Autohome Columbus

[willyswagon]

I'm looking for the actual dimension for the interior of a Columbus - size small, standard length.
I've read plenty of the threads which describe that if you sleep on your side, knees up, hips to right angles to the earths lines of latitude... on the third weekend of the month you should have enough room.
I found one used but won't be able to try it for two weeks. I don't want the owner to hold it for me if there is no chance I'll fit!
If someone could give me actual #s, that would be great.
We just bought a small used Maggie for the kids, but I know I won't fit in that due to the lift system.

Thanks Ken

 

[Lemsteraak]

Hey WillyWagon,

I would suggest you use your Maggiolina before you go to the expense of the Columbus. If you have an old flat top Mag, you may have to sleep diagonally, the new standard length ones are a full four inches longer. The lift mechanism is in the middle but you have a ledge on either side to put your pillow, no mattress there but you don't need it. You can also put your feet on the rear ledge, as long as you aren't over 6' 1", you will be OK. Remember that this tent was designed for a different world and conditions. It was made small on purpose and they could have easily made to top go higher but it is designed as a cold weather tent. Less volume inside to have to heat up.

The other problem you may have is getting the top to raise because the roof is so wide on your wagon. The crank may hit the wagon's roof. If you make a crank extension or offset the Maggiolina, it will work fine.

I have a standard Columbus and I'm 6 foot three inches and sleep fine on my side. On my back, well my toes touch the top, but my wife would roll me over anyway because I snore. The actual length of the standard Columbus is something like six foot eight, but not all of it is usable.

Rich H

 

[willyswagon]

Thanks Rich. I'm just shy of 6'4" so I'm looking for some room to streach out. When I lay on my side I use up 79" of space. The tent is only 2 yrs old, and the guy wants $1800 Canadian($1650 US),so I thought it might be worth a try.
Perhaps a X Long model in Columbus, or Maggiloina may fit better.
Anyone have any experience with them?

 

[NVLOC]

We own a small width, Xlong Columbus Variant. I am 6'2" with long legs and arms and absolutely would not want the tent to be any shorter. Does not matter how sweet of a deal I would be passing.

The small width is cozy yet manageable for myself and my 5'7" partner. We both have rather slim builds for reference.

Being 6'4", if you are wanting to use the tent for more than yourself, I would not go any smaller than a Medium Xlong.

I go back and forth between if I should have bought a medium or not. After 10+ nights in a row, it would be nice to have a little more room. This is less of an issue when fall or winter camping as the smaller tent and closer proximity to each other keeps us warm. Its in blazing summer heats that we wish for a little more room.

The advantage of the small tent is that it fits perfectly on the roof if our 03 Landcruiser, has a barely noticeable effect on gas mileage, and is well tucked in from overhanging branches. The medium seems to overhang from vehicles I have seen it on more than I like.

 

[willyswagon]

I was leaning towards a Medimun sized XL, for the reasons you mentioned. The room in the heat of summer is what I am concerned with the most. My wife is 5'9" and likes her space as well.
I just thought, if the regular would work, I'd use it for a year or so then move up if needed before we head across the country.

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

I can almost guarantee you'd feel cramped in the standard-length Columbus. The long version would be a much better choice.

 

[willyswagon]

Now to see where I can find one to try.

 

[willyswagon]

Thanks to everyone for the input. We are going to make the trek to the nearest dealer next weekend(750 miles away), to check out a Columbus Med XL.
While we are there I'll pick up the used maggi i bought for the kids.

Thanks also to Mike and Gary from autohomeus for pointing out that 50 nights in a row would be a little much for my length,in a small.

As we say here in the North.... "It's like squeezing a marshmellow into a piggy bank!"

We are going across Canada and North up the Dempster Highway to the Artic Circle...... or BUST!!!:Wow1:

 

[Lemsteraak]

So, WillysWagon,

If you are going to have two rooftents, how are you going to mount them?

I'm very envious, I would love to travel the Dempster.

If you are going to mount one of the tents on a trailer, you will not want to store the ladder inside of it. I've found many of the expedition trailers are very stiff and the ladders will bang around inside and hurt the insulation in the roof. I was concerned about this on my Columbus and used to have a padded case for the ladder.

Rich H

 

[willyswagon]

So, WillysWagon,

If you are going to have two rooftents, how are you going to mount them?

I'm very envious, I would love to travel the Dempster.

