Question about RTTs

Lugboot · 08-11-09, 07:21 AM

Not sure if I should post this here or in the camping section, but I'm guessing there's more long-term RTT use in this section to tap for opinions.

My question has to do with RTTs and rain. I live in the Northeast and am interested in getting an RTT. However, it seems I see most of the RTTs in use out in the deserts and other areas that don't get much rain.

How are they to deal with in rainy conditions?

How are they to setup and tear down in the rain? Does the bedding inside get wet?

What happens when you have to pack away a wet RTT in the rain? Does the mattress and bedding get soaked?

Would a Maggiolina (hardshell RTT) be a better bet for these kind of conditions?

I like the bigger canvas tents, especially with the covered entrances and changing room type attachments, but if after one wet night, the bedding is soaked for the rest of the trip, I would have to rethink it.

Any experiences or opinions to share?

Thanks!

VFRMAN · 08-11-09, 07:39 AM

FWIW, I've had an issue with condensation more than rain. I think it was October in MN, so about 35-40 at night and warm during the day. With it set up, the underside of the mattress was wet in the morning and it hadn't rained at all. Not a huge issue, but I only noticed it because I slid my hand under the mattress looking for the kids' flashlight in the morning. (No, the kids didn't wet the bed

If I would have packed up and left with it all closed up, I could see a mold/mildew issue. I made sure to leave it up long enough when I got home with the mattress out to dry. I think it was just the right combination of temperatures and humidity that night? I wouldn't let it deter me from using the RTT. Just watch for it. Good luck.

Lugboot · 08-11-09, 10:20 AM

Good point on the condensation. That's another valid consideration out here in the humid East.

Thanks!

MANUCHAO · 08-11-09, 12:45 PM

I used my RTT and had some days of rain in Alaska and in Montana.
Setting up under the rain sucked but it was not bad.. same with having to put it away...
On the rainy days (24hrs +) it kept us dry and we had no leaks or any other problem with heavy down pours.

After 3 days or rain it did however started to show condensation on the inside..but it all went away by leaving open to air on the 4th day under sunny skies....

We have the ezeeawn tent..

boogie74 · 08-12-09, 03:40 PM

Does leaving the windows open and having some ventilation solve this problem? With the window awning out and one or two
windows open would that solve the condensation problem? I don't have an RTT but I'm looking into getting one when I sort my
roof rack out.

Cheers.

kennyfj40 · 08-12-09, 05:31 PM

Here is what my experiance has been with my RTT from cartoptent.com. The first time I took it out to GSMTR it rained almost every night. Never had any issues with water getting into the tent or bedding. Had to put it up wet for the 6 hour trip home. Got home and opened it back up to let it dry out. The bedding never did get wet even folded up. Have had it out in several rain storms with no issues with getting wet. Took it to cruiser crawl last year and it rained there also. No issues with getting wet from the rain, but it was cooler and we closed up all the windows and doors and did get some condinsation. Took it to Coal Miner Classic last month and we had about 3 inches of rain in 1 hour. I forgot to close the doors on the tent and the first foot on both the head and the foot of the bedding got wet. If I had closed the doors there would not have been an issue. Put the tent up wet that night and did not put it back up to dry out until late the next day. No problems with mildew and it dried out very quickly. I have been very pleased with the tent and stayed dry when others in the group had issues with water getting in their ground tents.

Lugboot · 08-13-09, 05:26 AM

That's really helpful--thanks!

NorCalBorn · 08-16-09, 06:15 PM

FWIW any basic input I'd have is pretty much summed up above. That being said, here's some more valuable lesson knowledge I have garnered..

I've had the opportunity to test out both types of maggiolina and an outland and both were, in my opinion, well better off than a standard tent when it came time to deal with the moisture/rain issues. I will say the outland, with the split, inverted-v style roof did show more moisture than the solid topped maggiolinas, and out of the maggiolinas, the tilt up (clamshell) fared better than the square up (standard), with only the loss of available/usable space my issue.

