My Yakima Skyride RTT went back to REI

[Dan Higgins]

Gotta love REI!

I know some of you have seen the red Yakima RTT on my Cruiser and were curious how it was working out. I returned it to REI. Some may be wondering why. So here is a summary.

First, there was nothing at all wrong with the tent. The return was solely due to my realization that the idea of an RTT did not fit with my expected uses. This is all on me - lessons learned.

• RTTs need to be stowed and secured every time you want to go some place. Not an issue if you are overlanding. But can be a pain if you are staying in one place for a couple of days.
• The Yakima is relatively easy to deploy and stow. But still a challenge to stow for me (weak old man) given the height of the LC (and a lift coming eventually). Stowing and covering meant I needed to get up on the roof rack. (Reaching up is a challenge for me these days due to rotater cuff and shoulder issues.)
• Though I had it on top of the LC when I went to Breck a couple of weeks ago, I never used it. Too much work to get up in the dark and stow it by myself and get to our gathering in Breck by 7AM. I ended up sleeping in the truck on the top of my ARB drawer and 2nd row as I have in the past and it worked out great. So much easier to get going in the morning.
• Which made me realize that being someone who likes to do landscape photography (which means departing camp early in the morning then returning after a good morning of shooting; or just the opposite in the evening) this tent was going to be more of an inconvenience.
• Finally, will on the trails on the first Thursday of Breck (easy trails) the tent shook loose enough to shift and get crooked. Thankfully, a member of our group had the proper wrench for me to readjust and retighten. (I had it mounted on the Gobi rack removable crossbars which also shifted.) Sure, I probably didn't get it tight enough when I mounted it. But it made me wonder about having something that large and heavy up on top when I'm on moderately rough trails.

So as it happened, I never actually used the tent to sleep in. I had envisioned doing so but I had to accept that it is not the best setup for me. I'll be installing a second ARB drawer so I can make room for my wife to sleep in the truck with me and we'll go that route. (Now if I can just find someone to help me install that rear hatch opening button kit that I bought from Curt but am afraid to install.)

BTW, the next time the Englewood, CO REI has a garage sale there may be a perfectly good Yakima tent available!

 

[mcgaskins]

I've almost pulled the trigger on a RTT on numerous occasions because they are so cool, but I agree for most the cons outweigh the pros. Sleeping the back is so much more convenient when you're solo, and when the wife and dog are along a ground tent makes a lot more sense. Besides, in the last 2 years I have maybe 7 nights of camping under my belt total, so in reality a RTT is just cool yet unusable kit (not to mention the performance downsides like higher COG, diminished aerodynamics, etc.). Thanks for the review and thought process for the rest of us.

 

[TonyP]

The only RTT I would somewhat consider is a hard shell. Soft shells are ok if you have a trailer or don't plan on moving around for a couple of days.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Couldn't agree more with all the comments on a soft shell RTT. I really believe the only pro of them is that if you have no idea where you can pitch a tent, you can just park.

So for me with a family, sometimes the trail doesn't have an end in sight, and the ground could be muddy, so that the one place a soft shell RTT is awesome.

I've also had an OzTent JV, it was the same idea, a great setup, but took too long to setup and pack away.

Tents are new thing for me, as only 2 years ago I used my first tent, but I've been sleeping outdoors about 4 months a year since I was a kid.

If I could build the best setup for me now. It would be simple ARB 2500 awning with screen/wall/floor kit. A Helinox cot/Exped MegaMat10 and a Nemo Symphony.

If it's nice out, cot and bag. If it's got a lot of bugs, add the screen room. If it's cold, add the mega mat and full walls to the awning.

For a family of 4 to sometimes 7, that a pretty fast set up and keeps the weight down, and the options up.

 

[NLScooby]

I've been wrestling with the idea of getting an RTT as well. I've even called on a few CL listings in my area. I like the idea - but realistically it'd get used just a few nights per year.....
But on that one crazy wet, muddy trip with tons of bugs and wild critters - it would probably feel great being tucked up there nice and safe in your man-made tree fort!

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

I've been wrestling with the idea of getting an RTT as well. I've even called on a few CL listings in my area. I like the idea - but realistically it'd get used just a few nights per year.....
But on that one crazy wet, muddy trip with tons of bugs and wild critters - it would probably feel great being tucked up there nice and safe in your man-made tree fort!

Yeah, there is that one special moment they are great, it's just that those scenarios don't happen much.

You can always check mine out. Were you going to Overland Expo East this year?

 

[codyaustin5]

So I actually bought one on Friday. Drove to Denver to pick it up, get it installed and go camping this weekend. Sound great....

