What is the deal with fixed top camping rigs?

What are we looking for? It’s raining and nothing else is happening. Mine does the same and cost a lot less.

 

I camp in my RTT all the time, I backpack with my hammock, and I can campground camp with a tent sometimes. Just another way to get outside and meet great people.

 

Ok. Good to know buddy.

 

Just saying- don’t have to buy Gucci to get a good handbag...

 

Still don't understand why you'd even bring it up. I never said anything about the price of your tent. Haven't even read a post made by you about your tent. I posted that to a quote that stated he was interested in a CVT. I don't care if you think yours is better than mine because you played less, but I understand if thats a thing for you. I'm happy for you.

 

My tents sit on the ground and leave my roof free for carrying things that demand much more space, when I decide to carry those things. Don’t get the RTT fad at all. I LIKE feeling the earth beneath me. Crazy, I know.

 

I think yours looks great- better looking than my Smittybilt- it looks like a giant body bag stuck above the cab, but cost was my main reason for getting it. If it survives a good windstorm without any breakage, I’ll be happier still. I agree with you about using different means for camping- hammocks are great, do you use tent tops on them? Some of those look pretty nice too.

 

You have a good point, but not when the earth is covered with only rocks like lava and basalt, or snow, or mud, or cow pies too. Ayup, camped over a field of cow pies, too. Didn’t have to worry anymore about being trampled in my sleep.

 

Thanks, corprin. I've already been scouring the forum for anything Habitat related. All tips, tricks and advice are welcome. Can't wait to pick it up... then I'll be asking suggestions like crazy.


That's probably another plus for a RTT or other fixed top rigs... It's great fun to check out everyone else's rigs and build out the way you like. Not much you can do with a ground tent besides pitch it on the ground (be that next to your truck or 14 miles in on a backpacking trip). I know you can deck out a truck w/o a RTT, but all those bed racks with rotopaks, shovels, axes, first aid kits, awnings, color matched storage boxes, fridgerators, extra lighting and all topped WITH a tent... Fun stuff. It's a great hobby even when you can't get out and enjoy a night camping. The BUILDING is just as fun ( at least to some people )

 

I definitely try and avoid these things when picking my sites.

The weight and drag created is probably my biggest concern though. I live in a terribly flat part of the country and have to travel very long distances on my best excursions. My tent weighs 7lbs and fits my wife and our packs, and packs down into a stuff sack. I can’t justify any worse gas mileage and 150+ lbs. additional weight with the distances I drive.

I’m not a hater, I just can’t see it making sense for my situation.

 

Depends on what I'm doing. If I'm long distance hiking, like on the AT, I have a UL Trunk hammock and a silnylon tarp I made. If I'm just out and back overnighter I use a heavier Warbonnet hammock and my diy silnylon tarp.

 

Couldn’t agree more- mine is really thick and I have to mount it over the cab so it’s as wind resistant as a hard top over the cab folding camper. The rigs with a bed rack have it a bit better. We still take just the tents when we know where we are going, but RTTs make for really easy commando camping and when I want to get out to the desert quick for an extended weekend, I can quickly set it up in the dark if I leave work late on Friday.

 

OP, I know you're set against them, but here are some of the PROs of having a rooftop tent from someone who's had one since before the fad:

• The material and structure are 10x stronger than a conventional ground tent. Heavier fabric, stronger and more prolific support poles make it not only waterproof but incredibly windproof (I was caught in a 20 minute haboob with 60mph winds and it didn't take any damage). It sheds ~30mph winds like they aren't even there.
• The fabric doesn't age nearly as quick as Nylon, which 90% of ground tents are made of. You'll get many more years of use out of it.
• Much more waterproof than a ground tent (unless it's DCF) and doesn't require waterproofing treatments. Rain, snow and hail is never an issue.
• Ventilation is fantastic. 2 doors and 2 windows on most models means plenty of cross ventilation to keep condensation away. But you can close it up like Fort Knox when the weather turns.
• Won't puncture because it's never on the ground
• Always sleeping on a flat surface - no need to clear rocks, pinecones, sticks, roots, etc.
• Ground insects are 6' below you
• Predators are 6' below you
• Those views
• They really aren't that hard to level at all. Worst case you just put a proper-sized rock under a tire and drive up onto it. Even at a 10 degree offset, you really don't feel it in the tent
• It stays much cleaner because it's not in constant contact with potential sandy/muddy/dusty ground
• It can be removed and reinstalled with just a little help from one other person, or with a pulley or winch system in your garage if you have the clearance. I can personally install OR remove my RTT completely by myself without any help physically or mechanically, and my bed rack is at cab height.
• It's a frigging penthouse when you go to crawl into it at night. I have 4" of foam in mine which makes it as comfortable as my bed at home. It's more than enough insulation beneath me in the winter to use just a top quilt, too. I also have LED light strips built into the framework that run on AA's and are waterproof and diffused so they are never too bright.
• My current 1 person backpacking tent was only $150 less than my RTT and ARB 6' awning COMBINED. Craigslist steal from a desperate person who wrecked their truck and needed the spare cash (tent and awning were NOT in the wreck!)

Ground tents are great. I have many and use them backpacking all of the time. The RTT is fantastic when you're doing a multi-night truck camp though. It provides cover to gear in the bed of my truck, it takes up no space in my bed or cab, and it shades my bed contents. Sure it looks goofy and it creates drag, but my truck is not set up for speed or efficiency. That's what a second car is for.

And yes, there are people out there with all different levels of disposable income. It's ok to let them spend their money how they want.

 

I’ve been wanting to get a good one for backpacking in Washington’s Olympic National Park next summer - rains a lot up there and a buddy swears by them. I sometimes just use a regular hammock tied between two trucks when out with friends in the desert.

 

Great post! Another thing I love- it’s a great wildlife observation and photography blind.

Also as for leveling, I just use one of these for the truck - it’s super fast to get a flat sleeping spot:

$32 Camco Yellow Drive On Tri-Leveler, Raises Your RV Up by 3-7/8" Works on Any Tire, Has Built in Handle, Load Capacity of 3500 lbs, Durable Non Slip Surface (44573)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BUQOF...t=&hvlocphy=9031498&hvtargid=pla-382331282134

 

Are any of those Goretex? The warbonnet is exactly the type I wanted and says waterproof but it’s not Gortex so how good is it in the rain? We will be at the Hoh rainforest and perhaps also doing some coastal sea kayaking too, so packability and waterproof is a must since it’s sort of wet there.

 

Is there a bed rack that's just the correct height that when an RTT is mounted, it's pretty much level with the roof when closed?

 

My Warbonnet Blackbird has a water repellent treatment but my grand trunk ultralite is just untreated nylon. Neither get wet with my tarp. Gore tex is heavy so you probably won't see much in hammocks. Your fly or tarp is used for rain protection with hammocks. I always use my tarp unless I'm in totally dry desert.

 

Scroll down on this link and there are a few.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bed-rack-rtt-questions.445875/