Which direction do you mount your RTT?

Will be having my RTT arrive in a few weeks. Can't make the decision if I want the entrance on the drivers or passengers side.

Passenger side is nice because I can pull over on the side of the road, but I don't like that the exhaust pipe is on that side so I can't let the truck warm up or cool off while i'm in the tent.

Any other thoughts/considerations?

 

When shit hit the fan you gotta pick up and go! ( probably near driver side ) PS I don't own a RTT....

 

If you camp in parks, the driveways and water/elec hookups are typically laid out for RVs to reverse in. In those instances, having the RTT unfold over the passenger side is more convenient.

 

Typically RV doors are on the passenger side to keep one out of the line of traffic. I thought about opening toward the rear, but didn't want to have my RTT unfold over the tailgate. I have my RTT mounted on a bed height rack and it would make my tailgate area unusable. So mine unfolds out from the passenger side.

 

My thought: I have never seen anyone ever attempt to do that, and Utah gets all the heat and cold you could ask for. Roll down the windows to vent heat, sure, but your truck is warmer than the OAT with little exception, and you'd already have your coat on, and be warm from moving around the truck packing it up. No need to run the truck.

To answer the original question: I did driver side only because all my flashlights, etc are in my back driver side door. Part of me wanted to go rear, but often times, I put myself in tighter (shorter) spots that have more room width wise. Plus with a bike rack on the back almost 100% of the time, it didn't make sense. Also, you cant use your tailgate as a work/cook surface if your truck + rack height is shorter than you are.

 

It's a tent. If exhaust gases are going to make their way in, they're going to make their way in..

If the passenger side works for you I'd say do it. I open on the driver just because that's more convenient for me.

PS I'm really holding out for someone to vote for opening forward

 

Sure but you don't live in Vegas where the weather alone can be 110+, let alone the inside of the truck. Thinking about the pup, ya know? And as far as being warm... I've had icicles form on the truck overnight camping. You're might be right, maybe it's not something I really want, just would be nice to remote start it so it's warm for me by the time I finish waking up.

Good point about the rack height. I think it'd be right at forehead level for me--I'll take a look next time i'm by the truck.

 

When I get the roof rack installed, I might just have it open forward. It'll be 'space saving'. As a thought, maybe there is a good way to design a tent to open over the cab. Would work better in smaller spots, and could have the annex room over one of the passenger doors. Would be tighhht.

 

Sure, I enjoy crawling over my hood to get to my ladder

Seriously some are designed to fold over toward the front.

 

That's sick!! Look at all that space!

 

St George gets just as hot. Or at least negligibly different. I hear ya, but seriously, just roll the windows down. I do feel you on the pup, as I have a black one at that. I just keep him under a shady tree or the awning as much as I can to keep them cool.

Even if you do run the truck, you aren't going to be static in the tent at the same time. You'd be outside of it packing it up most likely, considering our trucks take like 5 mins for the heater to come to temp. I really think its a non-issue regardless.

Bonus pup pic! Draco hates the cold (11* in this pic), but loves snow.

 

Drivers side. I have no plans to stay in RV parks and can wiggle tight in a spot and get out and set up on driver side

 

I've got my RTT all mounted and ready to go for the year. Only problem is that our state and national parks are still basically closed. The national park is on a reservation only entry system and camping is limited even in the back country. The state parks are open but the area I go to for primitive camping is closed at least the last time I checked.

 

I have a Tepui Autana that unfolds to the rear. it sits on top of a camper shell, so plenty of headroom underneath. It used to open to the passenger side, but the nice part about this model is the annex you can attach. Opening it to the rear allowed the annex to open up to the bed of the truck. Super convenient in the winter and during crap weather.

 

For those of you that have the rear open mounted tent could you post pictures of how you mounted it? Trying to get an idea of how to do it