Need help with RTT decision

[Need For Speed]

Hi-
I just bought a M416 for a winter AT project and looking for a RTT. would like some input/feedback regarding these options...

1. Camping Labs LG71 with Lg71 changing room and Lg79 awning
$1,398 shipped
( I don't like the fact that the ladder is outside the changing room)

2. New in box ARB Simpson II with changing room and awning $1500 shipped

3. ARB Simpson III with annex and awning $1,875+ S/H

also-Would love to see some pics of an Avalanche set up with a RTT and AT

thanks,

Mike

 

[freeze]

Here's a review from CT4WD's forum Mostly on the Camping Lab. We have some info in it of the ARB III

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Here's a little better write up of the tent and now that Chris K. (oriontaco) has the ARB Simpson III we can elaborate on the two.

When I first had this tent, the very next weekend I had to test it out and what better weekend than when the tempurature drops to -20! With quite a few layers of sleeping bags and blankets it was pretty decent.

The latest escapade that gave the tent a good test was in Moab when there was very strong winds, thunder, pouring rain, and snow. The flutter from the rain tarp in the strong wind did make a humming sound but not as loud as the wind as it howled through the mountain range. It was nice to wake up to find not one ounce of rain got through the tent.

Being up top I didn't have to worry too much about torrential rivers of water flowing through the camp, however, I did keep an eye out for David W. and Bill every few hours. Bill did have to re-stake his tent as the walls were caving in on him in the wind.

A roof top tent is an incredible experience, it's a combination of a tree fort and African safari mixed together.

Here's how the tent opens up and some of the essential parts of the Camping Lab RTT.

This is the mounting hardware as you have to bolt on the aluminum track to the base of the tent, then slide the hardware into the track to clamp on to a rack

The zipper is pretty burly, it'll be pretty hard to rip this one off. Time will tell.

These are the straps that keep the tent cover on they go across the tent around the ladder which is the middle lump.

If it wasn't for Chris K. pickup up an ARB, I would have always have my tent like this. The cover is actually supposed to be threaded into the aluminum base so it's attached always. Not draping off the corner like I had it

This is what it looks like without the cover.

There are two velcro straps which hold the tent down.

The aluminium ladder slides out and extends which snaps and locks into place.

Pulling on the ladder opens the tent like a book.

The tarp is held to down for storage by these hook buttons

 

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To keep the windows and tarp open, the RTT comes with these aluminum poles which insert into the base of the tent and bend to keep the tarp up.

This is the final result

The inside is quite roomy as this is the middle size Camping Lab sells which is 55" x 94".

The difference with ARB and the Camping Lab is not only the rain tarp. The difference that we've noticed is as follows:

• All the seams are taped on the ARB
• The heavy vinyl cover seems a tad thinner on the ARB and the straps go length wise
• There is extra setting up on the ARB for the rain tarp which we can get a photo to demonstrate
• The ARB is slightly heavier
• The mattress is an inch thinner on the ARB but is slightly firmer.
• The ARB uses plastic hooks instead of the hook buttons Camping Lab uses.

We'll see how the Camping Lab RTT holds up. There's going to be some serious use this spring and summer. Maybe a fair amount of ski bumming in the winter?!

 

[Need For Speed]

thanks