Roof top tents yay or nay?

I am happy OP opened this debate. It is a good one. I think what it established is that you don’t need a RTT to go truck camping, and they are not a miracle product, though they work really well for some people.

I know it seems obvious, but there are people (you see em all the time) that do believe they have to get a bed rack and RTT before they can enjoy the outdoors with their new Tacoma. That’s clearly not the case.

 

It is if your significant other hates traditional camping and the outdoors

 

If you haven't figured it out, social media ruins everything and just because some twat with his shiny truck and a RTT spends 30 minutes setting up for the perfect photo doesn't detract from the utility of it. I still have my backpack for those trips and I have my RTT now for the truck trips. Two tents for different purposes.

I think the hilarious part about the RTT hate is that most of the people shitting all over them wouldn't spend nearly the effort hating on a truck bed camper or a bed sleeping platform under a shell.

The reality of it is that "real" camping has a lot more to do with being self-sufficient with a 100% pack-in/pack-out then where you fucking sleep. Pitching a tent and sleeping on the ground in a campground is a lot less "real" than being in a RTT off a trail somewhere that you have to shit in bags and carry all your own water/food in.

 

Correct, and those are the same people that overland their truck out just to camp in developed campgrounds.

 

If you dont have a bed rack or 8k habitat system on your truck maybe this hobby isnt for you.

 

Who cares, as long as they are happy leave them be. If having that tent improves their life in some way that's awesome! To many people judging others.

 

Not judging just an observation.

 

I fish and hike. I'm normally packed before everyone else is.


Everyone needs to stop being a giant Sally, stuff the sleeping bag in a sack, strap two straps, and then Zip her shut. No prob

 

Well for starters, no one is hating on RTTs. There are just issues with them that don’t seem to be widely discussed. The truth is coming out, not hate.

Secondly, no one is going to spend time raking some guy over the coals for sleeping in the back of his truck under a canopy. That’s a streamlined solution that is a good one if you can pack light enough to get away with it. It’s sorta beyond criticism.

Since when did RTTs become uncool? It seems all-of-a-sudden?
What I think is happening is they’ve never really been all that great, and everyone’s reservations and gained wisdom about RTTs is just bubbling up, finally.

 

Nah, I don't have to look like I'm an overlander everytime I'm going out for the evening or being away for away for the weekend in the desert. It's novelty for the most. The only time I found it would have been useful was during the rain storms but setting up a tarp was more of an issue. These days I'd rather get a swing out awning and ground tent is more versatile for myself.

 

Seems like these forums are full of judgemental and overly dramatic people sprinkled by a handful of level-headed folks that you can actually get an unbiased assessment of any given topic. It does make for some fun read but sucks to have to sift through all the BS just to get to a useful comment.

 

/ thoughts from people who don't use them or had never camped before them haha.

 

I’ll admit, I’m only posting this to trigger people.

 

There is absolutely a crowd that makes every effort to shit all over RTT owners and they generally seem to be the types who get hung up on Instagram of the "not real camping" gatekeeping. There's several in this thread right now and I can guarantee the RTTs being uncool perspective is only prevalent because of people frustrated with social media. They've been fairly common for 5-10 years now but the hate has only surfaced in the last few when being an influencer started stroking egos.

There are limitations with RTTs but there's just as many with ground tents. Sleeping above the rocks and mud is fantastic. Setup time for me is about the same (Half Dome 2 sets up in under 5 with the fly) but it's also significantly more comfortable sleeping on a 3" memory foam pad then it is balancing on my little thermarest or inflating a mattress. Being able to use full down blankets or a double-wide sleeping bag makes the trip better for both of us instead of sleeping in our mummy bags.

For me, a RTT has greater overall convenience with fewer real downsides in practice for my current situation. If it were up to me and I wanted to splurge, I'd have done an Oztent and Exped mattress and called that a day but it's not just about me. If the RTT makes the SO want to go out more often, that means I get to go out more often and that makes it worth the purchase.

 

Valid points.

 

Since your all over Instagram, check mine out and give all my RTT pics a like so you can carry on with your day. @j_brost

 

Keep talkin like you liable to catch a concussion on account of the heavy-duty high five you got comin.

 

Nay. You're too limited. A good ground tent for half the price is fast setup, you can quickly leave camp for a quick trail run or more beer, let it air out without having your truck tied down all morning. Also you can venture to a nice spot further from the road with your tent. If I wanna pull a one-nighter I sleep under the softopper.

 

A very good ground tent can be less than 1/8th the price, 1/20th the cargo space, and 1/50th the weight.