Why a RTT vs. a Kamp Rite Tent Cot?

[CSG]

I've been looking into these and usually am just sleeping myself. The Tent Cot is under $200, keeps you off the ground and has pretty good interior space. Takes a few moments to set up from the videos I've seen.

The roof top tent keeps you higher off the ground but a midnight run *could* be a bit risky if you slipped coming down the ladder. Plus, ones like the Maggiolina and Columbus are 10 times the cost not to mention taking up your roof rack.

Now, I admit the RTT is a very elegant idea but why do people choose these over something like the Tent Cot. Not challenging anyone's choice, I'm just trying to learn in order to make a decision.

 

[Mr. Leary]

The_Mrs. feels safer sleeping when she knows I have an elevated position and additional time to react to possible threats. I had this exact conversation with her, and the RTT is what she chose. We will be buying ours very soon.

 

[swanyo]

On solo trips I prefer to just use a hammock to keep off the ground, but with the whole family the RTT seemed to keep everyone happy and secure.

 

[Streakerfreak]

We like RTT's because we can keep ALL our bedding in them when you close them. No more stuffing sleeping bags away every night, laying out a pad, etc. Everything stays right there so no more fuss or worry about keeping everything dry.

 

[Lichen]

Ah! So it's a "wife" thing.:sombrero: I just use a regular cot and if it's winter or looks like rain, I'll throw a tarp over it.

 

[Momrocks]

I have pondered the same basic question in my head. I am sort of like you, it's usually just me or me and my son and a Tentcot double is plenty roomy.

The two pieces of gear really are very different. Just as a Tentcot and ground tent are different. For me, I prefer to be off the ground because of my prominent terrain type. Florida is sand from the grounds surface until you're to the water table. I hate sand migrating into my tent and sleeping bag. Florida also is thick with crawling creatures that I don't want to worry have entered my tent through a partially unzipped door. We do get rain, being off the ground in rain is nice.

I bought a Tentcot double. Not the perfect solution, but one that addresses my needs darn well. It is well constructed, ventilated on all four sides, sound in tropical storm strength winds and rains (ask me how I know) and is off the ground. When compared to a ground tent it is heavy and bulky. When compared to an RTT it is portable and easy to maneuver.

RTTs are a sexy solution. Price is one consideration, portability another that swayed me from taking the RTT plunge. I felt the Tentcot provided me some of the RTTs desirable traits and mitigated some of the less desirable characteristics of a ground tent.

The decision is very much a compromise. You just need to examine your needs, where you camp and number of different automobiles you find yourself traveling in. A Tentcot won't provide all the features an RTT will and an RTT can't hold a candle to a ground tents strengths. They all three perform differently and admirably in their own arenas. Good luck with your decision.

`

 

[Mr. Leary]

Ah! So it's a "wife" thing.:sombrero: I just use a regular cot and if it's winter or looks like rain, I'll throw a tarp over it.

I'm a backpacker, so if I'm by myself... it is a cot with my bivy bag, if I even bother to bring the cot... sleeping under the stars. She likes a little more security and comfort, and I am happy to accomodate her. As we all know... if she ain't happy, we ain't happy! :sombrero:

 

[CSG]

At 59, I don't sleep under the stars as much as I used to although I am an astronomer and usually have a telescope along. Living in our high desert the ground is pretty rocky and can chew up a tent or pad pretty quickly. I wouldn't get the double Tent Cot if I were to get one, I'd get the oversize model. That double is pretty unwieldy and takes more storage room in the rig.

Probably would make more sense to risk a couple hundred at the local Sportsman's and see how it works. I might even be able to return it if it's not to my liking.

 

[texas taco]

I have never been up close to a tent cot.. I have a wife a two little girls. The RTT was the choice for us due to ease of set up, quality, and when we open it up after a long days travel our bed is already made.... My wife and I have a Mountain Hardware 3 man tent that we used for a many years before the second one arrived, but sleeping on the ground just got old for us. My friend just bought a OZ tent. It is a ground tent that is bomb proof quality, almost as easy to set up as my Eezi Awn, comes with a covered awning. It might be a ground tent but it is a tent you can put a cot in. You would have room for all gear...
Just due to the quality and attention to details I would really consider the OZ Tent...
http://us.oztent.com/

Just my two cents :sombrero:

 

[Corey]

Before I got my roof top tent I was looking at the bigger sized one from Cabelas.
The reviews looked great, even in high winds that nearly shredded other ground tents, the tent cot stood its ground.

