Considering a RTT. What are the positives & negatives?

[Big Cruiser Guy]

Any input would be great. We would not get one for a little while, since our dog cannot get up into a RTT; just trying to get some facts. .

 

[nuclearlemon]

after purchasing a maggiolina, and promptly wheeling with two guys, one with an eezi awn, one with a mombassa, i learned the maggi is the only way i can go because i'm short with a lifted rig. i can't reach to pull the top over or place it up gently, plus the issue of getting the cover on. the maggi is also a five minutes and it's up tent, 10 minutes and it's down. you can leave the bedding in and it doesnt' affect fuel mileage, where the others do.

downside...it's freaking expensive. accessories are freakin' expensive, it takes up a lot of room on the roof.

 

[Corey]

Here is some info on my blog along with a snippet from Autohome on the pros of a roof top tent.
Camping - Back Country - Overlanding Gear Reviews: FAQ On Roof Top Tents

I also like the Maggiolina units even though they take up your whole rack.
Hardshell, all your bedding stays inside, and very easy to open/close when setting up/breaking camp.
They are one of the most expensive tents on the market, but you get what you pay for.

 

[cody c]

I got a RTT off mud from fernandol when he was having a sale on them, havent used it a hell of a lot, but for me the pro's and con's were:

1. price
2. quality (most of them arent too bad)
3. cosmetics/size and aerodynamics

Do like the tent though, so comfy compared to a ground tent, and its like camping in your tree house when you were a kid!

 

[spressomon]

Quite a few threads here on the same subject but here's my $.00002

We've owned and extensively used two different RTTs: Autohome Overland XL and a Maggiolina Grand Tour (Med)

The big advantages of an RTT:
*Never lumpy as a ground tent can sometimes be
*Super fast to deploy and be sleeping
*Super fast to collapse and be driving
*Bedding doesn't take up interior space within the vehicle
*Very comfortable and secure
*Hard shell (ala Columbus and Maggiolina) are much more secure in windy areas.
*A bit harder for vermin to enter the tent...a factor during hot climate stays in snake prone areas

The big disadvantages of an RTT:
*Cost; aerodynamics/mpg hit (for brick like RTT shapes)
*Dealing with the cover for non-hard shell RTTs can be a PITA high atop a 4x4 rig and/or when the wind's blowing
*where to store it during the months you aren't using it (assuming you don't want to leave it on said vehicle); bulky and heavy to manually remove and lift back on to the rig (without some type of lift assistance...like a fork lift or ceiling winch system I've designed!)
*puts weight in the worst place on the rig: High!; typically weighs nearly 200lbs when everything related to the RTT is factored (additional roof bar supports, bedding).
*Not as much room for duffle bags, etc. especially in the Maggiolina variety.
*Dealing with the ladder (more of an issue after several cocktails and/or pee breaks in the middle of the night).
*Non Maggiolina RTT types can be darn noisy, from the non-tensioned fabric, flapping in windy conditions

 

[cody c]

Quite a few threads here on the same subject but here's my $.00002

We've owned and extensively used two different RTTs: Autohome Overland XL and a Maggiolina Grand Tour (Med)

The big advantages of an RTT:
*Never lumpy as a ground tent can sometimes be
*Super fast to deploy and be sleeping
*Super fast to collapse and be driving
*Bedding doesn't take up interior space within the vehicle
*Very comfortable and secure
*Hard shell (ala Columbus and Maggiolina) are much more secure in windy areas.
*A bit harder for vermin to enter the tent...a factor during hot climate stays in snake prone areas

The big disadvantages of an RTT:
*Cost; aerodynamics/mpg hit (for brick like RTT shapes)
*Dealing with the cover for non-hard shell RTTs can be a PITA high atop a 4x4 rig and/or when the wind's blowing
*where to store it during the months you aren't using it (assuming you don't want to leave it on said vehicle); bulky and heavy to manually remove and lift back on to the rig (without some type of lift assistance...like a fork lift or ceiling winch system I've designed!)
*puts weight in the worst place on the rig: High!; typically weighs nearly 200lbs when everything related to the RTT is factored (additional roof bar supports, bedding).
*Not as much room for duffle bags, etc. especially in the Maggiolina variety.
*Dealing with the ladder (more of an issue after several cocktails and/or pee breaks in the middle of the night).
*Non Maggiolina RTT types can be darn noisy, from the non-tensioned fabric, flapping in windy conditions

Good points,

I lent our RTT to a friend and his wife for a long weekend trip they did.
They were ecstatic with it, and his wife gave him the thumbs up. It rained quite hard one of the evenings they were out, and the slept high and dry while some of the other tenters found themselves cool and damp in the morning. Being up so high has pros when there is a fair bit of rain, but that can be a con if the wind is an issue...

I do like the extra bit of space in the interior achieved by putting your tent and matress elsewhere (up top).

I also dont like un zipping the cover, but its still probably a fair bit quicker than a ground tent.

