One Flew Over The Rooftop Tent

[AnyMal]

So after a long long arduous online shopping wormhole through various youtube searches, reverse queries, forum hunting, and general desperation i *think* ive found a great tent that i like the look of. Im big on how something looks and a pretty particular kind of insane so please bear with me.

Ive been looking for a relatively affordable half or 3/4 length hardshell tent that would not block my sunroof or hit my rear spoiler.
Ive measured a maximum of 68" in. usable length up there and i am willing to deal with overhang on width (my rails are 43" inside width).
It had to be a NEUTRAL color, and the shell had to be either black or grey (the only colors i never have any issue with). It has to be pop up and extended for me and my wife so that means they side to side opening platform tents only. I am not about to deal with anything soft shell and it needs to be somewhat aerodynamic and preferably under 150lbs which is the actual (probably shear) limit of the trucks roof and its rails.

Well, here is your chance to talk me out of a rooftop tent in general (please try), and let me know if you know anything about this company or its competitor tents.

Osprey Mini by Outer Tents

The competitors are $1,000 more but if i start playing that game i will land on this, probably the best designed thing ive seen come out of the overland space ever.
My wife says we have to have it... Shes a highly qualified designer... and i kind of agree but the price is obscene. ($30k)

If you are curious here are the two best contenders, i think they both offer lighting options as well:

iKamper - Skycamp Mini - Last Line did a good video on this. Worth spending 30% more?

Deser Armor - Tank - this one which i really like but it looks like QC isnt quite there yet based on some reviews and videos. Welds were nasty as hell.

Photos for the short attention spans-

Osprey Mini:

Skycamp Mini:

Tank:

As you can see in the photos the first has much better color profile and no weird accents pops.
I dont want to sleep in a google campus. i dont need a pop of color.
If you look at the links the Desert Armor also def seems to have the best aero profile.
It is also al-u-minium instead of plastic.


Let me know what you would do forum losers! Feel free to geek out on specs with me.
Thats what im here on MUD for.

 

[HSTexan]

Buy once, cry once is my go to motto. If you're going to keep it long term I would personally go with what is well established despite cost which would be the iKamper Skycamp Mini. I have never seen a Mini in person, but a friend has the full sized Skycamp and I will say it is a very nice tent and has held up very well to some terrible conditions. If it were me and that was the style tent I was after it's exactly the one I'd get. No experience with the other two, but it's such a large purchase do you want to be a guinea pig on QC?

 

[AnyMal]

Buy once, cry once is my go to motto. If you're going to keep it long term I would personally go with what is well established despite cost which would be the iKamper Skycamp Mini. I have never seen a Mini in person, but a friend has the full sized Skycamp and I will say it is a very nice tent and has held up very well to some terrible conditions. If it were me and that was the style tent I was after it's exactly the one I'd get. No experience with the other two, but it's such a large purchase do you want to be a guinea pig on QC?

These are all new offerings to some extent though and in these types of product niches the new guys often do a lot of the innovation.
I feel like we are all guinea pigs here with everything in general too.

I am with you though, last thing i want to do is deal with some crappy attempt at a fad cash grab.
iKamper is relatively "established" Desert Armor is a husband and wife, and this osprey is on pre order...
You have a good point and im not one to pre order things.

 

[bemerritt]

im not gonna put much effort into convincing you out of a RTT, as it seems the best way to do that is try it and make that decision on your own, but I absolutely love my Oztent. At minimum it will give you something cool to look at for the next 5 minutes.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

My thoughts on RTT vs Ground tent can be found here.

The fold-out-hardshell design you're interested in was originally made/pioneered by iKamper. Everyone else, including Osprey, stole their design and made their own copies of it. The iKamper products had plenty of issues/challenges, and I doubt the copies have improved on those. One of the bigger challenges was closing the tent with bedding inside.

I suggest getting over the ugly look of a large RTT on the roof, and coming up with a hoist to get the tent off your LX inside your garage. Having a system that allows you to single-handedly remove/install the tent in a matter of minutes gives you the best of all worlds, so to speak.

If you're going the RTT route, I would suggest a Free Spirit Recreation tent, or at least one of their many, many clones. I had their M60 tent and it was by far my favourite RTT. If space inside the tent is less of a concern, then go for one of the many hardshell/wedge options. Autohome is always a solid option.

