Maggiolina users..help w/opinions stories!

[wanderer-rrorc]

well the wife and I are talking....(not a big shock..and nobody got sent to their room without supper)..

we have an 09 4dr wrangler..(my daily driver)

we also have the 85 E250 turbodiesel that I have been redoing the interior..that we use for towing our soon to be sold rock-crawler..but nice to have the roomy vehicle and ability to tow alot!!

the vans old..but in EXCELENT shape...as seen here
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34292

the initial build was to put a maggiolinia on the top and access it thru a rear sunroof in the van..(figuring out I would seal it to the van when mounted on...)...

then we got to talking about being able to walk around inside the van which needed a pop-top...but after looking at the estimated cost of having the canvas top made we have looked at the cost effectiveness of peeling the roof and doing the pop-top to the van....and the fact that the insurance wouldnt cover the money spent if it was ever totaled out (accident/stolen)..

the conversation we had/have came back around to the origonal idea of using a maggiolinia tent...that way we can do the outterbanks/west coast with the jeep..(newer..warranty..4wd..modern)
and still do more on-pavement camping with the van (lets face it..the 4dr is roomy..but the van is a small apartment compared to it!)..with the plans that after the jeep is paid off...we will probably get a NEW/ER diesel van (if they even still have internal combustion engines in 5yrs!)...and having to put another pop-up top on it ($$$)

she's read the testimonials that I can find..on autohouse's website and on here..and special thanks to Corey for his videos and pictures of his FJ setup!!

but we want to hear more...we're farily big people (im almost 300 and she's not skinny (i'd tell ya her weight...but she just gave birth to our twins and can kill me under "post-pardum-depression" for the next year!!)...

the van has been used by me SEVERAL times to bunk in...sleeps 3 adults...so the kids will be good there...the jeep with the seats down will probably sleep the kids as they get older (and they will probably want to sleep in the tent sometimes..)...so we're lookin at the meduim size hopin that as we slim down (I put on baby weight too!!)...that one of the kiddo's will fit in the tent with us....so relative size and sleeping with rug-rats experiance helpfull too!!

 

[wardrow]

My wife and I sleep in an extreme model. We wish we had gone with a large.

 

[Harald Hansen]

We've got the widest Adventurer model and put both small kids (~2 yo and 5 yo) in there with us. We're both still kind of slim, though, but the four of us really fill out the useful space in the tent. In a few years we will have grown out of the tent, and somebody (me, I guess... ) will have to sleep somewhere else.

 

[The Swiss]

JK Unlimited and Maggiolina? No idea what you are talking about

I'll post later some info that might help, gotta run... :elkgrin:

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I have a Large Safari (pretty similar to an Airlander), and we got it intending just us to be up there. I figured we had the space (it was going on a trailer) and it would be nice just to have the extra room. For getting changed, for relaxing, for storing a change of clothes, etc. I think I would find the Small to be a little claustrophobic. I think you really need to try one out before making a choice, as it's hard to describe how small they feel due to the low roof height. That's the big disadvantage of the Maggiolina.

We've slept up there with our toddler, and it was ok, but we're also fairly small. I think we could have two little kids up there, but we don't plan on doing that. I built a sleeping compartment in the trailer for the kids.

 

[Corey]

wanderer, glad my pics and vids could be of help to you.
I could not imagine being without the Maggiolina, it makes setup and camping easier.

Mine is the medium and it can be a little tight with two and your duffelbags.

 

[DaveM]

I had an Airland large (thats the queen size one right?) for my wife and I for a couple of years. I loved the quick set up and safe cozy feeling but I can't imagine having our 1 yr old up there with us now. When all the windows were shut and it was pitch black I would occasioanly get a jolt of claustrophobia (sp?). I have a Oz Tent RV3 now. Set up is actually faster if you don't count lugging the tent to its spot on the ground!

edited to add: thanks Rob!

 

[R_Lefebvre]

The Large is the Queen size one.

 

[The Swiss]

but we want to hear more...we're farily big people (im almost 300 and she's not skinny (i'd tell ya her weight...but she just gave birth to our twins and can kill me under "post-pardum-depression" for the next year!!)...

the van has been used by me SEVERAL times to bunk in...sleeps 3 adults...so the kids will be good there...the jeep with the seats down will probably sleep the kids as they get older (and they will probably want to sleep in the tent sometimes..)...so we're lookin at the meduim size hopin that as we slim down (I put on baby weight too!!)...that one of the kiddo's will fit in the tent with us....so relative size and sleeping with rug-rats experiance helpfull too!!

