Why not a ground tent?

It's personal preference, and based on your style of travel. Everything has pros and cons.

Ground tents are cheap, can be spacious, and are nice if you're staying somewhere for a few days.

Roof top tents get you off the ground away from the bugs. They can be set up anywhere you can park. And, if the ground is wet, you can stay dry.

I have a sleeping platform in my 4runner because I'm afraid of bears! and, If the shit ever really hits the fan, I can slide into the driver's seat and go.

 

a good ground tent will keep you dry and away from bugs through some massive rain and snow storms just gotta be smart about it. Yes, ive had to get out of my tent during a huge rain storm to dig drainage around tent when I set up in a bad place but IT WAS FUN as well

 

A ground tent is perfectly fine! For the better part of 40 years, I was in a ground tent and they did great. There are a lot of advantages to a ground tent, mainly they are cheaper and easier to store. You can also leave a ground tent up as a base camp and go explore an area for the day. Last summer we were a Chaco Canyon NHP and had to completely pack up our RTT for the day to go and explore the ruins. With a ground tent, we would have been able to leave it set up and just take off. That being said a RTT has a lot of advantages also. Other then your camping spot being halfway flat you don't really care about rocks, tree roots, or anything else that makes sleeping in a ground tent less than comfortable. Now that I'm in my 40's, sleeping on a 1" pad with a lump here and there really is not high on my priority list. I ran the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands NP last summer. The camping spot that we had was all bedrock that had been baking in 102° temps all day. With the RTT we were sleeping on 3" if foam and 6' in the air in a nice breeze. The other thing we really like is all of your bedding stays in the tent so you have less to pack up and store. We have a full sheet set, two quilts, and a comforter and it all stays in the tent. As for setting up and take down times, I would say that a softshell RTT is on par with a ground tent but I don't care what ground tent you have, can not beat a hardshell RTT for takedown and setup times.

In the end, it's really up to you. If you would rather not spend the money on a RTT then don't. Buy a nice ground tent and go out and enjoy it!

Here's a picture of our ground tent. I have spent a lot of nights in this tent and really enjoy it.


Here's our RTT at Canyonland NP. We are parked on solid bedrock. There was no dirt at this campground (at least none that was legal to set your tent on).

 

Well, the softopper specifically, for me gives me the option to camp in the bed and the functionality of a cap. That's worth it to me. But I also have several ground tents. That's what I use. I don't have $3000+ for a RTT to keep on the truck and kill my mileage for the handful of times I might use it per year. I feel like there's a lot of image to uphold with the Tacoma lifestyle. I find myself looking at stuff I probably don't need

 

Point Mugu beach. Constant 45 mph breeze. A good 60-70% of the ground tenters were in this dumpster by morning.

 

I've been using a 6person Walmart tent for 5 years handles rain like a champ. I think I paid $140 cad for it. It's the only reason I haven't upgraded to something like a Gazelle t4. It's anecdotal but they're not all total trash

 

I usually sleep outside (surplus MSS setup) or in the bed (Softopper or no topper), but will set up the ground tent if I'm going to be camping in one spot for a few days, or if it's raining/snowing on a short trip and I know I'll be driving around a lot. I understand why people would like an RTT, but I personally just don't see the need for one. Now, a Drifter or GFC, on the other hand...

 

Thats why I am a cot + tent guy

 

Some good stories coming in this thread! I would have to say the biggest dangers we faced camping were storms as well. Got caught in a severe thunderstorm that came on suddenly canoeing in one of the lakes in Ontario. Waves got up to at least 2 ft or more before we managed to get back to the campsite, that's quite high for a shallow wall lightweight canoe, had to keep the heading into the waves as much as we could. It thundered, lightninged, and rained for almost 3 days straight and we hunkered down in a ground tent until it eased up. Like another poster said, had to trench around the tent, that kept us dry as well as having an extra tarp on the tent floor.

 

Yeah I mean you don't need to tell me haha.

I'm the third party that laughs at threads like these. I have both a RTT and ground tents and both get used equally year round.

 

Our best was Oregon inlet. I forget which ramp it was by. Got about 2 inches of standing water in 30 minutes with 40+ mph winds. We just ripped beers and enjoyed the amazing light show. The next morning was a similar site to your photo. I'm guessing 10-15 folks just said eff it.

And that's the mild stuff. We just like those places because they're super cheap and a nice location for an overnight on a road trip.

 

What he said. One sh*tstorm in a cheap tent and you will never buy another one. Same with clothing and other gear. It's worth every penny.

 

Spend hundreds of nights in ground tents (we just called them tents) over the years in 5 continents. Mostly packing a motorcycle, also lots of hiking, 4wd jeeps & trucks, rafting, kayak canoe and boat. Had very few bad nights, but plenty adventures, fun and misadventures.
RTTs are cool, but somehow not my style. When I get up in the middle of the night, I want the earth under my feet. Probably fall off the ladder going to take a leak.
And I have had a curious bear try to get in high in North Cascades backcountry; and some guy in Kenya while traveling by Norton bike along the equator, tried to unzip my tent and luckily woke me up. No harm.

 

Been there done tent camping. Seemed like every time it rained and I was miserable. Now nothing but hard sided trailer camping for me.

 

Kinda what I was thinking hahaha

 

RTT was just out of my price range for what I want to do with it.

Went the cheaper 'ground tent in a truck' route, no complaints. Been using it for 4 years now.

 

I mean, I've been there before in my early days. We camped on a nice small cliff overlooking a lake, a decent 30 feet above the water line. Right around sunset we saw a tremendous chop on the far side of that lake. Those whitecaps were headed our way, fast. Half an hour later the thunderstorm hit us, and 5 minutes after that both the guylines and tent poles snapped simultaneously, leaving my two hands as the sole fabric support system for the remainder of that long night. I stuck it out though, out of sheer stubborn stupidity. Screw you, thunderstorm.

 

I'm doing the GT in 3 weeks. Bringing my old faithful tent with me from my backpacking days in the 90's. I have spent lots o' money on other preps tho lol

 

This is my little Cabela's 2 person tent. Works just right for one person.

I really don't camp when there is foul weather on the way, but if I do it holds up pretty well. I also don't camp where grizzly's are expected. I have a 20 gauge shotgun in there with me, loaded with slugs, that should deter any unwanted vistors most of the time.