Camping with a Roof Top Tent Questions

I recently sold our Airstream and 3/4 ton pickup we used to pull it and we are now on the hunt for a smaller Airstream Bambi but we are also intrigued buy the ability to camp in more remote areas with a RTT. If we do go the RTT route I know we will not have all the "clamping" amenities we have become accustomed to so I have a couple of questions for those of you who camp with a roof top tent.

• How do you handle the bathroom in remote areas? Portable cassette toilet?
• Do you use a Roof Rack Awning or EZ UP for shade?
• Has anyone gone from a travel trailer to a RTT? Would you do it again or would you stay with the travel trailer.
• Any other words of wisdom / advice is appreciated

Thanks in advance!

 

Hello

1) Wag bag, pee in the woods, shit in a bag. If you dont want out of the tent, pee in a bottle, they make specific camping pee bottles
2) Depends on the person, the Roof Rack Awnings are super easy.
3) Never owned a trailer, never will. Can go more places without one. Unless you buy an adventure trailer which still needs an RTT
4) Research brands and the difference between Hardtop and softtop and pick what will work for you.

 

Lots of portapotty options available. Bunch of models at your local camping place. This is a major adjustment for females in your group. You can pair this with a privy and set it away from the truck a little ways for privacy (if needed).



I hate EZ Up's. They never last more than a couple of seasons. I'd just get an ARB awning.

I also am not fond of RTT's. I don't like climbing up and down the ladder. Trying to find a level parking spot. Etc. Obviously, there are lots of advantages to an RTT, but doesn't work for me. I stick with a good ground tent. Packs up small, weighs nothing (relatively), and I can pitch it in tight spots or deep in the trees.

If I did need to go to an RTT, I would pony up the cash and get an AT Habitat. No ladders, able to stand up.

https://www.goose-gear.com/products/at-overland-tacoma-habitat

 

I bought a pop-up Shower/Potty room from Walmart for when we are off the grid. It is split in half with the shower side having drain vents at the bottom.

 

I second the AT Habitat. I love mine but don't like RTTs very much.

 

RTTs are fine, but consider that they tie your truck to wherever you're camped unless you tear down and set up again. If you've found a prime spot and want to go out exploring, you risk losing it while you're gone. We use a small off-road capable camping trailer (Taxa Outdoors Cricket) and love it. It goes practically everywhere, and we're free to unhitch, take the Taco out for the day, and come back to a camp that's already set-up.

Also, in our experience, water-based portable toilets are a PITA. Messy and unreliable. We had the Dometic unit pictured above and hated it. Found dry bag solutions MUCH easier and cleaner. We use this:

$48 Reliance Products FOLD-to-GO Folding Portable Camping Toilet | 300 Pound Capacity | Compact & Lightweight

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0024OAQ3Q?ref=aa_scomp_aapi1

Easy-peasy. No water, no smell, easy to cleanly dispose of waste.

 

Actually, that's essentially what I use as well.

 

Ammo can with a trash bag liner AKA The Groover.

 

I feel like a savage reading everyone else's clever toilet setups... am I the only person on here who still digs a hole and buries his shit/burns the TP?? Leaves no trace and as long as you're not near any water sources I don't see a problem?

As for RTT I love it more than I ever thought I would, spent years pitching tents and just love the hassle free setup of the RTT, plus get better views off the ground, don't worry as much about wild animals or flooding, plus when I bring a date she feels safer so non-outdoorsy people can get eased into camping.

Would LOVE a Habitat but wouldn't really work for me as I takeoff my RTT when I'm not using it, the habitat seems like a PIA to remove regularly and need a lot of garage space to store it, my RTT I have turn sideways and doesn't take up too much room.

I use an EZ up for shade so that I can setup our kitchen away from the truck if needed, also use it to "claim" camping spot as another guy noted your RTT has to stay with the truck if you want to setup camp then explore from there. We usually find a spot, throw up the EZ up/table/chairs and then go explore so our spot is saved. Havene't had anything stolen yet

 

If it was just you then no, there wouldn't be a problem. However, multiply the number of holes filled with poop by the number of people who use popular FS and BLM camping spots over the course of a year and you end up with hundreds of holes full of human excrement. THAT is a problem, and it's widespread, particularly out here in the arid West where it can linger for years. Do us all a favor and pack it out.

 

Your not, when I’m camping somewhere where it rains often I still dig a hole and cover everything back up when I’m done. Hell when I’m hunting or own my own land I don’t even dig a hole
But that doesn’t work everywhere. Like the dessert I bag it there.

I had to show my wife how to pee on the trail while we were in Moab. Pro tip you have to find a rock or tree to sort of lean against

 

Ok ok you've adequately shamed me enough to buying a pooper setup

 

Yeah I had to teach my girl too lol. I guess I'm just a natural, lived in China for 6 months back in college where squating over a small hole in the ground is the norm, I now have very good aim haha

 

It’s not that bad here we use the same camping spot about every 3 months. We can’t find the same spot or tell it was even there

 

Unfortunately, too many people flock to a lot of the good places so you shouldn’t and can’t do the cat thing anymore in the backcountry there such as at Escalante and Canyonlands. Desert soils are especially sensitive to erosion, so less is better there. RTT’s really lessen the impact of a ground tent, too.

As for RTT’s- they are great for nomadic travel camping where you drive to a new place each day and arrive somewhere late and dont know how nice the site will be - rocks, hilly, etc.. You usually get the best sites all to yourself that way!


Hint: use a set of plastic RV leveling wedges to make the best of more sites.

 

Funny thing now that I think about it I haven't even pooped at all on my last 5+ camping trips as they were all under 3 days. Something about being out in the wild plugs me up plus I seem to eat less... especially if i eat an MRE then I don't shit for a week!

 

I've had this problem and thats a fantastic solution! Ordering some on Amazon now

 

Get at least two and you can stagger them as needed...

 

TMI!

 

please tell me what kind of RTT you have in this picture