There's a time and place for RTTs, ground tents, campers, etc. Sleeping inside an SUV just seems like a worst of all worlds option. No space, no moisture management, no privacy. Being able to load the Superlite on and off so easily really seems like an ideal solution.
Then let us sharpens your perpective, our needs and habits!
Privacy:
I have tinted windows. It is not possible to see inside at day. In my over 360 nights sleeping inside, I did always stay wild. So the privacy thing dont count so much one my travels.
But from time to time we also did spend a night in a city, if we was dancing or on a party. With an towel between both frontseats nobody is able to see inside.
For crowded campsites it is probably not the perfect setup, but you can draw/undraw inside. If you feel uncomfortable you can use too a awning with side and front option:
But at 2020 we did decide to travel in the future without roof rack and awning, because we did rarely use it (1x complete with front and sides, 20x with top and one side).
No living Space
Space for sleeping is there, living has to happens outside. For a movie day because of rain it is ok too in the cruiser (guess more than in a RTT or tent). The Parkheating Device gives a good temperature in cold night. The Aircon helps to get your stuff dry when you did arrive wet from outside.
Most ways to camp from ground tent, to RTT, to sleeping inside has limitations. Where can you have sex with your wife? The limitations are there on all solutions, too in a RTT are the positions very limited.
For shure, you have more overlanding comfort (specially together with your wife) with such of that:
But it is not so capable during offroad passages, not the same comfort for extended driving. For XXX we did also use the surrounding nature.
No loading place / luggage car
All who plan to sleep inside, they have to plan very detailed what they bring to their journey. These 60l compressor fridges dont will work with that plan. I have a tiny 15l Engel fridge. During the transafrica an additional 15l Engel fridge as a freezer. They fit below the sleeping plattform. A 15l Fridge is ok for Butter, Meat, Sausage, Cheese, Salmon, ham, milk, Beer. Other stuff like eggs, vegetables, potatoes or salad dont had to be cooled.
Any gear has to be prooved for package size and comfort. Table/Chairs are very deeply researched to get the most comfort with less used space. Folding bowl, ultra lightweight travel towels - we did use them.
I did have a 85l Water tank built in, for washing, drinking, even a hot shower (if the car engine is running). Everything is done for get "more days" self sufficent life bevore we had to restock food/water/fuel. Maybe it helps to watch my
list of the most important overlanding gear to see what was helpful.
no moisture management
Let
described you have no issues, when using windows soxx and unsing the chimney effect together with a opened roof window. You dont have everything wet, when sleeping with 2 Persons.
If you had to close the windows all night because of noise at sample, your Aircon would dry everything inside of 15 mins. Did I mention the park heating device, who helps to bring comfort on colder nights?
These windows soxx are thinner than your tent walls, gives you too the feeling of sleeping inside of the nature. But you can regulate the amount of noise.
Conclusion
What was not queried has to be named too: you can do stealth camping. I did spent severall night in the middle of a city.. No one even think that we was sleeping inside...
In my eyes a RTT or Groundtent is ok for weekenders, for holiday trips - but has his comfort limitations for travelling extended time. But maybe you can bring newer perpectives and experiences for all readers here? Changing focus helps always - so im courious too!
I dont try to bull**** here, i did spend over 360 nights inside, did travel over 68350 Miles (110`000 km) that way. There is not the "perfect solution" out there. But you can find that solution who fits your needs and travel habits at best... Any way has his pro/cons - to name them detailed like above - helps to think through in detail, helps to get the best compromise between our individual sleeping/packing/travelling needs.
Surfy
