Air-supported tent - an interesting RTT alternative/improvement

[Redrock]

So I met a guy the other day with a really, really trick tent. Looked like this:

It's called the Nemo Hypno - apparently there's also a Morpho. Those fat tent poles you see aren't poles at all: they're actually inflated pneumatic "air beams" that support the fabric. And it works - the guy swore that it was more stable in winds than a poled tent and that he never had any condensation issues due to the fabric, which was apparently single wall (no fly) but constructed from some kind of nifty waterproof and really breathable fabric. The air beams are enclosed within fabric that's basically sailcloth, very tough and durable, and the guy said he'd treated it completely normally, no special treatment, for at least 50 nights of sleeping, and had no issues with durability. He carried spare tubes with him to be on the safe side.

I've been considering a rooftop tent, but this is incredibly trick and probably sets up almost as fast. And, while staggeringly expensive for a camping tent - $500 - it'd be a viable alternative to a RTT that's 2-4 times the price.

Which makes me wonder - could this kind of tech be applied to a rooftop tent and reduce the current weight and bulk of those setups? My major complaint with RTTs is that they're all about 11 inches tall, and that bulk adds frontal area and wind resistance that kills fuel economy and raises the center of gravity. If you used these beams with air mattresses, I bet you could get that 11 down to 6. It'd require a compressor, but who doesn't carry one of those? You could have a very nice, tall, spacious tent with a short setup time and not much weight, and a very minimal presence on your roof rack.

 

[RocKrawler]

Here are some more options from a similar company, although do-able if you built a platform up there I still think they are grossly overpriced

http://www.airzonerecreation.com/products/index.htm

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: They are great tents and really strong, I got two, the Goldfinch for my trailer and the Osprey for free standing

The GULLWING airs up in 30 seconds-cool

It's interesting, I've been showing them for 6 months and nobody has shown any interest, I've used them both and they air down in less than a minute and you just stuff the Osprey in its black bag and throw it in the back of ??

:costumed-smiley-007:bike_rider::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[mhiscox]

I suspect that many/most are aware that the big tent on the top of the EarthRoamer XV-JP is air supported using five crossbody strut tubes filled from the air supplied by the engine-driven compressor. Pops up in maybe 15 seconds once the moveable roof section is back, deflates in a little longer; both operations controlled by a switch near the rear hatch.

 

[Funrover]

Interesting. thanks!

 

[Redrock]

Wasn't aware of the Earthroamer's air tent. Very cool.

 

[rroadkilll]

Mmmmm.....

 

[off-roader]

:sombrero: They are great tents and really strong, I got two, the Goldfinch for my trailer and the Osprey for free standing

Jimbo,

For the smaller yellow tent, can you zipper shut the screen windows so that you have more privacy and protection from rain? Seems the tent tarp/canopy wouldn't be as useable on a roof or trailer since the front panels need to be staked down.

TIA.

 

[Redrock]

There's a rainfly that goes over the whole mess, looks like.

 

[JIMBO]

:wings: Yea, the rainfly has velcro attachments for each corner (halfway up) and then uses nylon clips, for each corner, each one also has tie downs for access ease

There's a rainfly that goes over the whole mess, looks like.

The rain flys are about 20% bigger than each tent, so they could be awninged(???)

:victory::snorkel::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[off-roader]

Right but from the pictures, it looks like the front where it zippers closed it provides a bit of a vestibule which is staked down. This is the part you'd have to find a way to work on the roof. I guess you could run a line to a stake in the ground, or some other makeshift setup.

Also it appears the top corner of the cover/rainfly is either open or screened which could be problematic in the rain.

Don't mean to shoot down the idea for others, just looking at the limitations for myself. It may well work for others where this is not a concern.:ylsmoke:

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: Who are you talking to ????

Right but from the pictures, it looks like the front where it zippers closed it provides a bit of a vestibule which is staked down. This is the part you'd have to find a way to work on the roof. I guess you could run a line to a stake in the ground, or some other makeshift setup.

Also it appears the top corner of the cover/rainfly is either open or screened which could be problematic in the rain.

Don't mean to shoot down the idea for others, just looking at the limitations for myself. It may well work for others where this is not a concern.:ylsmoke:

:coffeedrink::costumed-smiley-007:safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[off-roader]

:sombrero: Who are you talking to ????

Both you and redrock.:sombrero:

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: OK, Now I really don't know what you're talking about

None of my pics have the rainfly in them, but if you mean, it might be hard to attach the rainfly, to the tent, on top of the trailer, well, yea, since the rainfly also attaches to the tent top

If you had to do it IN THE RAIN, yea that would be a problem, but

If you do it beforehand, then it's no trouble, although, I've never had to do it in the sierras-just practiced in good weather

I'm a bit of a wuss, I don't setup the tents if there's any chance of rain

I've slept in the xterra when BEARS were around and I'll do the same in the jeep if it threatens rain !!

cheers

:victory::costumed-smiley-007:safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[off-roader]

:sombrero: OK, Now I really don't know what you're talking about

None of my pics have the rainfly in them, but if you mean, it might be hard to attach the rainfly, to the tent, on top of the trailer, well, yea, since the rainfly also attaches to the tent top

The pics on their website show the rainfly on the tent.
Here...

You can see the front of the rainfly (divided by black vertical zipper in picture above) extends out from the tent to form a sort of dry 'vestibule' when set up on the ground.

Up in the air, the rainfly is not so functional/effective, so IMHO this would someone limit it's effectiveness. At best I'd consider it a summer only solution which may fit many campers needs.

I tend to camp through 3 seasons occasionally even in the rain hence the reason for my comment... but again, that said, aside from these 'flaws' (for my style of camping anyway) this could probably be an excellent summer rooftop camping solution as the footprint is only 5x8.:ylsmoke: