Why a RTT vs. a Kamp Rite Tent Cot?

[Rexsname]

I have the Cabella's version of the double tent cot. It store nicely in the garage when I'm not using it, therefore...NO MPG hit for my daily driver. It sleeps really well. It seems huge when it is folded up and tiny when deployed. No way is it as comfortable as a RTT. It was about 10X cheaper than a RTT. I usually don't choose to camp when the weather is questionable but putting the rain fly does make it feel stuffy inside.

REX

 

[CSG]

Talking to Mike at Autohome yesterday, he told me about a friend of his that lives not too far from me and runs a Maggiolina GT. We talked and this guy gets down my way every couple weeks so I may have a chance to see one of these RTT's in person.

I realized that I couldn't get into the garage with one on and I am still concerned about the mileage hit as once it's on it would have to stay on and the MPG of the LX470 is already not great.

They are sexy though.

 

[CSG]

Had a chance to see the Maggiolina that's owned by a local fellow and crawled up there along with my two boys. Nice rig but the ladder bothers me. It was drizzling that afternoon and the ladder was slippery. Easy enough to go up but I kept thinking about it while going down those wet rungs. I imagined doing it in the dark in a good rain while I was half-asleep...

For now, I'm sleeping in back. It's a bit shy on length but OK for a couple nights. A Thermarest type mattress works well for the bed but needs to be folded a bit to fit. For a one or two nights I can travel pretty lightly but if I were to take my Cruiser for a week long+ trip it could get less fun in a hurry. I wish my van were 4x4 but it's not so when I take that (very easy to spend multiple nights in) I just can't take it to places the Cruiser will handle.

Not saying no to an RTT, just haven't convinced myself yet it's worth the do-re-mi while I have a perfectly comfy van to use instead.

In any event, I've pretty much eliminated the tent cot approach. I really don't gain anything with it for sleeping just me.

 

[DiploStrat]

It's an African thing, you wouldn't ...

Roof tents are very common in southern Africa.

-- Much cooler up there
-- Don't need any ground fastenings. (Very nice in extended overland travel when you move camp every day. Also nice if you have to stop in a village - you are almost as self contained as a camper.)
-- Fewer critters (Although you are closer to the elephants.)

The Autohome beasts really appeal to me with their fiberglas covers as opposed to canvas, etc. If you are moving EVERY night, the one button, one latch, one crank type stuff is really nice.

 

[CSG]

Yeah, the Maggiolina and Columbus are the only two models I've considered as I do move daily and they're the quickest to set-up and take down. Of course, where I travel, elephants aren't a big issue...

 

[Corey]

Yeah, the Maggiolina and Columbus are the only two models I've considered as I do move daily and they're the quickest to set-up and take down. Of course, where I travel, elephants aren't a big issue...

Consider the new AirTop too like Mike from AutoHome has on his Land Cruiser.
One day I may replace mine with one.

No elephants in Idaho, but you sure do have some killer potatoes :coffeedrink:

 

[DiploStrat]

... Of course, where I travel, elephants aren't a big issue...

Well then, there's your problem. You need to get out more!

 

[AxeAngel]

If you are a glamper and an ExPo snob get a RTT, otherwise get the tentcot.

I'm trying to find a RTT within budget. After reading the thread about horror stories and such in Fireside Chat, the girl refuses to sleep in a ground tent. We don't camp out as often as we would like (maybe 3-4 times a year) and cant justify the price of the RTT.

For the convenience, added time to get alert if animals/stupid idiots enter your campsite, additional space, ease of deployment, better storage space, the RTT is a no brainer. The only downsides for me are cost and MPG hit.

If you have a roofrack and already put stuff on there, don't worry about your mpg, it won't be noticeable (between the fairing and then the jerry cans positioned before the RTT, i don't think my MPG will go down after i put a RTT on).

As others have said it also boils down to how comfy you need to be when in your tent, my girl won't sleep on the floor, so its either an air mattress or thick foam. The space of the air mattress, double sleeping bags, tent, groundsheet, bedsheets, etc, etc takes up a lot of cargo space. Space that could be used for other things. If you have a fridge and take along a dog and carry spares you quickly realize that space is at a premium...

Just my ramblings...
-Sam

 

[CSG]

If you're carrying more than one person, a dog, a big fridge, lots of gear, etc. then you can't sleep in the back of a rig like mine. If you travel solo, no dog, light gear, etc., then you can.

Here is a campsite from May on an overnighter close to home. Food was some beef jerky and a couple Clif bars so no cooler or fridge. As I do S&R, certain items are in the rig at all times (water, sleeping bag, pad, go bag with basic camping/survival/medical gear) so an impulsive overnight or two is easy. I was really wondering about longer trips where I had more stuff with me (like a fridge I keep threatening to buy). If the back is full I don't want to be humping gear in and out in order to sleep.

 

[Corey]

Friend of mine with an FJ Cruiser who turned me onto the Maggiolina AirLander tent is in SARs.
He digs his tent and how easy it is to setup for missions or for camping.

 

[bobDog]

We like RTT's because we can keep ALL our bedding in them when you close them. No more stuffing sleeping bags away every night, laying out a pad, etc. Everything stays right there so no more fuss or worry about keeping everything dry.

well my friend this totally wraps it up for me. I know its a lot more costly but i love the idea of all the bedding ready to go. And the added "cool factor is just icing on the cake" + the easy of adding heat and AC if I want too.:wings: O yeah my family has a big thing about snakes....higher the better.

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

I have used the following:
-inside truck
-ground tent
-tent cot oversize
-tent cot double (2 man)
-rtt maggiolina

they are all compromises and it's what you are willing to live with
or works best for your situation.

The best sleep is in the rtt.

the bulkiest is the tentcot double- I consider it unusable for that reason (and the bar in the middle that seperates the 2 people).


I don't understand putting a tentcot on the roof.
It's off the ground anyway, which is one of the selling points.
You are simply adding a rtt disadvantage (access and complexity) while gaining nothing.

 

[TemboTusk]

My one complaint about my RTT is climbing down in the middle of the night. But, I have managed to solve that problem to a degree.

Keeping in mind, I have a standard issue, factory installed bladder, in good working order.

If I don’t drink any liquids for at least 45 minutes before bedtime, I can make it until morning before I need to climb down to deal with nature’s calls.

I know, kids work under different assumptions! But, it works for me!

 

[Corey]

I have tried that too, and forced myself to go a "little more" right before turning in.
Worked great the first year I took the tent out, last year I had to try the red bottle.
I do not like it, to easy to spill.

I would almost rather setup the PETT up there to use
Going down the ladder is not so bad though.
Use to have to get up in the middle of the night all the time when I backpacked Mt. Rainier many years ago.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

well my friend this totally wraps it up for me. I know its a lot more costly but i love the idea of all the bedding ready to go. And the added "cool factor is just icing on the cake" + the easy of adding heat and AC if I want too.:wings: O yeah my family has a big thing about snakes....higher the better.

Yup, 1 minute setup, 5 minute pack away... it's awesome. And, I put a cheap memory foam topper from Walmart in, and I swear, the Maggiolina is MORE comfortable than my bed at home.