Roof top tent orientation ?

[jruba]

Whats best and why ? , i see most people place their RTT to the side like this

and a very few people like this

Is this just personal preference or is there any reason why ? , Hopefully i will receive mine in a couple of weeks and still debating how i wanna set it up , thanks for your feedback .

 

[Herbie]

I'd guess it all comes down to how you want to use it. Where is your "living" area, what activities will be done on/in/near the vehicle? It also depends on how the tent is constructed with regards to the entry door.

If you're going to use your tailgate as a counter for cooking, etc., then obviously you want the tent off to the side, especially if you're going to add the annex room. If you aren't using the annex, maybe you want the tent to create shade? (But I'd worry about cooking smells/grease getting too near the tent in either case.)

I've also seen some people hinge the tent forward over the cab area, with either a side entry next to the bed, or in one trick case the roof of the shell had a rack that acted like a "front porch, so you could stand there before crawling into the tent...

 

[notajeep]

I mounted mine like your first picture for several reasons. Being on the bed rack of the truck, I of course use the tailgate all of the time. Secondly, if you look at every camper, rv, 5th wheel orientation, the "Front Porch" area is always off the passenger side. This makes it easy and convenient for any organized campground. (Much as I dislike those.)

The one thing that always struck me as weird is the tent off one side and the awning off the opposite side.

 

[hoser]

My RTT was 48x56 closed. Using the 48" side for the width made for better clearance on the trail.

 

[overlander]

my rtt was over the rear for years. deployed, I much prefered it that way, as it made the back of my vehicle like an extension room of the annex. However, it also made it very hard to deploy due to the height of my vehicle, requiring a ladder or hanging off the rear wheels while trying to maneuver the cover on one handed.

I have very recently moved it to the front of my rack and turned it to the passenger side. It is much easier to get access to all 4 sides of the tent when folded, to put on and remove the cover. Of course it helps that I can walk on the hood of my vehicle as well, and now I can actually use my rear ladder.

 

[Victorian]

I'm new to RTT myself and still not sure what the best direction is....

Anyhow, right now I have it mounted folding out the back. Reason for that: I wanted a sheltered area for the rear. I envisioned to have the kitchen set up out of the trunk. Reason I also like the opening to the rear: easier to open up in our driveway and it's even possible to unfolded in public parking lots (just had to do that a week ago to dry it) without occupying two parking stalls.

It turns out that our puppy likes to hang out in the trunk and doesn't leave any room for gear.....therefore all of "our" stuff is at the front. I'm now trying to find a way of turning the tent around without moving the mounting rails....

 

[jruba]

I mounted mine like your first picture for several reasons. Being on the bed rack of the truck, I of course use the tailgate all of the time. Secondly, if you look at every camper, rv, 5th wheel orientation, the "Front Porch" area is always off the passenger side. This makes it easy and convenient for any organized campground. (Much as I dislike those.)

The one thing that always struck me as weird is the tent off one side and the awning off the opposite side.

Im not the only one then , hahaha ... its weird i hear ya !!

Great advise here , i thank you all , o do realize that i use my tailgate alot , so off to the passenger side it goes , makes alot of sense , thanks again .

 

[pray4surf]

My RTT was 48x56 closed. Using the 48" side for the width made for better clearance on the trail.

This ^^^

 

[UK4X4]

with side openning doors rather than a tailgate the rear is possible, with a upwards openning tailgate its going to hit the tent.

On my trailer I had it open forwards.....and the ladder rested on the hitch, everything was accesable.

All depends on what truck or vehicle layout,,,

if openning sideways is the only option , openning it passenger side makes sence even if you broke down the tent would open off trail and not block the route, not advisable on US roads due to the youtube videos and the wandering driver on cruise control !

 

[Victorian]

Here is another pic to my post above. Drying the tent in public spaces.... clear advantage of having it open out the back.