Roof Top Tents - A fad?

I did it once. Not fun. It was quite a shitshow.

I've had my RTT for 5 years now and don't regret the purchase one bit.

 

Should be, its a fad!

I wish I could take a 10 day trip. I'd be doing both Yellowstone and glacier

 

I'm surprised that tree stand can support the weight of that guys balls.

 

Thinking PNW next August. Going to bring Ant out with me.

 

If you're in bear country and put your food anywhere near your tent, your asking for it.

Cab, on the ground in a stormboxs, or up in a tree and risk them grabbing it .


+1 for off the ground for bears. I've had them investigate ground tents and it's always very unsettling.

 

To each their own, but I love my hard canopy to camp with. I have an air mattress with the wheel well inserts and I sleep cozy as hell! Also, keeps you dry and has sliders with screens on each side for air flow during the summer nights; as well as being more "bear-proof" than just canvas. I've thought about the RTTs but for my set up and style of camping, I don't need it. But like many posted before me, to each their own!!

 

+1 this setup have been hanging for several years now. I used to have a tent and pad etc., and looked at the rooftops but couldn't justify it. I've been looking to get a bed storage rack system to use as one of my tie off points, but haven't narrowed on a decent setup yet.

 

Here you go...

 

It might not be able to keep bears out, but it's too high off the ground for a Squatch to piss on. So...there.

 

I seent him! He's a biggun'. Still want the rainfly on...

 

Hahahahahaha...

 

RTTs are way more comfortable than ground tents even with a 4inch inflatable mattress or cot. It also is much quicker to set-up because people don't count the time it takes to unstuff a sleeping bag, blow up a mattress/put together cot in a ground tent when comparing time. For me and when I'm camping with my young kids, stuffing 4 sleeping bags, picking up clothes in the ground tent, deflating mattresses took forever. With my RTT, I just leave everything unpacked and close it up. Loads easier and much faster.

 

We have camped and travelled in Class A, Winnebago, Superior, Blue Bird...Class C, Born Free, Winnebago, Class B with a rock band even, also pop ups and pull behinds, lots of ground tents, and long backpacking with ultralight gear. I've also flown and camped under the wings of a J-3, 172, 180, a 206 and a caravan. Stayed on lots of boats for weeks at a time too, Grady White, Bayliner, Mako, Bertram and others. Roof Top Tents allow me to take my Tacoma.....and my wife (two things I love) into the wilderness for up to 12-14 days at a time completely off grid so for me it's not a "fad", it's just what I like, and am doing now. Here's an upcoming rally/expo I can't attend in VA. I've never been but it may be a great place to see for yourself what folks are excited about and seem to be doing more of. The folks who are saying that it's difficult to move after set up are right. There's a trade off there. The folks saying it's really really comfortable and easy to set up and take down are right too. http://forum.expeditionportal.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=420260&d=1507234285

 

Forgot to share recent trip data: V-6, 2015 Acess cab long bed, Icon stage 7, 33" tires, All pro expedition springs, Bed Glide, ARE expedition topper, Yakima core bars, 23-0 Bundaburg RTT with Annex (Annex only deployed when staying in one place for more than one night or it's stormy). MPG average over 2,650 mile trip last month 14.5 miles per gallon. Speed 70-75 on highway and around 45 average on secondary roads. Time to set up tent: 10 minutes max, ready to sleep. With Annex? 20 minutes. Take down and pack up time 15 minutes max. With Annex? 25. I think we paid $1,700? Comparable RTT's with the exact or slightly lower specs on construction or materials cost about $700.00 more. It's a big tent with a LARGER than queen size 3" thick foam mattress and condensation pad. Great tip! If you're serious about a RTT or have one and would like to have a removable "fitted sheet" over the waterproof mattress cover.... buy a Duvet Cover and sew it to fit. We tried several other ideas but this worked well. There are Velcro fasteners that hold the mattress to the frame so it can fold easily and the Duvet Cover let us cut out holes for the Velcro to work, while fitting the mattress nicely.

 

Am I the only one who sleeps in the bed of a truck and uses it as its namesake would suggest?


Personally, I do not see any benefit to a RTT. Just this last weekend it would have been a pain in the ass to pack in each morning to drive all around Bishop to the various fishing spots. In Johnson Valley or Ocotillo, having a basecamp and being able to simply start up the truck and go is much more efficient. Having to take into consideration the added weight while rock-crawling can add unneeded stress during sketchy obstacles.

Depending on where I am at is what determines what gun I take, and my dog will be throwing it down before I can say "OH SHIT!" in regards to critters in the night.

I even hate pitching ground tents. It takes away from the critical first minutes of beer time when returning to camp. I certainly think RTT's are cool if I just did basic camping trips to simply get away and enjoy the scenery, but for my needs, they would be a hindrance. Not hating, but to each his own. Plus, this can be a very regional thing. Extreme weather such as rain and snow are very rarely taken into consideration in SoCal.

 

TAcos rigged up like expedition vehicles look really cool, and being off the ground is always a good idea with critters around

 

My opinion...FWIW...

Fad? I don't think so.

Camping option? Definitely.

Not for everyone as a lot of posters in this thread have acknowledged...rock crawlers: no; base campers: no; folks with pets: maybe not, but we have managed with our lab in the cab quite well; quick morning camp breakers: yes; folks who enjoy a camp based around their vehicle, and simplifying the kit as suited: yes.

Not for everyone for sure, but we have enjoyed adapting our traditional ground approach to a more elevated platform.

 

A fad, for sure. But not like a fad that’s just around for 9 months then disappears.

I’d say they’re more trendy.

It’s certainly useful, but rather expensive for what you get. I have a tent that’s twice the size of most rtt’s, doesn't suck down my gas mileage, and cost $100, but it does take a bit longer to set up, and my setup doesn’t scream “I go overlanding” when I drive down the road.

What rtt’s have done is seemingly invented this thing called “overlanding” like it’s some kind of new thing where people can take a 4x4 off road, and go camping, too!

But people have been going out on multi-day wheelin trips for generations. It was just called wheelin. Over night. The only difference now is that people don’t have to clear a spot for their tent; just park in a reasonably flat area.

Don’t get me wrong, I want one. I really like the idea of the ease of setup, etc... but the $1500 for a decent one (not including the bed rack) means I’ll just have to make due with a tent for now.