opinions on roof top tents

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My personal opinion is that RTT's are not designed for families. They just aren't. I know some can fit a family in one but in general it's a two person tent. If you are wanting to take the entire family camping, do what Boxrocket did and have a trailer with a RTT mounted for the kids and one on the truck for the adults.

or, just get a big ground tent.
 
concretejungle said:
My personal opinion is that RTT's are not designed for families. They just aren't. I know some can fit a family in one but in general it's a two person tent. If you are wanting to take the entire family camping, do what Boxrocket did and have a trailer with a RTT mounted for the kids and one on the truck for the adults.

or, just get a big ground tent.
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Two tents is definitely convenient for my family, but I have to disagree that RTT's are not designed for families. Many (probably most) are not and as you say are more or less a 2 person tent, but there are some options out there that work quite well for families. The Tepui Autana is very comfortable for a family of 4 if you sleep 2 in the annex. The Tepui Gran Sabana (bigger version of the Autana) will sleep 4 in the main tent comfortably and easily sleep 2-3 more in the annex which makes it a good option for larger families.

As I've mentioned before, my family of 6 all slept in a Tepui Autana for a while. We did outgrow it. Since I had a trailer it made sense to go with two tents. That just worked for our situation, but if I were to only use a single tent (whether on the truck or on a trailer) it would be a Tepui Gran Sabana Ruggedized and I'm confident it would fit our family of 6 comfortably and provide all the benefits of a RTT vs a ground tent.

RTT's aren't for everyone. A big ground tent might be the better option for a family that likes to set up a base camp for a few days and explore from there. We are not that way. We rarely camp in the same place two nights in a row and are on the move. The RTT just makes more sense for us in that scenario. If a RTT doesn't work for you (generally speaking) there's nothing wrong with that. So many people feel like you're not "legit" unless you have a RTT. That's laughable and I'd venture to say that many of the people with that opinion really don't need a RTT themselves. There are just different solutions for different people The important thing is getting out there and away from the rat race.

Sorry for the soap box.....the short answer is that there are some good options for families now. That wasn't always the case.
 
most of these tents as said earlier are made in China I bought 10 of them from the same manufacture of Bigfoot and ARB sold them considerable less and still made a profit
 
We had an ARB RTT on top of our 80 (slept myself + wife) and then a large CVT (Jefferson + annex) on top of a trailer in tow. We did nearly 30K miles from Alaska to Argentina with all terrain and weather conditions.

CVT was our main area in that the annex created quite a large room where we all sat down in deckchairs and eat dinner etc. out of wind/rain conditions. Good for entertaining other overlander visitors as well. It slept 2 kids (2 teenage girls) up top and 1 kid (teenage boy) on cot on ground in main tent area. Upper 'floor' was good for kids to hang out in (when more company) - sit 3+ and would easily sleep 2 large adults and 2-4 kids (depending on size)

Both tents held up well in high winds. CVT required a coating of waterproofing if camping a lot in damp conditions (as hard to dry it out before moving again). We camping every day and moving every 2-3 days so not the norm for the occasional campers and trying to dry it off completely before zipping it up and moving it on was challenging. Without the application of rain proofing (or ensuring it was all dry) - over time it was getting mold. We replaced via Booby at their factory in Oregon (great service) for a new one that we 'waterproofed'. Its usage wears down after a year (UV breakdown? and lots of folding/unfolding etc.) -- so comment only really revelant if you're going to have the same usage

ARB had some leaks in heavy rain (monsoon in Central America) along the inside seems (where the tape started coming off)

Having never had RTTs before pretty happy with how they worked. Would have some design suggestions etc.
Beds/mattress comfortable
Best to get me via PM/email if further ?'s
 
Box Rocket said:
The Tepui Gran Sabana...will sleep 4 in the main tent comfortably
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The width of the sleeping platform is 72", and you sleep 4 in that? Are you head-to-foot and crammed up against each other sardine style? Or do you mean 4 children, and the adults get the annex space?

