Camel 4x4 RTT (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter OB
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #22
I would definitely say the annex floor can be used as a sleeping area. I should have measured the floor area, sorry.
I think that you could fit at least a full sized air bed in it, maybe even a queen.
The problem you run into is the ladder
As you can see from the driveway pic the ladder is near the front portion of the annex. You can step in the annex and go directly up the ladder. There is enough room to put a door mat between the entrance and the ladder.
You'd be best off putting the kids in the annex in a U shape sleeping format surrounding the ladder.
Or as mentioned before add quick disconnects to the ladder and remove it for more floor space.
You'll have to tell someone to connect it in order to get out.
The ladder also serves as a support for the bed. When you first climb up and get to the rungs that connect to the RTT the ladder slides down into the other half. The ladder does pin in with spring pulls when it is extended all the way out.
I found that this position was too far from the truck so I let the ladder float in itself. After figuring out the optimal angle I drilled the ladder so it would pin in at the right height with no more floating.
So, for 3 children the annex should work well. I'll try and get a measurement of the floor.
I think that you could fit at least a full sized air bed in it, maybe even a queen.
The problem you run into is the ladder
As you can see from the driveway pic the ladder is near the front portion of the annex. You can step in the annex and go directly up the ladder. There is enough room to put a door mat between the entrance and the ladder.
You'd be best off putting the kids in the annex in a U shape sleeping format surrounding the ladder.
Or as mentioned before add quick disconnects to the ladder and remove it for more floor space.
You'll have to tell someone to connect it in order to get out.
The ladder also serves as a support for the bed. When you first climb up and get to the rungs that connect to the RTT the ladder slides down into the other half. The ladder does pin in with spring pulls when it is extended all the way out.
I found that this position was too far from the truck so I let the ladder float in itself. After figuring out the optimal angle I drilled the ladder so it would pin in at the right height with no more floating.
So, for 3 children the annex should work well. I'll try and get a measurement of the floor.
- Thread starter
- #23
The tent is very similar to the Simpson III and I actually think it is. The ARB Simpson III looks exactly the same as Camel 4x4's except it comes with the awning for $1195. The ARB version is 1300-1400 Without the awning which is 200-250 more!
The newest ARB Simpson III also called the ARB Touring Series III has subtle differences.
There is no floor pan for the annex and the rain fly covers a little more but the tent looks the same.
Google it, there is a PDF on ARB's site about the differences. I may try to get the new rainfly.
The newest ARB Simpson III also called the ARB Touring Series III has subtle differences.
There is no floor pan for the annex and the rain fly covers a little more but the tent looks the same.
Google it, there is a PDF on ARB's site about the differences. I may try to get the new rainfly.
Those straps attach to the bottom of the matt to keep it from getting pinched in the floor seam when the tent is opened. Actually, that's just a guess... That's what I use mine for...
Correction. The newly offered Camel 4x4 tent is 'very similar' to the old ARB tent which was designated the Simpson II, it was replaced several years ago (spring 2009) by the ARB Simpson III, which received several design and materials upgrades. Along the way the SIII has received a couple of additional changes, I refer to the most recent rendition as the SIIIB or SIII.5. Don't get me wrong, the Simpson II now Camel tent is a great model, I spend dozens of nights in mine, but to be fair it is really a very different tent.
You can view the differences in the Simpson II (and therefore Camel 4x4) and Simpson III here:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/cruiser-ou...tlight-new-arb-simpson-iii-roof-top-tent.html
Figure I might as well toss this here too as many reading your great review might be deciding if they need or want a tent, I wrote this article to help potential buyers decide if a RTT is for them:
Is a Roof Top Tent for me? The RTT Conundrum
Congrats on your new tent and great job on the review
Correction. The newly offered Camel 4x4 tent is 'very similar' to the old ARB tent which was designated the Simpson II, it was replaced several years ago (spring 2009) by the ARB Simpson III, which received several design and materials upgrades. Along the way the SIII has received a couple of additional changes, I refer to the most recent rendition as the SIIIB or SIII.5. Don't get me wrong, the Simpson II now Camel tent is a great model, I spend dozens of nights in mine, but to be fair it is really a very different tent.
You can view the differences in the Simpson II (and therefore Camel 4x4) and Simpson III here:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/cruiser-ou...tlight-new-arb-simpson-iii-roof-top-tent.html
Figure I might as well toss this here too as many reading your great review might be deciding if they need or want a tent, I wrote this article to help potential buyers decide if a RTT is for them:
Is a Roof Top Tent for me? The RTT Conundrum
Congrats on your new tent and great job on the review
showoff...
Nice review OB
- Thread starter
- #28
Thanks for the props guys, the next step is to somehow mount it to my M416. The one drawback to using it while I was on the road was the fact that you had to break it down whenever I moved the truck.
On my trip I travelled from PA to Maine, I stayed in Provincetown Mass (again, no I'm not) York Maine, Kennebunkport Maine, somewhere in NH and another place in Maine.
Everyday I found a new campsite using the GPS on my phone, I wanted to make it up to Bar Harbor but as I travelled further North more and more of the campsites were closed for tent camping. RV's were ok but for some reason not tents, I guess they assume your actually tenting on the ground.
Anyway, whenever I arrived in the town I felt like stopping at I would find a nearby campground. After paying the camp fee and finding my spot I wanted to go see the town I stopped in. I wanted to eat all the seafood my stomach could handle and check out the local watering holes.
Since the tent was on my truck I was restricted in the fact that I couldn't just drive back to camp and go to bed. If I wanted to get breakfast at the local pancake house I had to break camp first. If it was mounted on my M416 I could just pack it up later.
