AutoHome Columbus Variant or Hanibal Impi?...

[NateK]

I love the idea of both, just poop the latch/latches and you've got home on the road (or off!)
Hard top to reduce wind noise and keep the tent safer from tree branches etc...

What I like about the Variant(Variant):
Rear and side entry.
MUCH lighter (~50lbs).
Comes in bigger sizes (I'd probably go with a Medium).
Slightly thinner (~1/2").
Colour (not a biggie).

What I like about the Impi(Impi):
Rear and side entry.
Mini awning over entry.
Price (compared to the Variant).

What are the main differences (if any) between the two tents?
What features would be more important to you (I'm a newby) this will be my first and hopefully last RTT, so it must be durable and long lasting.
How long can I expect each to last in ideal conditions? In not-so ideal conditions?
Why is the Impi almost 50lbs heavier?

Is the Variant worth the extra 400 bones If I keep it forever?

Would either one withstand a Hannibal awning (Defender Rear Awning W/Sides) attached to the back of the top shell?

I'd also love to read reviews of each tent (I've searched but not found much...)

Thanks so much!:victory:

 

[thallca]

I have a Hannibal awning mounted on my Range Rover Classic.
The easiest way to mount the awning is to a Hannibal roof rack. You can modify the mounting system on the awning to work with another rack system if you are a good with your fab skills.
I really don't think you would want to try to mount the awning to the tent housing because the weight involved.
As for the life of the tent, I think you will be happy with either one. The hard fiberglass shell really protects the tent much better then the fabric covered ones. I had no place to store my Hannibal tent so it was mounted on my roof all the time. During the Southern California wildfires in 2007 the fabric covering on my tent was damaged. Water entered the tent and over a period of time the tent became unlivable. If Hannibal had the Impi back in 2006 I would have bought it instead.

 

[NateK]

Thanks thallca!
Yea, that's why I want a hard shell.

It's either a RTT and a rack or a trailer that I'll build.
The RTT will be easier and probably cheaper, but not as versatile..
I'm still leaning toward a trailer, but I do like the idea of a RTT for 4xing..

Any more input would be appreciated on the OP.:victory:

 

[auslander]

Is the Impi available for sale? Looked at the website, it just says "Item Not Available" ... but that looks like a good tent. I'm looking for the same thing -- either a medium Columbus Variant or that Impi.

I'd love to find a used Columbus medium but I almost never see them up for sale (which I guess is a good thing -- satisfied customers I'd think)

 

[spressomon]

I don't know how the post-sale support is from Hannibal. But I can attest to the post-sale support/overall customer satisfaction from Mike S of Autohome USA. His support when needed was five star. I had an Overland and then a med Maggiolina. I would buy a Columbus from him in a second if I needed/wanted one!

 

[Scott Brady]

I would be curious how the Impi is in person. Nice to see Hannibal back in the US.

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

I like the awning on the impi but 1/3 heavier is pretty massive.
That might not be a concern for some, but that would be a dealbreaker for me.

 

[WASURF63]

Thanks thallca!
Yea, that's why I want a hard shell.

It's either a RTT and a rack or a trailer that I'll build.
The RTT will be easier and probably cheaper, but not as versatile..
I'm still leaning toward a trailer, but I do like the idea of a RTT for 4xing..

Any more input would be appreciated on the OP.:victory:

NateK, fellow PacificNW'er!

Yes, definitely a hard shell RTT for up here in the soggy PNW.
If you go with the Columbus Variant get the XL model. Very roomy.

x2 on what "spressomon" said about Mike S @Autohome. Super nice guy.
Xlnt customer service. We've bought both a Columbus and Maggiolina from him in the past. Very happy with the quality and durability of both. Great RTT choices for the balmy(?) weather here.

I would definitely agree with "thallca" on mounting the Hannibal Awning to a solid rack. It's a very stout awning with a heavy lateral load when set up(especially with the optional sides attached).

RTT and awning mounted to a rack (bedrack?) would be a good setup and look pretty good on your Tundra too.

(pictured below are some examples of what we did with our '08 Tacoma)

Good luck with your choice, and post up some photos as you build it.

WS

 

[Lemsteraak]

I think it is pretty difficult to compare AutoHome's Columbus to Hannibal's Impi right now. The Impi is a pretty rare beast.

My guess why the Columbus is more expensive is because it weighs less. I've worked with fiberglass and it used to be that hand laid glass was the bee's knees. The technology that AutoHome uses goes way beyond that, they use a vacuum system so a minimum of resin is used, the shells are lighter, stronger, perfect. On the early tents, where they were hand laid, you could see spots where they would have to drill in to fill voids after the shell had come out of the mold. That is a thing of the past.

The only way now to get the weight down more is to use some exotic materials like carbon fiber. Oh, sorry, they do make one out of carbon.

Costs are really relative. I got the first Columbus shipped to the US, cost me $1100 ten years ago. Sold it for a profit when I bought the first Columbus Variant, think I paid $1300, and again sold it for a profit when I bought the latest Variant a couple years ago which I am using now. I do have my eye on a small carbon fiber, but I'll wait for an extra long so I can downsize to small. I figure it will be like a little leaf up there. I say this not to illustrate that I am a Columbus junkie, I am, but it has something to do with value.

Rich

 

[auslander]

It's good to hear people discussing this -- I'm on the fence, the built-in awning on the Impi is pretty nice, but I could probably make one for the Columbus if I really wanted to, can't be that hard. The color of the Impi is also more appealing to me, as is the Hannibal Safari logo However that really shouldn't be a reason to buy a tent. Heh.

I talked with the guys at Hannibal, and while they have a lot of interest in the Impi, they don't have any for sale and probably won't until sometime in May. Production times and then shipping a container full of tents from South Africa to the USA are not making it easy to get a hold of. They said they had tried shipping individual tents at some point, but they were almost always damaged in transit.

So, the Columbus seems like the one for me -- they are lighter (which isn't a huge concern for me, but less weight is always nice) and they also have an available winter hood that can be kept on the tent at all times (even when closed). I camp year-round so that is pretty nice.

 

[lukerobyn]

Mounting Autohome or Impi to Hannibal Safari rack

Pretty interested to know if anyone has mounted a impi or autohome RTT to a safari rack. The mounting systems for both tents are similar and the roof bars of the rack go the wrong way. Already have hannibal awnings so trying to make them work with RTT as well.

Comments and pictures if you have would be great.

 

[Mike S]

There are number of good options for mounting an AutoHome to nearly any rack.

Give me a call or send e-mail and I can provide more details on the possibilities.

888-852-2359