Why do people like roof top tents so much?

[Apples]

Has anyone here heard of Holiday Inn or Ramada Inn? Or how about, Motel 6?

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[Dr. Zaius]

Yeah, I'm lifetime Marriott Elite status.

I've had enough hotels if I can help it.

 

[Msfitoy]

Has anyone here heard of Holiday Inn or Ramada Inn? Or how about, Motel 6?

I have a place called "Home"...requires zero driving and everything wife needs... ?

 

[VoodooRanger]

Here’s my opinion on the whole thing. Last year I purchased my Ranger(first truck) with the sole intent on it being for overlanding/off-roading. Sure, I could’ve spent a couple hundred bucks on a tent from Walmart/Amazon, rather than $3,500 on a CVT Mt. Shasta and KB Voodoo rack. Mind you I’m new to this whole camping thing. So the Walmart tent probably would’ve been the much wiser investment, but in reality I love the times I have used the roof top tent. And it certainly is a great talking piece when people see it on the truck or watch me set it up at the campgrounds.

Yes, I would’ve loved an off-road capable teardrop trailer. Hell, even something like a Winnebago micro Minnie would be sweet. Then again, I don’t have the space now to store even small trailer to dump trash with. In the future I would like to pick up an xventure style trailer to mount the tent on top of. In the mean time if I need to use the bed of my truck for dumping, moving, etc. all it takes is four bolts and the rack/tent set up comes off.

The way I see it, there’s always the cheaper alternative. Yes, I went the expensive route when I could’ve purchased a cheap ground tent. Same way as I could’ve just gone the XL 4x4 route instead of XLT FX4. Will breaking down the tent in the rain be a pain in the ass? Certainly. Then again doing almost anything in the rain is a pain in the ass.

 

[MTBranger]

Pros for me:
-Only takes 10 min to setup ( if I open every flap, and window, etc. only 5 if i just flip it out and get in it).
-Off the ground and the mattress is comfy (GF much more likely to come on more trips with me)
- I hate dealing with rocks and really unlevel areas at night.
- Great for getting to MTB race locations and setting up a "base camp" at race weekends.
- may add small heater in the future making winter camping nicer.
- When get rained on I've never had a problem with getting flooded or wet.
- Used for random situations I wouldn't have considered; Went home to La after hurricane to clear tree off parents house, and rest of property. No power for several days and it was cooler and nicer in the tent in the driveway than the house at night.

Cons:
- Sits high on the Ranger compared to my F150 and MPG suffers
- Higher CG off road
- A pain to take on and off (plan to build something for this)
- Initial cost ( I am less likely to use hotels on really long trips now so this pays for it self)
- Can be a pain to fold up sometimes.
- Getting 50+ lb Dog in and out isn't the greatest.
- Multi-day stays in one location having to setup and pack up when needing to move isn't great.

 

[JAKE2.3]

I like the idea of these tents, and I think it would be great for me for nights at the race track. The problem I foresee is falling up the ladder after hammering beer all day. ?

 

[Leftcoast]

Some Aussie is making money selling the US these tents. To me it's like a Starbucks $5 coffee. Who would have thought people would pay for $5 coffee when it's 50 cts. everywhere else. Maybe in the Florida glades I'd feel safer but we don't have crocs in the Sierras and bears climb.

 

[dtech]

I like the idea of these tents, and I think it would be great for me for nights at the race track. The problem I foresee is falling up the ladder after hammering beer all day. ?

you could buy a whole lot beer with the money you'd spend on a roof top tent. The race track comment reminds me of back in the 70s going to the Grand Prix races at Watkins Glen, a bunch of guys would rent an RV and get pretty wasted, I remember one time being asked how was the race and I replied it sounded pretty good but can't say I recollect seeing much if any of it.

 

[JAKE2.3]

you could buy a whole lot beer with the money you'd spend on a roof top tent. The race track comment reminds me of back in the 70s going to the Grand Prix races at Watkins Glen, a bunch of guys would rent an RV and get pretty wasted, I remember one time being asked how was the race and I replied it sounded pretty good but can't say I recollect seeing much if any of it.

