glad you liked the thread boogie nights and thanks for adding more info on! i think most of us have seen all the vids, all are very informative! nice review on that camo tepui tent but i think that guy made too big a deal on those minor things (latch thingies being white, rubber ends on the spring rods/not needed imho, inside fabric bungee being a certain material, etc). cool to see the improvements on the tepui tents (the buckles on mine are steel which have started to show some rust, not a big deal, easily replaceable. the newer ones use plastic buckles/easy change). i also see that different companies use contoured covers vs flat ones (like mine) that shape over the ladder. both styles collect water no matter what. another thing to consider are nicer quality zippers.
anyway, if anything, i hope this thread has helped give general info on all of the tent manufacturers that carry this style of fold out roof top tent. these RTTs really have gotten the job done over the years (explains why there are numerous companies now that share the same design!). looks like all the north american and aussie models are mostly made in china/taiwan while there are some decent ones coming out of africa (with real world testing in the safari bush!). that gordigear vid (although self promoting) is a great all around vid for these tents. it would seem like there's a good demographic for this style and price point. we've seen many who have opted for the more expensive clam shell type autohome tents (and off course, the "knockoffs" have come out as well)
everyone needs to realize that these aren't made to last forever. the fabrics and materials do fade and breakdown over time due to the elements and the sun especially and it all depends on where you reside and what seasons you have (and how you care for your tent). my tent hasn't left the roof of the 80 and it's gone through 3 harsh canadian winters (and very hot summers too). based on what i've seen on this section on mud, customer service and how warranties are held are what matters most. I like the tepui thread. seems like they've done their research and tried to improve the style with new colour combos and beefed up ruggedized versions. seems like they have happy customers which is what it boils down to in the end.
happy RTT camping to everyone this spring and summer!
