Car Camping / Trip Reports / Photos / Buildouts / “Overland” / Expedition Rigs Area (homeless?)

Haha I always want a fridge. Just never do trips long enough that a few bags of ice won't get me through. I hope someday that changes and I need the fridge!

 

So I have been looking for how to convert this to something other than the D cells or AC but coming up with nothing. Do you have any write up of info you can share on yours?

 

Reading this made me consider not having an RTT if I was to get a 4Runner some day. Really the only downside I see is not already having a mattress set up and ready to go. Just depends on how quick it is to set up one of those awning tents versus my RTT w/annex. The annex for me is the most annoying part, but needed when I bring the pets.

http://overlandingusa.com/why-we-switched-from-a-roof-top-tent/

 

That's it, lol? Just cut the AC adapter off and splice in a cigarette lighter adapter thing. Okay that's pretty dang simple lol

 

Yeah just make sure the brink and fan are 12v.

 

Interesting. For me, I prefer the RTT route. It's true that aerodynamics and top heaviness are issues but I'm hoping to lessen that impact by lowering my bed rack a few inches this year. Having a nice, flat, padded, elevated bed fold out is worth the other pains. And I use the annex for the dogs (which I don't really like setting up), and leave it at home when I'm alone.

 

I have been torn between doing either a RTT or a OzTent... keep going back and forth. So who knows what I would ever end up with.

 

RTT can be bit of a pain, but so is a ground tent. Pick your battle.

One thing I've really come to love about the RTT is just how much room it saves by not having to haul around bedding. Blankets/sleeping bag, pillows and a air mattress take up a bunch of valuable space.

Also rocks and uneven ground sucks.

Never had much luck with air mattresses, they always seem to leak after a few uses.

Ever try setting up or taking down a ground tent in windy conditions?

I've spent my entire life in everything from cheapo wal-mart tents to higher end models. None of them were as cool as the RTT.

 

My main issue with the RTT is it being on the shell and making the truck even taller.

I don't think i could get rid of the shell honestly and go with a bed rack setup. I use the shell to much to store stuff day to day and when camping.

 

All personal preference, no right or wrong. That works for them but doesn't work for all. Figure out what'll work for you and do it. It was never about being an "overlander" by having one. That's just stupid.

 

Yeah.. if I had a shell I probably wouldn't want a RTT. Mine is set up currently to be high enough that the annex is functional but low enough that I can easily reach the zippers and stuff to set it up. We put it on my fiance's FJ for a trip last summer and just being a few inches higher made it a terrible experience. Set up time doubled and I always seemed to be setting up at prime mosquito time, slapping my neck and cursing as I went. Impact to center of gravity was significant too, she said. The ability to keep them low-ish on a pickup cuts out a lot of the downsides.

Lol. Nothing I do is about being an "overlander" but somehow my rig has ended up pretty "expo"

 

For he most part our tent is great....except when you want to hit a trail or go into town in Moab and you have to pack it up. That is super annoying.

 

For this reason and freeing up my bed our eventual plan is to build one of those expo trailers that are so popular. I hate towing a trailer if I don't have to, but my fiance has volunteered to haul it behind her FJ which will put us on more even trail maneuverability levels. Having all the camping stuff permanently loaded and just having to hook up and go sounds very appealing.

 

Agreed. I sold my wife on a trailer the first time out with the RTT and her wanting to go into Moab for dinner. Now I just have to find the monies for it.

 

My fiance is all about that DIY life. I made the mistake of buying a MIG welder... now I get to build my own trailer. Estimated completion date: August 2025.

 

I love my old shitty camping lab RTT, it takes me on average about 3 min to put up and about 5 to pack. Same it would take me to put up/take down the kind of ground tent I would like. But I have had this thing for 6 years now and am pretty good at it. I have done multiple trips to MOAB and such areas where I just packed up real quick and did my trail and came back and set back up. Its more inconvenient than leaving your GT but the pro's for me on having it outweight the pros of a GT. Although I still use my backpacking tents and such, so I have no hate for them. They just dont work as well for me as my RTT does and arent nearly as comfortable. I am also against carrying a tent in the bed, with bedding, with an air mattress, etc. The amount of extra gear would prevent me from bringing things like my dog, rifle cases, etc.

 

I sold my RTT last year because it didn't live up to my expectations, I looked past everything and only saw the cool pictures when I purchased mine. I strongly considered going the oz tent route, had everything in my basket to order for this trip in may. But this time I put a little more thought into it, I didn't like how large all the bags were that I had to carry to have the tent, awning walls, and floor. So I skipped that and headed back a step just in another direction, it should be here within a week or two and should make some people excited for what ill have to offer

 

As of right now I plan on this setup if I ever get a 4Runner. I like how GOFSR utilized their normal vehicle awning instead of a separate awning like Oztent does. And it's cheaper.

 

So one of the plus sides to using a ground tent is being able to take your vehicle out wheeling while camp is still made. Id prefer the awning separate than the vehicle imo. But the size of those tents packed is unreal, oz have the new tents coming out that basically fold the pack size in half but uses different materials