Hard Shell RTT vs soft RTT (2 Viewers)

[TexasJack]

Well i store all my stuff uner the platform or on the roof rack. I have a flip up section that stores my sleeping bag and sleeping pad. The first night of a trip i have to role out a sleeping pad and sleeping bag. I geuss that is not zero time. Maybe 30 seconds or 1 min? After that on a multi day trip often i jusy let it stay out during the day while driving. If it bothers me sliding around i lift open the hatch and just jam it down inside.

Let me also explain some. I forget that some people use platforms that involve folding seats. I have no back seat and use a permanent full lenth sleeping platform with storage under it. The truck carries just me or me and my wife. So it works out great.

I do the same thing. I have a sleeping platform I built onto my custom drawer system. I bought a matress at iKEA that fits like a glove and is very comfortable - like a real bed. I make the bed before I leave and when I arrive, I just clean up and crawl into the bed. I remake the bed every morning and go wheeling / hunting. Nothing moves around.

I am thinking about getting a RTT because it is a bit of a hassle getting in and out of the back of the truck and I am getting older. I typically just crawl in through one of the back doors. I am looking at getting a roof rack to store extra items on long hunting trips or a roof top tent and storing items inside the truck. The RTT will afford more room to move around while sleeping and a easier time getting in and out (like when you have to go in the middle of the night). If I leave the back seats folded down under the sleeping platform the room behind the front seats is as large as a pickup truck bed and will hold plenty of gear.

My only reservation with a RTT is sleeping in it when there is lightening. I have slept inside the truck in heavy rain, snow and sleet with no with little concern because of the faraday cage the vehicle body represents. While I have slept several times in a ground tent with lightening while hiking in wilderness areas, I remain conscious of the dangers it presents.

How to RTT owners feel about sleeping in the RTT when there is lightening?

 

[Brentbba]

I am thinking about getting a RTT because it is a bit of a hassle getting in and out of the back of the truck and I am getting older.

Exactly. When I was YOUNGER, I too slept on top of my drawer system in the truck. I took out the 2nd row seats and had an extension of my drawer for more storage and sleeping platform right up to the back of the drivers seat. Had a very nice 3" pad and I just left the pad, sleeping bag and pillow there for the trip. Had a platform at floor level on the PS for storage.

Too 'f'ing' old to crawl into that. Did the trailer route and now downsizing to a RTT.

 

[1973Guppie]

for true overland travel too I think the hardshell will work great. On a recent trip to UT/CO the leg of the drive took a lot longer than expected that day and we ended up getting near where we needed to be to meet up with our group alot later then expected. I dreaded setting up camp after driving for 10 hours. We ended up booking a hotel because of it. Now I forsee just pulling off to a safe spot and popping up the RTT in a few minutes.

 

[nuclearlemon]

@nuclearlemon , what anti condensation mat did you go with? I have been looking for a decent one.

think it was a tepui. someone else had bought it and didn't use it, so i bought it "used"

for true overland travel too I think the hardshell will work great. On a recent trip to UT/CO the leg of the drive took a lot longer than expected that day and we ended up getting near where we needed to be to meet up with our group alot later then expected. I dreaded setting up camp after driving for 10 hours. We ended up booking a hotel because of it. Now I forsee just pulling off to a safe spot and popping up the RTT in a few minutes.

that's what i've done numerous times. i get off work at five, start heading to idaho or socal to see family...i sure am not going to make it in one day, so i pull off somewhere in utah or near grand junction, pop the top and take a nap

 

[Bludozer]

Well i store all my stuff uner the platform or on the roof rack. I have a flip up section that stores my sleeping bag and sleeping pad. The first night of a trip i have to role out a sleeping pad and sleeping bag. I geuss that is not zero time. Maybe 30 seconds or 1 min? After that on a multi day trip often i jusy let it stay out during the day while driving. If it bothers me sliding around i lift open the hatch and just jam it down inside.

Let me also explain some. I forget that some people use platforms that involve folding seats. I have no back seat and use a permanent full lenth sleeping platform with storage under it. The truck carries just me or me and my wife. So it works out great.

Ah! That makes more sense. My platform includes my backsteat, thanks for clarifying! Would still love to see a pic of your set up though, I'm impressed how you can get all of your gear onto the rack or inside of your platform. I guess another potential difference is I need to clear space for two people inside as my wife is always with me. Definitely makes set up a little trickier.

this is exactly why I went with a harshell on the rack. I have a sleeping platform with drawers in the rear but it was somewhat a pia to pull it all out every night and put it back in. I got the smaller roof RTT so plan to sleep with that when there is just 2 of us. If the family all goes I can setup the bottom floor sleeping platform and the kids can watch movies down there off of the dash dvd player. Overall it just gives us more options and sleeping room.

Exactly! I love sleeping in the back, but pulling everything out just to sleep there is a total pain. With just two people, being able to pop a tent on the roof in a split second is worth its weight in gold. That way if there are a few more people with us I can go ahead and set up the back as well.

 

[nuclearlemon]

Exactly! I love sleeping in the back, but pulling everything out just to sleep there is a total pain. With just two people, being able to pop a tent on the roof in a split second is worth its weight in gold. That way if there are a few more people with us I can go ahead and set up the back as well.

not to mention, dealing with food stuffs in bear country and what to do with the fridge setup

 

[1973Guppie]

DIY Anti Condensation Mat in RTT

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

....snip....

My only reservation with a RTT is sleeping in it when there is lightening. I have slept inside the truck in heavy rain, snow and sleet with no with little concern because of the faraday cage the vehicle body represents. While I have slept several times in a ground tent with lightening while hiking in wilderness areas, I remain conscious of the dangers it presents.

How to RTT owners feel about sleeping in the RTT when there is lightening?

My Poptop is a 100% aluminum and when its raining and lightening I say bring it on. If my day comes while camping I cant think of a better place. Just dig the hole and push me and my Land Cruiser in!

 

[retrofive]

My Poptop is a 100% aluminum and when its raining and lightening I say bring it on. If my day comes while camping I cant think of a better place. Jump dig the hole and push me and my Land Cruiser in!

We can do that for you, but just know we are keeping your RTT

 

[1973Guppie]

We can do that for you, but just know we are keeping your RTT

how the heck are you going to get the smell of "burnt phil" out though?? that is the question.....

 

[Dave 2000]

As I said earlier, I like the hard shell but when you need space a hard shell will hurt you. When getting away from civilisation you need to carry extra gear, tools, spares, water, food. If you travel in a group then with careful organisation you can reduce or even hav'e no duplication of cargo. I love to get out and about alone, so I pretty much carry everything including the kitchen sink, put a hard shell up there and bang goes a load of storage area.

Regards

Dave