Well we couldn't get it installed on the Prinsu. The tent was huge and heavy. I needed a 4 person tent for wife and 2 girls. After myself and dealer heaved it up and messed with it for 2 hours, I realized there was no way my wife and I could ever get this up and down each time we go camping. I can't fit in the garage with it installed so I was going to remove and install each time we wanted to use it. In my head this started to turn into a logistical nightmare.

I left the tent and 2 of my Prinsu cross bars with the dealer as he suggested the quick release tent mounts from FrontRunner. Even with those you still have to recruit friends and neighbors to hoist it up there. And they cost $300... Really?

So those nice Tepui tents you see on a lot of 4Runners that take up half the rack in CO? Those are 2 person tents and look pretty easy to lift up. The 4 person takes up the entire roof of the 200 and weighs about 200 lbs. Very awkward to lift up and over to roof. I also didn't want to leave it on for 5 months and not park in the garage.

I'm pretty bummed as my wife and I were pretty excited to easily jump in the 200 and wheel to our dispersed camping spot on the weekends to get away from busy life. Not to mention the disappointment from the kids. On the bright side its been raining for the last 10 days here so not the best weekend to go camping anyways.

I'm still researching and trying to figure out the best option on where we go from here as the dealer is going above and beyond to make this work. May have to just do it the old fashioned way and sleep on the ground...

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

So I actually bought one on Friday. Drove to Denver to pick it up, get it installed and go camping this weekend. Sound great....

Well we couldn't get it installed on the Prinsu. The tent was huge and heavy. I needed a 4 person tent for wife and 2 girls. After myself and dealer heaved it up and messed with it for 2 hours, I realized there was no way my wife and I could ever get this up and down each time we go camping. I can't fit in the garage with it installed so I was going to remove and install each time we wanted to use it. In my head this started to turn into a logistical nightmare.

I left the tent and 2 of my Prinsu cross bars with the dealer as he suggested the quick release tent mounts from FrontRunner. Even with those you still have to recruit friends and neighbors to hoist it up there. And they cost $300... Really?

So those nice Tepui tents you see on a lot of 4Runners that take up half the rack in CO? Those are 2 person tents and look pretty easy to lift up. The 4 person takes up the entire roof of the 200 and weighs about 200 lbs. Very awkward to lift up and over to roof. I also didn't want to leave it on for 5 months and not park in the garage.

I'm pretty bummed as my wife and I were pretty excited to easily jump in the 200 and wheel to our dispersed camping spot on the weekends to get away from busy life. Not to mention the disappointment from the kids. On the bright side its been raining for the last 10 days here so not the best weekend to go camping anyways.

I'm still researching and trying to figure out the best option on where we go from here as the dealer is going above and beyond to make this work. May have to just do it the old fashioned way and sleep on the ground...

Feel you pain brother. I've got a Tepui 4 man with annex and ruggedized, so a 240lbs tent. But I will say, take the rain cover, mattress, any anti condensation pad or annex that attached to it off. Basically if you can easily remove it, do it, it will significantly drop the weight.

That's how me and my wife can throw the thing up and down relatively easily. That and using the sidewalk curb for a little extra boost for my wife always helps.

 

[Dan Higgins]

Oh, Man. I wondered where you had ended up on that as I was writing this thread. The Yakima I had was only 95lbs but it is only for 2 people. The larger one is about 135# but it is only for "3-ish" people. And I had the advantage of being able to pull into the garage with the tent on (about 4" of clearance) then use a lift to get it off the truck. Even with the lighter with of the small Yakima, there is no way we would put it on/off each time. Sorry to hear it is not working out. It is tough to get all jazzed about something like that and then, in the process, realize that it may not work or is going to be a much bigger hassle than you imagined.

BTW, if you have to pay your friends $300 to recruit them ...

 

[codyaustin5]

Feel you pain brother. I've got a Tepui 4 man with annex and ruggedized, so a 240lbs tent. But I will say, take the rain cover, mattress, any anti condensation pad or annex that attached to it off. Basically if you can easily remove it, do it, it will significantly drop the weight.

That's how me and my wife can throw the thing up and down relatively easily. That and using the sidewalk curb for a little extra boost for my wife always helps.

Thanks. So do you open up the tent on the ground and remove everything you can fold it back up and then lift it up? Once installed you open it up and reinstall everything you took out?

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Thanks. So do you open up the tent on the ground and remove everything you can fold it back up and then lift it up? Once installed you open it up and reinstall everything you took out?

Yep, at least for my tent that drops about a 100 lbs.

The only thing left on the tent was the base, the frame, and the main fabric of the body.