If you are going to mount one of the tents on a trailer, you will not want to store the ladder inside of it. I've found many of the expedition trailers are very stiff and the ladders will bang around inside and hurt the insulation in the roof. I was concerned about this on my Columbus and used to have a padded case for the ladder.

Rich H

THe Maggi will be on the 56 Willyswagon, the Columbus will be on a Can M101. Thanks for the tip recarding the ladder. Perhaps I'll store it on the underside of the 101 lid.

I've been trying to get to the arctic cicle for years. I was on a charter flight in 2004 that left Iqaluit for Pangnirtung (Baffin Island, Canada), then to fly north over the circle:victory:.
We got fogged out 23 miles back ( Damn Visual Flight Rules!!!)

Back home with out the glory.

In 2005 the flight was cancelled in Iqaluit before we even left the ground.

So the hell with planes, I'm driving to the circle with my wife and 2 girls!
Yep the joke is a couple of 45 yr olds, driving a 55 yr old Willys with 12 and 13 yr old girls for over 8500km(5000miles)one way.:smiley_drive:

Oh Boy what am I thinking?

 

[Lemsteraak]

Sounds like a great adventure. At least your Wagon has a more modern engine. Mine still has the fierce Super Hurricane engine.

OK, you will probably want to prep the tents for cold weather. When you get down below freezing, for some reason you need a thicker mattress. I would suggest a soft topper or a featherbed. Sounds pretty silly but it really helps. Don't get memory foam, it can't handle the cold and gets very hard. I find them uncomfortable in hot weather. The Maggiolina has a thicker mattress than the Columbus.

If you are really going out in nasty weather you might want to get a winter hood. Turns the tents into double walled four season tents. I would also suggest bringing along a parawing type of awning from MSR or Kelty. Nice protection from sun, wind or rain. You don't want to be cooped up in a rooftent all day.

A lot of folks will set up their rooftents with reading lights and such. I did with my first one but I've found I climb in and can't keep my eyes open for long. Next to a boat, my favorite place to sleep.

Rich

 

[willyswagon]

Just got back from Quebec with a Small Maggi for the kids. No I don't even come close to fitting in it. I tried a Regular Columbus, and it won't work either. The distributor had a X long Med Columbus out back but wouldn't uncrate it.

Now I'm wondering X long Columbus or X long Maggi???

Is there anyone in the NE states, with one of either I could check out?

 

[WASURF63]

Just got back from Quebec with a Small Maggi for the kids. No I don't even come close to fitting in it. I tried a Regular Columbus, and it won't work either. The distributor had a X long Med Columbus out back but wouldn't uncrate it.

Now I'm wondering X long Columbus or X long Maggi???

Is there anyone in the NE states, with one of either I could check out?

"Thumbs up" for the Med Columbus Variant XL. Owned one for awhile until just recently. (Moving toward an AT Flippac soon...)
We used it up and down the US west coast and interior PacNW extensively in every type of weather we get here. Way quicker set up/take down than the Maggiolina and more spacious inside.
(I guarantee you'll be able to stretch out comfortably In the Columbus XL.)
I've also owned a Med Magg Grand Tour.
Can't comment on the roominess of a Magg XL; have never seen any specs on dimensions,weight or price.

At 6'1" 220lbs I didn't care for wedging my head and feet between the center of both ends of the lift mechanism in the Magg. (The XL version may not have that issue for taller people). We felt it slightly excelled over the Columbus in really cold, foul weather as far as warmth goes. The mattress was about a 1/2" thicker and little more comfy too.
Note:If the edge of the Magg tent does not overhang the roofline or rack of the intended vehicle you will need to have/make an extention for the crank handle.
I would tend to agree with "Lemsteraak" that a winter hood would be a valuable option to have for both your RTT's. Do be careful with the Columbus
(should you get one) in how thick you pile bedding or extra mattress padding.
If you don't arrange it just right, closing/latching the lid can be quite a challenge. I quickly stopped carrying the ladder up there with the bedding also. (I didn't have that particular problem with the Maggiolina.)

I thought the Columbus and Maggiolina were both superior RTT's and served us well. Our family needs are changing, hence the move toward an ATFP.
Good luck with your choice. Sounds like you have a great family adventure planned!

WS

 

[willyswagon]

Thanks for your input. I was starting to wonder if the world went Roof Top Camping and forgot to tell me about it! It is hard to find one to try, that's for sure.

 

[willyswagon]

I'm still hoping to find a XL Columbus or XL Maggiolina in the NE states to look at.:Astrologist: Anybody???