*THE RTT Owners Thread (With BS)*

Did it rain at all the past few days? We got a good amount here in norcal.

 

I have a question for anyone who has a “large” clamshell style tent like the CVT Mt. Hood or something similar. Would you say it could fit a husband (6ft, 200lbs), wife (5’8, 120) and an infant? I really like the hardshell design over bags and hate the bulkiness of the larger ikamper 2.0 styles. Any info is great info!!! Thanks!

 

Wife and I have a CVT Mt. Hood medium. I’m 5’10 and wife is 5’8” and there’s more room then we thought, like a luxurious amount of room. With an infant I’d definitely recommend a medium or large for extra space for the kiddo.

 

Not exactly a RTT question, but more of a general camping question.

I built a drawer system last year that I'm getting tempted to remove. It isn't modular so if I take it out, it isn't going back in. It serves its function perfectly, but I'm debating if it's worth all the extra weight (I'd say at least 150 lbs, maybe close to 200), and how much it neuters the truck's ability to be a truck.

We used to camp out of bins and hated it, that's why I built the drawers in the first place. But now I'm wondering if we'd be better suited with bins again. I think the problem I had last time was using only a few big bins, and nothing was really organized within those bins. When I would take something out like the stove everything else in that bin would collapse on itself creating an unorganized mess.

Those of you who camp out of bins or something other than drawers, what are you using and how do you find it functions?

Current setup with the fridge and slide, which I would have no issues just bolting right to the bed.

 

I've seriously been considering drawer systems but not at all interested in the weight or losing my truck bed. I have simplified my bin approach best I can but it's not perfect. All plano cheapos...2 big black bins...1 for cooking (stove/pans/pots etc), 1 for gear (recovery, stuff that has no home, tools etc), 1 smaller green bin for shower/sink accessories. This leaves space in bed for water, gas, cooler, chairs, propane and firewood stuffed in every nook and cranny when camping in winter. Rear seats come out and that's where my fridge, clothes and food stay. Sleeping pad and bag, sheets, pillows and towels go on roof along with more water.

In saying all that, I still find myself searching for shart when I'm camping. Think I put in bin 1 but no, no, no my dumb arse put it in the other bin. After I've tore everything out! Sheesh. It's usually those smaller items. Stresses me out for no reason. Why I was leaning towards drawers/organization. I have a kb voo doo rack and may end up getting the side panel/storage they sell.

 

Yeah that pretty much describes my life before I built the drawers. Dont' get me wrong they function exactly as I wanted them to, but the trade off is a decently big price to pay.

 

Who makes that slide out?

 

Alu-cab tilting fridge slide.

 

Yeah, right here with you. I used to have a couple of big Rubbermaid Action Packers, but I upgraded to a better cooler and the only way to fit it was to put the Action Packers in horizontally. Due to their size, they were pretty dang heavy and when you are moving sites every day, it became a real PITA. I picked up some slightly smaller Plano boxes with wheels, and they are easy to get in and out and leave a lot more room for other random stuff, and most everything I need (and more) fits in 2 of them. My water container fits between them perfectly. For my latest trip I picked up some smaller Plano chests for clothes so my back seat had more room for the dog to stretch out. I do need to use my truck as a truck sometimes, so this setup works for me and is easy to load and unload.

 

Ok, I am dropping this here for any suggestions. I have a Smittybilt XL RTT with a mattress size of 92.5 x 75......I am looking for a mattress topper to fit this but everything I search for "literally " comes up short. It is longer and wider than a king size. I am looking for comfort as well. Any ideas?

 

Topper as in fitted sheet or topper as in foam pad?

 

Foam pad that can fold up with the topper but be more comfortable than sleeping on a cement sidewalk

 

XL is like a foot longer and a few inches shorter width wise than an actual king mattress but a king mattress pad is going to be your closest bet if you want to cover most of the stock mattress. since its not standard size you wont find an exact fit without ordering custom or making something. I ordered a 1.5" thick egg crate style foam topper we toss on top of the stock mattress. It has done okay for the 2 years we have had it. I have tried a number of different toppers and replacements and none seem to work well. 1.5" topper seems to fit the bill for all the required parts I had. 1) make it comfier to sleep on 2) still be able to fold the tent 3) not require custom sheets.

I have tried stock mattress alone (horrible)
3" topper + mattress (too thick to fold up the tent)
1" topper + mattress (couldn't even tell it was there)
4" topper to replace the mattress completely (too soft felt the floor through it)
air mattress, could have stuck with a cheaper ground tent and needs electricity to inflate at a decent rate. also sucks the heat out of you and moves whenever you shift your weight
Ended up with a 1.5" egg crate on top of the stock mattress being the best bet to still get blankets folded up inside during travel.

As of last Thursday for next years camping I now have 2 Nemo Roamer XL self inflating sleeping pads that I am planning on placing in the tent instead of the mattress. Plan is to cover the floor with some inside/outside waterproof carpet from costco cut to size then velcro'd to the velcro patches on the floor to keep the mattresses from rubbing on the bolt heads and wearing a hole. Also to give the space around the now queen mattresses some cushion and cold protect on bare feet. Place the 2 Roamers buttoned together on top of the carpet. Then cut down my 1.5" egg crate to queen size. Toss a queen fitted sheet over the whole thing.

I started researching self inflating mattresses because 2" of bad foam kills my back and hips. The self inflating mattresses from testing them last week are 4" thick, super soft, feel pretty warm, and are adjustable if you want one stiffer or softer than the other. two of them means my movement wont wake the wife. And to top it all off they can be deflated down to like 1" thick so I can keep the mattress, topper, blankets and probably pillows in the tent without bending the frame. A lot of people on here like the exped mattresses, nemo makes a comparable alternative around the same price. Self inflating seemed steep in price to me when I was first looking but after 2 seasons of ache and bad sleep its time to finally buy once cry once for good and be done with it. I have just accepted there isn't a great fitting replacement for the XL so I am making due.

 

I don’t have a rtt, but I picked up an Exped in anticipation of getting one. Used it a few times on the ground and found it to be… incredible. Prefer it to my bed, honestly.

https://www.rei.com/product/113720/exped-megamat-duo-10-sleeping-pad

 

Just stumbled on this thread…

Soon to be home for a Superlite. Made it removable. Fresh coat of powder tomorrow.

Is everyone that’s using the Harken Hoister happy with the setup?
I was shopping around and did I see right that there’s another company with an identical hoist? Hoister Direct I think. The part numbers are slightly different.

 

After laying on mine to test them out I think I found a winner, I think these will stick with whatever our camping situation is going forward. Definitely a worthy buy

 

Nice rack

 

I’ve had my 23Zero Walkabout 56 for a little over a year now, and my only complaint is the cheap velcro straps used to close the tent.

I replaced them with some aluminum cam straps. HUGE improvement in ease of opening/closing the tent and they’re much more secure (200lb rating).

For only $15, this is a great mod for anyone with a RTT. Next I plan to replace the cover straps with some 2” cobra buckles.

 

Anybody run solar generators on their trips? I bought the Ecoflow River 300w one a little while back. Used it 3 or 4 charges and upgraded to a bigger 720w one for longer outtings. Works fantastic for power on trips