 

[TeCKis300]

I think you know I camp pretty regularly with a crew that has all sorts of ground, RTT, off-road trailer, trailers with RTTs, awning tents, etc. I won't talk you out of an RTT. I've owned a couple and for the right trip, they are magic. Particularly for boondocking where open, unobstructed, let alone flat sites, may not be possible. Or on literal rock that can't be staked to.

With the variety of RTTs and for your preferences, the sideways iKamper style would be hard to beat. It's a great balance of ease to setup, space, storage for bedding, wind handling. I think you landed on the right type. I agree with others it's worth getting the name brand. Support from the manufacturer and community. But also innate value if you happen to decide to move on in the future. The Tank is interesting, but not sure metal actually is better from a weight and insulation perspective.

For me, weight and aero can be a deal breaker. I think the iKamper can work as the LX570 has great roll resistance (moreso than my previous LX470 where my 140lb Cascadia RTT made cornering no longer fun). And the iKamper profile probably will cut wind just fine.

Random picture, but in this camp, we probably had all types of RTTs represented. From the traditional bookfold, to the wedge on my car, and a friend in the background that can't be seen, that upgraded to an iKamper that he's completely happy with.

And yes @eatSleepWoof that you'll want a system at home to help manage, mount, and potentially store the tent.

 

[AnyMal]

My thoughts on RTT vs Ground tent can be found here.

The fold-out-hardshell design you're interested in was originally made/pioneered by iKamper. Everyone else, including Osprey, stole their design and made their own copies of it. The iKamper products had plenty of issues/challenges, and I doubt the copies have improved on those. One of the bigger challenges was closing the tent with bedding inside.

I suggest getting over the ugly look of a large RTT on the roof, and coming up with a hoist to get the tent off your LX inside your garage. Having a system that allows you to single-handedly remove/install the tent in a matter of minutes gives you the best of all worlds, so to speak.

If you're going the RTT route, I would suggest a Free Spirit Recreation tent, or at least one of their many, many clones. I had their M60 tent and it was by far my favourite RTT. If space inside the tent is less of a concern, then go for one of the many hardshell/wedge options. Autohome is always a solid option.

Thanks for the link!
I had no idea you ran a blog. Looks great and your effort is appreciated!
I will surely spend some time looking through it.

I believe I've seen your (or maybe another/several) awesome garage hoist systems here on MUD.
Unfortunately i don't have the headroom for anything beyond adding rails at the moment.
For the potential future planning though, where would one attach that to the shell?
The Desert Armor Tank is the only one i see that has hoist points on 4 corners.
Probably noisy but your suggestion is exactly where i want to go down the line.
This is why I'm actually shopping the tent first, to make sure i can incorporate a quick disconnect system to the rails beneath.

Ive got some reading to do and want the real pros and cons, the good with the bad, thats kind of my approach in general with everything from products to people.
Thanks for the other links as well, i had not seen those although i was using pretty restrictive criteria.
Do you not ever miss your sunroof light / use when your out exploring? I really like using mine and love rolling with everything open.
Thats the only thing keeping me from full size, that and dont really need the space and heft.
Will pick up those points with Teck below, thanks for the reply!

 

[AnyMal]

I think you know I camp pretty regularly with a crew that has all sorts of ground, RTT, off-road trailer, trailers with RTTs, awning tents, etc. I won't talk you out of an RTT. I've owned a couple and for the right trip, they are magic. Particularly for boondocking where open, unobstructed, let alone flat sites, may not be possible. Or on literal rock that can't be staked to.

With the variety of RTTs and for your preferences, the sideways iKamper style would be hard to beat. It's a great balance of ease to setup, space, storage for bedding, wind handling. I think you landed on the right type. I agree with others it's worth getting the name brand. Support from the manufacturer and community. But also innate value if you happen to decide to move on in the future. The Tank is interesting, but not sure metal actually is better from a weight and insulation perspective.

For me, weight and aero can be a deal breaker. I think the iKamper can work as the LX570 has great roll resistance (moreso than my previous LX470 where my 140lb Cascadia RTT made cornering no longer fun). And the iKamper profile probably will cut wind just fine.

Random picture, but in this camp, we probably had all types of RTTs represented. From the traditional bookfold, to the wedge on my car, and a friend in the background that can't be seen, that upgraded to an iKamper that he's completely happy with.

And yes @eatSleepWoof that you'll want a system at home to help manage, mount, and potentially store the tent.

