What tent rooftop setup for 5+ people?

[RavensEyeOffroad]

Thinking ahead a little here. I dont have a gladiator currently (maybe this coming summer), but I am planning out its use. My wife was wanting to maybe get a small camper and tow it to say the beach etc. I was curious if there were any overlanding style tents or a setup that could accommodate 5 people? 2 adults, 1 teen, a 3 and 4 year old. I feel it would be 100% easier to just pop a tent open vs tow something there. Are there any setups that also include the bed of the truck combined with a tent?

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[smlobx]

That’s a tough one. I’m sure you know that the kids will be getting larger each year so you’d probably want to take that into consideration.

My only suggestion, other than agreeing with your wife, is to get a large RTT that could sleep 3 or so and put the other people in a ground tent.

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

That’s a tough one. I’m sure you know that the kids will be getting larger each year so you’d probably want to take that into consideration.

My only suggestion, other than agreeing with your wife, is to get a large RTT that could sleep 3 or so and put the other people in a ground tent.

We cant get our kids to eat actual food so they wont be growing imo.
I was thinking something like this:

 

[smlobx]

^^^^
Great idea. I forgot about an annex.
You could even get a couple of lightweight cots to keep them off the ground.

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

^^^^
Great idea. I forgot about an annex.
You could even get a couple of lightweight cots to keep them off the ground.

now to sell it to the wife.
My thought was even to put that setup maybe on some sort of offroad trailer. My thought would be park the small trailer in the garage (we dont park in it) and have it ready to go whenever, hook up and go. I dunno, baby steps I guess. :D

 

[OMTBiker]

Not what you are asking for but...

 

[smlobx]

now to sell it to the wife.
My thought was even to put that setup maybe on some sort of offroad trailer. My thought would be park the small trailer in the garage (we dont park in it) and have it ready to go whenever, hook up and go. I dunno, baby steps I guess. :D

I have a solid roof rtt on my Offroad trailer that we used on our summer trip to Colorado. My 6ft tall son and his wife slept in it and loved it..

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

Not what you are asking for but...

acktually that is what it would look like if my wife and I combined ideas. >.<

do you have a model for that?

 

[OMTBiker]

The trailer is an IntechRV, Flyer Pursue with a Napier Sports SUV tent on the back, model 84000.

 

[MarineHawk]

Repeat from earlier post:

I can’t understand why anyone would put a tent ON their truck. I have about 18 tents for all kinds of situations. When they are set up, and I am hunting or doing other things, I can drive off immediately to haul a buck, drive up to a vista or trailhead, or make a run back to the nearest store, just go wheeling, tow out a friend, etc. …

For example, I have a 12’ 12’ tent that fills up a modest duffle bag and takes up much less space. What am I missing?

You can’t drive your Jeep with a tent on it. It becomes a stationary RV without the real comforts. Kind of eviscerates the Jeep’s main purpose—to drive around in difficult terrain.

Getting a real camper may or not make sense. But, why put a tent on your Jeep that renders it immobile and takes up more space than a much larger conventional tent that takes up less cargo space that allows you to go Jeeping while the big tent with numerous cots and comforts remains functional somewhere else?

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

Repeat from earlier post:

I can’t understand why anyone would put a tent ON their truck. I have about 18 tents for all kinds of situations. When they are set up, and I am hunting or doing other things, I can drive off immediately to haul a buck, drive up to a vista or trailhead, or make a run back to the nearest store, just go wheeling, tow out a friend, etc. …

For example, I have a 12’ 12’ tent that fills up a modest duffle bag and takes up much less space. What am I missing?

You can’t drive your Jeep with a tent on it. It becomes a stationary RV without the real comforts. Kind of eviscerates the Jeep’s main purpose—to drive around in difficult terrain.

Getting a real camper may or not make sense. But, why put a tent on your Jeep that renders it immobile and takes up more space than a much larger conventional tent that takes up less cargo space that allows you to go Jeeping while the big tent with numerous cots and comforts remains functional somewhere else?

very true. My wife and I are just spitballing ideas about how to get the kids out and do stuff without paying tons of money on lavish trips. A relative has some sort of camper spot near the beach and we could just go, park, setup and be at the beach. There are some other places with similar setups that we could go hang out at. My idea of comfortable and hers are very different though so im just trying to provide options so we can decide what would be best. Like your post we have a simple tent that holds like 12 people or something that we never really used but I dont know how comfortable she would consider that even with some sort of inflatable mattress setup. I have 3 daughters so it will be difficult in making everyone happy.

 

[Mr._Bill]

very true. My wife and I are just spitballing ideas about how to get the kids out and do stuff without paying tons of money on lavish trips. A relative has some sort of camper spot near the beach and we could just go, park, setup and be at the beach. There are some other places with similar setups that we could go hang out at. My idea of comfortable and hers are very different though so im just trying to provide options so we can decide what would be best. Like your post we have a simple tent that holds like 12 people or something that we never really used but I dont know how comfortable she would consider that even with some sort of inflatable mattress setup. I have 3 daughters so it will be difficult in making everyone happy.

With four women and yourself, there's going to be a big difference in what's considered comfortable and acceptable. It's only going to increase as they age. Just start planning now for a motorhome that you will pull the Jeep behind.

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

With four women and yourself, there's going to be a big difference in what's considered comfortable and acceptable. It's only going to increase as they age. Just start planning now for a motorhome that you will pull the Jeep behind.

I know right?
Me im like "I could sleep in the bed, it was cold I would just get one of those military 4pc (or whatever bags). No prob."
My wife: "what do you mean we cant air condition the out of doors?"

 

[Lou3.6]

We cant get our kids to eat actual food so they wont be growing imo.
I was thinking something like this:

Terrible Idea . . . ! !st., do you even have a full sized truck Capable of carrying this "beast" ? 2nd., with said "Beast" set up as is, your STUCK THEIR, unless you have another 5 person capable vehicle . TOWing a Capable Trailer requires a Capable Tow Vehicle . May I suggest a Quality Ground Tent, oh say such as, KodiaK Canvas (4 season capable) or OZ Tents (3 season capable (?) . The OZ's are Quick and Easy Set up & take down, but require some forethought as to where to put it (in transit due to the stowed length (assuming you get a LARGE one capable for the whole family (don't for get the 3 cats & 2 dogs ?) . Kodiak's are heavy and more time consuming to put up & take down - I know cause I have the 9x8.5x6 !
I hate the heavy duty galvanized tubing Frame - gonna sell this thing come Summer & probably get a smaller (good for 2) OZ tent . You gotta figure out what it is You REALLY want to accomplish when you go "Camping". And yes you DO ask a lot of Dumb Questions for a Newbie, . . . but hey some of us Like that, even more so if/when you get a JEEP, any Jeep really ! . Oh and the Internet is your Friend . . . Tons more Opinions & Facts out in the "Web-World" to assist you, though this place is a good starting point . GOOD LUCK with it .

 

[Westcoastflea]

Back to your initial question, yes there are 5 person roof top tents.
https://tuffstuff4x4.com/collection...uff-stuff-r-overland-roof-top-tent-annex-room

What ground dwellers forget to mention is that their tents fits in a small bag, but what about the mattress, cots, and bedding, that takes up space too. A RTT, has everything in there already.

I have 2 little kids right now (4.5, 1.5) and my wife "requires" at least a 4 person RTT. Your teenager might be the biggest challenge, but depending upon her height, she could sleep across the back seat.

Good luck!

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