 

[Big Cruiser Guy]

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. I'm not looking for reviews/opinions of different brands, I'm trying to decide if a RTT has any real advantages over over a conventional tent on the ground.

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

Alright BCG, I had spent many years ground camping and understood that almost any place that I set up the tent would require ground prep. Once your tent is setup you have to set it up with some sort of sleeping arrangement be it air mattress or cots. With a RTT all of the above can be achieved within minutes of finding that perfect spot.
The Pros
1. ease of set up
2. able to be level off of the ground
3. good air circulation
4. a great vantage point for surrounding scenery or whatever is digging through your supplies while your spouse is saying "What is that and can it climb a ladder?" in the dark wilderness.
The Cons
1. cost, they are pricey depending on what and where you purchase
2. climbing up and down
3. where to store it when not in use
4. high wind gusts can be uncomfortable, I keep motorcycle straps on the fold out part while it is set up just in case

All in all I would say it really depends on what kind of and where you plan on camping. I installed the RTT on my offroad trailer because we enjoy minimal off the grid type camping plus we dont have to fold up the tent when trail exploring is possible.

 

[Corey]

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. I'm not looking for reviews/opinions of different brands, I'm trying to decide if a RTT has any real advantages over over a conventional tent on the ground.

Did you read the snippet I had posted in my blog from Autohome?
If not, here it is on their FAQ page.
How to contact AutoHomeUSA - Importers of the original line of vehicle roof top tents for campers

What advantage is there to having my tent on the roof of my vehicle?

The primary benefits in getting your tent up off the ground are…

Your shelter is always with you and ready for a comfortable night’s sleep, which gives you a great deal of freedom
Moving your sleeping quarters to the roof means that you have much more space in your vehicle, and no need to unpack to set up a comfortable place to sleep
You don’t need a place to pitch your tent – so you can ‘camp’ anywhere – even RV parks that do not allow traditional tent camping.
Fast and easy setup, even in the dark, equally fast and easy take down in the morning, even when the weather is wet and cold.
Your vehicle stays cooler because the roof is shaded by the tent.
Your tent also provides ready storage of your bedding and some equipment.
AutoHome tents offer great ventilation and good view
Fewer worries about insects, snakes, wildlife and other things that go bump in the night.
Your tent – being up off the ground, will collect much less sand and dirt to contend with
Sleeping on rocks or puddles is a thing of the past. Now you can camp anywhere your vehicle takes you – just park, pop open your tent, and get comfortable
The list goes on, and you are only limited by your imagination.

I too used a wide variety of ground tents in my earlier days of car camping and back packing.
Not one of them came close to the comfort and ease of setup of my current roof top tent.
There is something about always having your tent/bedding ready at a moments notice.

About the only cons I can think of is if you want to use your rig to explore.
This is why many will opt to put the tent on an off road type trailer.
This does not matter to me, as I like to basecamp and explore the area on foot or via my mountain bike.
And also the ladder thing, I hate waking up in the middle of the night and having to get out from under warm covers to take a leak.
You can always try one of those AutoJohns, but I did not have good luck with it.
I would rather throw on a pair of shorts and scamper down the ladder and water the bushes.

 

[ukaviator]

BCG - The main reason Im am going to be purchasing a RTT in the future and move away from my ground tent, is that when your looking for a campground in a state you are unfamiliar with, I find most are catered to RV's, so all you find to camp is a hard surface like a gravel or concrete block.
Having a RTT would allow me to setup camp anywhere and give me options while staying comfy.
Also you know how it sucks having to roll up a wet tent, then get home and un-roll it to dry it out. This wouldnt be so much an issue with a RTT, at least, it would be easier.

Let us know which model you go with and post up pics

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

Can't add to much to what the other experienced RRT Mudders have stated....here's from a post I did last year after converting over to an Oz Tent.

"I've had a Camping Lab RRT for several years and it's served me well on my trips to Colorado and Moab, but after the CM10 trip and dealing with the extreme cold and sandstorm on the overnighter I wanted to try a different tent.

Just for clarification, I liked the RRT and can't really say anything bad about it but here are some of my reasons for moving back to a "ground tent".

- RRT are, well, on your roof...and once your up there and sleeping your not to excited about getting up and climbing down to go to the restroom, so make sure you have a p-bottle.
- After a long day of wheeling, you have to set-up your tent since you don't have an established campsite to return to.
- In the morning you have to stow your RRT which can be a problem if it rained or snowed in the night. The materials get very stiff and difficult to pack when frozen. The cold also stiffened the cover to the point it tore very easily.
- Finally, we got hit with a heck of a sandstorm during the overnighter and we didn't have anywhere to "hangout" out of the wind and cold, so we ended up just climbing into our tents till
morning. I'd like to have had a sheltered area to just chillout prior to going to bed."

Link: https://forum.ih8mud.com/camping-outdoor-gear/398430-rv4-oz-tent-beta-test.html

Good luck!