Poor man's roof top tent

[Mark Harley]

I have always wanted a RTT but my financial advisor says it is low on the list.
and I don't use credit " Dave Ramsey " so I have to save to purchase one.
So as I wait I decided to build a 7' by 7' expanded steel deck to mount on the rack on my 101A2.

1 1/2" angle iron with mitre cut corners and two sheets of expanded flat metal and I am off to a good start.
I ordered he steel from work and got it last week $120.00 for it all. I had one of our welders zip it together after everything was cut to size.

I still have end braces and corner supports to make but I stood on it and it is solid.
Once everything is welded to the Tee frames it will strengthen it more.

Gloss black paint and several loops to tie my 7 x 7 dome tent down and I will be set!

 

[Mark Harley]

I welded the corner guards and tie downs to the deck painted it and mounted it to the cross bars.
Was going to weld the deck to the rack but I bolted it instead with carriage bolts and large wing nuts
" Black plastic mower handle knobs " They work well and I can remove the deck with two people easily.

I was not sure I would like the tent deck on the trailer after I mounted it up,
but now that it is painted glosss black it looks better and I can remove it when I like.

I test fit the 7 x 7 coleman tent today. It fits well and the fiberglass poles center in the corners and the rain fly hooks
keep the tent from soaring away without the weight of sleeping bags and people to hold it to the deck.

The tent is a Coleman Marlboro promotional item "Marlboro miles" that I bought from ebay.
It was the only 7 x 7 tent in RED I could find I bought two from the seller and combined they were
around $60.00 shipped. One as a back up or I can use one on the ground as a dressing area.

 

[MANUCHAO]

Ha !!! That's awesome !!!

That's a smart man RTT !!

 

[greentruck]

That's commodious! Definitely takes the claustrophobia out of roof-top tents.

That first step out the door is a doozy.
Guessing there's a ladder coming?

Finally, not to be picking at the nits, will the sleeper on the side towards the back of the trailer unbalance things if the sleeper towards the front gets up for a potty break in the middle of the night? I think not, because that's a big honking trailer compared to my M101 CDN...

Which leads to a useful idea, maybe for the next time around, but thought I'd mention that if the platform was towards the front all the way, then the back part of the trailer could be the "porch"? That would make the entry/exit less exciting, but if it was my rig, my wife might forgive me for building it "wrong" the first time and would be patient while I corrected my "mistake." Then she'd go camping with me again.

 

[Mark Harley]

Two adults and two kids fit well. I have a crank down stabilizer that pins in the rear 2" receiver.
I can level the trailer out and keep it from tipping. An aluminum custom ladder is used for entry and exit.
It clamps to the side of the deck with two ball bungies.

I have $ 170.00 in tent and materials and it works well.
Some day I will have the funds for a RTT but this will get me off the ground for now.

 

[greentruck]

Sweet! Sounds good. I always tend to over design stuff.

 

[deepmud]

Like! I'm surprised not to have seen this before. I have some plans to make something that unfolds to allow a larger tent but this is cool and simple works.

 

[Mark Harley]

Thanks for the positive coments.
It has worked well so far.

 

[JamesR]

This set up is just too cool. I like the way you anchored the fly poles and tie downs. Very nice planning.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

You're going to freeze your balls off below 40*

Good build tho, but I think in the long run you wont be satisfied. Invest in good closed cell foam mattresses to camp in cooler weather. Check out the ones available at cabelas.

 

[Mark Harley]

I think in the long run you wont be satisfied.

Possibly, But I can just build a camper to fit in the 101A2 for cooler weather.

and still cost less than a store bought RTT.

 

[JamesR]

That trailer is awesome!

73, James - KF4AQO Sent from my iPad using IH8MUD

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

I think in the long run you wont be satisfied.

Possibly, But I can just build a camper to fit in the 101A2 for cooler weather.

and still cost less than a store bought RTT.

Now there's a bloody good idea! You should have done that from the beginning!!

Also, I hate to be the killjoy again, but have you used that coleman sundome tent much? After having suffered several bad nights sleep I decided enough was enough and trashed the coleman tent. The darn thing would just collapse in any wind, guy lines deployed too. And the coleman guarantee to keep you dry is BS.

 

[Mark Harley]

So far the tents have done me well. Two adults and two kids and all sleep well in the cool Pennsylvania nights. Getting out in the Pennsylvania forest is what I do and we get by with what we have.

If I was rich instead of Good looking I would be sleeping in an Airstream Bambi!

 

[mcgyver1467]

I like it. I've wanted an RTT for a while. I've started on my trailer, and now I have an option that I never thought of. Thank you for the insight. I own 6 different tents, so now just have to figure out an expanding platform to fit one.

 

[Mark Harley]

I am as tight as a frogs butt when it comes to money and don't use credit.

I would love a RTT to mount on my trailer, but one to fit four is way over three grand.
for $120.00 in scrap money "I recycle aluminum cans and other metals I collect"
I made something close that makes me happy and gets me off the ground.

I am in the process of getting exersize mat " the lock together kind" that fit in the 49 square foot
deck I made.

 

[tmarx]

Nicely done !

 

[psweber]

I think in the long run you wont be satisfied.

Possibly, But I can just build a camper to fit in the 101A2 for cooler weather.

and still cost less than a store bought RTT.

With all your expertise now you could try and make this one next

 

[rusty_tlc]

I am as tight as a frogs butt when it comes to money and don't use credit.

I would love a RTT to mount on my trailer, but one to fit four is way over three grand.
for $120.00 in scrap money "I recycle aluminum cans and other metals I collect"
I made something close that makes me happy and gets me off the ground.

I am in the process of getting exersize mat " the lock together kind" that fit in the 49 square foot
deck I made.

Great project.

You might use some 1/4" luan as a base under the mat. It would block air flow and keep the mat from getting waffle weave from the expanded steel.

 

[Mark Harley]

Thanks all for the ideas and pictures to add to my insanity.
I took a weekend trip to the beach and the trailer did well as base for the trip.
every time I use it I think of anoughter must have or better system to hold things.