Just bought the AirLander rooftop tent

[Corey]

AutoHome Maggiolina * the World's most refined vehicle roof top tents

It is shipping today, it will be at the dealer I am working with Thursday, and I will be getting it installed next Friday if it comes like it suppose to.

For those that have the medium size one, are you using sleeping bags, or sheets and a comforter?

If using the latter, what size of sheets do you need?
What is best if using a comforter, a synthetic one or a good down one?

Will get lots of pictures of it for sure after it is installed.

It is going on the stock FJ Cruisers rack with Yakima towers and 58" crossbars.

Here is the same setup on KD7NAC_07's FJ.

 

[cstamm81]

If you use it in very cold weather, IMO you need to use warm sleeping bags. These trap your own body heat much better than a comforter. That's what I used when I did my winter time VT trip in my Magg. Airlander Med. When it's warmer out I would use sheets and a comforter. A down comforter will keep you more comfortable across a broader range of temps, but costs more and takes much longer to dry should you get it wet.
As for sheet size, I'm not sure. Just as an FYI, I had two large heavy sleeping bags, 3 pillows, a down comforter and a wool blanket and was still able to close the tent with all of this inside.
Oh and congrats, you will love your RTT, just make sure you get out and use it a lot.

 

[Corey]

Thanks, it is the same size too, the medium one.

Will not do much winter camping, but you never know, I may try that next year.

I may go for the awning they sell too.

 

[NxNWLAHAR]

Thanks, it is the same size too, the medium one.

Will not do much winter camping, but you never know, I may try that next year.

I may go for the awning they sell too.

COREY,

WE USED OUR MAGG GRAND TOUR- MEDIUM LAST YEAR FROM MARCH THRU OCTOBER HERE IN THE PAC NW. SLEEPING BAGS WERE THE CALL FOR EARLY SPRING AND LATE FALL, BUT SHEETS WITH AN OPENED SLEEPING BAG DRAPED AS A COMFORTER WERE MORE THAN ADEQUATE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. WE BOUGHT "FULL" SIZED FLANNEL SHEETS AND THEY FIT THE MATTRESS PERFECT.
WE ALSO HAVE A RACK MOUNTED AWNING AND THE COMBO HAS PROVED TO BE INVALUABLE FROM DOWNPOURS ON THE COAST TO SWELTERING SUN IN EASTERN WA.

 

[Corey]

Thanks for the info Nx.

I spoke with Mike at AutoHome yesterday, and he said another feature you can do is get one of those featherbeds that are about 1 to 2" thick, and put it underneath the bottom sheet.

The full size sheets you got, is the bottom one the kind with the elastic corners to hold it down, or the tuck in type?

Wish this rain would letup.
The Yakima towers and crossbars arrived yesterday.
I just might let the shop install them too if I do not get time to put them on before Friday.

Yes, I will have to order that awning too.
I see these have a 12v light inside, I can run an extension down to the twin 12v plugs Wayne helped on last year.

 

[NxNWLAHAR]

Thanks for the info Nx.

I spoke with Mike at AutoHome yesterday, and he said another feature you can do is get one of those featherbeds that are about 1 to 2" thick, and put it underneath the bottom sheet.

The full size sheets you got, is the bottom one the kind with the elastic corners to hold it down, or the tuck in type?

Wish this rain would letup.
The Yakima towers and crossbars arrived yesterday.
I just might let the shop install them too if I do not get time to put them on before Friday.

Yes, I will have to order that awning too.
I see these have a 12v light inside, I can run an extension down to the twin 12v plugs Wayne helped on last year.

COREY,

THE "FULL" SHEETS WE HAVE ARE THE FITTED TYPE w/ ELASTIC AROUND THE BOTTOM EDGE.
WE LEAVE EVERYTHING (PILLOWS,SHEETS,BAGS,LADDER,ETC...) IN THE RTT, FOR THE
QUICK ESCAPE, READY TO EXPLORE AT A MOMENTS NOTICE.

 

[Corey]

COREY,

THE "FULL" SHEETS WE HAVE ARE THE FITTED TYPE w/ ELASTIC AROUND THE BOTTOM EDGE.
WE LEAVE EVERYTHING (PILLOWS,SHEETS,BAGS,LADDER,ETC...) IN THE RTT, FOR THE
QUICK ESCAPE, READY TO EXPLORE AT A MOMENTS NOTICE.

