Why do people like roof top tents so much?

[D Fresh]

Yep, that's a downside for sure. Same reason I'd never buy a motorhome over a trailer. No matter where you're going you have to take everything with you.

[edit] For us as a family with two kids who like to backpack and go out in the bush, once we make camp we really don't go anywhere else that our feet can't take us.

Yep. Definitely gotta think before purchases like these.

I'm just happy to hear that some people actually use these instead of carting them around all year as truck jewelry just to let the kids play in at big brothers' soccer games.

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[Glocker]

Most RTTs go for $2k minimum, a rack roughly $750+.

That's roughly 3 grand for a TENT. If you stay away from the hipster brands a decent teardrop can be had near 5 grand.

I'd agree that a full on TT offers the best bang for the buck. But RTTs are an absolute rip off.

I bought my rack new for $560 and my tent used for $700. that's $1260 total!!!!

 

[Dr. Zaius]

I bought my rack new for $560 and my tent used for $700. that's $1260 total!!!!

But Dude, even though you got a good deal you obviously could've bought a $50 Ozark Trail tent at Walmart and accomplished the same thing (sarc)

Regarding RTTs in general, it all comes down to personal preferences and what is sensible to one is nonsensical to others.

I no longer see the appeal of owning a Panzerwagen (German automobile) but I don't begrudge those who do.

Except for BMW drivers who drive like BMW drivers. Those I begrudge.

 

[slowmachine]

I’ve been “camping” most of my life, and spent many nights on the ground, often without shelter. At the end of an exhausting day in Somalia, I and my buddy bedded down on the ground in the downwind shelter of the ruins of a small building. It took about 20 minutes to figure out that the unusual odor was not from the vegetation, but an underground ant colony. In the equatorial heat, they stay underground until the daylight is gone. I’ve never seen anything like it; those ants were as big as my thumb. In the dark, we gathered our gear, as quietly as possible, displaced about 100 feet away from the ants, and spent the rest of the night trying to sleep, slowly being covered by wind-blown sand and silt. An hour before dawn, it poured rain, so we quickly deployed our ponchos to cover us and our gear to minimize the soaking.

I don’t camp, and I don’t hike for recreation. I’ve had my fill. Sleeping in, or on, the truck would be the absolute minimum level of safety and comfort that I would accept. I’m a big fan of camper vans, and have owned several VW conversions. My son is doing a DIY Ford Transit conversion right now, and I may follow his lead.

If you’ve done much of this, you’ll not be eager to return to it.

 

[D Fresh]

I bought my rack new for $560 and my tent used for $700. that's $1260 total!!!!

That's a good deal. Far cheaper than what most pay.

 

[slowmachine]

LOL Keep it up as long as you are able. I spent nine months in and around Subic Bay in 1990. Lots of nasty critters on the ground there too. Spider webs bigger than my body across jungle trails. I hate spiders.

 

[Mcoop57]

We’ve had this one almost two years, just spent our twentieth night in it. I trailer the bike for big outings, it‘s kinda our main hobby. Peeing in a cat litter jug in the middle of the night is no big deal. I guess it’s not perfect but SHE is very comfortable in it, so we get out together a bit more, probably much more than we would sleeping on the ground. I would have never bought it if I couldn’t have mounted it down out of the airstream, and it stores on a hoist in the garage. For whatever reason, we sleep (for the most part) like we are home in our own bed.

 

[dtech]

Just so everyone knows should this be my last post - going camping for 4 nights in my traditional, floor on the ground tent, if we get set upon and eaten by wild beasts I'm leaving my Ranger to my son so he can ditch his overpaid for Taco.

 

[BCRanger]

Just so everyone knows should this be my last post - going camping for 4 nights in my traditional, floor on the ground tent, if we get set upon and eaten by wild beasts I'm leaving my Ranger to my son so he can ditch his overpaid for Taco.

BTW, how's that 9-5 holding up? Still mourning Saab, my Viggen was one of the favourite cars I've owned. They were so far ahead of their time -- building boosted I-4s decades before Ford and everyone else discovered them.

 

[dtech]

BTW, how's that 9-5 holding up? Still mourning Saab, my Viggen was one of the favourite cars I've owned. They were so far ahead of their time -- building boosted I-4s decades before Ford and everyone else discovered them.

Hate to say it and hated it even more to do it - but I sold it, didn't have room to garage it and sitting out in the sun was beginning to show, sold it to an auto mechanic who took it for a lengthy test drive and gave me my asking price without a quibble - most people don't understand how nicely Saabs drove, I continued to drive it until I sold it, had only a few minor problems over the years. I had a turbo 99, turbo 1986 9000 that went 280k miles, and 2 9-5s . So for the 1st time in 40 yrs Saabless. Viggens were really hot machines ,most people associated Swedish autos with Volvo but Saab was much more performance oriented. I miss it.

 

[dtech]

BTW, how's that 9-5 holding up? Still mourning Saab, my Viggen was one of the favourite cars I've owned. They were so far ahead of their time -- building boosted I-4s decades before Ford and everyone else discovered them.

yeah Saab wasn't the 1st maker to turbo charge - but they were the 1st to make the turbo suitable for daily driving, the 1st maker to utilize solid state controls - they called it APC , automated performance control with a waste gate and blow off valve . Until a few yrs before they exited the auto market they were using a block designed licensed from Triumph of all people - but at one time like in WWII the English produced class leading engines - like the Merlin design used in the P51.

 

[DanholmesVentura]

I've had a South African Howling Moon RTT for about 10 years mounted on a 2006 Xterra - well before they started being made in the US. I've probably spent well over a year sleeping in it. It's been one of the best purchases I've ever made - but it fit my style of camping / photo tripping.
Pros - super easy to set up, very minimal impact - no carving a tent platform, comfortable, warm, cool, very wind and rain proof, great access to many spots - no trailer to pull, or large camper full of rattling stuff. The view from up top is also great.
Cons - not the greatest for longer term camping, where one wants to drive during the day - gotta break camp and fold it up. Takes a bit longer to close it up, but it's not much of a hassle. I'm sure it cut down the mileage a bit - but I haven't checked it for years, so no big deal for me. The stairs aren't a problem - except for a few times after a few too many beers....

The wife has loved it and we have spent a whole lot of nights in some amazing places. It also makes us "edit" the amount of stuff we carry - have it down to my camera gear, clothing, 2 cook boxes, a food box, and a cooler. It works for us.

Having said all that, we are moving to a Ranger Super Cab, with a topper pop up from OvrLnd Camper. Looking forward to hard sides, and the ability to get out of the weather - will open up more places in more seasons.

No regrets at all about the car top - have loved loved it - and the Xterra with tent already have a buyer waiting! Cheers!

 

[JesseS]

I have tent camped all over Europe, and the US, and never had a Diamondback or Brown Recluse in my tent, but then again I don't have a fear of creepy crawlies. We now have a fully contained RV, and tow the Ranger. We can sleep in comfort, dry & warm (ever had to get up in the middle of the night in the rain to pee?) take showers, and cook a great meal, then go get in the Ranger to drive to the trailhead or just go wheeling. When I park the RV I literally hit 2 buttons and we are level and done. We carry enough food and water for 2 weeks and have plenty of power. We boondock most of the time to stay away from the newbies, was out in the middle of nowhere and this guy decided to park 50' away, not another rig in 5 miles. He came over to talk and hoped I wouldn't mind the loud music his kid played. I said no, as long as you don't mind all of the guns going off at all hours, next morning he was gone

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