Home Made Roof Top Tent

[Bakes5]

Anybody out here made their own roof top tent? Got any pics?

I am in the process (bought the steel and have cut out the floor pieces) of building one. Basically think of the Maggiolina Columbus except that instead of a fiberglass shell, it has a steel frame, a trampoline floor and a "soft" top. For travel there will be a lower and upper travel cover that keep everything pretty clean. The upper one will double as the rain fly.

Size wise it will hold 2 adults. it measures about 8' by about 4'6" or so. It should come in a little over 100 pounds (I am using 14 guage 1"x2" rectangular steel tube for the base and 16 guage 3/4" square for the upper).

I will post some pics tomorrow so you can get an idea of the basic shape.

So far I am about $120 into it for the tube.

Later

Bakes

[philos1]

sounds interesting, what are you using for "canvas?"

and of course, pics...

[RHINO]

yeah man, i have put some ideas to paper but nothing is being built yet. my current and favorite idea is to make a top that lifts straight up about 3 ft, then simply attach a nice canvas all the way around it with windows and a door.

[D'Animal]

Not trying to bash you at all but why don't you buy a used second generation Mobassa. It seems monthly they pop up here for $300.00.

[Bakes5]

Not really a big fan of the Mombassa style tents. I want something that doubles as a roof top carrier for all things sleeping.

I Will be using differrent stuff for the "canvas." For the floor I may actually use standard trampoline fabric. For the inner tent portion I will probably use standard, lightweight ripstop tent material with a lot of netting (trying to avoid the coffin feeling). For the rainfly/travel covers I will use something a fairly heavy duty and waterproof of course. I am still looking

Anyways, here is the basic idea


Here is a shot of the "trampoline" frame. I am thinking about putting a bar right down the middle to reduce the sag a little



Now I just need to build the frame for the cover. It will open up clamshell style via gas struts.

Later
Bakes

[philos1]

I'd suggest using a rigid floor to avoid sinking everyone to the middle. I'm sure it could be done without too much weight, also it would help add some more structure to the tent.
My .02

[RHINO]

Originally Posted by D'Animal

Not trying to bash you at all but why don't you buy a used second generation Mobassa.

because some of us like to build stuff,,,,,,, its not always about money, spent or saved.

go for it bakes5,,,

[schaney]

Doing a "columbus" style tent has been on my idea pile for a while. Here are a few thoughts.

The trampoline floor idea save a lot of weight, a Oasis II is half the weight of a Mombasa. Challenge is everyone will roll to the middle, in an Oasis II there is a center bar that makes it effectively two separate beds. I can take some pictures of one if you'd like.

My idea for pitching it would be a single bow, 4'-5' tall that pivots about 15 degrees past straight up and down, so it can be tensioned with a couple of straps.

Trianglar windows are also easier to make than rounded ones. If you have a flap over the top corner of them, you can also use them for tent peak ventilation.

Good luck with the project, look forward to pictures.

[e9999]

glad you are trying this out, good for you!

off the top of my head: the frame looks a bit thin to withstand the pull of a couple of people sleeping in there?

[Bakes5]

Been out for a bit. Something about work and 4 kids.

I am going to put a bar right down the middle. That will keep everyone on their own side, eliminate the sag in the middle and add an additional bit of structure to keep it from flexing. It is made with 14 guage 1x2 steel. I've tried it with my weight (~225) on a single tube with a 5' span and there is basically no flex. There will be 1.5 tubes per person so I I think the tubes will be strong enough. I'll post some more pics in a bit

Later

Bakes

[Wile E Coyote]

Very interested. I like DIY.

[sseaman]

bakes, can you repost you pics they arent showing up

[flozano]

What happen with this project?

I'm planning to build a tent like mombasa.

[Skillet]

Looks like Bakes got baked and lost interest...