Travel cover, annex, mattress, anti-condensation pad, and ladder are put back on after installed on the truck. And come off before taking the RTT back off (sometimes I leave the ladder on.

All in all, RTTs have their place in this world, but I wish I wouldn't of bought mine. It's a $2500 tent, and if I could get $1500 for it, I would sell it. But no one wants a tent that big and heavy, much less has the vehicle to handle it.

So I have the RTT for trips that makes sense for it. Then I have a legit ground tent with awesome MegaMat setup for trips that makes sense for that.

I also have a storage garage that is plenty tall to keep that stuff on, and lift the truck to do suspension work. I'm like you, don't want the 200 sitting out for no reason. Unless you wanted to go down my route, I'd recommend letting the RTT idea go.

 

[codyaustin5]

Yep, at least for my tent that drops about a 100 lbs.

The only thing left on the tent was the base, the frame, and the main fabric of the body.

Travel cover, annex, mattress, anti-condensation pad, and ladder are put back on after installed on the truck. And come off before taking the RTT back off (sometimes I leave the ladder on.

All in all, RTTs have their place in this world, but I wish I wouldn't of bought mine. It's a $2500 tent, and if I could get $1500 for it, I would sell it. But no one wants a tent that big and heavy, much less has the vehicle to handle it.

So I have the RTT for trips that makes sense for it. Then I have a legit ground tent with awesome MegaMat setup for trips that makes sense for that.

I also have a storage garage that is plenty tall to keep that stuff on, and lift the truck to do suspension work. I'm like you, don't want the 200 sitting out for no reason. Unless you wanted to go down my route, I'd recommend letting the RTT idea go.

It sucks when someone tells you not to do something and you really want to do it and you know their right...

My alternative plan late last night was get a 2-3 person rtt which weighs about 130 lbs and have the kids sleep in the annex. Is the annex fully enclosed and enough room to have kids sleep down there? Recommended?

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

It sucks when someone tells you not to do something and you really want to do it and you know their right...

My alternative plan late last night was get a 2-3 person rtt which weighs about 130 lbs and have the kids sleep in the annex. Is the annex fully enclosed and enough room to have kids sleep down there? Recommended?

well, yes and no. it will be long enough if they sleep the on the sides of the ladder, but only the 4 mans you can sleep someone behind the ladder.

That said, an annex sucks to setup and breakdown. It requires the same work as a ground tent. You have to make sure the truck is somewhere that the tent itself is level, plus having a big enough area to the side of the truck to also have flat ground. Which I will tell you outside of white rim in moab gets pretty hard to find those spots. Then you have to hook it on, zip it all together, get the floor in, play with the ladder again, the stake it down. It's the same time as setting up a ground tent as it's the same procedure. Then you still have to setup pads and sleeping bags. Break down also requires you to perfectly fold the annex up again. I cannot emphasize enough that it's just like a ground tent, but now you have all the issue that come with having a tent on your roof.

Also, when you break down, in a ground tent, at least you can pack away the pads and mattresses while still under the shared on the tent. When you pack away a soft top RTT, your in the sun the whole time, and that gets old, real quick.

I had a discussion last night with my wife on the RTT (she is as much into camping and off-roading as I am), and she admits that she felt lied to about how the RTT is god's gift to the overlander, but it's not. It's like eBay light bars, and jeep angry grills, it's mostly a look that people get sucked into, I fell for it, chalk up another loss of money to trying to figure it out. That is the exact reason why I started to talk on mud, to save people money that I couldn't save myself.

I'm not saying the soft top RTT is worthless, there are those special moments that it is exactly the right tool for the job. But I feel that more times than not, the juice ain't worth the squeeze. I think if you are thinking about the annex idea, I would an awning with wall kit, it's considerable cheaper, lighter, and you can still park in your garage, carry a light weight ground tent also for those times that you just can't find a flat place to park the truck and have flat ground to the side of it.

If you have an iPhone, we could FaceTime, and i'll show you the real setup and breakdown times, because it might be the right thing for you, we all have to find our way. I just think we are in the same boat, and I don't think you're going to like it after a year.

