Why Rooftop Tent?

[Newlife]

Rtt all the way. We have a gazelle and used it for 2 weeks straight exploring a good chunk of Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and some of Utah last year. The gazelle was easy to setup but finding a flat spot or clearing the ground to sleep on was a chore. After that we picked up a free spirit odyssey and total game changer. Pull up drop a rock under a tire and good to go. But we couldn’t store anything in it. We just switched to an ikamper and now we have all of our bedding in it(pillows, blankets, sleeping bag) and in less than 2 minutes of pulling up we’re ready to go. Which allows about an hour more on the trail each day and sometimes a much better view at a camp site.

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[Jeepasaurus_Rex]

For me, it makes sense. I don't hang out in one place for too long.... so I don't have to mess around with setting up and tearing down the tent every time. Plus with the RTT I can set it up anywhere, and within the space that the Jeep already takes up... so it's great for rest stops/parking lots if you need to.

It's paid itself off just in hotel/airbnb fees that I would have had... not to mention just "time" in general. I'll likely never go back to a ground tent.

 

[OngsterA]

Keep in mind not all RTTs set up and take down easily and quickly. So far I've been using my Mini for 5 trips, loving it. 2 mins pop up, less than 5 mins take down. I could leave my sleeping bag and pillow in it, just take my duffle bag out when packing. It's great in wind conditions, very stable. Of course like most already said, up there seems to keep dust and dirt away, out of the elements.

One case this summer, a popular mtn campground is almost full. I was able to grab 3 nights, but at different sites. Total convenience with RTT jumping sites.

 

[dcmdon]

Rtt all the way. We have a gazelle and used it for 2 weeks straight exploring a good chunk of Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and some of Utah last year. The gazelle was easy to setup but finding a flat spot or clearing the ground to sleep on was a chore. After that we picked up a free spirit odyssey and total game changer. Pull up drop a rock under a tire and good to go. But we couldn’t store anything in it. We just switched to an ikamper and now we have all of our bedding in it(pillows, blankets, sleeping bag) and in less than 2 minutes of pulling up we’re ready to go. Which allows about an hour more on the trail each day and sometimes a much better view at a camp site.

Are you able to keep stuff in the iKamper because it maintains some room inside when its packed? Rather than squeezing down as small as possible.

If this is the case, it seems like it is a great trade off for a slightly bigger package to be able to store bedding and stuff like that inside.

 

[J-GriffsGlad]

RTTs are ridiculous IMO. If they were $500 maybe? But as is it seems like a "I look cool" thing... for that price you can find used truck campers. My wife hates sleeping on the ground too so we don't tent camp. I got a topper ($400), rainfly tent/off bed extension ($80) and nice couch bed ($60). She digs that set up.

 

[Jeepasaurus_Rex]

Are you able to keep stuff in the iKamper because it maintains some room inside when its packed? Rather than squeezing down as small as possible.

If this is the case, it seems like it is a great trade off for a slightly bigger package to be able to store bedding and stuff like that inside.

This is how my tent is too. I think Ikamper, Alu-cab, and Quick-Pitch all have the capability to do so!
I can even store my freedom panels in mine

 

[mdHalp]

RTTs are ridiculous IMO. If they were $500 maybe? But as is it seems like a "I look cool" thing... for that price you can find used truck campers. My wife hates sleeping on the ground too so we don't tent camp. I got a topper ($400), rainfly tent/off bed extension ($80) and nice couch bed ($60). She digs that set up.

Do you have a few pics of your setup? My wife is the same and I'm trying to get her to camp with me but I'm dreading spending the $2,800+ on a RTT.

 

[J-GriffsGlad]

I don't have a pic of us camping... but here's a few of my topper when I first put it on (from a 2005 Tacoma - modified slightly to fit on my Jeep) and the couch bed in the back. The car extension tent I just got off of Amazon. There are hundred of them and I just picked a combination of inexpensive with 4*+ reviews. I think the one I bought is $89 instead of $79 now (inflation lol).

 

[Alaskantinbender]

I don't have a pic of us camping... but here's a few of my topper when I first put it on (from a 2005 Tacoma - modified slightly to fit on my Jeep) and the couch bed in the back. The car extension tent I just got off of Amazon. There are hundred of them and I just picked a combination of inexpensive with 4*+ reviews. I think the one I bought is $89 instead of $79 now (inflation lol).

Nice set up. The couch is a very cool addition. I couldn't find a topper for a 5 foot bed so had to shorten a six footer 13 inches. Well worth the effort and saved a ton of cash. I used a bed tent extension for awhile when I had a soft topper.

 

[Jeepasaurus_Rex]

I don't have a pic of us camping... but here's a few of my topper when I first put it on (from a 2005 Tacoma - modified slightly to fit on my Jeep) and the couch bed in the back. The car extension tent I just got off of Amazon. There are hundred of them and I just picked a combination of inexpensive with 4*+ reviews. I think the one I bought is $89 instead of $79 now (inflation lol).

That's a cool setup! I'd have gone that route probably, but I already had the RTT from my KJ, and already planned out the usage of my bed for other things.

But I definitely looked at this method for a while

 

[Newlife]

Are you able to keep stuff in the iKamper because it maintains some room inside when its packed? Rather than squeezing down as small as possible.

If this is the case, it seems like it is a great trade off for a slightly bigger package to be able to store bedding and stuff like that inside.

Yes. We have two full size pillows, two blankets, and a duvet all with the normal mattress and it closes fine. We test fit two pillows, two sleeping bags, one blanket, and the duvet and they fit too but a little more work. But in east tn until about January you don’t need the sleeping bags. The two rumpl style blankets do more than enough with the right clothing. In the colder months we will ditch the duvet, and blankets for the sleeping bag

 

[mrmo]

Absolutely love our RTT! Pull into camp late at night, pop 4 latches and up it goes! Bed is already made, 3” es of memory foam, off the ground. Hard shell top and bottom make for a much quieter tent in the wind.

And… if you put a nighttime potty up there… well you get plenty of kisses like this!

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?

 

[mrmo]

Yes. We have two full size pillows, two blankets, and a duvet all with the normal mattress and it closes fine. We test fit two pillows, two sleeping bags, one blanket, and the duvet and they fit too but a little more work. But in east tn until about January you don’t need the sleeping bags. The two rumpl style blankets do more than enough with the right clothing. In the colder months we will ditch the duvet, and blankets for the sleeping bag

Hey Newlife, Im in the area, over near Kingston, a little west of K-town. Looks good, Im looking for a hard shell top and bottom, and will mount on an off-road type trailer with some kayaks and other gear.

 

[just_another_guy]

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.

 

[Mister Lamb]

This entire setup (including the roof basket to store everything from the bed) was about $700. I contemplated a rooftop but when I priced this out it made more sense and provided more room for me, the wife, and baby

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