Aluminium hardshell RTT in Canada

[nick-v]

Hi! French Canadian here looking to buy a clamshell aluminium RTT. https://adventuretrucks.ca/ seems to be an Alu-cab dealer. I'm waiting for a quote. Do I have any other options?

I'm ready to pay for that kind of high end tent, but I think that the duties, taxes, shipping and exchange rates will make the price to have one ship from the US ridiculous.

I'm considering, in that order:
1. Bush company alpha
2. Camp king
3. Alu-cab gen 3
4. Easy-Awn Blade
5. Roofnest Falcon

Thank you!

 

[BrewsterII]

Personally, I'd have Autohome Maggiolina's/Columbus on that list.

 

[Stabwell]

I have an Alu-cab Gen 3, for about 1.5 years with plenty of nights in it. I really like it. Had to make some upgrades that are more preferential but probably should be stock. Had to upgrade the mattress and get a telescoping ladder. The Alu-cab ladder is a great ladder, but worthless. Storing it in the tent is basically the only option. I don't want to store my wet or dirty ladder on my bed, and the storage bag helps, but it's a pain too. The stock mattress is fine for lawn furniture, but I swapped to a 3in latex foam mattress that is WAY more comfortable. All in, probably $300-350 in upgrades. These are not something you should expect after paying almost $4k USD for a RTT, but seems to be the same issue across manufacturers.

I really like what I've seen from the Bush Company tent, and wish that was an option before I bought mine. I've looked at a Camp King in person, and I would probably stick with my Alu-cab over Camp King, given the price. All three of these appear to be basically the same tent with modifications to trim and fittings.

 

[Crazy Schooner]

Just a heads up about Adventure trucks, they don't communicate that well. I asked for quotes a few times and I realize that can be annoying (well I contacted them three times in total over a year) but they have nothing on their website. I was going to buy an Alucab RTT from them, and they stated in an email they will have stock in a couple weeks. I was stoked about that and I was willing to drive in from Alberta and pick it up in person. However when I asked if I can buy online from Alberta to avoid paying BC's PST they went just went silent. I don't have patience to deal with companies like that, so I never bothered to deal with them. The money saved from not paying PST would have paid for the gas there and back. If they had a website with online ordering this wouldn't be a thing. I get it they are moving to a larger building that is under construction but communicate with people.

If they don't want to communicate, then put up a website with stock and prices, yeesh. Pisses me off they are my only option if I want an alucab canopy for my new truck and not deal with an american retailer.

Adventure trucks will quote you the price of the tent with exchange/duty. They will cover freight and brokerage for the tent to their store. Might be easier to just buy from OK4WD on the east coast and make a road trip out of it seeing how your on the east side of Canada. Last quote I got from them was $5749 plus taxes. However the dollar was a little bit stronger then.

On a brighter note, northridge 4x4 is starting to carry odd ball RTT's. They have an aluminum hardshell for $5225.
Same with SMRT tents, they have a cheaper fibreglass option and an aluminum option that seems pretty decently priced ($4200 for an aluminum model). End of the day, there are some cdn retailers getting in on the market. Northridge at least has an actual website with set prices. So it's a bit easier to plan out your budget.

Northridge 4x4 Mamba Aluminum https://www.northridge4x4.ca/part/t...vehicle-systems-mamba-iii-roof-top-tent-black
SMRT Fibreglass https://smrttent.com/product/skyloft/
SMRT Aluminum https://smrttent.com/product/summit-suite/

Also, CVT loves to toss their branding on anything and everything. They have teamed up with bushcountry and slapped their name on the regular hardshell and the new maxx hardshell tents. They are offering these for a bit but you have to contact them directly.

Same with that SMRT tent that looks like it might just be a badged up generic clamshell. CVT found the suppliers and slapped their logo on that as well. I personally would rather have a CVT logo on my tent rather than a Homer Simpson/Ralph Wiggum quote. Presale price looks good though!

 

[nick-v]

Thank you guys for your in-depth replies.

I agree that Adventure Trucks website could be more detailed, but it seems like a small shop and as a web developer, I know that an good e-commerce site is a pain to manage... I just talked to Jeremy who seems to be the manager and/or owner and it went pretty well. So well that I have my name on a an Alu-cab! I'll let you know how the rest of the process goes.

I have not seen the Mt-Hood before Mr. Schooner's post. It's interesting, but still, shipping from the us is a mystery, for me at least, still after contacting CVT for the Bush...

I thought about pick it up, but we don't know the frontier are closed for how long and we would still have to declare it to the customs (that's my lovely girlfriend talking)...

Can't wait to camp!!!

 

[mobydick 11]

I don't know if you are willing to compromise . Costco CA now sells silverwing fiberglass/ABS RTT . just type in Roof top tents and it will show up . $2500 Canadian dollars delivered . In US they have 300 off price once in a while and that brings them down to 1700 over there . I keep waiting to see if they ever have a sale on Ca but no luck so far .The one I am referring to have a hard top and full height inside . O and there was a company in Quebec selling what you want for Honda Elements, they make bed systems and added the RTT to there products .

 

[Wallygator]

I have the Eezi-Awn Blade. Has been a great tent so far. Very durable. Have you spoken with Paul at Equipt One Outfitters?

https://www.equipt1.com

 

[nick-v]

Thanks again for your help.

