Sure-Fire Ways to Improve Your Roof Top Tent

[brentbba]

Interesting read on the moisture barrier. Haven't had my Globetrotter very long and hadn't event thought about this until reading thru this thread. Just me, no little body heaters to worry about and since the sleeping platform doesn't fold on the Globetrotters, no worrying about moisture dripping down when folded. Wonder, with only one person if this is even necessary?

Do like the info on all the lighting solutions too! Right now, I use the cheap Harbor Freight LED lights that run about $3 each (four of them hung around the tent). PITA though to have to hang/remove them all the time and four switches, not one. I only have a small 12V battery on the trailer for my electric brakes (break away switch), so I don't know how long even LED's would run off that little battery.

 

[lysol]

Why would one need a solar panel while driving as the alternator can recharge the batteries? I guess I could understand if you used a trailer with its own battery system but on a vehicle with dual batteries?

When you are parked with the vehicle not running, but you aren't camping. The panels can continue to supply power to your fridge without draining the battery.

Nice idea, but I would be surprised if they responded. They wouldn't want to develop that type of a product and then have you later sue them for your cut of it.

I had a friend advertise a patented idea he had to a company, and he only communicated with their lawyers. The company would not personally communicate with him.

I honestly hadn't thought of that. It sucks that this world is like that but with all the grey areas, I can understand.

 

[Chris Boyd]

When you are parked with the vehicle not running, but you aren't camping. The panels can continue to supply power to your fridge without draining the battery.



I honestly hadn't thought of that. It sucks that this world is like that but with all the grey areas, I can understand.

There are several companies already making panels sewn into canvas shelters. They are being used by the military for forward command posts. The one I saw was fairly large, but was making about 10K in power during sunny days! Don't ask what it cost.

I just use Kelty adjustable poles and make my foldable panels extend from my RTT to add shade...

 

[moto-treks]

Alternators run off of a belt driven by the engine. That consumes horsepower which takes gas which reduces your mileage. On long distance trips that adds up.

Interesting, hadn't thought of that. :coffeedrink:

 

[overlander]

Little update on the condensation issue. I developed a hole along the top corner of my RTT cover last spring and have known I am overdue for a new cover for a while as my cover is quit aged at this point. Well after a wet and wild winter this year in NC, I started noticing water dripping from under my cover onto my roof quit a bit, so i realized with the hole thing were probably damp in there. With warm weather finally showing back up, I opened up my RTT to air things out before mold got a hold in there, and was planning on pulling my mattress and bedding out as well to get some sunshine. Low and behold my mattress was soaked through, with the lower half (when folded) much worse than the upper half. As you can see, the cotton fabric covering of my matress on the lower (when folded) floor facing side actually started disintegrating from the moisture damage. Now I need to find fabric and a sew shop to make a new covering for the matress-this one is shot. Good news it seems straight forward. The holes revealed the mattress foam is very similiar to the foam used under carpets, with 2 layers glued together. No damage to the tent though, but this is a lesson in the value of a condensation barrier in the RTT, as well as the importance of maintenance to RTT's and letting them get air periodically, particularly when put away wet or in wet climates.

Looks like I'm going to go with the CVT barrier as the best performance-economically balanced option. Anyone else have good experiences with it?

 

[compactcamping]

When I changed over to a Tepui collapsible style ladder, I was finding it a bit annoying on a trailer. When you open or close the tent, the ladder wants to fully extend. The easy fix I found was making a strap to contain the upper steps which I didn't want to extend. Makes opening and closing the tent much nicer. Same trick could be used for shorter rigs that don't need the full ladder length.

 

[Boost Creep]

out of curiosity, whats the weight rating for that ladder? the mounting brackets look pretty light duty

 

[compactcamping]

Sticker on the ladder says 150 kg, so 330 lbs. Attachment bracket is the same one you'll find on Mombasa and CVT tents

 

[sytfu510]

When I changed over to a Tepui collapsible style ladder, I was finding it a bit annoying on a trailer. When you open or close the tent, the ladder wants to fully extend. The easy fix I found was making a strap to contain the upper steps which I didn't want to extend. Makes opening and closing the tent much nicer. Same trick could be used for shorter rigs that don't need the full ladder length.

great idea! I was having the same issue as I just switched tents.

 

[compactcamping]

great idea! I was having the same issue as I just switched tents.

Glad you like it, sure made my life easy not having the ladder sliding around.

 

[LTrain0800]

My favorite part about my RTT is the Big Agnes Dream Island double sleeping bag and matching Hinman double sleeping pad. They fit perfectly in the tent right over the existing mattress and make sleeping so comfortable!

 

[LTrain0800]

Yes it will easily when the pad is totally deflated. I keep it in all of the time.

Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

 

[Yuman Desert Rat]

Little update on the condensation issue. I developed a hole along the top corner of my RTT cover last spring and have known I am overdue for a new cover for a while as my cover is quit aged at this point. Well after a wet and wild winter this year in NC, I started noticing water dripping from under my cover onto my roof quit a bit, so i realized with the hole thing were probably damp in there. With warm weather finally showing back up, I opened up my RTT to air things out before mold got a hold in there, and was planning on pulling my mattress and bedding out as well to get some sunshine. Low and behold my mattress was soaked through, with the lower half (when folded) much worse than the upper half. As you can see, the cotton fabric covering of my matress on the lower (when folded) floor facing side actually started disintegrating from the moisture damage. Now I need to find fabric and a sew shop to make a new covering for the matress-this one is shot. Good news it seems straight forward. The holes revealed the mattress foam is very similiar to the foam used under carpets, with 2 layers glued together. No damage to the tent though, but this is a lesson in the value of a condensation barrier in the RTT, as well as the importance of maintenance to RTT's and letting them get air periodically, particularly when put away wet or in wet climates.

Looks like I'm going to go with the CVT barrier as the best performance-economically balanced option. Anyone else have good experiences with it?

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If you're ever in the New Bern area I could help you out with your sewing dilemma for far less than a sewing shop would charge. Also some gorilla tape inside and out would patch that hole nicely. Not sure what size you're RTT is but I have a used 1600 T-Top cover that I'll sell you. Its used of course but appears to be in much better shape than yours.

 

[overlander]

If you're ever in the New Bern area I could help you out with your sewing dilemma for far less than a sewing shop would charge. Also some gorilla tape inside and out would patch that hole nicely. Not sure what size you're RTT is but I have a used 1600 T-Top cover that I'll sell you. Its used of course but appears to be in much better shape than yours.

thanks for the tip. I may take you up on that. My update is that I now have a CVT condensation mat for my 1400 T-Top that I'm installing this weekend and I have a new cover on the way from Paul at Equipt. After expo, I'm going to order some sunbrella outdoor fabric for the mattress and have a new cover made for me and have velcro added on both ends so i can open it when needed and pull the foam mattress out. I think those steps will cure my issue forever. Regarding your sewing dilemna, what were you proposing? Are you talking about repair of the cloth in some way? I do need to track down a sew shop when I get the sunbrella cloth in. I was thinking about an auto upholstery shop.

 

[Yuman Desert Rat]

Sounds like a solid plan. You could use an upholstery shop, yes. If it ends up being freakishly expensive let me know and I can most likely do it for a lot less. Make sure you keep your old RTT cover. You can make all sorts of those things from the material.