Why Rooftop Tent?

[mrmo]

RTT & trailer combo is so nice. 20lb of propane, 2 house batteries, 21gal water tank with sink/faucet, and plenty of storage for food & gear. Best part is that you can just unhook it when you're done and park it in the garage for next time you want to go out.

I would really like some more pics and what you did on this trailer if you have a min or two sometime. Im starting to draw up some ideas for a trailer now....thanks

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[just_another_guy]

I would really like some more pics and what you did on this trailer if you have a min or two sometime. Im starting to draw up some ideas for a trailer now....thanks

I don't take many photos of my projects, but feel free to PM me if you have questions. Short story is that it's a M416 trailer with an Overlander XL tent on top and slide out drawers.

 

[shokker70]

And you're all missing the biggest and most important reason...

We all know that zombies can't climb stairs!! Duh! RTT!!

 

[XJADDICTION]

I like the tent unit, I would put that on an overland homemade trailer and be good. Whats the name of that brand, cant quite tell from the pic. James Bar--something, EVO model?

Yes it’s the EVO XXL JB. It is big and weighs about 250lbs

 

[Alaskantinbender]

One thing to note is the weight up high does make a noticeable difference. I was surprised to feel the truck more tippy than before with only 130 pounds in the topper rack.

 

[Tank43]

We'll, another $.02... Over the past 40 years I've done a lot of car camping, back packing, RV camping, and some overland east coast, out west, and Alaska. I think the best set-up varies by how you are currently travelling and what works for you. I've never had a RTT, but can see how one would be appropriate for repeated boon-docking. Last time I travelling by Jeep out West we mixed off-grid camping with state and national park sites as well as commercial campgrounds like KOA's. Don't know about anyone else's experience, but it would have been inconvenient and sometimes impossible to sleep in a vehicle RTT in those campgrounds vs a ground tent. Sometimes it was convenient to find a boon-dock site, like outside Grand Teton, pitch a tent to reserve a spot, then drive into Jackson Hole for dinner and supplies before heading back to camp for the night. Admit I slept inside the hard cover Jeep in Alaska due to bears, so no tent experience there. Now older and living back east we have mostly camping in state parks. Most of these situations you want a tent vs some impossible situations to RTT camp unless you pay a premium for a full-hookup RV site. And these state park "rustic" tent campsites are quickly becoming unaffordable. Here in SC $30 a night is a minimum with some parks asking $55-$70 a night for a rustic tent site. I recently bought a Gazelle Hub and I do love the easy setup and space for my wife and two kids. Easily fits in state park tent sites. If we go back out west a RTT will definitely be on the list to add, but will combine with a ground tent for other situations. On the other side, these new 4x4 trailers that do everything are another consideration that meets a lot of needs. Best of luck fellow campers and hope to see you out there!

 

[Jobofly]

I had to have the hardtop option - wanted to be able to quick deploy/stow, so that ruled out all the less expensive options out there. I decided on Torro Offroad as they have a 2 person hard shell that fits over the bed without overhang and the platform doubles when you open (Opens to the passenger side). While the mattress that come with is was ok, I also bought the best on market Exped Megamat Duo to ensure a great night's sleep. Also, I went with JCR's half rack to keep center of mass low when driving. This set-up I leave on year round and keep the mattress in the tent too. The tent weighs just 120 lbs, so not a big deal and I do not notice it when driving.

What Bike rack is that?

 

[Outdork]

What Bike rack is that?

these are 1Up racks using the JCR mounts as a base.
https://www.1up-usa.com/product/roof-rack/

 

[tabrods]

April 2021 I posted about my Yakima RTT. It was easy to setup and use but you had to break it down to go anywhere. Last Fall I sold it and Got a Rev tent from C6 Outdoors. The beauty of their system is that you set up the tent on the platform and if you want to go somewhere the tent, which weighs about 30 lbs., can be taken off and set up on the ground. Also comes with a built in 4" memory foam mattress which is very comfy. On the platform you're stiil eyeball to eyeball with bigfoot...

Tom

 

[vicsvx]

I told myself I wouldn't ever get a RTT so in early 2021 I bought a nice bike packing tent. 3 uses and my back kills me now on the ground. So I looked into mattresses ect... But then I looked at setup time, take down time, the amount of gear that I'm adding to my setup. Picked up a used RTT for 900 and a old m100 trailer for 1k. Best idea ever lol easy to setup, hookup and disconnect. Each camping setup (tent, rtt, camper) all have pros and cons. For some it's cost. Other it's weight. Others it's practicality with their camping styles.

 

[AngryIrishman]

April 2021 I posted about my Yakima RTT. It was easy to setup and use but you had to break it down to go anywhere. Last Fall I sold it and Got a Rev tent from C6 Outdoors. The beauty of their system is that you set up the tent on the platform and if you want to go somewhere the tent, which weighs about 30 lbs., can be taken off and set up on the ground. Also comes with a built in 4" memory foam mattress which is very comfy. On the platform you're stiil eyeball to eyeball with bigfoot...

Tom

Light, modular and small....perfect. Thanks for sharing

 

[Blade1668]

I told myself I wouldn't ever get a RTT so in early 2021 I bought a nice bike packing tent. 3 uses and my back kills me now on the ground. So I looked into mattresses ect... But then I looked at setup time, take down time, the amount of gear that I'm adding to my setup. Picked up a used RTT for 900 and a old m100 trailer for 1k. Best idea ever lol easy to setup, hookup and disconnect. Each camping setup (tent, rtt, camper) all have pros and cons. For some it's cost. Other it's weight. Others it's practicality with their camping styles.

I didn't think that a RTT was useful or cost-effective then I thought about muddy areas and other potential advantages, fast setup/ teardown, off ground. When I was fishing in S.E. GA. I got "tree'd" by alligators more than once.
Different locations require options.
I added a "rack" on my trailer for my 4wheeler to put my R.T.T. on. Then updated and upgraded my 4wheeler too. ? It's not a lightweight or off-road trailer though, it's a 12ft utility trailer.

In some cases even heavier than that.

With all things having options is good. I've got from my 16ft Scamp, RTT, Tent-Cot, tent, hammock or just sleeping on ground for options.

 

[BunkieJeeper75]

My wife thinks bears can’t climb and she’s safer up high. That said, RTTs are more convenient if you move regularly and don’t plan on setting base camp and then using your truck to explore locally. If you are more the type who likes to set up in one place and then make day excursions, they are not the best answer. RTT offer better security as you take your stuff with you, tend to be faster to set up/break down, and are easier to hard wire power for lighting and accessories. However, they are a pain if you have to pee in the middle of the night and you must find a level parking spot or what seems like a minor annoyance when you go to bed can become a major aggravation in the middle of the night as the lean becomes mean!

Pick your poison and commit!

Considering one but Yeah .. the pee in the middle of the night concerns me !!!

 

[MPMB]

Considering one but Yeah .. the pee in the middle of the night concerns me !!!

It's not a huge deal. At least not for me. I don't know if I've ever slept through the night in a tent/RTT. Even after a difficult hike that took most of the day, I still woke up during the night.

My wife usually has to get up, so I get up. We have a portapotty (two now; a more compact one showed up a couple months ago) so we don't have to travel far away in the dark. We also ordered a privacy tent that's a lot more substantial than the folding "changing tent" things.

We're kicking around ordering a Hiker trailer so we can put the RTT on that and make it a basecamp type situation. I'm getting tired of setting up and tearing down when we've camped in the same spot.

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