Anyone ever consider this for a RTT alternative?

[IdahoDoug]

Saw this in the recent Cabela's circular and immediately thought it would make an excellent 'hybrid' roof top tent:

Cabela's Deluxe Tent Cot

I'd like to have a real RTT, but the prices put me off. I've considered building a platform up there and using one of the tents I already own but doing that right would take time and money as well. This amounts to a completely self contained cot with integrated roof, a rainfly, and even two awnings for $280 (I'm looking at the double model) that could be unfolded and feet secured on a simple roof rack, or used on the ground. It's a fraction of the price and if a guy wanted to sleep the whole family up there you could even get two of them and be way ahead.

Because it has its own floor and frame, all you need to do is provide a secure mount for the 4 legs and a way to get up and down. I could see a simple Home Depot ladder satisfying the need. Nice because you could take it down and toss it in the cargo area for day travel and avoid the top heavy handling and fuel penalty of a RTT.

On the downside, you would have to be capable of wrestling it up there (60lbs) and this plus erecting it present a little more physical challenge than a well designed RTT does in getting it ready. I don't know if closing it up there and leaving a pair of legs attached so you could leave it collapsed and secured is an option as I haven't seen one yet. Planning to check out how it folds and seeing if this is possible at a local Cabela's.

What do you guys think?

DougM

 

[80t0ylc]

I like the idea as an alternative on the ground, but I don't like putting in on a roof rack. Just seems to difficult adapting it to work, especially multiple tent/cots on one roof rack. Although I wouldn't hesitate to store it/them, for traveling, on roof rack.

But, in wet weather, legs on the ground. you're up off the ground, well sheltered from the weather. Even multiple tent/cots placed adjacent to rear of your rig with a tailgate shelter, so you could use it for cooking and eating, seems like it would work for most any, but extreme conditions. Good discovery, Doug!

 

[e9999]

this thing has only been discussed like 5 million times here, but I don't recall that anybody has proposed using it up there . Seems very unwieldy to me. I would not do it. Not much advantage over storing it up there and bringing it down. Picture standing up on the roof rack in the wind or rain (or with some comforting beverages from the campfire); or having to take a leak in the middle of the night... Much better/easier to use it on the ground, I think. Just store it attached to the spare or receiver or inside if you don't want to bring it down.

 

[VanGo]

Doug,

I have had similiar debate, and after much contemplation I am saving my coin in hopes of finding a great deal on a RTT for the trailer. Until then I like the idea of building a solid platform/rack above the trailer to set up a small 2-man tent, this will later support the RTT. I agree with the weight of this unit being a bit much, but I like "resourcefulness" of this idea. Keep us posted.

 

[bigndn]

Doug, what about modifying something like this?

Pickup Tent

 

[IdahoDoug]

Dan,

That seems like a nice setup but suffers from the same thing any 'tent-on-the-roof' strategy does - you have to make a huge floor for it and that's the weight nonstowable part I don't like. These make their own floor out of tight canvas to lay on using the folding tube frame, so all I need to mount them is 4 mounting points - one for each 'leg'. I looked at one yesterday at Cabela's (those are my tracks up the steep snowy hill on the east side of their property - my secret entrance shortcut...) and think it could be done fairly simply and cheaply.

All I want is capacity for two up on the roof so we can sleep 4 using the Cruiser. With the kids sitting in the third row jump seats for the trip duration (we've done this and they love it), at night there's almost 7 feet X 48" of sleeping room with the tailgate shut and the jump seats folded up inside the truck. One of these Cabela's units essentially creates an identical sleeping area on the roof.

I already have two Thule crossbars and another two would give me four crossbars to sit the feet of this on. I figured out a way it can stay on the roof with one leg always attached to a crossbar. You go up the ladder from the rear, unlash the hold down and pull it toward you and upward. Now it's on the two inner legs. Pull the wing closest to you open and latch it to the rearmost crossbar. Crawl into the end door (at the rear, obviously) and push the far wing open. Reach out and latch the front wing down. Done. I'm thinking buying a cheap small ladder and having a fitting attached to the bottom so it will attach to the two threaded holes in the bumper (think spin on plastic knobs) would be nice so the ladder doesn't touch the ground - eliminating the need for an expensive adjustable ladder due to terrain/vehicle height differences. At the top, it would simply clamp to the rear most cross bar - again with spin on plastic knob clamps.

I'll be working on this project as Spring approaches, but as of now, this is the perfect solution for about $400 (add for ladder and some used crossbars). Nice in bear country as the kids are in the truck and I've got excellent fields of fire. Plus I can scream for them to open the sunroof so we can use it as an escape hatch.... The nice thing is, for local camping trips this also means my wife and I might manage some privacy with a separate tent for the kids as we can just put this on the ground next to theirs.

By the way, if anyone's thinking about buying one of these for normal use, be advised there looks to have been a measurement error at the factory. The wings don't come down all the way level. Looks to me the legs are about a half inch too long under the wings, so the ends of the cot go up slightly. It's only a few degress (perhaps 10) and you don't even notice it looking at the units. But when you lay in it you can feel your feet are lifted slightly and so is your head. I'm a picky sleeper, so this made me get back out of the display and sight down the frame tubes to discover the error. I'm planning on removing the feet end legs and cutting a bit off - they come off with a single nut/bolt and the mod is simple.

DougM

 

[zornff]

Doug,
I can make you a great deal on a dbl. tent cot. We bought it from TRDparts4u and used it for 3 nights on the Rubicon, and then other 2 nights. These are very comfy units, and held up great in the rain. We have a rtt and do not use this anymore. Let me know if you are interested.

Mike

 

[IdahoDoug]

Thanks Mike. Is it this Cabela model, or another one? Linky? Thanks.

DougM

 

[zornff]

Its the kamprite double tent cot, page 2 of tent cots. Here you go Kamp-Rite It has the carry bag and rain fly too.

 

[woytovich]

Its the kamprite double tent cot, page 2 of tent cots. Here you go Kamp-Rite It has the carry bag and rain fly too.

zornff: I sent you an email about this if he is not interested...
Mark