First question is how tall you are. If you are over 6 foot, you will not be comfortable in a Maggiolina, no matter which one. I would be better of with a conventional RTT. If you guys are big the other way round there should not be too much problems, especially if you go with a medium and or large, as long - don't take this the wrong way - you are agile enough to climb up and down the ladder and squeeze through the Maggiolina entrance, that is not exactly huge.

About having the twins up there; I was never able to sleep with my boys in one bed when they were little, no matter how big the bed was. So I can not comment on this.

One thing to keep in mind is that according to my experience you loose about 2 to 3 mpg with the Maggiolina on the Jeep and that the JK feels more anemic in daily traffic. She also got a kinda-sorta top heavy, specially noticeable with the sway bars disconnected. That's why I'm moving my Maggiolina back on the trailer. (Which means that I have my Kargo Master Congo Cage for sale now ) But I love my Maggiolina. Quality is great (mine's about 10 years old), it's a breeze to set up and tear down and provides great nights of sleep.

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

im 5'10 n the wifes 5'4...we're able to climb (im "husky"...not fluffy...so I can get in there...)..and a meduim is exactly what we're lookin at!

more than likely I will get banished to the van/jeep when she has the twins up with her (in hammocks so they dont get rolld on and cant fall out...)

is your jk the auto? they are terrible n anemic compared to the 6spd!!:smiley_drive: (love my 6spd!!)..I drive 6miles a day for work..but wont have her on unless we're headin out...and after racin WEROCK..we leave the swaybars on...flex is overrated..:sombrero:

 

[84scrambler]

I purchased my large Maggiolina this past summer. I ended up picking it up used for $1300. Spent about a year looking and had to jump on it when it popped up.
I only got two nights in it as it was toward the end of summer. My girlfriend and I are both average size people I'm 5'11" and she is 5'6" and have a combined weight of about 300lbs. It was fairly roomy for the two of us and if we were to put another person with us in there it would be cramped. Changing in it was interesting but not bad, just like having a low profile tent but your not sliding around on an inflatable mattress. I had to get use to the ladder, it was a little awkward at first but I got use to after a few trips up and down.

 

[The Swiss]

im 5'10 n the wifes 5'4...we're able to climb (im "husky"...not fluffy...so I can get in there...)..and a meduim is exactly what we're lookin at!

more than likely I will get banished to the van/jeep when she has the twins up with her (in hammocks so they dont get rolld on and cant fall out...)

is your jk the auto? they are terrible n anemic compared to the 6spd!!:smiley_drive: (love my 6spd!!)..I drive 6miles a day for work..but wont have her on unless we're headin out...and after racin WEROCK..we leave the swaybars on...flex is overrated..:sombrero:

At 5'10 you will be fine in the Maggiolina, Mr. "Husky" (actually, I had to look up that word; Husky was just a dog breed for me. Learned something. I guess my word of the day is "husky" :elkgrin. The walls of the Maggiolina are very sturdy, there is no risk of the twins falling out, as long as the mosquito netting at the entrance doors is zippered down well.

Yes, mine is the auto; sometimes wished I got the 6 speed. Both have their pros and cons.

If you are planning on putting the RTT only on for trips and then take it down, plan on a good hoist and keep it suspended in the garage. First it's then safely out of the way and second, I am absolutely positive that the Maggiolina makes itself extra heavy and my JK grows a couple inches in height every time we put it up there or take it down. Me and my older son are not exactly weak and meanwhile we know exactly on where to stand and how to grab, but gee, it's a piece of work ...

 

[Mike S]

First question is how tall you are. If you are over 6 foot, you will not be comfortable in a Maggiolina, no matter which one. I would be better of with a conventional RTT.

This used to be true - the mattress on the standard is just over 72". Now we have both the Maggiolina and the Columbus in EXTRA LONG.

These tents are over 6'8" on the mattress. I haven't met anyone yet who does not like the extra space. The Maggiolina XL will be on the website in a couple of weeks, The tents are in stock and available now.

 

[007]

Have you considered the ezi-awn t-top series? Its like a queen or king bed combined with a tall ground tent - loads of room.

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Have you considered the ezi-awn t-top series? Its like a queen or king bed combined with a tall ground tent - loads of room.

we have looked at them...our van is very tall already and getting up to put the covers on the fold out tents isnt my idea of fun..:sombrero:

after watching the video of it being opened..I know for a FACT that my wife wouldnt be able to do most of that..she's not ladder stable (clumsy)...and the way you pull the ladder to open it would cause alot of dents/damage when it slips from her hand (dont laugh...I dont walk in the kitchen barefoot when she's using a knive...)..

the maggiolina can be opend standing in the backcargo area of the van...on a 7in wide flat platform bumper..leaning on the passenger door..and nice and stable..

to us the fold out tents are just like ground tents..roomy..comfy..but not so easily packed...I like the maggiolina hardcase n smooth design..