But I have a small interior to haul gear (you would not think that if you have seen my camping pics ) and I liked the concept of the roof top tent better after researching them and seeing how all of my bedding could stay in it and just crank it up and be good to go.

If I was younger I might still be sleeping in a ground tent or one of the cots, but as I have aged I like to have some luxury along with me now, and the roof top tent I bought has met all of my expectations.

I too use to be an avid backpacker many years ago, and spent many a night up at Mount Rainier camping along the Wonderland Trail with just the bare necessities one takes backpacking.
But as mentioned, the older I get I want a little more out of my trips and want to be comfortable.

 

[Jeffb79]

I've got the double tent cot, and for what it's worth I've been pretty happy with it. I'm not sure how long it will last. I've already broken one of the clips on a strap that attaches to the legs. The material is thin, and the stitching leaves a little to be desired. Ventilation is not that great when the rain fly is on and humidity builds up on cold nights (read this as: the inside walls will be wet when you wake up if you leave the rain fly on). Folded up, it's pretty large. About 3 ft wide and 5ft long.
It is very comfortable, it keeps you off a wet ground and out of the snow. No need for an air mattress, just your sleeping bag and you're good. I'll leave my sleeping bag in it, and fold it all as one on trips. It sets up pretty quick, less than 5 minutes once you're used to the process. No tent stakes to worry about.
All in all, for a $200 tent that sits off the ground, I've been happy with it. Would I buy another one? Probably not. The price will actually be another $100 after you factor in shipping, and I don't feel it will last near as long as some of the better built RTTs out there.

 

[spressomon]

I've been looking into these and usually am just sleeping myself. The Tent Cot is under $200, keeps you off the ground and has pretty good interior space. Takes a few moments to set up from the videos I've seen.

The roof top tent keeps you higher off the ground but a midnight run *could* be a bit risky if you slipped coming down the ladder. Plus, ones like the Maggiolina and Columbus are 10 times the cost not to mention taking up your roof rack.

Now, I admit the RTT is a very elegant idea but why do people choose these over something like the Tent Cot. Not challenging anyone's choice, I'm just trying to learn in order to make a decision.

With plenty of room in your new LX have you considered, on your solo runs, to just sleeping in the LC...er LX?

 

[michaels]

tent cot is cold. no room to move around, often uncomfortable. if you use it in the winer, make sure to bring lots of padding form wind moving underneath you. with a RTT, the insulation is there. the canvas i far superior, and you actually have comfortable room.

for just weekend trips every few months, ge tthe tent cot. however, if you're planning week long vacations/trips and plan on sleeping out of the truck, thena RTT is the only way to go. i'm planning a cross country trip for after college, and i'm definitely buying a RTT for the trip.

 

[gfiero]

:victory: I recently purchased a Rtt after years of using a small tent or a cot. I considered the tentcot but after talking to someone I trust who was not impressed, I started saving for the RTT. I've been able to use it twice so far and I am happy with it. It packs easly, my bedding folds up in it. It is out of the way. I also have a history of back problems, and sleeping flat is a requiement for me. I find it is cleaner than a tent also, it is a lot harder to track sand, mud or even snow into it.

FWIW thats my 2 cents.

 

[CSG]

With plenty of room in your new LX have you considered, on your solo runs, to just sleeping in the LC...er LX?

Oh yes, that's the most likely scenario. Having a camper van as well which I'd be more likely to take for longer trips or overnighters with my boys, the LX Cruiser is more for closer to home backroad trips with maybe one or two nights.

I got the thing, in part, to replace a Miata that I've been leasing the last couple years and is due to be turned in in March. The LX will be my daily driver as well as whatever else I do with it.

I've just been curious about the RTT's and wondered about their advantage over the far less expensive Tent Cots.