RTT Owners...

[Steel_City_X]

So, given the ARB price has dropped, any recommendations or suggestions regarding the differences between the ARB Simpson II and the Mombassa?

I like the t-top access because with the vestibule, there is much more room and privacy. Likely room for a cot underneath the overhang.

Price has been the main reason to look at the Mombassa, but cutting the price on the Simpson II makes the choice a little harder.

How does the simpson mount? I ask because I have thought of traveling with it in the narrower dimension forwards and then when I am base camped at a music festival for 4 days, I could spin it to overhang the rear of my vehicle. I've got an Xterra which has a fairly narrow roofline. It would overhang some while driving.

Is this similarly easy to open and set up? How do the ladders compare?

 

[hs106]

I have been looking into a RTT and am shocked by the prices. HAs anyone thought about trying to build one from a stock ground tent? A good one can be had for just a few hundred bucks. But two-three grand for an Eezi, or ARB? There's gotta be a way to DIY.

Ideas?

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

That may be an even better idea. Nothing worse than having to crawl out of a warm sleeping bag in an RTT, and stumble down a ladder to the frozen earth at 5 or 6 am to take a leak.

~James

I must be old school...I just kneel at the doorway

 

[mrlocksmith]

OasisII from Racktents.com at 40LBS what's not to like?

Acutally it condenses a lot of H2O cold weather. Thats my only beef.

Mark

 

[Desertdude]

I have been looking into a RTT and am shocked by the prices. HAs anyone thought about trying to build one from a stock ground tent? A good one can be had for just a few hundred bucks. But two-three grand for an Eezi, or ARB? There's gotta be a way to DIY.

Ideas?

Here are a few ideas




::::

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I have been looking into a RTT and am shocked by the prices. HAs anyone thought about trying to build one from a stock ground tent? A good one can be had for just a few hundred bucks. But two-three grand for an Eezi, or ARB? There's gotta be a way to DIY.

Ideas?

The inevitable "I can do it cheaper" prologue.

First you must spend a minute doing some actual price shopping. RTT's start in the $300-400 range for a used unit (Mombasa comes to mind), and does enter the $3k for a top of the line unit. That said you can get into a new RTT for $600 & up, older NIB Mombasas for $600'ish (I still know of a couple for sale here in Utah), the new generation Mombasa or camping lab setups in the for $800 range, and there is still one NIB ARB tent for sale @ ARB in Seattle as of this morning in the $1000 range. Legendary Eezi-Awn econo units starting in the $1300 range, the new yet to be released (March) ARB tent in the $1500 range. As the price increases, as does the material and quality generally. Some include features not found on their counterparts, some are larger, some are taller, some are made for trailers. All are built for the exact intention of placing the tent on the vehicle. The added cost versus your ground tent comparison is the fact that the ground serves as a platform for your ground tent, whereas a light yet sturdy integrated platform serves as the back bone for the common RTT. Cleanly and cheaply integrating this feature into the common ground tent yet keeping the "quick deploy" feature that all RTT's include, would be difficult at best. That said I would absolutely love to see it done. Home made RTT's are out there and they can and have been built very well. On the same note many have started down the path of a home built RTT just to find its not practical for various reasons, but it time, money or a combination of both.

To summarize, there is no doubt it can be done cheaper and with higher quality and tailored 100% to your specific needs too. But if your time is worth more than $10/hour than I can guarantee you the money will end up being a wash in the end. Are there projects that are ultimately self gratifying to complete and build on your own, absolutely, I'm as guilty as the next spending $50 to build something I could buy $20. However at the end of the days when you compare apples to apples, these units are priced relative to their value and sell accordingly. The same goes for many "luxuries" we have in this sport/hobby/industry. A $200 Coleman thermo-electric cooler or a $1500 Luna? A $750 M416 or a $4500 sweet as it gets Adventure Trailer. There is no end to the madness I can say this, do your research, price out materials, put a dollar amount on your labor and any manufactured product will start looking really attractive

 

[Roktoys84]

Ok guys, there's a lot of RTT out there as of now. I was wondering who owns what as of right now? Post up in the poll!

Reason I am asking is that I am working on designing a product and I would like it to be available to all RTT owners.

Is it a heater maybe? Since the Zodi units are no longer being made. :sombrero:

 

[flyingwil]

Is it a heater maybe? Since the Zodi units are no longer being made. :sombrero:

Nope, nope, and nope... Keep watching...

 

[pray4surf]

Whatever became of this 'fantastic' new product?

 

[Corey]

I am still hoping it is a pisser setup
I bought the Autojohn, but I am afraid I will overfill it, or worse yet, spill all over my down comforter when I am on my knees using it.

 

[flyingwil]

Whatever became of this 'fantastic' new product?

Its still in the works... the issue at this point sourcing 100% USA made materials which is poising our only issue at this point.

 

[The Swiss]

Just stumbled over this thread. I have a 10 year old Maggiolina Adventure that I bought 8 years ago second hand over the internet from a guy in AZ. Tent is holding up GREAT. Right now it is mounted on a 4'x6' carry on utility trailer, but I would like to move it either on my Jeep, or get a more robust trailer to put it on.

 

[AmericaOverland]

Its still in the works... the issue at this point sourcing 100% USA made materials which is poising our only issue at this point.

And I suppose you're still trying to source the materials? That is bad... What else do we make besides cars, paper, fast food, and imaginary data pushed around on hard drives and paper?

Stephanie

 

[bajabloke]

Rtt

I have a Mombasa and am very pleased with it. Good value for money!