Sure-Fire Ways to Improve Your Roof Top Tent

[Lemsteraak]

Corey,

Yes, that is the fan I used but I think the one Mike suggests may be better. I've broken a couple of the Hellas as the plastic is a little flimsy but the fan is really quiet and nice. Now I'm using a goofy Coleman fan that has floppy rubber blades in my Columbus. I works well, runs on "D" batteries and you can hang it in the peak but makes a lot of noise.

Mike got me one of the new Carbon Fiber Columbus tents, I'm curious to see how well they work in hot weather. My old fiberglass one excelled in hot weather. This one has a light gray shell that may absorb more heat but it has a new insulated roof that may actually make it better. All I can tell so far is that it works in the rain.

Rich

 

[Lemsteraak]

Corey,

I forgot, yes, you can the splice the fan into the same feed as the light, they use very little power. When I had my old Maggiolina, they came with a light that was more of a place holder, so we used to take it out and replace with a couple Hella halogen chart lights for reading and at the same time put in a quick connect fitting for the fan. The Hella fan had a mount were you could take it off when you weren't using it as they were a little delicate.

One of our favorite things to do was to go to the beach on a day when the weather was really bad, climb into the tent and listen to the surf and read, OK sleep.

Rich

 

[Corey]

Thanks for the info Rich.
My Colman 4 D cell fan came today, I am going to check it out after dinner.

If it is not up to the task, I may go the route Mike went and splice into the light wiring.
Speaking of that Maggiolina light...
I wonder if a better bulb or some type of LED setup can go in the same mount, or if you have to change the whole thing out.

 

[wjeeper]

I love the idea of a 12 volt fan in a RTT! Its one of those "why didn't I think of that before" kinda things!

I never got a sample back from the supplier of the masonary backer mat.........called/ emailed them at least half a dozen times. Since the weather has warmed up its not as much as an issue. I may look into it this fall when it cools back down.

I added lights to my RTT. They are just lights from the "ricer" section of autozone. They have been a welcome addition to the tent.

Then I ran them down the tent "bow" with wire loom and some electrical tape:

Then it runs to the control box:

The box has a switch for the strip in the RTT and one for the changing room. I also ran 12 volt power to to "guitar amp" connections to run future items if i ever had any......and with the fan Idea I just had one :elkgrin:


I think I have a few other pics of the lights over on my blog @ http://desertratadventure.blogspot.com/

 

[Youngunner]

I'm not affiliated with this site, but lots of cool things for RTTs, http://top-tent.com/tentacc.htm

I really like the storage nets:

Various storage oraganizers:

 

[Ozarker]

We had an old DeVille tent trailer and I practically lived in it as a kid. I drilled a hole in the aluminum tubes and fished the wire through and used gramets to keep wire from chaffing. Power cord was fished beteen the canvas and body to the base of the poles. Light was up top. Did the same thing on the other side and had my Hallicrafters S-38B shortwave radio inside with power and antenna running out. Wish I had that trailer today!

 

[teotwaki]

I'm not affiliated with this site, but lots of cool things for RTTs, http://top-tent.com/tentacc.htm

/IMG]

They have a lot of neat accessories! Thanks for sharing that link!

 

[Ozarker]

Interesting site Top=tent. And at the home page I found the reasons to go up, three I can see, I think all tent manufatcures mention how easy they are to put up and take down,,,lol

Off the small (tiny) critter zone, stays cleaner off the ground and no need to clear the tent site. Not being critcal you understand, but I have brushed ants off my cars. Seems anything as big as a cat would just make the jump if anything smelled good enough, if it were left open. My mom carried a rack and the site was free of the bad stuff pretty quick. However the tent bottom did get dirty and required cleaning after each trip! Then we didn't put a tarp down first, it being easier to hose off a tarp in the yard and let it dry before a quick fold and stach it in the garage than a tent cleaning.

They also mentioned the cool factor. I like cool. I know my lady would not be climbing a ladder, she fell off the kitchen step stool! So, a ladder is out for her. From what Ihave heard these run at least a couple grand, all said and done. Oh well, who says there has to be a good reason for big toys? :coffeedrink:

 

[Corey]

Read this at that URL.

One caution: Be ready for the attention "Tent Topped" brings. I have yet to go camping with our roof top tent where we didn't have numerous visits from fellow campers asking - "What is that?", "Where did you get it?" and "Can I look inside?"

That is the truth wherever I have camped with my roof top tent I get asked the same three questions.
Even when it is closed I get asked very often what it is.

Was at Les Schwab Tires yesterday getting new lugnuts and locks, and the manager wants one for hunting.

 

[Ozarker]

I'm aware of the notoriety in a campground. That '63 Camper DeVille was an all aluminum clam shell, the top made the floor and the tenatage folded over as the system here, queen size bed, sink, water, stove, built in cooler was huge. It was the first one built as a demo in Hot Springs, Ar. It had green and white striped canvas and zip on porch that doubled the size to about 7X24. Campers would come over and ask all kinds of questions. It was fun.

Hopefully, where I end up going, it will be away from the campground crowd.

I'm sure if I were to put a dome tent on a trailer that people would probably come by and look, probably talk about it, even if it were behind my back and snickering....lol Not sure any DYI job would get the wow factor!


Oooops, sorry, got way off topic!

 

[grahamfitter]

This is my best RTT mod. I made a hard basket for shoes.

Likewise but I used a net, which stays attached and flat when the tent is folded.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I'm not affiliated with this site, but lots of cool things for RTTs, http://top-tent.com/tentacc.htm

I like the straps for rolling up the cover when the tent is open, I usually cram mine into the bed to keep it out of the way and prevent it from flapping in the wind but this is a cleaner solution.

Interesting site Top=tent. And at the home page I found the reasons to go up, three I can see, I think all tent manufatcures mention how easy they are to put up and take down,,,lol

Off the small (tiny) critter zone, stays cleaner off the ground and no need to clear the tent site. Not being critcal you understand, but I have brushed ants off my cars. Seems anything as big as a cat would just make the jump if anything smelled good enough, if it were left open. My mom carried a rack and the site was free of the bad stuff pretty quick. However the tent bottom did get dirty and required cleaning after each trip! Then we didn't put a tarp down first, it being easier to hose off a tarp in the yard and let it dry before a quick fold and stach it in the garage than a tent cleaning.

They also mentioned the cool factor. I like cool. I know my lady would not be climbing a ladder, she fell off the kitchen step stool! So, a ladder is out for her. From what Ihave heard these run at least a couple grand, all said and done. Oh well, who says there has to be a good reason for big toys? :coffeedrink:

While I retail a few different RTT models and have owned a half dozen myself... I'm thoroughly convinced that RTT's are excellent for some and not so great for others, in fact outright impractical for some. If your still debating the merits of a RTT for you needs, this might help:
Is a Roof Top Tent for me? The RTT Conundrum

 

[Corey]

The product that we sell is not at all the same as the Masonry Matt product. It is similar to the dry mesh product from the UK and and is made in Europe.

We have now located a USA supplier and are working with samples to determine whether the quality and ventilation properties are good enough to include in our product offering. If so, you may expect to see us offering the USA made product at more reasonable prices.

Mike, any update on this yet?

 

[teotwaki]

That is the truth wherever I have camped with my roof top tent I get asked the same three questions. Even when it is closed I get asked very often what it is.

Nobody ever asks me those questions.... I must be choosing bad campgrounds

:victory:

 

[Mike S]

Mike, any update on this yet?

Corey
I have sample enough for one or two tents. With the Spring sales surge and OX'11 we have not had time to do much with it. Call me and I'll see if you want to play with it.

Thanks,