Shoe Storage & RTT?

[Wheelingnoob]

Hello,

Looking at getting a RTT in the next year or so. One thing I have been unable to figure out is were you put your dirty shoes when in the tent?

Living in a dry region it would not be a problem but up here we get a lot of rain. Shoes get muddy and or wet, if left out on the ground below the RTT they will be really wet.

No mater the time of year we go camping it inevitably rains 30-50% of the time so this is kind of a deal breaker.

Right now we use a ground tent with a Vestibule and leave our shoes in there.

I can see the benefit of the ARB style RTT with the lower changing room for this but wanted to see what others have done.

Thanks,

 

[Corey]

I built a rack last year for mine from some shelving, and brackets for those over the door shoe hangers.

 

[mountainpete]

Shoe bag!

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29574

 

[07 Elephant]

We change into shower shoes / flip flops and our pajamas before we head up the ladder and leave the shower shoes on a wood slat platform I built to keep the ladder from digging into the sand or soft dirt. It looks like a teak shower drain style wood mat. Works. Shower shoes don't mind getting wet if it rains. Even when it's freezing out I'm ok w/ the open shoes for a few minutes to pee or whatever.

I'm not bringing muddy boots into the tent. Nor sandy ones...
No shoes actually. Just like I don't get into bed at home with shoes on.

I have left them on the roof under the tent but had issues w/ scratches and missing or wet shoes after a storm.

I'm debating getting the new awning from autohome. Since it has side walls the shoe thing won't be much of an issue.

And more privacy.

 

[kai38]

I have a stuff sack inside I put the shoes or sandles into at night, I dont like leaving outside in case it rains

 

[LandyAndy]

In our Autohome Overzone with the extension over the tent enterancem, I used a couple of elastic cargo nets hooked the the extension frame as a trial last couple of trips out.

It works a real treat as you can sit in the doorway & take your shoes off, then no mud gets into the tent at all.

Will get a webbing one made to fit for this season trips out as the elastic ones tended to sag a bit under the weight of my boots.

When the snow goes we'll have to have a OLC meet up to swap ideas.

Andy

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Thanks for the ideas, I had thought about the shower shoe idea and may go that way.

I do not want to keep the shoes in the tent with us, great way to get things dirty fast. The shoe bag would work as well depending on the kind of RTT I end up with.

Most of our camping is ether in sand or in the BC back country were there is always mud/sticky clay.

Any one else have any solutions or ideas?

 

[Wheelingnoob]

We have an Autohome Overzone with the extension over the tent enterance. I used a couple of elastic cargo nets hooked the the extension frame as a trial last couple of trips out.

It works a real treat as you can sit in the doorway & take your shoes off, then no mud gets into the tent at all.

Will get a webbing one made to fit for this season trips out as the elastic ones tended to sag a bit under the weight of my boots.

I'd like to check that out when you are done. Hopefully this year we will have you along on a trip....house is almost done from the looks of it. :elkgrin:

 

[Errant]

I just hang mine right outside the door using a carabiner clipped to the spring rod for the fly/awning. That way I can put them on before climbing down the ladder. If expecting rain, put them in a dry sack and hang in the same spot.

 

[Lemsteraak]

There is a space between the roof of the truck and the base of the tent. My wife and I have always just squished our shoes in that space. I had a special shoe bag made that would fit between the ladder and the vehicle but it was a hassle, another thing that got wet.

I live in an area that gets over 100 inches of rain a year so fabric folding tents aren't the best option here. I like a tent with a solid roof as it may be days (or weeks) before you can air everything out.

Rich

 

[bakerj]

Have The RTT on bars over the back of the Tacoma. Climb up, sit in the door and take shoes off then leave them on the bedrails or on the roof of truck.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

There is a space between the roof of the truck and the base of the tent. My wife and I have always just squished our shoes in that space. I had a special shoe bag made that would fit between the ladder and the vehicle but it was a hassle, another thing that got wet.

