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I like good ideas, but as an experienced RTT owner & user, this just does't set good with me. Maybe it's the presentation.... You might want to educate Tepui's ad experts that current owner's of RTTs, at least myself, know that this multi-purpose campaign is bogus. For example, who wants to fill up their RTT with their gear and then come nightfall have to empty it out to sleep in it. Oh, unless it has the "dump feature"...lol. Yeah, if you want to use your RTT as additional room for transporting stuff like when you're moving - hell, mine does that now! But, to promote it like they are doing in this ad is - misleading - at best. "Gear storage by day - tree fort by night" ???Multi-purpose Hardshell roof tent and cargo box. Pre-orders are open now!.....
I think you're being a bit harsh and disingenuous to say it's "bogus" and that Tepui is intentionally misleading customers, or worse. For some people, they don't mind unloading items first. If that doesn't work for you, then this tent isn't for you. There are also LOTS more people using rooftop tents that don't drive 4wd offroad vehicles and many of them are short on space inside the vehicle so they aren't left with many options other than a cargo box on the roof. A cargo box AND a roof tent isn't going to fit so this allows for both in one product. For most people there is some amount of "unpacking" to set up camp for the night whether it's from inside the vehicle or from storage elsewhere. Not a big deal unless there's a race to get into bed.I like good ideas, but as an experienced RTT owner & user, this just does't set good with me. Maybe it's the presentation.... You might want to educate Tepui's ad experts that current owner's of RTTs, at least myself, know that this multi-purpose campain is bogus. For example, who wants to fill up their RTT with their gear and then come nightfall have to empty it out to sleep in it. Oh, unless it has the "dump feature"...lol. Yeah, if you want to use your RTT as additional room for transporting stuff like when you're moving - hell, mine does that now! But, to promote it like they are doing in this ad is - misleading - at best. "Gear storage by day - tree fort by night" ???
I do like the idea of a quick removal or storage of the tent fabric. But, I'd be concerned about potential damage to it. Frequent use of the RTT for gear storage would raise my concerns to - just that - incidental damage to the critical weather barrier.
Sometimes reality can be harsh. Come on, Adam, you're not talking to someone that was born yesterday. I've had & used a hardshell RTT for 6 years, now. And I'm still trying to think of owners that this would work for. Sure it has appeal, until you understand what's going on. First, you're standing on a ladder, loading gear into it, probably on to a barrier of some sort to protect the tent and your sleeping gear. How much will you try to cram in? Then you go through getting it closed and buttoned up. This might be repeated several time if you're not organized. Then you finally get going. Later you get to your camping spot. If ....you're not tired and you've allowed plenty of time to set up camp, then you pop it open to retrieve ALL of the gear you put up there, because it can't stay up there because that's where you're sleeping. If.... you're dragging and just want to crash - tough beans, get to work emptying out your "tree fort". Hopefully you can quickly find new spots for all the gear. Or.....all is well and everybody's having a great time. Then the clock rolls around to the time where it's time to pack up and go. In a perfect world the gear's not dirty or wet, but we just don't live in a perfect world, do we. The sleeping quarters will now be shared with your used gear in the condition you put it back in, again standing on a ladder.I think you're being a bit harsh and disingenuous to say it's "bogus" and that Tepui is intentionally misleading customers, or worse. For some people, they don't mind unloading items first. If that doesn't work for you, then this tent isn't for you. There are also LOTS more people using rooftop tents that don't drive 4wd offroad vehicles and many of them are short on space inside the vehicle so they aren't left with many options other than a cargo box on the roof. A cargo box AND a roof tent isn't going to fit so this allows for both in one product. For most people there is some amount of "unpacking" to set up camp for the night whether it's from inside the vehicle or from storage elsewhere. Not a big deal unless there's a race to get into bed....
I agree that care must be taken by an owner, but I seriously disagree with you here. But, I'd be interested in seeing the barrier system Tepui has devised to separate & protect the tent and fabric from gear. Maybe a video might be more convincing. But, the concept in the ad you posted above, to me, just ignors some serious details......There's no increase for potential damage to the tent material than there would be from anything else. If the owner treats it without care, then there could be problems, but that's the case with any tent. That's a user problem, not a design problem....