 

[Romer]

For a guy who Doesn't do a lot pf camping, I have a lot of camping gear

I really liked the Oztent, but it took up a lot of room, almost 6ft long and I didnt want to put it on the roof rack. I sold that and bought a Jet Tent 25. Sets up almost as fast and you can stand in it and have cots as I don't want to sleep on the ground anymore. Basically the Jettent is for when I take my camper and need a guest room

I have had multiple RTTs
I started with an Oasis II which weighs 45lbs and is a one person lift up to the truck. This was great for the Rubicon for my 80. It doesnt have a mattress, you sleep on trampoline material and it was pretty comfy

I moved on to an ARB Simpson III and really liked it. It isn't that heavy. I like the longer mattress area so you had a place to put stuff at the end and I also liked the canopy so you can climb in and out under cover. I took this on the Maze with my 100

I sold the ARB RTT because I bought a Kimberley Kamper and figured I didnt need it. Thats when I bought an Oztent as a extra bedroom for my girls. The Oztent is great quality andit does set up in 30 seconds.

I really liked it, but the drawback being almost 6 feet, you had to have the back seats down to fit it inside. I didnt want to put it on the rack to avoid weather wear. I could have gotten a box for on top of the rack.

I saw a Jettent come up local on Expo and solde the Oztent and bought the Jet Tent for the same $$ so it was a swap. It sets up almost as quick as the Oztent and easily fits in the back compartment. Other than setting up at home, I haven't had a chance to use it.

A club member had a TJM Yulara RTT he was selling for $400. It was like the ARB Simpson, but in the end not as well made. $400 I thought why not. Both girls have guys so there are times when there will be 6 of us so I bought it. It wasnt that well made and the cover was held on by straps. Then a club member won a CVT Ultimate Mt Bachelor Tent at Cruise Moab as a raffle prize. This is their ruggedized version and is over $2000 new. He hadnt used it and offered it to me for $800 NEW. Hey how can you pass up a deal like that. So I sold the TJM and bought the CVT

And of course I have the Kimberley Karavan. I always like collecting quality items. They last longer and will be around when I hope to be able to actually use them

RRT's works for me because I have high Garage doors and can drive in, hook up the RACOR rack and lift the RTT on/off the truck by myself. If I didnt have that I would probably still have the Oasis II which takes up almost no room and is real light

You can see the Jet Tent on a RACOR ceiling lift above the camper and the CVT tent above the 200

Hmmm, I may have a problem collecting gear

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

For a guy who Doesn't do a lot pf camping, I have a lot of camping gear

I really liked the Oztent, but it took up a lot of room, almost 6ft long and I didnt want to put it on the roof rack. I sold that and bought a Jet Tent 25. Sets up almost as fast and you can stand in it and have cots as I don't want to sleep on the ground anymore. Basically the Jettent is for when I take my camper and need a guest room

I have had multiple RTTs
I started with an Oasis II which weighs 45lbs and is a one person lift up to the truck. This was great for the Rubicon for my 80. It doesnt have a mattress, you sleep on trampoline material and it was pretty comfy
View attachment 1515857 View attachment 1515858

I moved on to an ARB Simpson III and really liked it. It isn't that heavy. I like the longer mattress area so you had a place to put stuff at the end and I also liked the canopy so you can climb in and out under cover. I took this on the Maze with my 100
View attachment 1515860 View attachment 1515861

I sold the ARB RTT because I bought a Kimberley Kamper and figured I didnt need it. Thats when I bought an Oztent as a extra bedroom for my girls. The Oztent is great quality andit does set up in 30 seconds.

View attachment 1515864
I really liked it, but the drawback being almost 6 feet, you had to have the back seats down to fit it inside. I didnt want to put it on the rack to avoid weather wear. I could have gotten a box for on top of the rack.

I saw a Jettent come up local on Expo and solde the Oztent and bought the Jet Tent for the same $$ so it was a swap. It sets up almost as quick as the Oztent and easily fits in the back compartment. Other than setting up at home, I haven't had a chance to use it.

A club member had a TJM Yulara RTT he was selling for $400. It was like the ARB Simpson, but in the end not as well made. $400 I thought why not. Both girls have guys so there are times when there will be 6 of us so I bought it. It wasnt that well made and the cover was held on by straps. Then a club member won a CVT Ultimate Mt Bachelor Tent at Cruise Moab as a raffle prize. This is their ruggedized version and is over $2000 new. He hadnt used it and offered it to me for $800 NEW. Hey how can you pass up a deal like that. So I sold the TJM and bought the CVT

And of course I have the Kimberley Karavan. I always like collecting quality items. They last longer and will be around when I hope to be able to actually use them

RRT's works for me because I have high Garage doors and can drive in, hook up the RACOR rack and lift the RTT on/off the truck by myself. If I didnt have that I would probably still have the Oasis II which takes up almost no room and is real light

You can see the Jet Tent on a RACOR ceiling lift above the camper and the CVT tent above the 200

Hmmm, I may have a problem collecting gear

Romer, I have a question for you on the CVT ruggedized. What can you store inside that tent, and still quickly close it up? I only ask because I have slightly bigger Tepui version, and I can't fit a damn thing in with it. No pillows, no thick blankets, basically 2 plat sheets.