Honestly consider what you'd have to go through with a v-top or standard tent versus a tilt up (clamshell) or square top (standard)..It's whether or not you want to have to reset a tent type to dry out or in my case, pull it off the rack, leave the rig outside the garage, and open it up for a few days to vent and dry out then clean it..which, FWIW is actually part of maintaining your investment. If you're gonna risk camping in snow, well, the clamshell IMHO will allow most build-up to slide off while the v-top and square top's will get weighted down.

*For the stains from what little mold did occur, and for the dirt, I used, in this order..
~Light soap/water (woolite) and a toothbrush.
~Spot Shot Cleaner (*Best cleaning product I have ever used for fabrics/carpet and made by the folks at WD-40).
~Scotchbrite Water Repellant.
*Although IIRC there might be an advisory about certain cleaners and sealants, I have seen no issues occur after two years and have actually re-tested at home and traveling and know it's all still good.

Invest wisely and ask around if there's anyone's you can see if no dealer's near you. Autohome's a pretty big distributor and can refer you to customers or other distributors close by. It all comes down to need vs. want as far as the function and space. In our case, one I can easily remove and either put down on the ground alone or with the rack system was a big plus, as it lets us clear the roof for side trips and trail travel around camp.

If you really want the investment to last, don't go leaving it on top to be overly exposed to the elements. A little work goes a long way and in our case, a simple pulley rig system in the garage lifts it right off for storage.

**Get a good ladder replacement if you're around or over 150lbs (IMHO) the foldouts still need refinement. Same for whatever mounting setup you use, as some aftermarket rack systems can dimple the roof line or gutter with the weight of two adults or just wear and tear from travel and muont and dismounting the system.

tlcruiserman · 08-16-09, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lugboot

Not sure if I should post this here or in the camping section, but I'm guessing there's more long-term RTT use in this section to tap for opinions.

My question has to do with RTTs and rain. I live in the Northeast and am interested in getting an RTT. However, it seems I see most of the RTTs in use out in the deserts and other areas that don't get much rain.

How are they to deal with in rainy conditions?

How are they to setup and tear down in the rain? Does the bedding inside get wet?

What happens when you have to pack away a wet RTT in the rain? Does the mattress and bedding get soaked?

Would a Maggiolina (hardshell RTT) be a better bet for these kind of conditions?

I like the bigger canvas tents, especially with the covered entrances and changing room type attachments, but if after one wet night, the bedding is soaked for the rest of the trip, I would have to rethink it.

Any experiences or opinions to share?

Thanks!

I have the columbus RTT and it feberglass (or kevlar if you think you need it) and it is specifically made to restand heavy wind and rain and I have used it in those conditions and it is excellent. Check out my expeidition troopy post or Tundra post both have the columbus in the photos that I have.

Cheers,

Michael

NorCalBorn · 08-16-09, 10:45 PM

*Woot!

Camping Labs is having a sale!!
(No personal affiliation, but saved money is play money.

)

re: http://forum.ih8mud.com/%2A%2A-ih8mu...tent-sale.html

lostworldexpedition · 08-23-09, 09:57 PM

I had a Campinglab RTT and currently own a South African MyWay (sold by CampingLab as well). I have camped in rain and gale force winds... no problems (loud in the wind). Folding a wet tent is a bit of a PITA, and you must make sure to air it when you get home. I have not experienced condensation issues, but I tend to leave all windows open and we sometimes use a 12volt fan to keep the air moving. I must say I add seam sealer to all seams, I do this with my backpacking tents as well and use spray waterproofing once a year.

The bed in the Campinglab was much more comfortable than the MyWay, but they are both quite nice.

Good luck.

Lugboot · 08-28-09, 06:51 AM

Thank you, everyone, for the input so far. I'm still paying attention to this thread.

The fact that I don't have a garage, and therefore, an easy place to remove an RTT with a pulley system when it's not in use, is making me consider a couple other things...

If the tent stays on the truck for the camping season, it's probably better to get a hardshell RTT. Part of this whole deal is to make packing and going easier. Lugging a 150 pound RTT in and out of the basement isn't going to be easier.

However, I think I like the canvas RTTs better--more size, more options--but it's less likely to be able to leave the canvas RTT on the truck from spring until fall. It seems a trailer setup with this would be ideal--unhook the trailer and cover it when not in use. But if we're towing a trailer, maybe we should just stick with the little pop-up camper we have for right now. Of course, the pop-up can't really go all the places a little military trailer could...