Edit: After reflection and some more studying, IMHO, Tepui's true intent is to use it as a RTT or serious cargo carrier, not both for a single trip.
I think you're being a bit harsh and disingenuous to say it's "bogus" and that Tepui is intentionally misleading customers, or worse. For some people, they don't mind unloading items first. If that doesn't work for you, then this tent isn't for you. There are also LOTS more people using rooftop tents that don't drive 4wd offroad vehicles and many of them are short on space inside the vehicle so they aren't left with many options other than a cargo box on the roof. A cargo box AND a roof tent isn't going to fit so this allows for both in one product. For most people there is some amount of "unpacking" to set up camp for the night whether it's from inside the vehicle or from storage elsewhere. Not a big deal unless there's a race to get into bed.
There's no increase for potential damage to the tent material than there would be from anything else. If the owner treats it without care, then there could be problems, but that's the case with any tent. That's a user problem, not a design problem.
Thanks for the feedback. Maybe if you get a chance to actually use one of these instead of speculating about the issues, you'll change your mind somewhat. I agree with you that this may not be for everyone. But it may be just the right thing for someone else. I applaud Tepui for continuing to develop new and unique products with thoughtful design intended to address actual needs rather than just copy existing products like so many other companies do.
I believe so. I don't have one on hand yet since they aren't shipping quite yet but I do believe the insulation can be removed. I'll check and update if that's not accurate.Adam, can you remove the quilted top insulation for pure gear storage use?
I believe so. I don't have one on hand yet since they aren't shipping quite yet but I do believe the insulation can be removed. I'll check and update if that's not accurate.
Maybe, just maybe, it's Tepui's presentation. Taken from the webpage:I don't know where all the confusion is? Everywhere I've seen this new tent marketed it was always clear to me, its a tent, or its a luggage box with the tent removed. The two photos Adam posted above, taken out of the context of the whole ad campaign, somewhat implies both at the same time. But even so, if one chooses to pile a bunch of other crap in there with the tent while camping then that's their choice. Why is everyone's birfield in a bind over it?.....
I agree with you 100%, here. It's Tepui's marketing campaign that gets my "birfield in a bind"...lol. (BTW thanks for the correct spelling on campaign - I went back & edited my 1st post.) I realize you and Adam are middle men and my irritation is with that, not you guys.....An experienced overlander won't want their crap up there to move around just to sleep. But a first time user does not know the difference. They are probably used taking all their tent/sleeping supplies out to set up each night. Whatever, I think its a great idea to get year round use out of an expensive piece of gear. A nice thule/yakima ski box can run you a grand. If this will replace that, then you're getting a great value.
Well, I'm not involved in that side of the marketing and I'm sure consideration was given to how Tepui wanted it presented. I don't see a problem inferring the dual use since it can definitely be used that way, in spite of some possible inconvenience. Bottom line is the uses (AND inconveniences) can be seen from a quick observation. If it accomplishes what a customer needs, who cares what the marketing says? There's nothing dishonest about how it's being presented. I get that you don't like how it's presented. Sorry. But it's presented exactly how it's designed.Maybe, just maybe, it's Tepui's presentation. Taken from the webpage:
PRE-ORDER HYBOX
Dual purpose Cargo Box + Rooftop Tent
Tepui is offering a limited pre-order of our newest rooftop tent. The HyBox is specifically designed to carry gear by day and convert to a 2 person hard-top tent when it’s time to rest up.
Preorder Hybox Today at a Discounted Price
(Highlighting added by me)
To me, what's highlighted infers the two uses with out a break in time, or more appropriately at the same time or on the same trip. IMHO, it would have been more appropriate to have presented it as:
We have a RTT model that, with easily removing some RTT essential parts, you can also use it as a cargo carrier.
IMHO, with the "Preorder Hybox Today at a Discounted Price" - it's a marketing push - only interested in money. No real concern for 1st time buyers & users.
I agree with you 100%, here. It's Tepui's marketing campaign that gets my "birfield in a bind"...lol. (BTW thanks for the correct spelling on campaign - I went back & edited my 1st post.) I realize you and Adam are middle men and my irritation is with that, not you guys.