Roof Tent Access Hatch

[Steve UK]

Hi,

This picture below, I grabbed it off the internet a few years ago. I quite like the idea and as my Maggiolina roof tent gets older the idea does not horrify me as much.

I like the idea of getting into the tent without getting wet or unceremoniously wriggling in as the ladder try's make a break for it! There are awnings for these tents but I have already got a Hannibal awning which I like.

Has anyone else done such a thing? I guess the guy in the picture has but this is all I have ever seen and no other information. I would make a bespoke hatch and place it at the front so as to have the removable hole in the mattress by our feet, manufacturing is not a problem and if it goes wrong I just buy another roof.

Am I mad? or is this a workable idea, I get to ditch the ladder then too.

Oh, it's a Defender 90.

This won't get done for at least a year but the idea is growing on me.

 

[overlander]

If I didn't have a full cage I would absolutely have a viewing hatch and maybe a tent hatch. I have no issues with putting holes in my Rover.

 

[454]

I hope that you don't plan on taking a leak in the middle of the night. Or offset the hatch to one side, I guess.

 

[Lemsteraak]

There have been quite a few folks I have seen make access hatches. Takes a bit of planning. The base of a Maggiolina is composite, fiberglass, foam and fiberglass and probably a little over an inch thick. Pretty easy to modify, like a deck on a sailboat. The other mods you need to make are the lift mechanism is designed to be cranked up from the outside. The fabric is also designed so it it is tucked in when closing and the closing hasps are designed to dangle down to open and close. All these can be worked through pretty easily. I can walk you through but ....

I don't advocate doing this. Here is why, a Maggiolina lasts a very long time. I spoke with one fellow who bought one 40 years ago for his VW van, now it is on his Land Rover. Mine has been on at least four vehicles. I like to view these tents like a sleeping bag, a camping item, not a vehicle accessory.

That being said, I still can see some reasons for doing this. One fellow was a board sailer who needed to be able to put on his drysuit where it was warm and dry, yeah OK, I can see that. Makes changing easier. If you have kids and want to trap them, I can see that too.

 

[luckyjoe]

This is for a folding fabric sunroof.


I thought about possible roof top tent access, but I'm not really a rooftop tent kinda guy.

Tom P.

 

[Teadrinker]

Hi
I am picking up a maggiolina next week to do exactly what you are proposing. I will mount mine on a safari roof rack as I think it will look better than just fixing it directly to the roof. I currently have an elevating roof and plan to cut out the same area of the magnolia floor so that we can use the magnolia as an elevating roof during the day and fold down two beds at night. You may think I am mad but I have been toying with this for so long that when the opportunity for a 'cheap' maggiolina came along I just had to give it a go. I will bolt the tent to the roof rack in the usual way. I already have a wooden upstanding frame round where I cut the roof out - this was done for strengthening - so I will fibreglass the frame to the bottom of the tent. From the outside it will look just like a roof tent on a roof rack. I am even considering a bevel gearbox so that we can operate the winding mechanism from inside. I will keep you posted on my progress.

 

[Steve UK]

Hello,

Thanks everyone for the replies, looks like it may be possible and not as daft as I first thought. I will keep the D90 for ever so swapping to another car is not an issue.

Teadrinker, yes please keep us updated on how you get on. Sounds great.

I have a picture I found during my research you may be interested in.

 

[Teadrinker]

Hello,

Thanks everyone for the replies, looks like it may be possible and not as daft as I first thought. I will keep the D90 for ever so swapping to another car is not an issue.

Teadrinker, yes please keep us updated on how you get on. Sounds great.

I have a picture I found during my research you may be interested in.

Wow, thanks for that. I have spent months trying to find out if someone had done one. This is just what I had in mind and it looks like it works as well as I thought it would. My opening is smaller ( no rude comments please) as I was just planning to keep the opening I made for the elevating roof - but this looks great with nearly all the base removed. I will need some sort of ledger to form a ledge for the drop down bed to rest on. I have found a mechanism for a bed which mounts to the underside of the roof on gas struts. When you need the bed it just pulls down, rests on the ledges and spans the gap. Thanks for the info

 

[Teadrinker]

Cutting out the roof

Just in case anyone is wondering about the integrity of the roof structure- I have previous !!!
I own a fibreglass river cruiser. When I got it the bed was in the back cabin and so head room was not needed. I wanted to reconfigure the boat and use the back cabin for the kitchen and lounge area which meant that I needed more headroom.
My solution was to cut out the centre of the roof down the full length of the back cabin. When I did, the rest of the roof sagged but I moulded a new three sided section in fibreglass and once I glassed it in position to cover the gap it actually stiffened the whole roof up - so much so that I can walk along its entire length. I am hoping that the stiffness left in the frame of the maggiolina will provide the same strengthening on the camper once I bond it all together. I will also have the roof rack which will have the effect of being a crossmember.
I can't wait for the conversation where I have to explain it to the insurance company for the ' is your vehicle modified in any way ' question.

 

[chris snell]

You're going to cut your roof for a tent hatch? Man, you guys need 110s.

 

[Juddy]

Heres a hatch in the 101 camper we Imported.

 

[Teadrinker]

Heres a hatch in the 101 camper we Imported.

Hi, is your tent fixed directly onto the roof or is it on a rack. Any problems ?

 

[Timo K]

I know I'm gonna sound a bit too judgemental, but isn't this just a very drastic but sort of half-assed solution...? I mean compared to a pop-top roof...

 

[Steve UK]

Hi Timo,

it's a good point. Maybe it's a poor mans pop top? My friend is just converting his Defender110 to a Dormobile, do you think I am getting envious that he can turn in without going outside...

Steve

 

[albertdefender]

Nice pictures and tent as well.