I live in an area that gets over 100 inches of rain a year so fabric folding tents aren't the best option here. I like a tent with a solid roof as it may be days (or weeks) before you can air everything out.

Rich

Sounds about the same as here weather wise. Drying a wet RTT out is another concern as I do not have a garage big enough to open the tent in. If I go Fall camping and it gets wet the chance of drying it out before mid late April is slim.

 

[Lemsteraak]

I hope I'm not opening up a can of worms here but you might do well with a winter hood or a rain fly since you really are looking at needing a 4 season tent. I'm in the same position without a garage so the tent stays out full time and I'm right next to the ocean so it is always wet.

I think the other thing most folks fail to realize is how long the tent stays on. I used to have a lift so it was a snap to lift the tent off bars and all. Without a garage, you have to undo all the fasteners that hold the tent onto the bars and then get a helper to lift the tent off. If my helper has to lift more than say 50 pounds it gets really loud at the other end, so I have to take out the mattress and everything in the tent to lighten the load. That will not happen in the rain.

I've always preferred the look of the folding tents, and especially the room but they do come with a cost. If you are going out into really cold weather, the Maggiolina is the standard, it is a really warm tent. The aerodynamics are so much better with a hard shelled tent too. When I went to buy mine, I figured a folding tent cuts your fuel efficiency about 7 to 10% where a hard shelled is really not noticed, say 2 to 4%. If you figure on $4 gas and the added expense is $1000, a 5% efficiency boost will pay for itself in 100,000 miles by my math. Now all this is subjective and really depends on the tent but I've had both types of tents and do take it with a grain of salt because there are so many variables.

Rich

 

[Wheelingnoob]

I hope I'm not opening up a can of worms here but you might do well with a winter hood or a rain fly since you really are looking at needing a 4 season tent. I'm in the same position without a garage so the tent stays out full time and I'm right next to the ocean so it is always wet.

I think the other thing most folks fail to realize is how long the tent stays on. I used to have a lift so it was a snap to lift the tent off bars and all. Without a garage, you have to undo all the fasteners that hold the tent onto the bars and then get a helper to lift the tent off. If my helper has to lift more than say 50 pounds it gets really loud at the other end, so I have to take out the mattress and everything in the tent to lighten the load. That will not happen in the rain.

I've always preferred the look of the folding tents, and especially the room but they do come with a cost. If you are going out into really cold weather, the Maggiolina is the standard, it is a really warm tent. The aerodynamics are so much better with a hard shelled tent too. When I went to buy mine, I figured a folding tent cuts your fuel efficiency about 7 to 10% where a hard shelled is really not noticed, say 2 to 4%. If you figure on $4 gas and the added expense is $1000, a 5% efficiency boost will pay for itself in 100,000 miles by my math. Now all this is subjective and really depends on the tent but I've had both types of tents and do take it with a grain of salt because there are so many variables.

Rich

Thanks a lot for the input, I will need something that will handle the wet more than anything. We do not do much winter camping right now but I would like to head out once or twice a winter for a weekend in the back country.

I cant see us taking it off the truck much at all as well. maybe off in the late fall and back on early spring but that's it. Same situation with help as you as well, 50lbs is OK she will not complain but I know its a lot of work for her.

Unfortunately we are on or will be on a tight budget. I really would like a Maggiolina AirTop Small, nice and low profile and light. Problem is working with a Camping Labs/ ARB budget I am not going to find my truck with a Maggiolina any time soon.

The other issue up here is finding people with RTT's to look at and get our hands on. I have seen a ARB in person so far and a Teknitop (spelling).

Kind of derailed the original question now sorry lol.

Thanks for everyone's input, much appreciated.

 

[bunduguy]

Every Howling Moon RTT comes with 2 shoe bags. They slide into the Aluminum extrusion at the entrance and are mesh and canvas. Durable, convenient, and FREE........with every Howling Moon tent!