RTT Comparison Thread?

JFarris

Wanderer
Is there already a thread somewhere on RTT comparisons between all of the current brands?

I have done a search and couldn't find anything but I might have not dug far enough.

I had an ARB Simpson III before, and am looking to purchase another RTT soon. I'm considering trying something different this time around.
 

Martyn

Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
You may find the article I wrote a good starting point.

After reading it you'll start to get the idea that the devil is in the details when it comes to RTT's. The choice of fabrics, how they are treated for water resistance, how breathable they are, durability of fabric, abrasiveness. Is the stitching straight, how good is the hardware etc.

A thread on comparisons would be useful as would contain a lot of personal preference that may fall in line with what you are looking for. Better still would be an empirical study of the tents, it would be relatively straight forward to do. Unfortunately it would be costly and time consuming.

Failing that Overland Journal did a RTT review in a back issue.
 

ColoDisco

Explorer
Love the advice on packing it away for winter! I just got the CVT but have yet to take it out on a trip. Going to Moab in a month.
 

jeepfreak81

Adventurer
I just bought a CVT and it seems to be good quality. I know it is a branded China tent, but I have never seen another in person to see how it stacks up.
 

MANUCHAO

Aventurero
Nothing to compare it to, but ...........
I have a Eezi-Awn and it has been a great tent... the only thing that I have an issue with is the vinyl cover.
When I bought it I was never told that it would only last 2-3 years......very true !!
Ours is only 3 years old and the vinyl cover will have to be replaced pretty soon....
Consider this EXTRA expense when purchasing a tent that requires a vinyl cover.
The tent itself has bee an great tent on all 4 seasons !!!
When it has gotten crazy windy we just stake it out, and problem is solved....

We just pull the trigger on a Columbus Variant from AutoHome.. and are waiting on it to arrive....
I have heard nothing but good things about this tents......
We went with this model, cause we can actually sit up or kneel if needed inside the tent.... just like the Eezi-Awn.

We are giving up the space of the Eezi-Awn for one reason only.
The tent is on top of our rig, and being it is lifted, my better half can't set it up....
I think the new tent will be much much easier to set up for BOTH of us........
 
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Martyn

Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
Nothing to compare it to, but ...........
I have a Eezi-Awn and it has been a great tent... the only thing that I have an issue with is the vinyl cover.
When I bought it I was never told that it would only last 2-3 years......very true !!
Ours is only 3 years old and the vinyl cover will have to be replaced pretty soon....
Consider this EXTRA expense when purchasing a tent that requires a vinyl cover.
The tent itself has bee an great tent on all 4 seasons !!!
When it has gotten crazy windy we just stake it out, and problem is solved....

The vinyl cover life span seems to be just a North American issue. The vinyl starts to become dry after 3 years in the sun and will eventually start to become more brittle and start to split by about the 5 year mark. The vinyl is treated with a UV block, and this protects it when it's used in Europe, Africa, South America, and Australia.

I'm puzzled as to why this would happen in the US (especially the South West), it seems to be a UV related issue, but why doesn't it occur more in Australia, where there is a hole in the ozone layer ? Maybe it's a combination of sun, wind, and dry conditions??

The good news is that covers are readily available and relatively inexpensive.
 

VanIsle_Greg

I think I need a bigger truck!
For UV protection, I started using this stuff on my CVT awning cover as well as my RTT as soon as I get it mounted. I know people who have used it for years in marine applications (vinyl covers, rubber etc) and swear by it.

http://303products.com/index.php/home/

It is not super cheap, but a little goes a long way. My friend uses it on his soft top on his YJ, and it works great! Still nice soft and supple after years in the sun.
 

nuclearlemon

Adventurer
maggiolinas are hands down the best. i got to test mine five hours after i bought it (that's how long it took for me to meet my friends in wyoming for 8 days off road). two minutes to set up, five to take down (like a popup, you spend a bunch of time tucking the fabric in the clamshells, and i'm short so it requires climbing). doesn't affect mileage negatively. fiberglass shell holds up better than the canvas covers. can leave your sleeping gear in the tent when it's closed.

only thing i liked better about the fold overs (besides price) was they had a place to hang their muddy shoes since the ladders come up under the tent floor, where as mine would have been exposed, so on rainy nights, i went to bed with my shoes in a plastic bag at my feet. maggi does offer vestibules, and i plan on getting one to take care of that situation. for info, the other rigs sported a mombassa and an eezi awn.
 

ColoDisco

Explorer
For UV protection, I started using this stuff on my CVT awning cover as well as my RTT as soon as I get it mounted. I know people who have used it for years in marine applications (vinyl covers, rubber etc) and swear by it.

http://303products.com/index.php/home/

It is not super cheap, but a little goes a long way. My friend uses it on his soft top on his YJ, and it works great! Still nice soft and supple after years in the sun.

Thanks for the recommendation! I Plan on picking some up and applying it before winter storage.
 

VanIsle_Greg

I think I need a bigger truck!
No worries ColoDisco, I just heard about it a few weeks ago. I used it on my new CVT Mt Hood cover today, goes on easy, doesn't leave a nasty slimy film or anything. Oh and for the record, I am pretty impressed with the CVT... quality looks very good, works great and mounted up simple and fast!

b866bc8b.jpg
 

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