Gotta keep thinking, I guess.

roscoFJ73 · 08-28-09, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogie74

Does leaving the windows open and having some ventilation solve this problem? With the window awning out and one or two
windows open would that solve the condensation problem? I don't have an RTT but I'm looking into getting one when I sort my
roof rack out.

Cheers.

Yes ,having some ventilation will dry the interior out,but its best if you can stop it starting in the 1st place.
Ive heard Ironman have got one on the way,might be worth checking out)

kennyfj40 · 08-28-09, 06:38 PM

My RTT came with a zip on cover that is a kind of rubber/canves material that keeps it dry when folded up. I would think you could leave the tent on the truck for the camping season with the cover on it. Mine is mounted to a M416 trailer that I can keep in the garage, but I would have no problem leaving it mounted to the roof of my 80 outside for the camping season.

lostworldexpedition · 08-28-09, 08:17 PM

I am with Kenny. I have had the RTT on the 60 since last October with no sign of sun or wear damage on the cover (other than some scratches from a tree that I ran up against and a buttload of insects on the leading edge

.

Also the rubberized cover is replaceable and relatively inexpensive.

You could always go nuts and buy an Adventure Trailers teardrop... drool.

BTW, Nice on demand hot water system on the trailer Kenny!

kennyfj40 · 08-29-09, 06:29 PM

THanks! I gave serious consideration to doing a tear drop off road trailer instead of the M416. Went so far as to bid on a couple on fle-bay. The Adventure trailer version looks great.

xcmountain · 08-29-09, 06:45 PM

But $18k?

kennyfj40 · 08-29-09, 08:05 PM

The one I planned on building was going to be under 4K, I agree 18K is high.

xcmountain · 08-29-09, 08:53 PM

I've weighed and re weighed the cost to benefit ratio on this issue. I think the standard Chaser or Horizon are worth it but I'm not seeing it with the Teardrop. Also in this market is Outlander Trailers out of Arkansas and he is within my imaginary budget and build type.

A

Lugboot · 08-31-09, 09:31 AM

It's good to hear the canvas types can take being left on the roof for months at a shot. I'd really prefer this type if it makes sense, due to the greater room and options and decreased cost, generally.

the green hell · 09-26-09, 09:49 AM

i was also considering one, probably the ARB, is it a bad idea to leave it on full time?

aktundra · 10-04-09, 01:40 AM

I have a cheep China knock off canvas RTT.

This summer was the first year we used it extensively here in Alaska.

Ditto previous comments on condensation. Make a towel/shammy part of your regular camping supplies. Keep the windows cracked for circulation.

Ditto making sure you zip the doors shut before you close it in the a.m.. If you should pitch it the following evening in the rain, the ends of the mattress will be wet by the time you get it up.

We spent one night this year in one of the worse coastal storms I have ever experienced after 20 years of camping in Alaska. From time to time, the wind would hit so hard the rain fly would crack like a whip. Every now and then a gust would hit @ just the right angle and a rain drop would get pushed through a zipper in a mist!

The coolest storm I have ever camped it!

I was pleasantly surprised how well the RTT handled the wind. In retrospect, it would have been virtually impossible to keep water from running under a conventional dome tent.

One new issue I can add to the thread deals with the soft cover. Once I opened the tent After driving 60-80 mph through a rain storm. There was a few drops of water beaded up on the mattress that I easily wiped up. At first I thought it was condensation from the previous night. Then I noticed that the moisture seemed to be on the front "leading edge" side of the mattress. I suspect that driving @ those speeds could push rain through the stitching on the cover. I now have duct taped a garbage can liner to the inside of the cover.

In spite of the weather I have not had a problem getting a good night’s sleep. Next season I think I am going to look into some kind of scotch guard treatment for the mattress, just as a precaution & expand my margin of error.

BlueHZT60 · 10-13-09, 11:08 PM

Maggiolina hard top all the way. I've had one for 12 years now and it has seen just about everything and it's never had issues that caused lost sleep.

