Best Roof Top Tent for the buck?

[JT4JT]

Depends on your needs. TBH i wouldn't know for you. But for me weight became the goal. I had a CVT 56 w/ extended fly and an Annex room. Its a lot of tent and it was cheap. Its also heavy AF and really bites into the Mojave's performance especially when your trying to use it as intended. A little suspension work and i managed to keep the ride and still run that CVT. I don't like it for solo trips though. I run it for others. For summer I'll start rocking a hammock only and winter I plan on sourcing a sub 90lb wedge and if possible single man width. As well as deleting the heavy steel back rack i have in favor of a lighter taller one. I'm 6'5" and while i like the room the CVT has, lets be honest if my wife ain't with me to justify that room and weight. Its lost performance. Not to mention its a PIA to get on and off the truck regularly. I have a multiple buddies running hard shells and they are all heavier than my CVT. So I won't bother with any of em. I also snow wheel so anything that is 100% reliant on gas struts is a no go as well. cus 3 ft of powder and sub freezing temps and you will be turned into a sandwich randomly in your sleep. I really like the idea of the GFC soft wedge, its 80 lbs and has actually bracing to hold it open. there's also Overland inspired new Carbon Fiber Wedge camper that might work. All i know is i need something different cus the soft shell CVT is too much work for one guy. Drying that sucker out not fun either.

Weight factor is a tough consideration on a mid size truck like ours for sure. I have accepted that I won't be ripping the dunes in Florence on the same trip I camp with wife and kiddo on the roof. Just too much weight up there slinging around on the SmartCap. I definitely considered CVT as I live in Bend where they started out. To get something big enough for my needs from CVT, I'd have to go soft shell and from my prior experience with Yakima RTT, the soft shells are a hassle I don't want to deal with.

Just one piece of info- I was also worried about the gas struts closing up on me since I live in the PNW and it gets cold. My RTT from Naturnest came with strut braces that attach to the strut when open and prevent the tent from closing unless you have removed the brace. If you really like the hardshell designs, I'm sure most come with the same strut braces that mine did, they just might not itemize it in the description. It might be worth reaching out to the brand you had in mind and ask if they are included.

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[nanook12]

Dimensions of the Swift 1400, $1000 off right now…

Dimensions (open):

90.5" x 55.1" x 64.2" (2300 x 1400 x 1630mm)

 

[JT4JT]

Dimensions of the Swift 1400, $1000 off right now…

Dimensions (open):

90.5" x 55.1" x 64.2" (2300 x 1400 x 1630mm)

Mattress is too small for anything more than 2 adults, hence why I needed something larger.
Even at $1,000 off, it still costs $500+ more than the same tent from Naturnest...

 

[nanook12]

Mattress runs the full width! There is no space around it, the inside is huge! And you won’t lose it in a wind storm.

 

[JT4JT]

Mattress runs the full width! There is no space around it, the inside is huge! And you won’t lose it in a wind storm.

I hear ya, I was just going off their own specs posted at 51.6” for the width of the mattress. As I mentioned previously, that style of RTT is great for 1 or 2 people but just isn’t big enough for 3 comfortably in my opinion. And there are comparable tents out there at a better value than Ironman.

 

[T-Rock]

I have had several RTT’s and am in the market for a new one as well.

To my knowledge there aren’t any RTTs that are actually manufactured in the US.

One question to the OP… can you store your bedding inside? This is a non negotiable point for me.

One of my top contenders is this 4x4 Colorado rtt. But it is only for 2 people.

https://www.4x4colorado.com/collections/roof-top-tent/products/nimbus-hardshell-roof-top-tent

I am with you, I am searching for a reasonably priced RTT that I can keep my sleeping bag & pillow & blanket in while closed. That is much harder than expected. I don't understand why manufacturers are willing to make clamshells that are 10"-14" tall but not a 10" tall wedge that enables you to store sleeping gear. Are the only options really over $2500?

 

[JT4JT]

I am with you, I am searching for a reasonably priced RTT that I can keep my sleeping bag & pillow & blanket in while closed. That is much harder than expected. I don't understand why manufacturers are willing to make clamshells that are 10"-14" tall but not a 10" tall wedge that enables you to store sleeping gear. Are the only options really over $2500?

