Rooftop tents, is it a safety thing?

I think you make a good point. These are all good points, in fact. A lot of the time its about convenience. Less to unload, less to set up, and if you aren't staying in one spot for very long, having the ability to quite literally pick up and go is ideal. Depending on your camping lifestyle and destination, a RTT can be the best choice.

 

You know, you’re just the right amount of weird lol.

 

Seems like an accident waiting to happen for those who drink when camping? Other than that it seems like a bunk bed.

 

Get a room…or a tent

 

OK, here are the reasons I love using a rooftop tent:

1) Easy set up and breakdown. I no longer have to deal with tent poles & lines or rolling out sleeping pads.

The pad in my tent is 4 inches thick and lives inside it when closed so all i have to do is open the tent and toss my sleeping bag and pillow up there.

When traveling, I’ve pulled over at highway rest stops and popped the tent instead of paying for a motel.

2) Don’t need level ground. Ever try sleeping on lumpy bedrock in a ground tent? Just level out the truck and you’re good to go. Also if it’s raining you’re out of the muck.

Not a safety thing for me, just convenience. Plus its way more comfortable.

 

Man's a visionary

 

I often bring a motorcycle or an ebike on many of my camping trips. The truck has a topper which I like and use. I carry the bike on a hitch carrier. Setting up and taking down camp was a huge PITA with a ground tent since I can't really access the inside of the topper to get the tent out with moto or ebike loaded up so they have to come off, even just for an overnighter requires unloading everything. I don't want to drive around with a RTT on the tacoma all the time and they're not easy to too put on or take off.

This was my old setup, all the camping stuff inc water is packed in the truck. To open the topper's rear window meant unloading the moto.


Setting up camp was a chore.



I decided to go a different route, no room for a camper so I'm finishing up a HD 4x8 utility trailer I built to hold the motorcycle and/or an ebike, a RTT that lowers so it will fit in my garage and carry all my heavy awkward stuff like gas and water. I can setup and sleep in the RTT with the moto on or off and unloading the moto is easy and quick compared to a hitch mount.



All the RTT stuff unbolts and its switches to a typical 3500# utility trailer.

 

This seems to be the way. 6-foot bed with the lightest and lowest profile, pop top camper.

Fast set up and can be back on the road in minutes.
Place to cook and live during hard weather.
2 sleeping locations.
Off the ground advantages.
Likely to perform better in high winds vs. RTT.
Easy safer access to the sleeping quarters.
Since it’s light, it can live on the truck like a camper shell.

Death by black bear is rare, still I’ve had too many uncomfortable experiences and feel better in the back of a hardshell pickup. It helps me sleep better.

I don’t have one yet, but I’m thinking how nice it will be to roll in to camp and without the need to unpack anything, pop the top and crawl into bed. Leave the muddy shoes and blue jeans in the truck bed, with the rest of the gear, protected from rain.

Super high winds, or stealth mode? It happens. Sleep in the truck bed with the pop top retracted.

Just my thoughts as I plan for my next truck.

 

For sure, a GFC canopy/tent would be sweet.

 

This.

And photographers can sleep closer to the morning comp.

 

I think safety is definitely one part of it, especially when you’re camping around a lot of rigs in tight spaces. Another thing is just convenience — setup and takedown are super fast. Same reason I carry an openroad4wd electric winch now too — not because I get stuck often, but when I do, I want fast, reliable gear that works.

 

don’t see the point of it.

I lived in a shell. The walls were glass, mesh screen, optional metal grid for security and hanging things. And fiberglass. With a solar panel on the roof.

in and out through a window. Allows for stealth camping. Insulation.

allows for secure weatherproof storage of cargo when not in use.

if I was spending more for a more serious setup than a shell, that would be welding up a GFC style flip up (more room) or Ute bed tray that adds 1’ to short bed.

with shell, pop up, or Ute, it is probably less weight. And less time to set up.
If the flip top is down then it’s no set up.
Better looks. Less aerodynamic drag. Accessible from inside.

if you get bit by a rattlesnake and need to drive to medical attention, there is no set up. It is a matter of getting in the driver seat and going.