Cascadia RTT vs. Magiollina

[80t0ylc]

My black Mt. Baker with grey/brown fabric (Whatever the color is) keeps the light out very well, even direct sunlight. It does well in the rain since I trimmed the mattress. If it has any shortcomings, I'd say it would be the door design that pivots from the bottom. The Hannibal and I think some of the Maggies doors pivot from the top and that does better for keeping rain or snow out when entering & exiting tent. But the thing that I like about the CVT door design is the screen on the outside. My reason is this: Once inside the tent, (when using the screens to keep bugs out) you don't want to have to open the screen to open or close the door flaps. When the bugs are bad, the less you open the screens - the less bugs get in. If you're not using the screens, like in the winter, they easily roll up and can be tied out of the way.

 

[Corey]

My Airlander fabric is the gray, and it seems to keep out the light pretty good, but that has never been a problem for me when camping.

I am use to getting up at 12:15 am on weekdays for work, and on weekends it is very hard to sleep in past 5 am, even while on camping trips

 

[spressomon]

Looks like minimal fabric wind flap...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uRAFSeW8Rw

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Looks like minimal fabric wind flap...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uRAFSeW8Rw

That's impressive.

That model tent is the one I saw at a local 4x4 meet. Was very impressed how fast it went up and down as well as the quality of the material.

The owner who was not affiliated with them at all was very happy.

 

[Enigma]

Looks like minimal fabric wind flap...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uRAFSeW8Rw

If it matters or not, they appear to have the interior cords attached that keeps the sides in when folding the tent down.
Still, pretty good.

I saw the same tent that Jeremy mentioned, it was indeed quite nice. If I was to ever blow that kind of dinero on another RTT, I'd make the trip over to the island and buy one off of the distrubor there.

 

[ih88hi10]

For what those things cost you'd think they'd take some new photos for their brochures and websites.
http://www.autohomeus.com/rooftop/variant.php
When the top header shot features a 1985 Plymouth Caravan, it might be time to take a new picture.
On second thought, they might be making the point that if this POS crapavan can get up there with the RTT without the roof caving in then so too, can your Smart car.

 

[CVT Cascadia Vehicle Tents]

@ concretejungle. We are in the process of making our Hardshell RTT's in the USA as I need to be more involved as we have had a few issues with quality in certain areas . Plus getting our manufacture to stand behind their product is difficult. We will have to prove ourselves that is a given. But I do love what I do. The other 2 tents mentioned in here are of good quality ad they have been around and make a wonderful product. Look for us this summer with made in the USA. I will also be making all the changes and upgrades to these tents that customers want in a RTT.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[concretejungle]

I would certainly buy a tent from you if you had a product that was equal or better than the James Baroud tent. To me, they are superior to the maggi stuff, which appears that they have not made any improvements on their tents.

I like to support made in the USA and a mud vendor.

 

[Luke111]

I was lucky and found a Med Mag Airtop down in NC.. that had only been used for a few nights and feel like I stoled it for $2000 ... I did have to drive 14 hours round trip to retrieve it...
I also read the review and considered JB products but found it really hard to believe that a manufacturing company (Mag) would not make any real changes to the product in a nine year period .. In the end for myself it came down to availability when the Airtop popped up on Exped Portal and it was just in NC....I live in Va and the price was simply a bonus. I was pretty close to buying a new one and just shipping one of these was going to run almost $500.00 ....
If you are lucky enough not to have to ship one these you are ahead of the game ... Good luck with whichever one you decide to purchase

Lou

 

[CVT Cascadia Vehicle Tents]

I was lucky and found a Med Mag Airtop down in NC.. that had only been used for a few nights and feel like I stoled it for $2000 ... I did have to drive 14 hours round trip to retrieve it...
I also read the review and considered JB products but found it really hard to believe that a manufacturing company (Mag) would not make any real changes to the product in a nine year period .. In the end for myself it came down to availability when the Airtop popped up on Exped Portal and it was just in NC....I live in Va and the price was simply a bonus. I was pretty close to buying a new one and just shipping one of these was going to run almost $500.00 ....
If you are lucky enough not to have to ship one these you are ahead of the game ... Good luck with whichever one you decide to purchase

Lou

Nice score! Have a great summer.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[concretejungle]

Luke, i looked at that tent when it was here in Jamestown, before he sold it to the guy in Asheville, who turned around and flipped it to you! Man that tent has been around hahaha

It was a beautiful tent! Great shape and actually seeing it first hand is what caused me to sell my old RTT and focus on a clam shell type RTT.

