Hard top vs canvas RTT

[goexplore.ae]

I've been looking at RTT's for a while now, and been attracted more by the hard top style which pop straight up - these would be generic Chinese/Korean unbranded/rebranded items.

I'm now questioning whether one of these would be the right move or should I consider one of the more traditional fold-out canvas tents from the likes of ARB?

I'm based in Dubai so choice is limited. I can get a hard shell here for 5,000Dhs ($1,300) and I'd guess the ARB Simpson III would be just a couple of hundred $$$ more.

My reason for questioning now is losing my entire roof rack to the RTT, plus how well the fibreglass rail on the hard shell would cope with the Middle East sun.

Our plan is to spend around 20 -30 nights a year in the tent here around the UAE and Oman, plus hopefully have something that in a few years time will still be worthwhile to take back to the UK.

So, positives and negatives of the hard shell compared to the canvas versions. Please bear in mind what it and isn't available here, and the cost of shipping these from the US is often prohibitive.


Thanks

 

[80t0ylc]

I can't speak for the endurance of fiberglass with the sun over there. However, you might consider the Alu-Cab RTT with it's aluminum shell. I read that they're very durable and well made. It's the clamshell (pivots at front) design. But, they're made in South Africa, which is closer than S.E. Asia to Dubai. Hardshell RTTs are generally smaller in sq cm and sleep fewer than the fold outs (canvas), so depending on how many are in your party....that might be what you want to consider 1st.

 

[goexplore.ae]

Thanks for the insight Tom.

I had seen the Alu Cab's and they're certainly built for the dry and dusty climates. I've been hankering after a Troopy (which are available here) with the Alu Cab pop top.

I'm more interested how well the canvas tops stand up to the climate, as I'd prefer to keep some of the rack real estate, or whether I'm better off with the hard shell and just dealing with losing all of the space on my rack.

 

[gseim]

So a lot RV's are made of fiberglass. I have owned two and while it does require some maintains it holds up well to sun. Better fiberglass is gel coated and more protected so it;'s worth researching what kind type it is or if it's really ever fiberglass or just a composite material. You can polish and use restoring techniques on it as well. I have an RV that faces a lot of sun and has sat in it for about 5 years and seen lots of use all over the county. It was a budget fiberglass I would say. It did start getting a bit chalky, but it polishes up pretty nicely.

As to Cavas VS Hard top. I like the idea of a hard. Teupi's new hard top. You can even mount stuff on top of it like bikes. The problems I see are the much larger footprint that takes up a lot of roof. I like other stuff on my roof and don't want that much space give to a tent. The other is the even with all that size the open side does not expand so often they are smaller than the canvas RTT's. It also seems like you don't get the skylights and tent experience quite the same as a canvas which might bother some.

But what I always think about when I look at the hard tops is the cost. For the price of many of them you could pick up a nice pickup camper that's a low profile popup. So in the end I just got a canvas, but I've my issues there in build quality as seen in the my Tepui thread. Canvas is a pretty easy entry pint and seems like a great way to start out, but hard tops defiantly have style.

 

[goexplore.ae]

Thanks for the info, and a bit of clarity - hadn't really thought about the amount of fibreglass out in these conditions on a daily basis and how it stands up. I'd hazard a guess that the non-branded Chinese knock-off's may not be the best quality lid, but there's one that's been used for a couple of years here that I can inspect to see how it's likely to stand up.

I did read your thread on the Teipu - got to agree on expectations vs reality of some of these products. I hope you get an adequate conclusion. Sometimes it's best to take a step back and think are the sleepless nights stressing really worth it?

I think I'm going to try a "cheap" canvas tent for a season and see how well we get on with it. My wife (who's not a big camper) says she wants to come with me more this year around the Middle East, but only in a RTT. I normally sleep in a hammock but if we get a RTT and she doesn't come with me, I know I won't have wasted too much money and can go back to my hammock as needed. If she enjoys it, we can then look at investing in something like the Alu Cab or something I can mount equipment on top of the RTT.

 

[gseim]

Cool. If you get the Smitty please let us know what you think. I'm curious if the floors and sturdiness are difference from the Teupi. I read great reviews on it for the cost and it seems to have a nice following.

 

[afbond03]

I don't know if wind noise or drag matters to you but I drive a JKU so the thing is a turd to begin with. I recently moved over to a hard shell RTT from a Canvas RTT and I can say it's like the thing isn't even up there.
If you do go with a less expensive canvas and can get it in Dubai, the Tough Stuff Roof Top Tent seems to be on the same playing field as the Smittybilt stuff.
Also, my hard shell RTT is a direct from china model. I honestly haven't taken it out in the wild yet but from playing in it in my driveway and for the price I paid...I am digging it and think it's going to hold up just fine.

 

[goexplore.ae]

I've just bought an ARB Simpson III for not much more than the Chinese models go for. Hoping to head in to Oman this coming weekend, in search of cooler climates, and camp up the tallest mountain in the Arabian Peninsula, Jebel Shams.

Thanks for all your inputs.