Box Rocket
Well-known member
Awning extensions are scheduled to be delivered after the first of the year.
Tepui Tent RTT
- Thread starter INSAYN
- Start date
Awning extensions are scheduled to be delivered after the first of the year.
Monkey_Wrench
New member
Does anyone have any pics of the OD green Kukenham XL Ruggedized? I'm only seeing orange ones.
Box Rocket
Well-known member
Monkey_Wrench I just replied to your PM. Here are a couple photos of my Olive green Kukenam XL Ruggedized. The XL is on my trailer and the one on my Cruiser is the Autana Ruggedized.
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Monkey_Wrench
New member
Monkey_Wrench I just replied to your PM. Here are a couple photos of my Olive green Kukenam XL Ruggedized. The XL is on my trailer and the one on my Cruiser is the Autana Ruggedized.
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That looks good. Thanks for the reply to the PM and the pics. I sent you another PM.
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CurtStyler
Observer
Well, last night I realized...laying on a pinecone in my 10 year old backpacking tent, my head an inch away from one end and toes touching the other, that this might be the time for an upgrade. I'm planning cross country trips in 2016 and the tent will pay for it self to avoid hotels, not to mention saving my back. I just have a few questions if anybody here has experience with one.
Pretty much all my questions deal with moisture. I'm living in Florida right now so I guess that's what I'm running into the most.
I love the sky panels and mesh, but I was wondering if any one has used it in the rain? Is there a rain fly that goes over the sky panels too or is it only one layer? I'm going to be going from Florida to Alaska and I have no idea what weather I will hit along the way.
Also, it looks to me that the mattress is exposed when the tent is folded? I know there is the rain cover over it, but does water or moisture work it's way into the mattress over time? Do you have to stop every few days and air out the tent and sleep pad?
Thanks for any help!
Pretty much all my questions deal with moisture. I'm living in Florida right now so I guess that's what I'm running into the most.
I love the sky panels and mesh, but I was wondering if any one has used it in the rain? Is there a rain fly that goes over the sky panels too or is it only one layer? I'm going to be going from Florida to Alaska and I have no idea what weather I will hit along the way.
Also, it looks to me that the mattress is exposed when the tent is folded? I know there is the rain cover over it, but does water or moisture work it's way into the mattress over time? Do you have to stop every few days and air out the tent and sleep pad?
Thanks for any help!
Yarjammer
Wellreadneck
I can't answer for the sky panel part of your question, but the storage cover doesn't permit water ingress unless you decide to be a u-boat commander on a water crossing. I had mine mounted for nearly a full year on my DD in the wet NW and didn't have any issues with moisture. Be sure to get the anti-condensation mat when you order yours (it is already included if you get a ruggedized model), it will help with the moisture you provide while occupying it as well as a little extra cushion.
TheFutur
Adventurer
Be prepared for rain in Northern BC on your trip. I've done two trips up from Vancouver into the Yukon, the first it rained 17 out of 21 days, the second trip maybe 5-7 out of 17.
As far as I can tell be reading comments on here is that the "sky" models of tents are commonly used in hot, dry climates. And they seem to be less popular as you get into rainier states/provinces.
I myself have a tepui kukenam (w/o the sky option) so I can't speak much for the sky option... But I can say I haven't had issues of moisture getting into the tent while driving, and I've been through some pretty heavy rain storms with it on my trailer. I do notice though in colder climates the build up of condensation has made it so I need to air it out every couple of days or so, but I recently bought an anti-condensation matt which has worked great so far! I'd highly recommend one!
As far as I can tell be reading comments on here is that the "sky" models of tents are commonly used in hot, dry climates. And they seem to be less popular as you get into rainier states/provinces.
I myself have a tepui kukenam (w/o the sky option) so I can't speak much for the sky option... But I can say I haven't had issues of moisture getting into the tent while driving, and I've been through some pretty heavy rain storms with it on my trailer. I do notice though in colder climates the build up of condensation has made it so I need to air it out every couple of days or so, but I recently bought an anti-condensation matt which has worked great so far! I'd highly recommend one!
