Why not a ground tent?

I admit I've never seen one in high wind but they just look like a flappy nightmare compared to a well pitched taunt tent or even tarp. You will definitely catch more wind on top of a vehicle than on the ground, that can't be argued.

Yeah snow camping I would also think the cold air temperature on the bottom of a RTT would make you miserable without added insulation to sleep on. I don't know the R value of a typical RTT mattress but I doubt it's as warm as R8+ on near 32 degree snow.

 

Here are some options not previously discussed. These have been posted in other similar threads. Think outside the box. Camp bed is always level if you sleep out on the water!

 

There's more options than the expensive options for sleeping in or on your truck. Sleeping off the ground is great, and you always have a level surface to lay on. You can also camp anywhere your truck can take you and you don't have to worry about finding space on the ground or cleaning debris out of your way. I only spent $150 for my truck tent which is on par with any decent quality ground tent.

Some people just like to do different things than you, no reason to act like it's ridiculous just because it seems that way to you.

 

why even camp at that point?

 

Yeah as someone who routinely has faced both conditions in each, really a non factor for me choosing which to use. The comfort of the RTT is still superior in most situations and I'd still go with the RTT in high winds.

Earplugs go in, and I pass out

 

Because camping does not have to mean uncomfortable. And...because I can. We sometimes spend a week or more catching crappie to put in the freezer to last us a year. Uncomfortable is cumulative. One night, no. Three nights, NO. A week? O HELL NO! Not when with just a little more effort you can make it better than home. Been doing this 57 years. With age comes experience and knowledge:

The old bull and the young bull were up on the hill looking down at a field full of heifers. The young bull said, "Hey, old bull, let's run down there and screw us one!
To which the old bull replied, "You go ahead and run down there and screw you one. I'm gonna' walk down there and screw all of them."

 

My kind of trip right there

 

Setting up RTT's and ground tents every night on prolonged trips sucked. I've had every roof top tent imaginable and disliked them all minus the GOFSR. All RTT's suck in high wind though unless you're drunk with ear plugs in. I went boujie with the Drifter but I do not regret my decision one bit. Camper will be with me to stay till someone makes something even better. Totally don't recommend it for someone who only camps a few days outta the year though.

 

Hilleburg tents

I don't have one and they are priced SUPER hi but are pretty awesome. You can actually take the tent down from the inside out. like if you were in a major rain storm you can take down the tent (while inside and dry) while rain fly is still up. Alot of other cool things 98% of people don't need but those 2% that could use it properly are having more FUN!

Most of them aren't self standing (need to use pegs for vestibule and such) but some are.
Pretty cool either way. Im sticking with my hammock or marmot tent

 

lol yeah.
I pretty much just sleep on the ground with a pad and a bivi. Mostly because I’ve been invested for many years in backpacking. No reason to get new stuff.

 

Details on the cot/tent combo? I've been slumming it in a Eureka on a pad my whole life, there might be a cot in my future.

A couple years ago I was traveling on motorcycle and ran into this guy that is dedicating pretty much all his free time to building the ultimate tent/cot combo. He had a prototype with him that he had made. It was a big cot, with an integrated tent, places to hang motorcycle gear, places to put stuff underneath, and room for two. It wasn't terribly bulky, and was light weight with the carbon fiber poles. It fit easily on his Husky 701. I keep hoping he'll let me know he's got them for sale, so I can take out a mortgage .

 

its called Bugging Out in comfort

 

ARB swag (single) cot is a teton XL fits perfectly under the swag. Has a 3 inch foam mattress in it, have slept on the ground with it and rain. Easy set up and roll up.

Checkout https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com

pricy, super lightweight, but high quality, made in the usa. I am eyeing their echo 2 set up. Have one of their backpacks

 

I feel really attacked right now.

 

Hm, those arb tents are heavier than I'm used to, but thats probably not terrible for car camping. I'll check out the hyperlite stuff; I need to end my backpacking hiatus. Thanks!

 

Bears can climb ladders