What is the deal with fixed top camping rigs?

Holy shit I didn't even consider this! Good thing I usually go to pretty isolated camping spots, so strangers won't be around... but now that I think of it I may have put on a little shadow show for some friends a few times lol.

And yeah I generally try to get equipment like this USED. Got my Tepui for $1k and I could probably use it for the next year or two and get almost all my money back.

I actually ordered the Smittybilt tent from 4wheelparts, it was on holiday say for only $720... but ended up being on backorder 6-8 weeks and I was impatient so found my used tepui. My buddy bought the smittybilt one for $800, used it for over a year, and sold it overnight on craigslist for $600. So at least they hold good resale value

 

Sounds like the dude that bought my Mombasa. Couldn't wait for shittybilt back order.


And who spends more than $2k on a tent.. me

Honestly though. The tepui, arb, CVT, etc are all about the same and in that sub $1500 range. Once you step beyond that, say a Eezi-awn, the quality and material Is noticeably different.... you do actually get what you pay for.

 

Price ranges reflect Overlanders vs. campers, I guess. And the less expensive ones give better shadow shows for the camp at night!!

But you’re right, being lucky enough to buy a lightly used and clean (gotta be clean!) high end RTT would have been preferable for me too, but I got in before the Smittybilt price drop stampede heated up. And have had really good use of ours, too.

 

Do you have experience with an original thermarest? If so, compare/contrast? I have a worn out thermarest that ive been happy with. Wondering about making a switch. Thx

 

Honestly that's what truly matters. We had all of $1200 into our RTT, including the changing room. With that we got literally hundreds of nights in it across the western half of the continent. Then we had kids and outgrew....

Loving the whole overlanding thing, my wife used part of her bonus last year and bought our Habitat.

I didn't argue.

 

Hey no judgement here... I spent $1k on wheels just for the asthetics. Same size, offset, everything as OEM. I just liked the black FJ trail teams wheels better. I got ZERO function out of them just looks.

Also plenty of people spending $500 on a TRD pro grille also nothing functional about it.

Spending $2k on a tent that you'll use dozens of times and has actual benefit, plus holds like 60-70% resale value... considering all the other dumb stuff we spend $ on it seems like a bargain!

 

No offense taken, trust me.

I've been told to call it a camper, because $10k for a tent is hard to stomach.

 

$10k for a "mobile exotic material alloy life sustaining system" still sounds like a deal to me!

 

No thermarest exp - I had an REI version that looked almost exactly the same as a TR though - like they just rebranded it. It was very good but it's pack size was too large and it wasn't as wide. The Klymit one I have now is very comfortable, packs down to a cola can size and it's wide enough to roll over on a bit. It also has 2 exit valves and is easy to deflate when packing which is a big deal, really, only if you are very space limited. BUT, the only reason I bought it was so it would fit in my hiking kit and saddle bag on the bike. I was happy with the comfort level of the REI one.

 

This is a good video talking about the features of these tents

https://youtu.be/Yhi1nkWYWiU

 

Not saying they are the same, just the features/materials are quite similar in the lower cost models.

It's all about quality control, and details specified by the wholesaler/retailer. Kinda like a Chinese winch. There are some really good ones out there.... and there are some really bad ones!

 

Get me every time. My RTT is a substitute for a pop up camper, not for a tent. And this is just so well done

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bejc-FOnQwB/

 

Would be nice if the flippack were still made... I'd love to get something like that to build out into a lightweight camper. I'd rather just get in the bed of the truck and be able to do everything without having to go outside. The Habitat looks nice, but holy F-balls it's expensive. The GoFast Camper is at the top of my list.

In the near term, I'll just use my camper trailer. It's practically a tiny house on wheels for me. Not overland capable, but it will work for my uses.

 

http://adventuretrailers.com/vehicle-habitat/

 

I spent $500 more and got a 20k BTU furnace, 3-way fridge, queen bed, 2 burner range, 16-gallon water tank AND a freakin kitchen sink.

BUT.....I did have to have to spring for a set of Riderites (was going this direction regardless of the camper set up ‘cause I tow and haul a lot).

 

Not quite the same thing... Same company makes it, though, I think.

I'll likely end up going with a Go Fast Campers top eventually.

 

What are the notable differences? Was that toppac superior? (Legit currious, no sacarsm in case that reads weird on the internet)

 

I built this trailer back in 2010 to camp out of off road, or when my son and I go kayak fishing on the coast.

The tent is NOT cheap @$3500, but sets up pretty much as fast as you can walk around and pop loose the 3 clamps holding it shut. Closes back down roughly 5 mins with one person. Much faster with a second person.

Wind and waterproof canvas, has mattress, sleeping bags and pillows that stay inside.

I can and will put it on my truck eventually, but tend to carry my kayaks on the truck pictured most of the time, and this allows me to leave the trailer at camp and drive to and from the launch area.

Once I build my bed rack for my 2017 OR, I plan to toss the RTT up there for random trips without the trailer and kayaks going.







Oh, and for the silly purists here that feel ground tent camping is the only true form of "camping", are just in denial of being jealous, cheap ass, or misinformed individuals.

For the record (if there is one), I own and still use 3 ground tents, 2 hammocks, my popup RTT posted above, and a fully equipt "glamping" slide in truck camper planted in the bed of my CCLB 4x4 7.3 PSD F350.

Different strokes, for different folks.

 

Oh... and those AT Habitats are awesome! I'd love to have one, and may some day for my 2017 OR.

Switch things up and just haul my kayaks on the trailer as I originally designed it, to haul behind my F350/camper combo.

 

Which camper did you end up with? I was looking at the Palomino SS500... but damn, I can't get the thing into my garage if I were to get one. Even off of the truck, the height even with the jacks completely lowered wouldn't make it in.

I like the idea of a self-contained camper... just wish it were more compact.