roof top tent history

[compactcamping]

Not a Rooftop tent, but some pics of a favorite vintage expedition trailer of mine. These were made by the Auto-Kamp trailer company 1914-1930

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--
Scott

 

[LUISJG]

I found this ,,.............................

 

[Dave Bennett]

BrownChurch

http://www.brownchurch.co.uk/2001.html

 

[Willman]

Sweet pictures!

:jumping:

 

[grahamfitter]

More 1953 African Overland pics here.

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/The_Great_1953_Trek

So my idea for sleeping two in a Jeep Wrangler isn't so original after all!

A wonderful story to boot.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[AmericaOverland]

More 1953 African Overland pics here.

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/The_Great_1953_Trek

Hello everyone!

I'm new here, and my name is Stephanie. I came here to research RTTs for my soon-to-be-restored scout II. This is an AWESOME thread!! But first, I wanted to update the link, as it no longer works as of this post date. I tracked it down here - http://www.great1953trek.nidi.org.uk/ - I'm going to read this, as this parallels what I'm going through right now.

I love reading stuff like this, and it really takes me back to my camping days, which I will return to later this year. I work for REI, so I'm able to really balance my work and my personal life (as I work part-time and have great full-time-like benefits). The word "expedition" really reminds me of the late 80's when I was going to college and discovered Banana Republic with its safari image it had in those days (I had lived most of my life outside small towns at that time and learning what it was like to live in the big city as a grownup). I loved the blouses, skirts, and shorts they used to have. And now, I can buy this kind of stuff right where I work!

Stephanie

 

[JKDetonator]

Welcome to the Expo!

Thanks for the link Stephanie!:victory:

 

[overlandsite]

Hello, this is a great thread but a bit old. I'm wondering if anyone found more pictures of very old roof top tents recently?

 

[overlandsite]

Actually, there are pictures here from 1937! Page 38
Popular Science - January 1937
Source:
https://books.google.com.vn/books?i...sult&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=true

 

[Lemsteraak]

I think 1958 was when the fiberglass shelled tent was first made, the Maggiolina.

Air-Camping predated this by a long time. They say it was made in Italy since 1959 but I believe it was made in Switzerland since the 30's. Had an old fellow tell me all about his ancient tent.

http://air-camping.it/images/pdf/Air-Camping-UK.pdf

Cars and tents go well together, I think the tent came first.

 

[overlandsite]

do you have any vintage pictures to share of roof top tents being used in the past. Vintage erra. Just curious as I love my RTT and read some debate on where the idea originated and I remembered seeing soem pictures. do you have any to share?

first is a 1949 Nash with a factory option RTT

next is a product called an aero cabana. mounted on early 50's cars.

so if you have pictures of RTT from the past please post. I am interested in when such a shelter was first developed and mounted on a 4X4 chassis.

another post states thet the rtt was invented in itally in 1958. I don't know about that. But according to what I have found. Nash is the earliest i have found with a picture that puts it invented in USA as early as 1949. surly a tent was mounted on a model A or T even. I do have a interesting overland conversion on a model T in a camping documentary. I will see if I can get a screen capture of it.

Hello GPWPAT - do you mind if I use one of your scanned images in one of my articles?

 

[MrsRecce01]

do you have any vintage pictures to share of roof top tents being used in the past. Vintage erra. Just curious as I love my RTT and read some debate on where the idea originated and I remembered seeing soem pictures. do you have any to share?

first is a 1949 Nash with a factory option RTT

next is a product called an aero cabana. mounted on early 50's cars.

so if you have pictures of RTT from the past please post. I am interested in when such a shelter was first developed and mounted on a 4X4 chassis.


another post states thet the rtt was invented in itally in 1958. I don't know about that. But according to what I have found. Nash is the earliest i have found with a picture that puts it invented in USA as early as 1949. surly a tent was mounted on a model A or T even. I do have a interesting overland conversion on a model T in a camping documentary. I will see if I can get a screen capture of it.

Found these gems while going through old family photos today. In ~1950, my grandfather opened Keele Manufacturing to produce "Tour-a-bed" the "Sportsman's Dream" - seemingly one of the first ever made roof top tents! Apparently, overlanding is in my blood! ?

 

[MrsRecce01]

More pics ?