Not knocking the product, I'd like to buy one eventually, but I'm just curious. I have a family of 4, we currently use a ground tent.
 
oakback said:
The width of the sleeping platform is 72", and you sleep 4 in that? Are you head-to-foot and crammed up against each other sardine style? Or do you mean 4 children, and the adults get the annex space?

Not knocking the product, I'd like to buy one eventually, but I'm just curious. I have a family of 4, we currently use a ground tent.
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Logical question. Clearly size of the individuals in the tent is a factor. However, I was not inferring that it will sleep 4 children. The sleeping footprint is a full 6'x8' in the main tent area and I've often slept 4 adults in mine, but all of us are around 6' tall or a little less. Four people can be a bit snug if you're someone who likes a lot of space when you sleep. If that's that case for you, then 3 people might be the max you want to put in the main area. The annex can comfortably fit 3 cots.

For a family of 4 a Gran Sabana will be very comfortable with room to spare if you slept 2 in the main area and 2 in the annex.
 
Sub'd
 
1shot1kill said:
I have the cvt mt. McKinley and love it! Lots of room and comes with annex room.View attachment 1026075
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I am looking at a Mt. McKinley and wanted to know if you have any other pictures of the inside/attachment/annex?

We have two boys and it looks like it has enough room for 4 to sleep pretty comfortably. Is that your experience? Is the setup pretty easy and does it fit pretty well on the 80? On a couple other sites folks felt like it was too big for the roof and a little more challenging to set up. Any opinions or info would be welcomed.

Also, do you (or anyone else) think its reasonable to set up on thule racks instead of the big expensive rack systems? I already have thule racks but I am heavier than the weight limit on them!
 
RainbowTrout1977 said:
I am looking at a Mt. McKinley and wanted to know if you have any other pictures of the inside/attachment/annex?

We have two boys and it looks like it has enough room for 4 to sleep pretty comfortably. Is that your experience? Is the setup pretty easy and does it fit pretty well on the 80? On a couple other sites folks felt like it was too big for the roof and a little more challenging to set up. Any opinions or info would be welcomed.

Also, do you (or anyone else) think its reasonable to set up on thule racks instead of the big expensive rack systems? I already have thule racks but I am heavier than the weight limit on them!
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Thule racks can definitely be used but I would suggest more than a pair of them especially for a tent of that size. Personally for a big tent like that I wouldn't use less than 4.
As for weight rating. Most manufacturers rate them with a dynamic load rating (typically ~150lbs). Static load capacity (when the truck is parked) can easily exceed that rating.

Not saying it's the case with the Mt. McKinley but I've seen a common issue with other tents of the same/similar design. Most tents when they are opened have a tongue and groove on the two sections of the base that fit together. On these larger tents where the footprint is longer it is possible for the center of the base to sag over time and the tongue and groove will not seat properly.

Again, not saying that's the case with the CVT. They make a nice tent and maybe that has been addressed on that model with stronger base construction to resist sag. Just something I've seen more than once from other dual ladder tents.
 
Box Rocket said:
Thule racks can definitely be used but I would suggest more than a pair of them especially for a tent of that size. Personally for a big tent like that I wouldn't use less than 4.
As for weight rating. Most manufacturers rate them with a dynamic load rating (typically ~150lbs). Static load capacity (when the truck is parked) can easily exceed that rating.

Not saying it's the case with the Mt. McKinley but I've seen a common issue with other tents of the same/similar design. Most tents when they are opened have a tongue and groove on the two sections of the base that fit together. On these larger tents where the footprint is longer it is possible for the center of the base to sag over time and the tongue and groove will not seat properly.

Again, not saying that's the case with the CVT. They make a nice tent and maybe that has been addressed on that model with stronger base construction to resist sag. Just something I've seen more than once from other dual ladder tents.
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Does the Gran Sabana come in a ruggedized version? And does it avoid the problems with the tongue and groove sections and sag?
 