I know a lot a people have no problem with there fiberglass tent, but I really wanted an aluminium one for the piece of mind and I wanted to buy from Canada to make sure I have no suprise with duties.

Sooooo, I just confirmed the order of an Alu-Cab from Adventure Trucks in Kelowna. It is supposed to be shipped very soon. I'll let you know when I have it mounted.

Someone need to start importing more models in eastern Canada. I'm sure there's money to be made...

 

[ac1617]

I've been considering doing a group buy with the Chinese suppler of many Aluminum RTT brands (ex. SMRT Tent and possibly bushcountry, CVT etc) for members here in Canada. Wondering if there is any interest?
Here is the manufacture I've been chatting with, they can ship an unbranded tent or with a logo of our choosing:

Off-road Roof Top Tent Adventure Car Roof Tent Aluminum Load-bearing Roof Tent 4x4 - Buy 4x4 Off-road Roof Tent,Aluminum Roof Top Tent Product on Alibaba.com

Off-road Roof Top Tent Adventure Car Roof Tent Aluminum Load-bearing Roof Tent 4x4 - Buy 4x4 Off-road Roof Tent,Aluminum Roof Top Tent Product on Alibaba.com

www.alibaba.com

Qingdao Sunsail Auto Accessories Co., Ltd. - Car Roof Tent, Car Roof Box

Qingdao Sunsail Auto Accessories Co., Ltd., Experts in Manufacturing and Exporting Car Roof Tent, Car Roof Box and 248 more Products.

sunsail-aa.en.alibaba.com

Logistics I'd have to figure out is pickup/shipping from the port (Either Vancouver or Prince Rupert) and a customs broker. But if there is enough interest for members in Canada I'll probably have more motivation to get something started.
$2000 Canadian shipped to a port, so lets say another $1000 worst case scenario to clear customs and shipping costs, that's still $1200 cheaper than buying from the rebrands of this tent.

 

[ac1617]

Looks like an AluCab clone. I'd be interested if final, all-in price was around $1500-1600 CAD. But that's about the max I'd be willing to commit for an unknown, Chinese copy of a brand-name tent. To me, a cost of $3k is entirely too much given the unknowns & risk.

Where do you think Alu-Cab, CVT, Tepui, etc tents are made? Can you link me to a post from Alu-Cab indicating their tents is made outside China? I think a lot of folks assume because the company is based in America, South America, Australia etc they must have factories in the back of the store that make the Aluminum shells, fabric, zippers, shocks etc and employees are building them by hand. In reality there is very few brands that make RTT's outside of China. It's the same factories pumping them out and companies are just putting their logos on them.

Non Chinese RTT?

What brands other than Eezi-awn and James B are made outside of China? I know CVT, Tepui, and HIT are all made in China.

expeditionportal.com

 

[Wallygator]

Where do you think Alu-Cab, CVT, Tepui, etc tents are made? Can you link me to a post from Alu-Cab indicating their tents is made outside China? I think a lot of folks assume because the company is based in America, South America, Australia etc they must have factories in the back of the store that make the Aluminum shells, fabric, zippers, shocks etc and employees are building them by hand. In reality there is very few brands that make RTT's outside of China. It's the same factories pumping them out and companies are just putting their logos on them.

Non Chinese RTT?

What brands other than Eezi-awn and James B are made outside of China? I know CVT, Tepui, and HIT are all made in China.

expeditionportal.com

http://alu.cab/en/home

Made in South Africa

 

[rino]

Where do you think Alu-Cab, CVT, Tepui, etc tents are made? Can you link me to a post from Alu-Cab indicating their tents is made outside China? I think a lot of folks assume because the company is based in America, South America, Australia etc they must have factories in the back of the store that make the Aluminum shells, fabric, zippers, shocks etc and employees are building them by hand. In reality there is very few brands that make RTT's outside of China. It's the same factories pumping them out and companies are just putting their logos on them.

Non Chinese RTT?

What brands other than Eezi-awn and James B are made outside of China? I know CVT, Tepui, and HIT are all made in China.

expeditionportal.com

You were correct on two of the three, however Alu-Cab is proudly built in Cape Town, South Africa. From raw aluminum and canvas, powder coating to finished product all takes place in house, in six factories in the same industrial complex.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[rino]

Looks like an AluCab clone. I'd be interested if final, all-in price was around $1500-1600 CAD. But that's about the max I'd be willing to commit for an unknown, Chinese copy of a brand-name tent. To me, a cost of $3k is entirely too much given the unknowns & risk.

Sadly they are pictures of REAL Alu-Cab products, with the logo blacked out. The silver FJC is a guy here named Basil and the green T4R a guy named AJ, who's photos are shamelessly taken by these knock-off companies to promote their knock off products.

 

[greg.potter]

Seven or eight years ago I bought one of the first generation Chinese Autohome knock-offs that CVT was selling. It was a disaster as was the replacement that they sent me. The first tent's lift mechanism failed after having been set up around a dozen times, and there was many other issues as well (there is a post on here about it). The second tent failed inspection at the dealers shop and I never put it on my vehicle. I have to commend CVT for doing the right thing by their customers and providing a full refund, but I personally wouldn't consider buying another Chinese knock-off product again.

 

[mt72]

Thanks, Folks for this post I was looking for feedback on the Alucab Hercules with a "Canadian dealer" put now I really think I will go with ok4wd!