Box Rocket
Well-known member
I can speak to the Sky option. The "SKY" windows are only part of the main tent, meaning the ceiling panel. There is a canvas panel (same material as the rest of the tent) as well as a mesh panel that can be zipped open/closed independently. There is a separate rainfly with no seams that covers both window openings so in the event of rain there is no more chance of water getting into the tent than there is with one of the non-sky model tents. The fly is supported on it's own set of "bows" so that it doesn't rest directly on top of the tent. This is nice because you can open the sky windows and have the rainfly in place and there is an opening under the fly that will still allow good airflow into the tent from the top but still have rain protection.
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To use the SKY windows, some people remove the rainfly completely (it has a clip on each corner that can be unclipped to remove the fly). With my own Kukenam SKY, I chose not to remove the rainfly completely, but instead I just rolled the fly back to the centerline of the roof and secured it with a bungee. Then if it started raining it was much easier to just roll the fly back into place without having to get out of the tent and mess with putting the entire fly back on top of a tent mounted beyond my reach in the rain/wind.
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To use the SKY windows, some people remove the rainfly completely (it has a clip on each corner that can be unclipped to remove the fly). With my own Kukenam SKY, I chose not to remove the rainfly completely, but instead I just rolled the fly back to the centerline of the roof and secured it with a bungee. Then if it started raining it was much easier to just roll the fly back into place without having to get out of the tent and mess with putting the entire fly back on top of a tent mounted beyond my reach in the rain/wind.
CurtStyler
Observer
That's what I wanted to know. Thanks. I have a college friend of mine in the Northwest so I wanted to be sure that if I get caught in the lovely rains up that way it would be fine. This is going to be strapped to the top of my car for about 10 months next year and used regularly, so long term moisture was something I was worried about.
This is also good to know, I seem to have a bad habit of driving into storms and not away from them. I just found a video that shows how the cover protects this area and now I see why it's always dry. I didn't know if the pressure difference would pull water up into the tent, looks like that is very unlikely and it's good to know from another owner that it's a good design. Thanks!
Finally, thanks Box Rocket for the picture. That explains it a bit better. I like that, I didn't realize there was space between the rainfly and the tent. I really like the idea of being able to keep those open, or at least in mesh-mode even during rain. That should help with ventilation a lot. Also, I'm glad to know it looks awesome in Gray, that's probably the way I will lean color wise.
OwyheeMagpie
Adventurer and Explorer
I'm biased because I own a few Tepui products but I'd say go for it, you won't be disappointed. The travel cover works great, I keep my sleeping bag, bedding, pillows, pjs, you name it in the tent while it's closed up and it's always dry in there when I set it up. I just pop it open and crash out. As far as moisture building up I can't really speak for that because California is really dry except for the occasional rain storm. But the tent and travel definitely keep the weather out from what I've seen from my use. If it's cool out and I need to "dry" the tent, I usually just put my Mr Buddy in there and let the tent get to 70-80 degrees for an hour or two.
On a side note I'm not sure what it's like in your neck of the woods but over here you rarely find used RTTs and when you do they're only a few hundred bucks less than new and they sell right away. I figured if I didn't like mine I'd just sell it after a few trips, a year later and I love my tent still.
On a side note I'm not sure what it's like in your neck of the woods but over here you rarely find used RTTs and when you do they're only a few hundred bucks less than new and they sell right away. I figured if I didn't like mine I'd just sell it after a few trips, a year later and I love my tent still.
TheFutur
Adventurer
I take it you are custom building a rack for the tent?
My stock roofbars top the top of them (where the tent mounts would sit) is roughly 2.5-3" and I had a hell of a time getting my hand in there to tighten the nuts. I ended up adding two 1"x1" aluminum tubes up there to mount in the other way which helped a little bit... I'd highly suggest purchasing one 13mm ratcheting wrench like this one to make it easier on you.