RainbowTrout1977 said:
Does the Gran Sabana come in a ruggedized version? And does it avoid the problems with the tongue and groove sections and sag?
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Yessir, we have a special order of Ruggedized Gran Sabanas due to arrive in a few weeks and I'm taking pre-orders now. They are in limited quantity however. They're available in Haze Grey and Olive Green. It does avoid the sag for a couple of reasons. First it's not as long of a span as the dual ladder tents. Second being Ruggedized the base is much more sturdy construction. We've had no issues of sagging ever reported with the Gran Sabanas.

Retail cost of the GS Ruggedized is $2500, and forum members get 10% off so you're looking at $2250 + $215 to ship anywhere in the country.
 
RainbowTrout1977 said:
I am looking at a Mt. McKinley and wanted to know if you have any other pictures of the inside/attachment/annex?

We have two boys and it looks like it has enough room for 4 to sleep pretty comfortably. Is that your experience? Is the setup pretty easy and does it fit pretty well on the 80? On a couple other sites folks felt like it was too big for the roof and a little more challenging to set up. Any opinions or info would be welcomed.

Also, do you (or anyone else) think its reasonable to set up on thule racks instead of the big expensive rack systems? I already have thule racks but I am heavier than the weight limit on them!
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First, there is plenty of room in this tent for 4 adults, so with two kids you will have lots of room for your stuff, also. I take me, alone, to set the tent up in 10 minutes without the annex. The annex will take time and I only have set it up once, because we really did not need it.

Second, I think it is absolutely the perfect size for the 80. The tent cover pretty much the entire roof. So don't worry about the size. It is 200 lbs, so once it is up there unless you have good neighbors or something it is staying up there. :) I have an old steel/modified con-fer rack, but I don't see a reason why you could not use your existing thule system. I would definitively add a third bar for good measure.

We love our tent! Your kids will love it, also! I would say the awning of the McKinney and the size was the selling point, not the annex. Now, a word of advice, don't slip the cover completely off the tent, it is a bitch to get back on. Leave the last connection on or what is behind the ladders. I have it held up with a bunggy cord. This is the other reason we don't use the annex. I think for bathroom purposes you may want to set up the annex. You know come down and pee in a poddy in the annex or au natural! :) My kids are in diapers so no issues yet!
 
canvas tops can leak after extreme weather. The rubber top repels water all the time, but is more apt to get a hole. But the rubber is an easier fix if there is a hole.
 
Guess I'll share mine as well! TJM Yulara, got it at a screaming deal from Slee couple years ago!
I have not tried to cram the whole family in there as I know it wouldn't fit anyways (5) but had plenty of trips being myself with my son and daughter in there. They are 7 and 5 years old.
I remember my very first night in it was at my second HIHs and it rained and the wind was hauling (was by myself) but I had an awesome dry and quiet night all the way through!
Also put some closed pics to give the idea of the box, kind of big and tall but worth it imo.
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Should note I rarely stake the ropes to the ground(by the latter). Also only prop the sides up at hotter temps, less to do and un-do when wheeling. And I guess that's my only complaint about the rtts, if you're camping and wheeling then there's the constant set up, break down, otherwise I really love it!

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Too heavy IMHO. I think it's great quality but from what i've gathered it's a couple hundred pounds more than a traditional clam shell rtt
 
I like that. THe flackery on ok4wd says 167 pounds. Add a 50 pound rack and it's pretty heavy.

What does a "normal" hard shell RTT weigh?
 
Cruiserdrew said:
I like that. THe flackery on ok4wd says 167 pounds. Add a 50 pound rack and it's pretty heavy.

What does a "normal" hard shell RTT weigh?
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most hardshells are at or slightly under 100#
 
@LandCruiserPhil that's a really nice option and looks more robust than your setup as far as being able to carry gear on the top of the tent.
 
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