My kinda guy. I'm at the Glen every year multiple times, and I have been afflicted with the brown bottle flu a couple times myself. That place has that affect on you. I imagine it was much worse in the 70's during the bog times, at least that's what I hear from my dad. He attended the bus burning. I won't confirm or deny his involvement ha.

 

[dtech]

My kinda guy. I'm at the Glen every year multiple times, and I have been afflicted with the brown bottle flu a couple times myself. That place has that affect on you. I imagine it was much worse in the 70's during the bog times, at least that's what I hear from my dad. He attended the bus burning. I won't confirm or deny his involvement ha.

yes the bog was classic - the bus burning was crazy did see numerous people waste their cars in the bog - some were junkers they brought just for that reason. and of course sometimes a lady or two decided it was appropriate to show off to the crowd a bit . I was there in 1973 for the summer jam rock concert as well - recall a road over by the garages that was lined with drug vendors hawking their wares.

https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2091556/bus-bog-and-racing-30-year-old-mystery/

 

[dtech]

the article says the chant was "the bog wants a car" but I distinctly remember chanting "feed the bog, feed the bog" between slugs of beer or hard cider. Was a great time there and in 1969 we stayed over Sunday night and my buddy took his father's GTO up on the track monday am - we did well over 100 mph on the straights, nearly lost it several times in the hairpins. I think we did 2 laps before we got booted and threatened with incarceration.

 

[TomC]

Maybe in the Florida glades I'd feel safer but we don't have crocs in the Sierras and bears climb.

Hey - gators climb very well. Just ask any airport operator how the gators get on the property...

 

[JAKE2.3]

the article says the chant was "the bog wants a car" but I distinctly remember chanting "feed the bog, feed the bog" between slugs of beer or hard cider. Was a great time there and in 1969 we stayed over Sunday night and my buddy took his father's GTO up on the track monday am - we did well over 100 mph on the straights, nearly lost it several times in the hairpins. I think we did 2 laps before we got booted and threatened with incarceration.

That's great ha. I'll have to show the ol man that picture. He and I are going up next weekend to drive the track. Legally, of course.

 

[mtbikernate]

I went from a cabin tent to a hard-sided teardrop.

I don't like rooftop tents for several reasons.

A lot of them have been mentioned already, but I'll add my own.

• Getting up to pee in the middle of the night? No, thanks.
• It's still soft-sided, so less weather protection than something with hard sides
• More comfortable mattress in the teardrop (I have 6" memory foam currently. could do more)

why I prefer a hard sided trailer.

• ALL of my camping gear is stored in the trailer. so getting ready for a trip is much more streamlined. I just need to deal with packing food, clothes & toiletries, and anything else I want to bring along on the trip.
• Zero setup required to go to sleep. Park the truck. go from the truck to the camper, go to sleep. works great on road trips. can leave it attached to the truck.
• active ventilation built into the camper keeps it surprisingly comfortable when it's hot out.

I really don't think you're protected from "floods" in a RTT. your elevated off of squishy ground, sure. But if there's a legit flood, you're in trouble if you chose that spot to camp regardless of what you're sleeping in.

 

[ChopprJock]

I've had my RTT for several years now. I bought it used off of CL.

I initially had it mounted to the roof of my former SUV and while it was indeed kinda neat, the wife didn't like the climb and yes, you had to pack everything up if you wanted to move the vehicle.

So a couple of years ago I picked up a 4x6 utility trailer and converted it into a camping/adventure trailer. I tried to match the paint to my Jeep with marginal success.

This works great for us.

Not as high up, don't have to pack everything up to move the vehicle, and the trailer very easily converts into a kayak trailer that perfectly holds our 4 family kayaks (2 on the upper rails and 2 across the top rails of the trailer bed) plus the trailer has as much or more room in it than a pickup bed for all your coolers, chairs, and other gear.

Buying the tent used and building the trailer myself, I am all in for <$1000.

The RTT is more comfortable than a ground tent, your bedding and pillows stay in the tent when it's folded, and the wife loves the treehouse style view when camping (this is the biggest bonus! She actually likes it!)

This! I am looking to do a very similar setup this year. All of the positives from a RTT, without the negative of needing to collapse the tent in order to take a ride...

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