It has been in 70mph winds (that was interesting), snow, sleet, freezing rain, fog, desert sun, playa dust, BC-mosquitoes, a few trees, 10's of 1,000 miles of corrugated road.

Worst: 3 days before my first Moab - an ice dam had broken the roof and the entire interior was soaked and moldy. The mattress was dry. I scrubbed it all out, put new wood inside (they were press-board wood trim then). Used the epoxy repair kit to fix the crack in the roof and off we went, no problems.

2nd worse: about 1/2 a cup of water in the interior low spots at both ends. Again dry mattress and everything else (dry being relative in 100% humidity).

Alaska, Interior with wood trim, brand new - the night of the really big winds

Lugboot · 10-14-09, 06:27 AM

Thanks for the input--do you find that hardshell plenty roomy for two adults? Do you have room up there for clothes bags or anything?

spressomon · 10-14-09, 09:33 AM

I had the Maggiolina Grand Tour Medium and found it was perfect for me as I like to stretch out when sleeping. And when solo there is room for a small to medium duffel bag. But when the

, who is only 5'2", would be with me it was a bit cramped for me and no room for much more than your next day's clothes. However I have read about couples that share the small Maggiolina without complaint.

sandcruiser · 10-14-09, 11:46 AM

the dimensions are on the website for maggiolina.... tape off an area on the floor to see how you and/or you and someone fit. Keep in mind that it will feel bigger than an equivalent-sized footprint in a standard tent because the walls are vertical.

my wife and I are both short and trim. I'm 5'6", she's about 5'3". Combined we weigh about 250lbs. We spent weeks in a row sleeping in the smallest maggiolina and were very happy with it. There is plenty of space up there for clothes/sleeping gear when you aren't in it. If you want storage when you are sleeping, I would get/build a hammock of some sort to stow gear.

We've used the tent in everything from rainy tropical rain forest, blustering tropical beach storms, blazing baja heat, dead-still gulf coast nights, freezing sleet in the Guatemalan highlands, and the parking lot of Walmart somewhere in Texas. It worked well every time.

Using flat bags makes it easier to pack--- look for panier bags for bikes/motorcycles. But we could fit a smallish duffle bag up there without issue.

We love our maggiolina. It is comfortable and easy. Highly recommended.

sandcruiser · 10-14-09, 11:48 AM

just re-read the OP.

Hard top in the rain is better than any other type of RTT.

Over time, some moisture will get in. But less so than any traditional tent and less than the folding-style RTT.

In very heavy rain, you can throw a tarp over the whole thing and guy it out to the front bumper and/or guy lines on the ground. it makes for a humid experience up there, but no rain will get in the truck nor in the tent.

Lugboot · 10-16-09, 12:16 PM

I'll have to try your trick of measuring out the footprint on the floor and see how we fit. I'm 6' 1" and about 220 right now...my wife's 5'4" and 100 pounds less....

sandcruiser · 10-16-09, 08:56 PM

we "tested" different sizes using cushions off of the couch as "walls". Gives a good idea of size.

TrickyToy · 10-19-09, 12:48 PM

I have the Columbus, setup and tear down are super fast and I think that is a big advantage when you have to do either in the rain.
These things are pretty tough too, keep in mind while reading this that my Columbus is 9 or 10 years old and I got it off a truck that was rolled, after a little work it still has a broken hinge in the front and a big gap in the back corner where the top and bottem meet when closed. I was surprised (and happy) that even driveing at highway speeds for a couple hours in the rain that it was still dry when I opened it.
I used mine a couple weeks ago. I drove a couple hours in the rain and opened it up in the rain, the inside was dry as a bone. It rained through out the night but had stopped before I woke the next morning. It was still wet when I closed it up. Wheeled all day and the inside was still dry when I opened it up the next day at home to air it out.
I was concerned about the inside getting wet so I did closed the 'windows' before I closed it up and like I stated everything was dry, even my sleeping bag and pillow.

Prior to getting this RRT I had wanted one an been looking at them for quite a while. I had never seen one in person and could not justify spending 2 to 3000 grand for a TENT. I was looking hard a the China knock off's. Now that I have this one plus giving its age and what its been through I can understand why.

I'm in PA, if you want get ahold of me and come check it out.