RTT's 101 Everything to know!

[northwest1]

I am in the middle of the big debate of what one to go with. I have seen alot of pics of most of them but before I buy one I thought I would get input from all the pros and owners about what they like and dislike about the diff. brands. So far I am thinking about Technitop or Simpson III. Like the features of both but can see down falls of both. I want to hear from eveyone's IMO's on all the brands though and what to watch out for. Maintenance on diff models and so forth. Thanks in advance for all the help! :victory:

 

[Corey]

Lots of threads in this section.
Probably just about every brand out there is represented by members here.

I personally own the AutoHome Maggiolina AirLand sized in a medium.

Pros:
* Just crank it up and you are ready to go, the bedding is already there.
* These models withstand high winds and are waterproof.

Cons:
More money than other brands, but I feel you get what you pay for.

I really like mine, and it has gotten me back into camping again after taking a ten year break form it.

A few old pics on my stock rack, then a few driveway shots on a new BajaRack model MG made just for this style of tent.
Tent is much lower now thus getting better handling and better MPG.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4927PoLecY

New rack:

If I had to do it all over again I would get the same tent or the new AirTop model by AutoHome.

 

[Mike S]

I talk to a lot of people about selection of roof top tents. I usually advise them to think carefully about:

> Conditions of use - weather, duration of trips, type of travel (mainly freeway, back country, etc.), amount of set-up and take down (daily? weekly?) that they would typically do when using the tent. Consider ventilation and thermal characteristics - will the tent work well in the climates you will be using it in? It is important to select a tent that best meets the requirements of the individual user.

> Type of vehicle - weight carrying capacity, horsepower, and mileage characteristics. It is especially important on tall, lifted vehicles that the tent be accessible for set up and take down. You don't want to have to stand on the hood, for instance, to stow the tent for travel. Do NOT exceed rated roof loading specifications for the vehicle./rack combination you are planning on. Also, consider the impact on fuel efficiency - a roof tent will probably carry a penalty in MPG, especially in lower powered vehicles and vehicles that will do a lot of high speed travel. If you are planning on leaving the tent on the roof, it will be a constant drag on MPG. If you are going to remove it between trips, think about the ease of mounting and removal. The easier it is to use, the more you will use it. So figure out what you can tolerate.

> This is a fair sized investment for most people. If you consider your choice carefully and buy quality, you will enjoy your RTT for many years.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

First and foremost, decide if a roof top tent will work for you, it simply does not for some. While this is by no means a comparitive guide between tents, it may be helpful with deciding if the tent will fit your needs:

Is a Roof Top Tent for me? The RTT Conundrum

 

[wagner_joe]

I've owned an Autohome Overcamp and Overland Tent, and currently own a Eeziawn Globe Trotter. I loved out Overlands, but we eventually out grew them due to Drew continuing to grow. Getting hit in the ribs by an 8 year old is one thing, by an 11yr old is entirely a different story. Especially since he's a skinny kid and those elbows hurt at night when you least expect it.

Autohome - Good Fabric for 3-4 weather use outta the box. Poles for extending the doors were useless in windy weather and tend to make noise.. I like a lot of air flow, and leaving one side open is the norm. With the Winter hood our Overland took 4-6 inches of snow and I was toasty and dry 4 days running on a 4 day trip. Neither the Overland nor the Overcamp ever leaked. We out grew it in 4 years so we moved to the Globe trotter. Great cover for driving.

Globe Trotter - Large. To say the least. Drew now sleeps on a cot in the changing room. We're all comfy. Did I say Large.. Been in 3 seasons so far with this tent in the past year of owning. No leaks, and due to its size ventilation isnt an issue. Love the layout and ladder position changes (three locations to mount, head of bed, middle of bed and foot of bed) No noticeable wind issues and still havent had a winter campout with it. It's been in cold weather and performed well (freezing and slightly below upper 20's). Cover could use a slight remod to ensure full tightness all the way around.

my .02

 

[PhulesAU]

First and foremost, decide if a roof top tent will work for you, it simply does not for some. While this is by no means a comparitive guide between tents, it may be helpful with deciding if the tent will fit your needs:

Is a Roof Top Tent for me? The RTT Conundrum

Double the statement. If you are 250+ and over 6" don't even bother.

 

[Equipt]

Nice write up Kurt. Great job.

Double the statement. If you are 250+ and over 6" don't even bother.

I'd beg to differ on this point. There are models to handle well above these two marks. I'm up there on both counts.

Eezi Awn has a photo on their site with 14 guys in a 1400 model. Over 1600 pounds in their mid size. Each model is 96" long. I believe most of the brands are in that length range too.

There are a bunch of options, as it has been said. It really does come down to preference and frequency.

