New to roof top tents

[Jobofly]

So i am really starting to love overlanding and Jeep camping. Currently I have a truck bed tent and it works fine however it takes forever to setup. I am looking at all different roof top tent styles. My goal would be to have a half rack or a set of Billie Bars and have the RTT sit on that so I can still park in my garage. I think having a full rack with a RTT wont work. Ideally I want one that is easy to open and close. Something that can be setup and closed down in a matter of minutes. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

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[alwhite]

If you've got the budget, I'd look at the hard top options. Having had both, I can vouch for the hard top being exponentially easier to take down and set up. It makes camping much more enjoyable.

Also, if you have the trail rail system in your bed, making some support bars out of super strut is very easy to do if you want that as a temporary option to offset the cost of the tent.

 

[Gvsukids]

So i am really starting to love overlanding and Jeep camping. Currently I have a truck bed tent and it works fine however it takes forever to setup. I am looking at all different roof top tent styles. My goal would be to have a half rack or a set of Billie Bars and have the RTT sit on that so I can still park in my garage. I think having a full rack with a RTT wont work. Ideally I want one that is easy to open and close. Something that can be setup and closed down in a matter of minutes. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

Check out https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/forums/racks-carriers-toppers-cargo-tonneau-bed-mods.64/

 

[Dp7]

I had very similar requirements to you... I ended up with this setup:
Rooftnest Meadowlark on top of Dee Zee crossbars, on top of an Onine tonneau with t-slots on the sides. I'm sure you could find any number of low profile crossbars if you don't want the tonneau tho. Very fast to deploy/pack up, you basically unclip 12 buckles from the cover and pull it off, then two velcro straps under the cover, pull the ladder out and use it to unfold the tent, adjust ladder height, then pull up on one hoop up until it clicks, swing the prop rod in place and you're done. Takes a few minutes maybe if you're pottering. Tent weighs 90lbs.

 

[Jobofly]

I had very similar requirements to you... I ended up with this setup:
Rooftnest Meadowlark on top of Dee Zee crossbars, on top of an Onine tonneau with t-slots on the sides. I'm sure you could find any number of low profile crossbars if you don't want the tonneau tho. Very fast to deploy/pack up, you basically unclip 12 buckles from the cover and pull it off, then two velcro straps under the cover, pull the ladder out and use it to unfold the tent, adjust ladder height, then pull up on one hoop up until it clicks, swing the prop rod in place and you're done. Takes a few minutes maybe if you're pottering. Tent weighs 90lbs.

That's the setup I am looking at. I do want to keep my Mopar tonneau cover so that's why i am looking at Billie Bars. From the youtube videos those RTT's seem like they take awhile to setup and break down. I will look at this specific model.

 

[Dp7]

That's the setup I am looking at. I do want to keep my Mopar tonneau cover so that's why i am looking at Billie Bars. From the youtube videos those RTT's seem like they take awhile to setup and break down. I will look at this specific model.

This is the only soft shell folding tent I was able to find that was nearly as simple to set up/break down as the hard top tents. Ease of setup was my #1 priority. The only additional step really is pulling the cover off.

 

[Mr.Wilson]

A hard shell RTT is definitely the quickest/easiest to set up but to each their own. KB Voodoo makes great cross bars with mounts that allow you to keep your tonneau cover. They have a list of what tonneau covers will work with the mounts. Just remember this is just the beginning! Happy overlanding

 

[Jobofly]

A hard shell RTT is definitely the quickest/easiest to set up but to each their own. KB Voodoo makes great cross bars with mounts that allow you to keep your tonneau cover. They have a list of what tonneau covers will work with the mounts. Just remember this is just the beginning! Happy overlanding

Haha thats the truth! I just ordered a Bluetti AC70 as well.

 

[Jobofly]

I love the top oak https://topoakoverland.com/products/galaxy1-0

But I am worried about it hanging too far off of the back of the Gladiator.

 

[Dp7]

I love the top oak https://topoakoverland.com/products/galaxy1-0

But I am worried about it hanging too far off of the back of the Gladiator.

Yeah, the rear dangle steered me away from the hard toppers. I'm sure it's fine, probably, but it seemed like it would be unstable, possibly not even within the manufacturer's specs to have the crossbar attachment be that close to the middle of the tent. If the ladder actually acts as a proper support for the dangling edge, I'm sure it's fine... but if it's just kind of hooked onto it, that might be putting a lot of leverage on the cantilever.

 

[Mr.Wilson]

I love the top oak https://topoakoverland.com/products/galaxy1-0

But I am worried about it hanging too far off of the back of the Gladiator.

I have a TOPOAK. Couldn’t be happier with it. It’s does hang off the back even with the tailgate in the open position. BLUETTI is the way to go. I myself upgraded to the AC180P recently.

 

[BamaGladiator]

This is my iKamper x-cover…had a Smittybilt, and this is so much easier due to no cover.

And here it is folded up (half rack)

 

[markleone22]

So i am really starting to love overlanding and Jeep camping. Currently I have a truck bed tent and it works fine however it takes forever to setup. I am looking at all different roof top tent styles. My goal would be to have a half rack or a set of Billie Bars and have the RTT sit on that so I can still park in my garage. I think having a full rack with a RTT wont work. Ideally I want one that is easy to open and close. Something that can be setup and closed down in a matter of minutes. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

So, I had the Napier bed tent and the custom fit Airbedz Air Mattress that went inside the tent. And while that worked very well, the tedious setup is the exact reason I transitioned to a RTT. And I literally just did this in June. I actually have not even camped with it yet (trip coming shortly), but the convenience is worth every penny. I installed a Yakima Overhaul HD rack and put the iKamper BDV Duo on it. And then I buit a platform in my yard to hold the tent when not camping (Matilda is my every day vehicle) because I don't have room for a garage hoist system and I needed a solution to get the thing on and off the truck by myself (the tent is 175 lbs). That should be a whole other post, and I can do that if you feel it would be helpful.

 

[Steven_B]

I have been hearing good things about the new OVS XD LHOTSE

https://trailrecon.com/products/ove...e-clamshell-aluminum-hard-shell-roof-top-tent

 

[Jobofly]

So, I had the Napier bed tent and the custom fit Airbedz Air Mattress that went inside the tent. And while that worked very well, the tedious setup is the exact reason I transitioned to a RTT. And I literally just did this in June. I actually have not even camped with it yet (trip coming shortly), but the convenience is worth every penny. I installed a Yakima Overhaul HD rack and put the iKamper BDV Duo on it. And then I buit a platform in my yard to hold the tent when not camping (Matilda is my every day vehicle) because I don't have room for a garage hoist system and I needed a solution to get the thing on and off the truck by myself (the tent is 175 lbs). That should be a whole other post, and I can do that if you feel it would be helpful.

That may be something I look in too. Can you post a picture of the rack you built to hold it when not in use?

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