Call all of you RTT peeps!

What sold you on an RTT for a vehicle you camp in? My dilemma is I love camping. And I love camping where I dont see a single person for an entire trip. Way back in..however isn't kind of a pain to put the RTT away to go do some wheeling? I have been looking a small pop ups( light, nimble, etc.) But lets face it they're built pretty cheap to keep them so light. Im also not on an unlimited budget....

So what REALLY sold you on an RTT? The trendyness keeps me interested but I just dont know if I like the set up/take down every day... Plus once you get heaters, and clothes, and such in it, it could easily be an hour or so of set up or take down I'm assuming? Coach me up and lets hear some opinions.

 

Hate sleeping in the mud. Did enough of that in the Corps.

 

Oh and maybe 5 mins to set up, 5-10 to take down..... depends on how cold my hands are and if the zipper gets stuck.

 

Self-contained. All the bedding and such can stay inside the tent with the mattress.

Available. Can be loaded on the truck and ready to go camp whenever, just load up the cooler and duffle with clothes/gear for whichever planned activity.

Time. I can be in and ready to sleep in about 5 minutes and I'm a newbie. Maybe 10-15 to load up if taking my time. I'm not going to use the annex, and the window poles are somewhat optional depending on temps (closed is warmer, open is cooler/breezier).

Not on the ground, door is larger than my backpacking tent.

 

You could build an off road trailer, and put RTT on that.

 

That's my thing is trying to get off the ground. And such.... Are they big enough when closed up to keep things closed inside of them?

 

Okay. I didn't know they were that quick. Learning lots already!


Could one load/unload one from the bed of a truck by themselves?

 

I would like Four Wheels Swift model Pop-up for my truck bed, but they are 17 Grand....

 

I do out of mine. Kind of roll off the bars onto the tailgate, then roll out to the ground, handtruck to move it into the garage. There is also a guy that did a receiver mounted crane to remove his.

 

Yup, I wanted a Hawk. But I wouldn't leave it on all the time, and loading/unloading time versus the RTT and price/availability finally pushed me into a RTT.

 

Is there a safe way to heat an RTT in winter?

 

I've considered a Mr Buddy to use to pre-heat before climbing in and warming before getting out from the bag/covers.

0* Teton XL bag with some extra covers is pretty good once warm in the 20s.

@BDMcGuire

 

I just ordered my first RTT. So here is my take as a reformed tenter, then hammock camper, now soon to be RTT

1. I ordered a 23Zero Byron - California King Sizer mattress that is 3 inches thick!
2. Setup/Takedown is 5-10 mins max
3. Off of the ground means greatly reduced risk of bugs/animals
4. Off of the ground means no roots, only concern is level the truck
5. I bought a KbVoodoo mid height rack, which should put the tent closed at the cab level if not slightly below.

Overall the convenience and comfort is what won for me. Eventually, I'd love to move it off the truck an onto a AT trailer.

Oh, as far as heaters go, they are called down comforters . . . just like when you hike/camp!

 

I use a mr heater little buddy in my tent when camping. Turn it on to pre heat and I let it run through the night... My tent is a summer tent that I put the rain fly on. So not a great seal, but just enough leakage to let out the fumes.... Plus they have oxygen and tilt sensors in them. Got mine at wally for 55 bucks and man its the best 55 bucks towards camping yet.

 

I bought my RTT because I like to spend my time away from home in as little misery as possible


no more sleeping on the ground
no more waking up wet
easy to setup
pay for itself quickly if you do a long road trip and factor in hotel costs
easy to put away
mobile
can put it up in the dark with little to no light

 

I have the Mr. Heater Buddy. So the Mid-size. If you open the vents you can run it all night. With them closed it does get a bit fuemy. But as @JTB727 said it does shut off which mine has plenty of times. I've camped in the RTT in -15 degrees with 2 wool blankets, down comforter, buddy heater, and dog. I was absolutely fine and incredibly toasty.

Edit didn't answer question: I like the ease of setup in pitch black. I can leave work, grab the dog and head straight out to the wilderness. I don't have to try to clear a spot for a ground tent either or worry about sticks or rocks under me.

 

The biggest thing that pushed us to get one was comfort. We tried air mattresses, foam pads, a truck bed tent and nothing worked. I never slept. This thing is pretty damn comfortable and no air mattress with big ass @a.smo haha

Ours takes 5 minutes to setup then another 5-10 for the annex. Aaron said he doesn't really need the annex, it's mainly me that wanted it to change and whatnot.

We have a little Mr buddy heater and it's awesome. We preheat about an hour before bed and it's cozy. On super cold nights I need it running all night but with small propane cans it doesn't last til morning which works out fine.

 

Just like Sam said, comfort. I slept fine but didn't like she didn't sleep as well. Caused a lot of hassles with that.

With out the annex, set up time isn't long. Unzipping the tent takes a minute and then you pull the ladder and open it. A little bit of set up or whatever for pillows and blankets and such (ours holds the 30* sleeping bag and 2 comforters right now inside the tent while it's closed) and its ready besides setting the ladder angle. Also the windows and such.

Take down time can be a little longer as we fold the mattress and such in half first then fold the tent.

I've also only used it a few times. I timed myself the other day when washing my truck. Set up time with annex by myself was about 20 minutes taking my time was I was trying to get it ready to be cleaned. Take down was roughly the same, but I didn't measure it really as I was trying to keep the annex on the tent.

We ended up gaining space as the RTT is my tent, sleeping bag and comforter now. I carry little in the bed of my truck now. We might go camping Sunday so I'll get you pictures if we do.

 

I bought mine for overland points other then that no reasons