3 rain proof shelters, 2 of them being totally off the ground. Plus I don't have to carry a 300 pound load around all year just to hit some fishing overnighters like we do.
one big downside of regular tents is that the bottom tarp gets dirty when humidity kicks in, and you have to dry them out before you can stow them away. Doesn't happen with a rooftop.
Im with you, I have a lifted 97 Jeep GC and cant see using a Roof top tent. I also have several back packing tents, I keep my MSR Hubba HD in the jeep. I been out and watched friends take hours setting up their roof tops.( uneven ground) and im done with dinner before they are all set up.
Im not a big fan of any camp set up that is attached to my car. But thats just how i use it. I tend to go places and set up a base camp and the go offroading over different tracks from there. I can imagine having to set up and pack down every night
Takes less than 5 minutes for one person to setup. Just get everything else out and ready,, go drive around and when its time to go back just pull out the tent. Really if you set it up a few times you can throw it off and on in a minute once you find your groove.
Been watching your videos. A lot of great info on the channel! I bought the Ikamper BDV solo barely used for half price. I thought the weight would be an issue, but with the wider dimensions on my older SUV, I don't notice it being top heavy or any massive decrease in mileage. If I don't set up my awnings, I can pack it down and be on the road in less than 5 mins. Benefits of a wedge, I guess. I stayed away from the folding ones because they are bulky and have a lot of exposure to the elements. Every one I've ever seen used was moldy on the edges. Also, it looks like a big hassle to set up. Cheers, Harry!🎉
They need to work on making more slide in truck camper shells for lighter duty and half ton trucks. Ones that you can lower legs and raise it up and drive off when need be.
I’m not climbing up a ladder to go to bed and I don’t like sleeping on the ground. My brother in law recently bought a slightly used rooftop tent for $300. He mounted it to a low 5x8 trailer. It’s pretty cool, just 24” off the ground and under is nice dry storage. Low drag, hardly has an affect on his mileage. Only problem to me is, he has to pull a trailer. Still a cool setup.
Roof Top tents do have downsides for some people. I guess i would classify myself as an overlander, definitely not a rock-crawler. I travel with a small HEO trailer with a rooftop tent. I haven't regretted anything about my rig. What I do like is that I can set up camp, take my Jeep on an adventure and return to camp without fear of loosing my campsite. I also love that my trailer has a Dometic freezer/frig, two lithium-ion batteries, solar panels, propane tank, extra fuel, etc.; and I can lock it up when away so it is reasonably secure. I could point out some of the negatives, but I think they are rather obvious. Just do with what you like and can afford.
Great video if your comparing RTTs to ground tents!👍 I bought the Smittybilt Gen 2 RTT. My first and I love it! 118lbs. I mounted it with low racks on my pick up so it sits below the roof line. No drag My son and I can get to free remote camping areas and have a nice camping area! I sleep so well in the tent! Great mattress and ventilation!
I have an 80lbs dog and I’m 5’2” 90lbs. As much as I would love to get a rooftop tent, realistically I can’t leave my dog outside to sleep and I sure as hell can’ to carry him up to the rooftop tent.
My brother has a nice 4Runner that’s all done up. His words. The only reason I have a rooftop tent is that it was a gift from a friend. Yes his best friend gave him one he had, crazy as that i$.
Why I own a 4Runner, easy set up to sleep inside and I have a ORC issue tent, JIC I have a lot of gear and need to sleep outside… when I was a Jeeper I could see the issues of having a tent on my GOBI rack. slept inside or had a ground tent instead.
I wasn’t a fan of rooftop tents bc 1. Price to value 2. Weight and height. But now with better innovation, I did purchase the FSR Aspen Light XL RTT bc it checks the boxes, not overly expensive, very roomy, weighs 100 lbs and setup and breakdown in 30 seconds to drive places. I have ground tents which just pop up in under 2 minutes and is very convenient, but I also bring a cot in my jeep. I’m doing the RTT bc when I travel alone long distances, I don’t have to pack up the tent, I just fold down and close my sleeping station in this tent. Check out the FSR Aspen Lite XL, it may check your boxes and be a good alternative solution. Plus now, when I go with my wife and kid, they sleep in the Jeep (there’s a bed system from trunk to backseat, and a fridge) and they can remain safe in the vehicle and I can be in the RTT.
Bro, I really like the look of roof top tents. But they are too expensive, so I thought about building one. Then I saw you video and went like ‘Nah, it’s not even worth it’. I didn’t consider any of the points you brought up. Thank you for lending some perspective. I still think they look cool, but are looks enough to justify all those factual cons? It’s a no, at least for me.
I have a Fjordseen 220 light and i can fit two 90x200cm Mattresses in there even when i close it for transport, a big + for me, also i dont have to care about the ground like you have when you are sleeping in a tend. But there are some downsides that i dont like, like Build quality and problems with contensation water under the mattresses, but nothing major.
I'll bet if you have a decent roof rack you could take one of those little tents and set it up on your rack if needed. If the ground is too rocky or muddy for instance🤷♂️
It’s a roof top tent parade everywhere you go here in Bend Oregon, but I’ve never actually seen one in use around here in the woods , and we spend better than 45 days a year camping.
My parents sold their roof top tent for these reasons, wind - rocking the vehicle, persons sleeping rock the vehicle with slight movement, ladder access in the night. Some small advantages is setting up you camp kitchen under the fold out and add some tarp protection. I have myself in the past just used the old ground tent for reasons mentioned in the video.
I ditched the idea of rooftop tent while ago , and got Frontrunner Awning with room and floor. It works fine, but this week I went to camping, first night I had to sleep inside my car it was too dark to set it up and it was raining. Second day I set it up it worked during a rainy night but in the morning it was a hassle to put everything back coz of water and dirt. Now I am thinking about RTT again.
