Tuff Stuff Alpha Roof Top Tent

Wow. That doesn't look right.

I've only used mine a couple of times (just got it in September. I did have some trouble closing it, but I had my sleeping bag in it. Took the bag out, much easier to close.

Mine is not bowing out like that but I'm wondering if it might have eventually done that if I had repeatedly tried to force shut it with bedding materials in it.

I am going to try removing the mattress and putting my Exped mattress in there to see how it closes then.

 

Tuff Stuff is basically a rip off of iKamper. You get what you pay for. I've seen and been in both. Id save up and get the real thing

 

thanks, I would appreciate if you could get me a picture of yours where my is bowing out

 

We’ve had our Tuff Stuff Alpha for almost 2 years and have had no issues. Yeah it might be a knock off of ikamper but it saved me $1500, and was able to buy a bed rack and a roof rack.

 

when I got mine, I got it for about 60% of the price of a iKamper and it included an Annex and a canopy. I could not see spending $3500 for a RTT, that seems outrageous to me. I had to think long and hard before I purchased this one.
I am not happy with this problem, the new mattress helps, but I don’t believe it fixes the over all cause.

 

I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this problem. I haven’t had that issue with the Alpha, but I can’t speak for the Alpha II. I would look on instagram for Alpha II owners and ask if they’ve had the same issues.

 

Here you go.

 

Thank you so much for that, that is much tighter than my tent and I believe shows the problem I am having, let’s see if Tuffstuff steps up or not.
My hinges are up and pushing my top out

 

Mine does have a little issues closing when there is stuff in there but I have never needed a strap to close it. When we leave stuff in there in the wrong place then it makes it MUCH harder to close.

 

thanks, I can’t leave a bag in there, way to hard to close

 

We usually only leave our sleeping bags in there but you have to make sure they are up in the front past the struts (so the folding section doesn't land on them) but also make sure it doesn't fall between the shell and the head of the mattress or that could cause excessive pressure on the hinges. It took us a few nights to figure out how best to leave stuff in there. We also take everything out if it is cold and the mattress is harder.

 

could you please get me a picture from that side, showing the mounting points on the side?

also when did you get your tent? mine was delivered in Feb

Still fighting with Tuff Stuff on this

 

I got it in October.

It isn't clear what photo you need.

 

Thanks
From the side, showing the bolts and washers, kind of like this, but showing the whole side. I need to see where your hinges are mounted and how many bolts hold them in place.
They are now trying to tell me that I have the first type of hinges, which is different than what you have

 

I hope this helps. GL

 

thanks. How many hinges do you have on that side?

 

You for sure have the second style hinges. My buddy has a "1st gen" Alpha and he has a hinge all the way down the side. The "2nd gen" has 3 hinges each with bolts holding it down.

 

3

 

I’ve had my Tuff Stuff alpha for a couple months now. I upgraded from a front runner rtt. First few trips and I’m really happy with my purchase, but I will say the rain fly is a big issue. It doesn’t take much of a breeze to get that thing whipping around and slapping the top of the tent. Because of the design of the tent, there is no way to adjust the tension in the troubled area properly. I’ve been trying to think of a hack with some extra canopy poles to try and lift the center section of the rain fly off of the tent and then tension it down.
The good thing is this, the tent walls are really thick. The windows also have an additional layer that can be Velcro’d down into place. I’ve started camping without the rain fly and haven’t run into any moisture issues yet. I wouldn’t do it in the rain, but for most nights it seems totally fine, though admittedly a little bit colder inside when the temps get below 30ish.
Has anyone figured out a solution for their noisy rain fly?

 

I've never had an issue with mine flapping around out of my 50 nights in it this year. My first night in it we were camped in a canyon in Colorado and wind storm picked up in the middle of the night with sustained 30 mph winds (could have been higher in the canyon but that was my weather app telling me 30) I got lucky and had parked with the hard shell towards the wind and I slept threw most of the night. If you ever can, make sure you check the wind direction and keep the hard shell facing it if at all possible. It makes it a lot nicer. I also have a II so the rain fly is smaller and might be tighter.