Car Camping, Rear Hatch Tent and Window Screen

[TeCKis300]

I took my own advice from this other thread, and tried out a rear hatch/tailgate tent this past weekend. I go weekend camping very often with my kids through the YMCA father/daughter and separately father/son program, so it's just two of us at a time.

Hard Shell Roof Top Tent vs Camping Trailer question

I had no real expectations and had my ground tent with me. Thought I'd try it for kicks. Let me just say, it worked out friggen great. This is the Napier Sportz Cove, 61500 (large SUV), version.

I've done many forms of camping. With full blown Airstream travel trailer glamping, high end tents, CVT roof top tent. For 2, this absolutely takes the cake. Super lightweight. Easy setup and take down (once figuring it out the first time). Large awning. Was pleasantly surprised how great and little compromise this was. Makes the interior of the vehicle absolutely huge with open tailgate and hatch enclosed as the tailgate adds 2 feet of expanded and wide space. Adds a great big screen for breathing. I had the 3rd rows folded to the side. With those taken out, it would be palatial.

For longer trip travel, I can totally see using this with a roof top cargo box. Lower profile and flat drawer system. Perhaps even a swinging hitch box for cooler and kitchen gear. Keep the bed made. To setup camp, toss personal bags into the front seat, pull on the tent, and that's it! This really takes the cake for a quick and easy setup.

It's not as classic "expedition", but man, it really should be after experiencing this.

I added window screens for added breathing:

 

[nebo]

Where did the window shades come from and how do they work?

 

[TeCKis300]

They're screens/privacy mesh that you slip over like a sock. Got them from Amazon. Couldn't be easier to slip it on/off, and are the perfect size for our rear windows.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073QJ1JZJ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tried to cheat with those stock photo's, but here's a quick pic just for you:

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

I took my own advice from this other thread, and tried out a rear hatch/tailgate tent this past weekend. I go weekend camping very often with my kids through the YMCA father/daughter and separately father/son program, so it's just two of us at a time.

Hard Shell Roof Top Tent vs Camping Trailer question

I had no real expectations and had my ground tent with me. Thought I'd try it for kicks. Let me just say, it worked out friggen great. This is the Napier Sportz Cove, 61500 (large SUV), version.

View attachment 1785500

I've done many forms of camping. With full blown Airstream travel trailer glamping, high end tents, CVT roof top tent. For 2, this absolutely takes the cake. Super lightweight. Easy setup and take down (once figuring it out the first time). Large awning. Was pleasantly surprised how great and little compromise this was. Makes the interior of the vehicle absolutely huge with open tailgate and hatch enclosed as the tailgate adds 2 feet of expanded and wide space. Adds a great big screen for breathing. I had the 3rd rows folded to the side. With those taken out, it would be palatial.

View attachment 1785501

For longer trip travel, I can totally see using this with a roof top cargo box. Lower profile and flat drawer system. Perhaps even a swinging hitch box for cooler and kitchen gear. Keep the bed made. To setup camp, toss personal bags into the front seat, pull on the tent, and that's it! This really takes the cake for a quick and easy setup.

It's not as classic "expedition", but man, it really should be after experiencing this.

I added window screens for added breathing:

Thanks for review! I’ve thought about one of these as an alternative to a ground tent ( my typical setup), May have to give one of these a try !

 

[zoned]

I’m having trouble getting mine to fit. I wonder if they changed the design. I only see mid to large suv now and when the tailgate is down you can’t get it to go over it very well.
Do you have any more pics of your setup that show how it fits around the tail gate?

 

[TeCKis300]

I’m having trouble getting mine to fit. I wonder if they changed the design. I only see mid to large suv now and when the tailgate is down you can’t get it to go over it very well.
Do you have any more pics of your setup that show how it fits around the tail gate?

Sorry to hear. I don't have any detail shots of the tailgate but I do recall it not going over the whole tailgate. Strapping it down securely was the goal at hte bottom.

 

[Bendcruiser]

I would love to do that setup but no Bueno in Bear country!