 

[Luke111]

Luke, i looked at that tent when it was here in Jamestown, before he sold it to the guy in Asheville, who turned around and flipped it to you! Man that tent has been around hahaha

It was a beautiful tent! Great shape and actually seeing it first hand is what caused me to sell my old RTT and focus on a clam shell type RTT.

Not sure what your timeline is like...but I'm picking up my 80 from Slee first week in March and pulling a new Turtleback Trailer home that I'm either driving to Phoenix to pickup or they are delivering it to Co. I can trailer a tent back for you if you're ready and save you a little on shipping.... you're in NC?

Lou

 

[jonb96150]

I had a Maggi Columbus on top of my BJ-70, and when I sold the 70 I let the tent go with it and am now shopping for one of the folding arb style tents.

Pros and cons of the columbus;

Pros; sets up in about a minute, seriously.
Hard shell took a lot of hits from branches with no problem, but if you leaned into a tree hard enough I'm sure you are gonna be learning fiberglass repair.
And that's about it for pros.

Cons; basically a one person tent. You are not gonna want to have your buddy in there with you! Your mistress maybe, but with clothes, bags, whatever else you drag into your tent for the night would be very cramped with two people.
Mattress is incredibly hard, I could not sleep more than 1/2 hour before having to turn over to the other side. Solved that with a large Thermo-rest air mattress on top of the torture rack masquerading as a mattress.
It does not look like a good wet weather tent. I never used it in the rain, but I think a lot of water would get in. Most of that water would prolly be under the mattress as opposed to dripping on you, but in a good storm I bet a lot of water would get in.
Entering and exiting in the rain, you are gonna get soaked climbing that ladder and you will be bringing that soaking with you into the small tent and transferring it to your bedding. Better bring a bag for your muddy shoes cuz they are gonna be on the mattress too. When the wife and I went on the Alaska cruiser trek I did not take the Columbus and used a large ground tent instead. It rained everyday and life would have been miserable in the Columbus. This is why the tepui autana is on my short list.
http://tepuitents.com/products/autana-tent
Wind noise, yep it makes a lot of noise on windy nights. I learned to bring earplugs.
As another posted, the bug screens are velcroed, and cumbersome to use.

My conclusion: Dry camping only for one person it's a great tent. Wet camping is probably not going to be a dry experience!

 

[concretejungle]

Not sure what your timeline is like...but I'm picking up my 80 from Slee first week in March and pulling a new Turtleback Trailer home that I'm either driving to Phoenix to pickup or they are delivering it to Co. I can trailer a tent back for you if you're ready and save you a little on shipping.... you're in NC?

Lou

What kind of tent? I'm pretty sold on the James Baroud tent.

 

[concretejungle]

Jon thanks for the real world experience review!

 

[80t0ylc]

I had a Maggi Columbus on top of my BJ-70, and when I sold the 70 I let the tent go with it and am now shopping for one of the folding arb style tents.

Pros and cons of the columbus;

Pros; sets up in about a minute, seriously.
Hard shell took a lot of hits from branches with no problem, but if you leaned into a tree hard enough I'm sure you are gonna be learning fiberglass repair.
And that's about it for pros.