So I've got 3 options for mounting my RTT-you know the first, on my Tundra. The second is on my car trailer as seen in some of the pics and the third is on my M416 which I still have to restore.
I've already mentioned the problem with mounting it on my Tundra, have to break it down when I want to go to town
If I mount it on my car trailer the campground has to be able to accomodate my 24' trailer along with my Tundra. I'm terrible at backing up the setup so a pull through is a must which is even harder to find.
When I was in Provincetown (quit it already-I'M NOT!) I had to drop my trailer at the entry to the campground, they couldn't accomodate the length of the trailer.
I guess the perfect setup would be on the M416, the problem that creates is I can't fit my 4Runner and the M416 on the trailer!!
What to do, what to do!
On my trip I travelled from PA to Maine, I stayed in Provincetown Mass (again, no I'm not) York Maine, Kennebunkport Maine, somewhere in NH and another place in Maine.
Everyday I found a new campsite using the GPS on my phone, I wanted to make it up to Bar Harbor but as I travelled further North more and more of the campsites were closed for tent camping. RV's were ok but for some reason not tents, I guess they assume your actually tenting on the ground.
Anyway, whenever I arrived in the town I felt like stopping at I would find a nearby campground. After paying the camp fee and finding my spot I wanted to go see the town I stopped in. I wanted to eat all the seafood my stomach could handle and check out the local watering holes.
Since the tent was on my truck I was restricted in the fact that I couldn't just drive back to camp and go to bed. If I wanted to get breakfast at the local pancake house I had to break camp first. If it was mounted on my M416 I could just pack it up later.
So I've got 3 options for mounting my RTT-you know the first, on my Tundra. The second is on my car trailer as seen in some of the pics and the third is on my M416 which I still have to restore.
I've already mentioned the problem with mounting it on my Tundra, have to break it down when I want to go to town
If I mount it on my car trailer the campground has to be able to accomodate my 24' trailer along with my Tundra. I'm terrible at backing up the setup so a pull through is a must which is even harder to find.
When I was in Provincetown (quit it already-I'M NOT!) I had to drop my trailer at the entry to the campground, they couldn't accomodate the length of the trailer.
I guess the perfect setup would be on the M416, the problem that creates is I can't fit my 4Runner and the M416 on the trailer!!
What to do, what to do!
just pull the M416 with the tundra then. 
ill be using my m416 for the tent set up too.
ill be using my m416 for the tent set up too.
Southeast Overland
Get lost! Go explore!
It should be very easy to mount to your 416 - especially if it isn't restored yet. The Camel tent appears to be almost identical to the Mombasa Overland that I have. If so (and this is an assumption I'm making on the similarity of the two versions) then you can simply weld two temporary cross pieces across the top of your open 416 and fasten the RTT down to those. Voila!
Once your trip is over and you have more time then restore the 416 and configure a more permanent mounting solution. That's probably what I'm going to do with my Swiss trailer.
Once your trip is over and you have more time then restore the 416 and configure a more permanent mounting solution. That's probably what I'm going to do with my Swiss trailer.
The straps you mentioned are to aid in steadying yourself as you climb in and out of your tent unit. They attach to the velcro strips on the mattress cover by the door.
Whether or not you plan to use them, be sure to attach the straps to the velcro strips on the mattress cover by the door. The reason for this is so the door screens won’t get snagged by the velcro.
Whether or not you plan to use them, be sure to attach the straps to the velcro strips on the mattress cover by the door. The reason for this is so the door screens won’t get snagged by the velcro.
- Thread starter
- #33
I forgot that I talked to Eli from Camel 4x4 about this a few weeks ago, that's what he said too. I guess I'll have to look at my mattress again, I don't remember seeing those velcro strips near the door.
I can't wait for the weather to get better so I can put the RTT back on. I acquired another addition to the RTT-Thanks Eli!!
As soon as I get it mounted (give me a few months) I'll do another full review.
I can't wait for the weather to get better so I can put the RTT back on. I acquired another addition to the RTT-Thanks Eli!!
As soon as I get it mounted (give me a few months) I'll do another full review.
That tent looks pretty similar to my Mombasa too.
hicruise55
IH8MUD VOYEUR
Pull the military trailer with the 4Runner...
I built a matching FJ55 trailer because I had the same issue breaking camp to wheel or travel- best of all worlds! Trailer also carries spares, 2-200cc mini bikes, firewood, gear, tools, chainsaws, water, fuel, kegs
ect..
1st pic: rough
2nd: RTT mounted and on road
3rd painted
Still lots to do but the 22nd best mod I've done to my 55
everything and anywhere is a campsite with a RTT I've camped on turnouts on Hwy101
I built a matching FJ55 trailer because I had the same issue breaking camp to wheel or travel- best of all worlds! Trailer also carries spares, 2-200cc mini bikes, firewood, gear, tools, chainsaws, water, fuel, kegs
ect..1st pic: rough
2nd: RTT mounted and on road
3rd painted
Still lots to do but the 22nd best mod I've done to my 55
everything and anywhere is a campsite with a RTT I've camped on turnouts on Hwy101
That 55 trailer looks awesome!!
hi, were you able to mount the tent in your M416? If you did, can you share some pics. I want to do the same with my tent. thanks
- Thread starter
- #38
I have not taken on fixing up my M416 yet, so no, it's not on there. I did however break out the RTT last week in anticipation of using it for Memorial Day. Before leaving I stopped at a local department store that had mattress toppers at 75% off. Needing one for my queen sized bed at home I decided to try it in the RTT. The width was perfect, so my original thought of the mattress being a full was wrong, it's a queen and a long one at that.