Sweet, how do you like the Yakima?
So, the truth is that we haven't had a chance to actually sleep in the Yakima yet! But I have driven quite a few miles and in very inclement weather and strong winds with it on top and it did great. And we have climbed around inside and done the setup and takedown enough to know that for our intended purposes it will work well.
Which brings up the topic of intended purposes and why even have an RTT. So here are my thoughts.
- An RTT provides an option if you don't want to sleep on the ground and if you don't want to configure the interior of the truck to sleep 2 people and if you don't want to pull or pay for a trailer. That's a lot of "ifs" but it fits us
- An RTT also works well enough if you aren't planning on your tent being the centerpiece of your camp setup for more than a night. Because, obviously, if you want to drive anywhere you need to stow it. Not a bit deal if you are semi-overlanding or moving from night to night or have a camp setup this is centered around a dining fly, firepit, table or whatever. Setup takes about 3 minutes. Stowing it takes 5-10 depending on whether it got wet and whether you are using the rain fly.
- An RTT of course adds weight to the top of the rig but this particular model - the 2 person (or medium) size Yakima weighs only 95 lbs for the full kit. Again, I didn't even notice it was on top while driving from Oregon to Colorado in very strong cross winds going 80 mph. (Of course any big box on the roof rack is going to affect gas mileage but I was still getting around 15 mpg on that drive.)
Our intended use? Short trips (1-2 nights) where it isn't worth bringing the 24' travel trailer and the weather will be relatively warm and dry. Sort of a, "Hey, let's go up to XYZ this afternoon and do a hike tomorrow." or "The kids want to go camping this weekend at ABC and the trailer won't fit so let's throw the RTT on top." or "Looks like a week of great weather in ... so let's go drive the ... road and use the RTT for a couple of nights of dispersed camping." ("Us" being my wife and I.)
Other notes that make this work for us. First, I have a ceiling mounted lift in the garage and, yes, I can drive in with the RTT on top. So when not in use it is lifted off the roof rack and stored there. We only put it on when we need it. It takes about 15 minutes to get it lowered, lined up and secured. Far less time than driving to our trailer and hitching it up! Also, the only thing that goes in the tend it our sleeping bags which can remain in the tent when folded. And, yes, a few essentials like headlamps, a change of clothes, bear spray and my wife's iPad. All the other camping stuff is in the truck or secured/covered on the ground/table. And, finally, when the tent is on top of a rack with a "floor" (like our Gobi) you can use it to climb on top and have a place to sit should you want a more elevated view of your surroundings. This we have done.
Oh, and it only cost me $800 with my 20% members discount at REI.