Thanks, I have to pick up some stuff from Fred Meyers (totes) and will check for sheets there.

Getting stocked about using this, already buying other stuff so I can load up quick for a last minute escape from the concrete jungle..

 

[Corey]

PS, went by Fred Meyers to get the totes, no flannel sheets.
They did have some cool camo Egyptian cotton jersey sheets, but the lady there said they are not as warm as flannel.

The camo color though almost got me to buy them anyways.
I will look online to find some flannels.

 

[Corey]

Found some nice sheets on Amazon, almost the same on my bed at home.
Sheets

Now for the comforter, is this down one overkill?
Extra warmth down

They have it it in medium and light warmth too.
Will be using the sheets and comforter mainly from mid May until late September up at about 3 to 4K feet elevation in the foothills of Mt. Rainer where it can be anywhere from 65 to 80 degrees when turning in, and around 45 to 60 degrees when waking up.

Update:
The full/queen is to big, the twin comforter should be about right sized at 68” x 88”.

 

[Corey]

Just a sneak peak, I will have many more pictures tomorrow, but I will be posting them in my buildup thread in the FJ Cruiser section.
I will put up a link in this thread to the new entry in my buildup thread when I update it.

First my youngest son (21) said my FJ looked like a submarine when I got the snorkel installed last November, and now he said it looked like a spaceship when he saw it today.

 

[Corey]

Here is the link to the buildup thread with more info.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj-cruiser/103071-few-mods-7-25-06-a-5.html#post3159325

I want to thank Mike too at AutoHome for helping me with questions on the phone.

 

[NxNWLAHAR]

Here is the link to the buildup thread with more info.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj-cruiser/103071-few-mods-7-25-06-a-5.html#post3159325

I want to thank Mike too at AutoHome for helping me with questions on the phone.

NICE BUILD. CHECKED OUT YOUR LINK ALSO. YOU'VE TRANSFORMED IT INTO A VERY STOUT RIG ! I'LL KEEP MY EYES PEELED FOR IT ON THE ROAD. I LIVE IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA.
HMMM...SUBMARINE/SPACESHIP WITH WHEELS (PER YOUR SON), SEEMS VERY CAPABLE TO GO ABOVE,BELOW, IN BETWEEN, AND BEYOND...

 

[Corey]

Thanks.
Can you tell me a little more about your awning?
Is it the one on AutoHome's page?
Autohome Accessories

That one shows it attached to the top of the shell, not sure how it goes on.
Or did you get another one?

 

[NxNWLAHAR]

I DON'T HAVE THE ONE ON "AUTOHOMES" WEBSITE.
I HAVE A REAR MOUNTED "HANNIBAL AWNING" 5' w/ SIDE PANELS ("SEE"hannibal.usa.com/awnings). I MODIFIED IT TO FIT MY SQUARE TUBE RACK (ITS ORIGINAL DESIGN IS INTENDED FOR RECTANGULAR SHAPED TUBING ie... LAND ROVER). I LIKE IT FOR ITS MULTI-PURPOSE USE; AWNING,CHANGING/SHOWER ROOM,TENT. VERY SPENDY $$$ THOUGH !
IT'S SUPER TOUGH AND QUICK TO SET UP/TAKE DOWN IN BAD WEATHER AND HAS NO DOWN POLES OR GUYLINES.

THE AWNING ON THE "AUTOHOME" SITE LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD PROVIDE SOME GOOD VERTICAL RAIN PROTECTION FOR ONE SIDE (DOOR) OF YOUR AIRLANDER. I THINK IT HAS A BEAD ON THE OUTER EDGE THAT SLIDES INTO A CHANNEL ATTACHED TO THE SIDE OF THE RTT. THE SET UP SEEMS A LITTLE INVOLVED. IT'S REASONABLY PRICED THOUGH.

"FIAMMA" ALSO HAS A 6' AND 8' AWNING THAT WOULD SIDE MOUNT (w/ADAPTER KIT) TO YOUR YAKIMA RACKS NICELY.
THEY SEEM PRETTY LIGHTWEIGHT AND THE DOWN POLES RETRACT INTO THE AWNING FOR EASY SET UP/TAKE DOWN. REASONABLY PRICED ALSO. ( "SEE"northwestexpeditions.com/awnings)
I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ONE OF THESE, BUT DIDN'T FIND IT UNTIL AFTER THE FACT.