Cons; basically a one person tent. You are not gonna want to have your buddy in there with you! Your mistress maybe, but with clothes, bags, whatever else you drag into your tent for the night would be very cramped with two people.
Mattress is incredibly hard, I could not sleep more than 1/2 hour before having to turn over to the other side. Solved that with a large Thermo-rest air mattress on top of the torture rack masquerading as a mattress.
It does not look like a good wet weather tent. I never used it in the rain, but I think a lot of water would get in. Most of that water would prolly be under the mattress as opposed to dripping on you, but in a good storm I bet a lot of water would get in.
Entering and exiting in the rain, you are gonna get soaked climbing that ladder and you will be bringing that soaking with you into the small tent and transferring it to your bedding. Better bring a bag for your muddy shoes cuz they are gonna be on the mattress too. When the wife and I went on the Alaska cruiser trek I did not take the Columbus and used a large ground tent instead. It rained everyday and life would have been miserable in the Columbus. This is why the tepui autana is on my short list.
http://tepuitents.com/products/autana-tent
Wind noise, yep it makes a lot of noise on windy nights. I learned to bring earplugs.
As another posted, the bug screens are velcroed, and cumbersome to use.

My conclusion: Dry camping only for one person it's a great tent. Wet camping is probably not going to be a dry experience!

Well, it's good to know that the more expensive and better rep Maggi has identical cons that my Chinese made CVT has: not real roomy for more than a single person and an uncomfortable standard mattress. As far as being a wet weather tent, actually mine is as good as could be expected for a small tent, for my experiences. These hard shell smaller RTTs are only good for sleeping in. If you expect to do anything else in it, you'll be disappointed - in any weather. If you plan your entering and exiting, you can limit the moisture dragged in. Excellent idea for bagging your shoes! I think that is the main reason I've had have any disappointment in my RTT. Once I came to realize that simple fact, it made sense and I gained the proper perspective, IMHO.

 

[concretejungle]

That's disturbing that those tents, especially with what they cost, are not water proof in a rain storm. After all isn't that the whole purpose of a tent, shelter?

I cannot find the review, but i read a long review of several RTT. They were used for 300 plus days almost simultaneously so they would reveal their flaws. The review did say that the columbus was known for leaking badly in a rain storm and that the guys who had them ended up sleeping in the vehicle many nights because of soaking wet mattress.

It also said that the james baroud version was completely dry and waterproof. If you notice the way the lower seam is installed, it goes over the lower fiberglass clam shell. The columbus tent fabric runs to the inside of the lip, which means water runs right down into the bottom of the tent.

 

[hoser]

Cons; basically a one person tent. You are not gonna want to have your buddy in there with you! Your mistress maybe, but with clothes, bags, whatever else you drag into your tent for the night would be very cramped with two people.

The Columbus also comes in a medium which is the same width as the Tepui tent. One could also get the XL which has a bit more room to store clothing and such. I always just stuffed my dirty shoes between the roof and the tent/rack and it was fine... but maybe not so well in heavyl rain.

 

[80t0ylc]

That's disturbing that those tents, especially with what they cost, are not water proof in a rain storm. After all isn't that the whole purpose of a tent, shelter?.....

I have used my CVT in both rain and snow here in Oregon and the inside of tent has stayed dry. I had to trim mattress down to keep it away from tent fabric. It seems contacting the inside with something can cause water to wick through if contact is for an extended period.

.....I cannot find the review, but i read a long review of several RTT. They were used for 300 plus days almost simultaneously so they would reveal their flaws. The review did say that the columbus was known for leaking badly in a rain storm and that the guys who had them ended up sleeping in the vehicle many nights because of soaking wet mattress......

Is this what you were looking for? It is several years old, but reviews the JB, Columbia and Maggi.

Comparitive test - Autobivouac

.........It also said that the james baroud version was completely dry and waterproof. If you notice the way the lower seam is installed, it goes over the lower fiberglass clam shell. The columbus tent fabric runs to the inside of the lip, which means water runs right down into the bottom of the tent.

I understand what you're talking about and looked at pics of the JB lower seam. It looks like a superior design, alright. But I've not had that problem with my CVT and it is on the inside edge. I believe the CVT tent fabric is heavier than the Columbus, though.

 

[Corey]

The Maggiolina Airlander is waterproof in rain.
The Columbus, not so much.
I have had my Maggiolina Airlander now since spring of 2008 and have yet to have any rain seep in.

I have zero experience with the Columbus model, but when shopping many years ago I read that it does not do the best in rain, hence why I went with my style.

The full crank up Maggiolina models use a better canvas than the flip up Columbus ones.