Cheers,

 

[Equipt]

Post correction. My bad. 10 guys, 1400 lbs.

http://www.eeziawn.com/EeziAwn/Roof_Tents_Features.html

Sorry about that.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

That is awesome

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

Rooftop tents are the lesser of evils.
It saves the inside of the truck for all your cargo without constantly unpacking & re-packing.
It is a quicker setup and great if you move every day or if you go camp frequently.
If you hit bad weather, it is better than a ground tent. (not as good as inside your truck, but then all the stuff you took out is now wet).

I think most occasional campers can definitely do without. The more you camp, the more useful it is. The less you camp, the cost/bulk factor doesn't add up.

Note- a friend is 6'7" and fits with his wife in the XL Maggiolina, which they really enjoy.
If you are hearty enough to be one of those guys that can lay down on a rock and be comfortable, that's the cheapest and easiest camping of all.

How does a RTT suck?
-weight: any and all add weight in the worst place. But, with sensible driving, won't affect you in any real way.

-bulk: You are driving around with a lot of bulk. Feels like a waste when you are not camping and storing it is a chore big enough not to be worth it.
If you have a tall garage, a winch system would make this a non-issue.

-peeing at night: getting out at night on that ladder sucks.

-Autohome tents:
-the ladder storage is a pain. You can't really store the ladder inside the tent with a lot of bedding and the hooks can dig into and tear the roof lining if you don't turn them down. It will also dirty the bedding b/c the ladder is, well, dirty!
Folded, it's long enough to be a hassle to store inside the truck.

-Maggiolina hand crank is a stupid design. Sure to get misplaced or forgotten on the tent. It also takes like 50 turns to open and close. (I know why the Airtop went with struts instead of that crank!)

-Columbus is easy but flaps around in wind. Fabric is different and doesn't breathe as well as the Maggiolina. If that's going to bother you, don't get it.

-Inside, they are very comfortable. They stay cool in the heat and insulate at night pretty well.

-they keep the truck a lot cooler. Living under the shade of a giant, white box has advantages.

-overall makes camping much easier

-I like that they are aero. The low profile hardshell is great on road and I honestly don't notice it, except in crosswinds where it pushes more than it normally would.

-I can't say it noticably changed my mileage either. I'm sure it's a hit but not significant like a wind blender (roofrack)

-Honestly, for me, the other style of tents were too much setup effort and too thick when folded up.
On a trailer or pickup truck bed, I would prefer the space a ARB or EZ Awn provide. They won't do well in the wind like the Maggiolina, if that is a factor for you.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...peeing at night: getting out at night on that ladder sucks...

Without taking the conversation on a complete tangent... I don't understand this comment from the male perspective. Why would I need to climb out of my tent to pee? Either do your duty from the tent or 'trucker bottle' it. I'm not a fan of the bottle but give the places I regularly camp taking in the view while relieving ones self is not only appropriate but should be mandatory

*this advice does not lend well to my wife

 

[Life_in_4Lo]

Without taking the conversation on a complete tangent... I don't understand this comment from the male perspective. Why would I need to climb out of my tent to pee? Either do your duty from the tent or 'trucker bottle' it. I'm not a fan of the bottle but give the places I regularly camp taking in the view while relieving ones self is not only appropriate but should be mandatory

*this advice does not lend well to my wife

It's a concern for my wife but I don't like to pee all over my campsite either.

Yeah I could pee in a bottle. I could wear diapers. If I was in a ground tent I could pee outside easily. If a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ******** hopping.
It's a disadvantage in a roof tent is all I'm saying.:sombrero:

 

[cruiseroutfit]

It's a concern for my wife but I don't like to pee all over my campsite either...It's a disadvantage in a roof tent is all I'm saying.:sombrero:

Gotcha

I will add, when I choose a campsite, my 'porch' view and environment are essential planning

 

[mrchips]

My wife uses this portable urinal @ night, then puts it in a zip-lock, and disposes of it in the morning. No muss, spills or mess, and no getting up and going down the ladder.

http://www.traveljohn.com/1-1.php

 

[Lemsteraak]

My wife asked to change from a Maggiolina to a Columbus. She gets up in the middle of the night to make a run to the sandbox. It is much easier to put on clothes in the Columbus because of the headroom. She has never warmed up to the idea of having a jar up with us in the tent. My wife is a good sport, when we are traveling, she likes the rooftent or a 4 star hotel, she hates motels.

I don't understand the appeal of tents like the "OverZone" or the "Simpson" with the integrated changing room. I'll sometimes set up an awning to act as a vestibule in the rain for access to the tent (if the wind isn't too high) and for drying equipment so I see the appeal there. What is confusing is calling it a changing room, we put on our clothes inside the tent where it is warm. If it is really cold, we put our clothes on under the covers.