I've had OzTents also, they pop up fast, but man they are heavy. I'd rather have a Nemo Wagon Top these days, which is why I sold my JV.

 

[Romer]

I am not sure if you can store anything in it. Maybe a sleeping bag, thats all I could store in my ARB Simpson

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Yeah, that's what I'm experiencing with my venture into RTT, I thought I could keep a heavy blanket and pillows in there. The whole, "bed already made" idea. But in my case, no, still have to pack everything away.

Didn't know if it was just me though.

 

[NLScooby]

Yeah, there is that one special moment they are great, it's just that those scenarios don't happen much.

You can always check mine out. Were you going to Overland Expo East this year?

I will try. We typically have guests from the West Coast come out around that time - so there always seems to be a conflict!

 

[crikeymike]

I have had multiple RTTs

Understatement of the year!! Wow, you've had pretty much everything.

While reading the thread, I was trying to remember the name of the Oasis tent you had. I saw some of those years ago and thought they were super cool, light, and easy to use.

When I used to camp with my kids a lot, it was in a ground tent. I got frustrated setting up and tearing down the tent and 3 mattress pads and 3 sleeping bags every night of a 7 day trip, different spot almost all the time. And they were too young to help. Then I had a Simpson 3, which I thought would solve that problem, and it did to some extent, but I didn't like not being able to move the truck once it was setup and there was the height issue in garages. I then went to an Oztent which I loved. I carried it on a simple used Thule rack setup I had on my LX450, and that was easy enough until I didn't have that vehicle anymore and it had to go inside my BJ74. I was eyeing a JetTent due to it's internal height and pack down size. That's still one that I'd like to have.

In the meantime I'm still using (but rarely camping) my 12 year old REI 4 person dome tent that I got for $200 in their clearance section and it's never let me down!!

 

[Oakleyguy]

For a guy who Doesn't do a lot pf camping, I have a lot of camping gear

I really liked the Oztent, but it took up a lot of room, almost 6ft long and I didnt want to put it on the roof rack. I sold that and bought a Jet Tent 25. Sets up almost as fast and you can stand in it and have cots as I don't want to sleep on the ground anymore. Basically the Jettent is for when I take my camper and need a guest room

I have had multiple RTTs
I started with an Oasis II which weighs 45lbs and is a one person lift up to the truck. This was great for the Rubicon for my 80. It doesnt have a mattress, you sleep on trampoline material and it was pretty comfy
View attachment 1515857 View attachment 1515858

I moved on to an ARB Simpson III and really liked it. It isn't that heavy. I like the longer mattress area so you had a place to put stuff at the end and I also liked the canopy so you can climb in and out under cover. I took this on the Maze with my 100
View attachment 1515860 View attachment 1515861

I sold the ARB RTT because I bought a Kimberley Kamper and figured I didnt need it. Thats when I bought an Oztent as a extra bedroom for my girls. The Oztent is great quality andit does set up in 30 seconds.

View attachment 1515864
I really liked it, but the drawback being almost 6 feet, you had to have the back seats down to fit it inside. I didnt want to put it on the rack to avoid weather wear. I could have gotten a box for on top of the rack.

I saw a Jettent come up local on Expo and solde the Oztent and bought the Jet Tent for the same $$ so it was a swap. It sets up almost as quick as the Oztent and easily fits in the back compartment. Other than setting up at home, I haven't had a chance to use it.

A club member had a TJM Yulara RTT he was selling for $400. It was like the ARB Simpson, but in the end not as well made. $400 I thought why not. Both girls have guys so there are times when there will be 6 of us so I bought it. It wasnt that well made and the cover was held on by straps. Then a club member won a CVT Ultimate Mt Bachelor Tent at Cruise Moab as a raffle prize. This is their ruggedized version and is over $2000 new. He hadnt used it and offered it to me for $800 NEW. Hey how can you pass up a deal like that. So I sold the TJM and bought the CVT

And of course I have the Kimberley Karavan. I always like collecting quality items. They last longer and will be around when I hope to be able to actually use them

RRT's works for me because I have high Garage doors and can drive in, hook up the RACOR rack and lift the RTT on/off the truck by myself. If I didnt have that I would probably still have the Oasis II which takes up almost no room and is real light

You can see the Jet Tent on a RACOR ceiling lift above the camper and the CVT tent above the 200

Hmmm, I may have a problem collecting gear

@Romer If you change your mind and want to offload that RTT, give me a buzz! =)