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Thats why i need yall. I have very limited camping experience.
While i have done Yosemite which was mind blowingly beautiful we were way too busy working when in SF to really explore CA outside of mild hikes etc.
Texas same story but lot of mileage to get anywhere on top of that. Nothing outside of mild family oriented and accessible areas.

My understanding is like you described, a RTT will allow me the most flexible camp spot.
Ive heard that leveling them is an issue though. Is that really the case?
Does the 570 actually ever level once your tent was up and youre inside it with the added weight? (assuming car is running and AHC is working)
How does it manage side to side leveling? What do you set it to before setup?
Im gonna trust the robustness in regards to driving dynamics, this beast has surprised the hell out of me in that department, i trust it fully.

Wind and aero (and i assume you are a huge stickler for it doing what you do professionally) is of equal importance to me.
More so for range and noise rather than satisfying your expectations of design.
Thats part of why i like the side openers. they wont create as much lift sitting where they are on the body. (correct me here if im wrong)
Another huge plus for me is the free awning it produces.

Thats two for the iKamper. Thanks for your help as usual and suggestions!

 

[eatSleepWoof]

For the potential future planning though, where would one attach that to the shell?

My last RTT was the AluCab Gen3, which has t-track rails on top. I slid some eye bolts in there and used those as the attachment points. Prior to that, I simply put two 2x4s under the tent, and attached the hoist to the 2x4s. Simple, can be done with any tent, and doesn't require any tent modification.

Do you not ever miss your sunroof light / use when your out exploring? I really like using mine and love rolling with everything open.

I like the sunroof for the light that it adds, but I very rarely open mine, so having a tent over it is not an issue for me.

 

[slipkid13]

Is that a hitch mounted cooler/platform? If so, what brand is that?

 

[AnyMal]

He makes them and holds out on us lol

 

[TeCKis300]

Thats why i need yall. I have very limited camping experience.
While i have done Yosemite which was mind blowingly beautiful we were way too busy working when in SF to really explore CA outside of mild hikes etc.
Texas same story but lot of mileage to get anywhere on top of that. Nothing outside of mild family oriented and accessible areas.

My understanding is like you described, a RTT will allow me the most flexible camp spot.
Ive heard that leveling them is an issue though. Is that really the case?
Does the 570 actually ever level once your tent was up and youre inside it with the added weight? (assuming car is running and AHC is working)
How does it manage side to side leveling? What do you set it to before setup?
Im gonna trust the robustness in regards to driving dynamics, this beast has surprised the hell out of me in that department, i trust it fully.

Wind and aero (and i assume you are a huge stickler for it doing what you do professionally) is of equal importance to me.
More so for range and noise rather than satisfying your expectations of design.
Thats part of why i like the side openers. they wont create as much lift sitting where they are on the body. (correct me here if im wrong)
Another huge plus for me is the free awning it produces.

Thats two for the iKamper. Thanks for your help as usual and suggestions!

Leveling isn't an issue but it's a worthwhile step. AHC won't level as it's lift is relative to the vehicle. I use it to bring the car down as low as possible to shorten the reach and ladder height. Most of my friends use RV leveling legos or good ol rocks. Could use a curved wheel chock leveler. I have independent airbags on the rear axle to level. That allows me to setup car just nose high, then use the rear airbags to dial in front to back, and side to side leveling.

Adding Airbags to AHC

Picture is probably too subtle to show but it's part of the why - adding airbags creates the ability to level the vehicle side to side and front to back for backcountry car camping. In the pic, I have the right side jacked up 2" with about 25 PSI in the right rear bag. Secondly, while AHC has...

forum.ih8mud.com

Is that a hitch mounted cooler/platform? If so, what brand is that?

This should explain in more detail

Swingaway Hitch Carrier v2

Second go at this, to build a swing away hitch carrier for overland camping. This time higher, tighter, and more tailored fit. Primary objective is to carry water and small loose items. What others may use drawers to carry. I can't commit to drawers as I use my 3rd row and need the utility...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[TheLCProject]

Thats why i need yall. I have very limited camping experience.

Can I suggest you put in a years worth of camping with your 200 before you spring for a rooftop tent?

Find out what places you like to visit do and don't work for your current setup (in vehicle, tent, under the stars) and then make a decision based on that.

 

[AnyMal]

Can I suggest you put in a years worth of camping with your 200 before you spring for a rooftop tent?

