Roof Top Tents Detailed Comparison and Analysis

[Christian P.]

All,

I just came across this excellent review of various hard-shell roof top tents available in Europe.

http://www.helios-organisation.com/Helios2/Les tentes de toit.php

http://www.helios-organisation.com/... - chapitre 9 - COLOMBUS versus DISCOVERY.pdf

http://www.helios-organisation.com/...UAC - chapitre 8 - MAGGIO versus EXPLORER.pdf

only bad news, it's all in French. But you may be able to translate it somehow using BabelFish. At the very least there's ton of detailed pictures... I can also help if you have a specific question.


Christian
www.2aroundtheworld.com

 

[Scott Brady]

[Start shameless plug]
Wait till the first issue of Overland Journal.

Autohome Overland and Columbus, Eezi-Awn, Technitop and Hannibal, all compared over 13 pages with intense detail.

And being an independent publication, we even declare a winner... (shocking, but true)
[End shameless plug/]

 

[Christian P.]

i am subscribing right now...

 

[pwc]

Will the Overland Journal have a French version?

 

[DesertBound]

Wait till the first issue of Overland Journal.

Is it May yet? :jumping:

 

[thallca]

Does that mean the magazine will arrive at the end of April?

 

[thallca]

Opps, I just read that it comes out May 14...

 

[Bongo Boy]

Wait till the first issue of Overland Journal.

I'm really looking forward to this. I've spend hours looking at tents and am not finding what I'm looking for. It would also be great to see something at a price point between a backpack tent & stuff like the Overland's, for example, where you have to take out a mortgage.

 

[Mike S]

I'm really looking forward to this. I've spend hours looking at tents and am not finding what I'm looking for. It would also be great to see something at a price point between a backpack tent & stuff like the Overland's, for example, where you have to take out a mortgage.

BB

We carry an expedition tent called the OverCamp - a very rugged, simple tent that is priced at $1299 - less than any other quality roof top tent :Wow1: . Available immediately, five year warranty, and we carry parts and accessories

I would be glad to send a catalogue with full info if you PM me with a mailing address.

Cheers

Mike S

 

[BlueHZT60]

BB

We carry an expedition tent called the OverCamp - a very rugged, simple tent that is priced at $1299 - less than any other quality roof top tent :Wow1: . Available immediately, five year warranty, and we carry parts and accessories

I would be glad to send a catalogue with full info if you PM me with a mailing address.

Cheers

Mike S

This is for Mike (specifically) and everyone else. The giant Maggiolina finally met a tree at Moab . Ten years of hard core use with the camper extending over the edge of my 60 series roof - without a mishap.

I will be succumbing to sleeping on the ground for Rubicon.

I will also be purchasing a medium/small Maggiolina in the not too distant future. The Maggiolina and the Recarro seats are the two best things I ever did to the landcruiser.

Bob Bancroft
84-1HZt60

 

[BlueHZT60]

Oops, didn't mean to leave a dangle..... and now for the rest of the story.

3 small tears in driver side rear, top corner of tent about 2" each.
Trail fix: Duct Tape & Shoe Goo to hold old tape down (hwy driving after Hotel Rock peeled the tape)
Temporary fix: 1 can of bed liner over duct tape and some white paint - only because the black looked ugly.
Permanent Fix: To be some fiberglass - will take less than a half day.

 

[Mike S]

Bob:

Sorry to hear that your very experienced tent had a problem. One nice thing is that, like a fiberglass boat, they can be repaired, re painted, etc.

We'll have one for you when you are ready for a new one. After 10 years and more miles than my 80 has, maybe we should put your Maggiolina Adventure in the Hall of Fame?

Mike

 

[BlueHZT60]

Bob:

Sorry to hear that your very experienced tent had a problem. One nice thing is that, like a fiberglass boat, they can be repaired, re painted, etc.

We'll have one for you when you are ready for a new one. After 10 years and more miles than my 80 has, maybe we should put your Maggiolina Adventure in the Hall of Fame?

Mike

Adventure Hall of Fame, hmm, is that a figment of my imagination? Well, there's a lot of excellent experiences all over the western USA. The Magg. still has lots of life in it and will be going to my buddy - at a deeply discounted price. A half days work, and it'll be good for another 10 years.

I'm just trying to figure if I want a small or medium. Definately want the Maggiolina style versus Columbus - I like the space. Actually I need to talk DD/DG out of theirs becuase they have fallen in love with the Carbon Fiber Columbus (Pasquale, Kristina any comments??).

It'll happen soon enough the decision is purely the bank account, not the brand.

ps - Mike my 40 year old kitchen box is very similar to yours.

Bob Bancroft

 

[Desertdude]

Hey Bob, Good to see you on the portal...

A few things about the Columbus - it takes about 5 seconds to have the tent up and ready - it takes about 10 seconds to close it - uses no crank and has plenty of ways to open up and have a view or ventilate. When it comes to the Carbon Fiber model - super light (the medium size) weighs in at 82 lbs. The Columbus medium is a bit more roomy inside which is nice...

The Maggiolina rides on the Tacoma - I use it when I travel for work projects. It has paid for itself ten times over. (staying out of motels while on the road) I could be persuaded to let it go, but only by you

I like the size of the small as it sits on either vehicle (a bit more stealth)

A few photos of the Columbus Carbon Fiber Tent in action



:::

 

[BlueHZT60]

Hey Bob, Good to see you on the portal...

A few things about the Columbus - it takes about 5 seconds to have the tent up and ready - it takes about 10 seconds to close it - uses no crank and has plenty of ways to open up and have a view or ventilate. When it comes to the Carbon Fiber model - super light (the medium size) weighs in at 82 lbs. The Columbus medium is a bit more roomy inside which is nice...

The Maggiolina rides on the Tacoma - I use it when I travel for work projects. It has paid for itself ten times over. (staying out of motels while on the road) I could be persuaded to let it go, but only by you

I like the size of the small as it sits on either vehicle (a bit more stealth)

A few photos of the Columbus Carbon Fiber Tent in action



:::

DG would never forgive you, plus I'm going to hit Mike up for Blue cloth if available - I remember your comment on the grey. I need to toy with small versus medium, but I think I'd like to stick with the Maggiolina vertical size. I'm spoiled having had a queen size bed all these years.

I noticed some vegetation marks on the upper corner after Wentworth Springs last weekend - same spot I patched after Hotel Rock.

The giant Maggiolina is perfect for the desert/tundra but a little wide in the Sierras.

Bob