@@HarrySituations perhaps you been lucky? I’ve also camped all over the country, but have had a couple scenarios with bear entering the campground... RTT is definitely more secure than a ground tent.
Three nights in a RTT and that was enough for me. It sold in under an hour after being listed and I was never so happy to see something taken off my bed rack. It's a Gazelle T4 or an MSR Elixir 3 for me.
@@epicone2449 Gazelles are better if you are taller. I wanted a shiftpod mini but they are way too small if you’re over 6 foot. Both are great though. Easy setup and quality construction.
Been camping and caravanning for years . Use the caravan for comfort with 2 or more people . But found difficulty only one person . Used dome tents but takes time to setup . So got a rooftop tent and already found mounting it is a problem. Can’t wait to use it though and try out the fast setup. Would prefer tub mount but roof top will have to do until something suitable us found.
Swags have got a bit out of control from their original design and purpose. They were originally (and i still have mine i got when i was 16) just a canvas envelope with a sleeping bag and light foam inside. Enough to pull up over your head and keep the rain off you. They were originally for stock horseman to sleep in. No poles , no doors and fly's and zips. Just a basic canvas envelope.
going on 3 years with the Autohome Airlander+. My Tundra already has lumber racks for work so mounting was not a problem. One of the many advantages is that we don't need to set it up until we are ready to go to sleep. We love the Maggiolina.
I use my minivan for work. I do home remodeling and also mechanic work. I've thought about doing a sleeper build along side all my tool storage. It could save gas on further job sites. I could make it work inside the vehicle, but on the roof would mean all the van interior can be storage.
Admittedly, I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but I absolutely love my Alu-Cabin. The wedge-style RTT is set up for solar panels, which is a nice bonus, and opens up and closes down in less than a minute. The tail end of the bunk flips up to give you access to the bed of the truck, so you can keep your shoes out of the weather, access your fridge and gear, and you don't have to worry about forgetting the bag of goodies like you would when climbing into a conventional RTT for the night. I can stand upright in it to get dressed. It's nice being off the ground(warmer in the shoulder seasons) and in something hard-sided(pretty good at keeping bugs, snakes, and bears out), but still has a bit of that tent-camping feel to it. Yeah, they aren't cheap, and it's REALLY easy to get carried away with the add-ons, but it's my absolute favourite form of camping. Granted, my truck isn't a serious crawler, and this wouldn't be my first pick if it were, but for long road tours and hiking/biking/hunting base camp it's pretty damn ideal. Once I get the heater together I'm pretty confident it'll be a solid four-season rig.
1. I'm 52 with a dog. Neither one of us should be going down an icy ladder at 2am. 2. Coffee in bed? Good luck climbing back up that wet ladder half-awake at 5am. 3. In an emergency, I can drive off in like 10-15 seconds without an entire camp tied to my Bronco. 4. I can take a short drive while camped... yet still remain "camped". 5. My two Oztents pack up faster than most rooftop tents. 6. High winds are no fun if you're inside of a kite that's already 8 feet off the ground. 7. Rolling my Bronco while out alone doesn't leave me homeless. Related: lower center of gravity. 8. Lightning. I was hit by lightning 3 years ago. 0/10, would not recommend. 9. No additional vehicle height while traveling. I know it's just a few inches, but just like some women, I've been screwed by just a few inches. It's a thing, and it sucks. 10. Downside: you'll have to annoy people by telling them how cool you are, because they can't just look at the rooftop tent and know that you've checked all the "overlanding" "must-haves". Come on people, the homeless do what we do. My great-grandfather crossed the desert states on a horse 150 years ago with just a bedroll and a canteen. Too bad he didn't have a GoPro. We aren't that cool. Just go explore, live your life, and chill.
Once I put my RTT on I never looked back. You're closer to your vehicle which is always good and they're just way more comfortable. That and they're badass looking lol
Some of the roof-top cons seem petty. Rooftop is always going to be lighter weight if you're comparing it to a teardrop trailer. Tents get funky, and you need maintenance time to clean the bottoms, etc. You have to worry about ground leveling, clearing space, etc. With all that said... roof-top tents do seem overpriced. For < $1k they would be a good deal. >$2k you might as well just get a teardrop.. Good points on teardown though and moving your vehicle. I didn't think of that one.
I’m sure it’s in this comment section but the purpose of rooftop tents were for Australians because of all the spiders and critters and creatures they have so when they went camping in sacks and stuff we get into the tents so they created camping on the rooftops of the cars
RTTs are the way to go. My girl and I love ours, we love the idea of camping anywhere we want and in any weather. we don’t have to worry about animals or sleeping on a hard floor. yeah it’s heavy, lower MPG but that’s the price you pay for comfortably.
I put my RTT on a small trailer from Lowe’s. Allows me to use the trailer to place all my gear and still have space in my jeep. The top of the rtt sits just under the roof line of my jeep so there has been no impact on mpg’s at all! None! I found that incredible, and it’s so much more sturdy than my ground tent. I use both for different reasons, but I use my rtt way more often. In fact I’m using it next week for 3 days on a business trip. Best investment I’ve made for both recreation and now business use lol
I've been looking at RTT's because the last camping trip I went on, we had a pop up camper trailer that we pulled and that was a PITA to setup when we arrived at our campsite during a rainstorm or late at night with all the bugs flying around while trying to setup. A RTT seems like it would be a lot quicker to setup and I wouldn't have to pull a pop up camper trailer around. I'd also be a lot more comfortable sleeping above the ground especially if it's raining.
A red tail rooftop tent has rigid walls. Set up is like 30 seconds. Very expensive. But a lot of high end features. A pass through is offered if you’d like to go up through the Sun roof.