Find out what places you like to visit do and don't work for your current setup (in vehicle, tent, under the stars) and then make a decision based on that.

Not a bad suggestion. A couple of window socks for venting and the rear boot tents would be a fine camping experience for the most part. Any more passangers than us two would need an actual tent, but this is our form of getaway for the time being.

Thanks for chiming in.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

There are also businesses that rent RTTs. May want to try that before spending $3-4k on one. Many people find out rather quickly that the idea of a RTT is a lot more attractive than living with a RTT.

 

[DenverLX]

Basically I think RTT are ridiculous. You said in one of the posts above that you have "very limited camping experience", when I read that, I immediately wonder why you would possibly want to spend a bunch of money on a RTT when basically every other piece of camp gear is far more important. I camp 30-40 nights a year and I have never thought about getting a RTT. Check out this thread.

Roof Top Tents-My pet peeve

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[tbisaacs]

The overlanding situation in Texas is pretty unfortunate for such a beautiful state. Great weather, diverse terrain, but almost all of it is privately owned. When I lived in DFW I always got a chuckle about the guys driving around built, fully laden rigs as If they had any where to go.

I’d definitely make sure I could rig up a hoist in the garage if I had a RTT. No point in daily driving with it especially if you are still figuring out how you want to camp.

 

[AnyMal]

Basically I think RTT are ridiculous. You said in one of the posts above that you have "very limited camping experience", when I read that, I immediately wonder why you would possibly want to spend a bunch of money on a RTT when basically every other piece of camp gear is far more important. I camp 30-40 nights a year and I have never thought about getting a RTT. Check out this thread.

Roof Top Tents-My pet peeve

forum.ih8mud.com

This the typa s*** i want to read thank you.

I also would def not daily it at all. Would just get it on and off manually until probably next year when housing situation changes.

 

[AnyMal]

The overlanding situation in Texas is pretty unfortunate for such a beautiful state. Great weather, diverse terrain, but almost all of it is privately owned. When I lived in DFW I always got a chuckle about the guys driving around built, fully laden rigs as If they had any where to go.

I’d definitely make sure I could rig up a hoist in the garage if I had a RTT. No point in daily driving with it especially if you are still figuring out how you want to camp.

That’s one of the things at play, we are looking at minimum 6 hour drives and that means staying out for as long as possible otherwise the trip would be mostly driving to the location. With that in mind the interior will most likely be full of cargo, and constantly shuffling things around isnt exactly my idea of relaxing.

Texas is the epicenter of built pavement princesses it would seem lol.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Basically I think RTT are ridiculous. You said in one of the posts above that you have "very limited camping experience", when I read that, I immediately wonder why you would possibly want to spend a bunch of money on a RTT when basically every other piece of camp gear is far more important. I camp 30-40 nights a year and I have never thought about getting a RTT. Check out this thread.

Roof Top Tents-My pet peeve

forum.ih8mud.com

RTTs are not ridiculous. They are a specialty tool that can be completely unnecessary in some situations, and absolutely indispensable in others. Everything depends on your specific camping style, location, time of year, wants/needs. There are a LOT of factors at play, and most people refuse to see the other side of the coin when making pro/anti RTT statements.

If you are setting up camp for numerous days, then a quality ground tent, cot, etc. is hard to beat. If you are on the move every day, a RTT can be an amazing investment.

Here are a few of the spots we camped with the AluCab we had. No way in hell could you setup a tent in either spot, or anywhere close:

Even a "mildly" rocky spot like this can be a huge pain with a ground tent. And when you do set it up, you'll run a serious risk of damaging the tent's floor:

Then consider camping in the autumn, in the PNW. You've got a million pine needles (if not mud/snow) on the ground, it's wet to begin with, and rains on/off the entire weekend (every weekend). You'll spend hours cleaning off the gunk after your trip. But with a RTT? It's up in the air, so it dries quick. Find a dry spell of a few hours, shake it off, fold it up and you're done.

Then again, there are scenarios when having a quality, ground-tent has its upsides, too. Staying here a few days, having walk-in shelter was a big plus, despite needing to wash the tent/floor afterwards:

Providing a comfortable, shaded area for your dog (and other humans) has its upsides, too:

In other places, a ground tent is simply sublime:

In an ideal world, I'd have about a half-dozen different camping setups, to have the option of picking the best tool for the job at hand.