NaturNest has 3 different clamshell-style hard sided tents under $2500. I went for their largest one (Sirius II RTT) and love it so far. Plenty of room for 3 people and it looks great on the Jeep. I could easily stow some sleeping gear in there with it closed. It's comparable, if not superior in construction compared to the Yakima RTT I owned previously. If you only need space for 2 people then I would check out their Sirius RTT. *Spoiler alert* its less than $1,400...

 

[T-Rock]

NaturNest has 3 different clamshell-style hard sided tents under $2500. I went for their largest one (Sirius II RTT) and love it so far. Plenty of room for 3 people and it looks great on the Jeep. I could easily stow some sleeping gear in there with it closed. It's comparable, if not superior in construction compared to the Yakima RTT I owner previously. If you only need space for 2 people then I would check out their Sirius RTT. *Spoiler alert* its less than $1,400...

Thanks! I had not heard of the Sirius RTT's, going to check them out now!

 

[JT4JT]

Thanks! I had not heard of the Sirius RTT's, going to check them out now!

No problem! I was not familiar with the brand and never saw one in person before ordering, but I was blown away when it arrived. I can't wrap my head around paying 2-3x as much for the same thing with a different brand name on it LOL.
If you end up ordering one, click one of the links I dropped up above and help a fellow member out

 

[MPMB]

Also remember you get what you pay for. Most RTTs will never have an issue.

Our Thule Basin developed cracks in the top shell. I'm pretty sure it was because of a production design flaw. The fiberglass shell has a formed inner liner. The two are pop-riveted together.

There's a size difference of .X" between the two, and these sit on a smaller tub, with front and rear latches.

The movement of all the pieces during travel - either on or off road - will eventually lead to stress on the fiberglass. The most flex/stress is the corners, and that's where it cracked. I've seen similar things with fiberglass racecar bodies.

I went through the customer service tool on Thule's site, and a few emails and pictures later, they said "A new one is on its way." The new one also has a different fastener on the corners, so it shouldn't crack.

So now I have a slightly damaged, lightly used (1 night) RTT sitting in my garage that will be put up for sale for a significant discount.

 

[T-Rock]

No problem! I was not familiar with the brand and never saw one in person before ordering, but I was blown away when it arrived. I can't wrap my head around paying 2-3x as much for the same thing with a different brand name on it LOL.
If you end up ordering one, click one of the links I dropped up above and help a fellow member out

Those links go to the Naturnest site listing prices in Yen...isn't there a US option to buy that helps you out?
Not certain I am purchasing this yet, but I want to know in case I do decide to go with that Sirius RTT. So far I do like the looks and cost of it.

 

[JT4JT]

Those links go to the Naturnest site listing prices in Yen...isn't there a US option to buy that helps you out?
Not certain I am purchasing this yet, but I want to know in case I do decide to go with that Sirius RTT. So far I do like the looks and cost of it.

If you are using a mobile browser you might have to stare at the screen for a moment and a little box comes up in the bottom right corner to convert to different currencies. For desktop I think there is just a drop down tab to change currency in the lower right area of your screen.

 

[spatters]

I'm consider the Sirius 2 RTT, but I need a rack to mount it on that will fit on my Roll-N-Lock M-Series XT tonneau cover. Any suggestions?

 

[JT4JT]

I'm consider the Sirius 2 RTT, but I need a rack to mount it on that will fit on my Roll-N-Lock M-Series XT tonneau cover. Any suggestions?

It looks like these racks might work with your tonneau cover but probably worth calling them to confirm fitment.

https://realtruck.com/p/elevate-rack-system/v/jeep/gladiator/2023/

 

[Stan H]

It looks like these racks might work with your tonneau cover but probably worth calling them to confirm fitment.

https://realtruck.com/p/elevate-rack-system/v/jeep/gladiator/2023/

No way in heck I am paying 850.00 for a truck rack. That is easily built . And they sell those things on EBAY For much less than that . So for the guys who would not dare to built one themselves. I would look elsewhere.

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