regular VS. car top tent

[Otto Von Squiggy]

I am curious about the need for a car top tent VS. a regular tent on the ground. I have a tent, A Mountain Hardware: Room with a view. It serves me well, takes 3-5 minutes to set up and is about 4-5 pounds. Cost mid 2 hundred $ to buy. As near as I can tell is just as durable as a car top tent; costs about as much too. So why would I pay the same amount of money to add a few hundred pounds (according to some reports) to my vehicle. The only reason I could see is Bears/Tigers or Mother in laws. Am I missing something?

 

[calamaridog]

They set up faster.
Bedding and mattress store inside and are instantly available.
They are easier to use if the surface is not level.
They are cooler
Weight is around 100-150lbs.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I don't have a roof top tent, but the main advantage I see is the relative dryness in a rain. With the bottom sitting on the ground, you will eventually get wet in a heavy rain. Plus, setting up a ground tent in a heavy rain, is not fun. Thank goodness I live in a nearly rain free environment during the camping/wheeling season.

The next best thing may be a Tent Cot and I am currently trying to talk myself into one.

If my wife liked to go expedition camping I would get a roof top tent for the dry/clean/easy factor, but she doesn't so I can't justify a roof tent either.

 

[CodyRx7]

Chicks dig em.

 

[goschbrandon]

Cody is correct.

 

[Otto Von Squiggy]

Chicks dig em.

yea but what if you are already married

 

[REZARF]

Honestly, most people get them for the cool factor. I have a great backpacking tent like yours, and I have a RTT.

The queen sized mattress sold it for me, it is also cavernous! Set up is WAY faster than ANY ground tent (except for the throw up in the air kind).

Cool factor is the biggest draw.

Drew

 

[Corbet]

Off the ground factor.

But it's a lot of money.

So my Mountain Hardware still serves me well too.

 

[BC_FJC]

Having a flat dry bed off the ground and quick setup was key to me but I still pack my 4 season tent along just in case

 

[Mike S]

A Von Sqiggly

Most of the people who buy from us do so because they are tired of sleeping on the ground, pitching and packing up tents, and want mpre comfort and weather protection. Also, when you are up off the ground, you are likely to have better air circulation and ventilation in worm weather. RTTs also offer security from various types of wildlife.

Many of our customers are women, or men who are trying to make the wife or GF more comfortable. Some are professional outdoors people - fishing guides, expediton leaders, geologists, game biologists, forestry people, or photographers. Basically anybody who wants to have a good night's sleep without the hassle of full-on tent camping.

 

[CreepyCrawler61]

Someone earlier in the thread said its easier if the ground is not level? How do you accomplish getting the truck --and the tent-- level on an uneven surface?

 

[spressomon]

Someone earlier in the thread said its easier if the ground is not level? How do you accomplish getting the truck --and the tent-- level on an uneven surface?

Yet another reason I like my trailer with the RTT. I have two jacks on the back plus the tongue wheel/jack...leveling is a piece of cake that sponsors a great night's rest...

 

[BC_FJC]

Someone earlier in the thread said its easier if the ground is not level? How do you accomplish getting the truck --and the tent-- level on an uneven surface?

My tent is on the roof of my trailer and I just find a spot that it sits almost level and then ajust from there(Blocking tires, Jacking...).

The other realy nice thing is you can set it up on any type of ground and you don't have to worry about ripping the tent or having rocks under you tent.

 

[spressomon]

My tent is on the roof of my trailer and I just find a spot that it sits almost level and then ajust from there(Blocking tires, Jacking...).

The other realy nice thing is you can set it up on any type of ground and you don't have to worry about ripping the tent or having rocks under you tent.

Nice set up! All I can say from the past 9-months of sleeping in my tent on my trailer: Not going back to sleeping on the ground! I sleep as good or better than I do at home.

 

[Skillet]

Chicks dig em.

The night before this picture was taken, a pack of about 10 coyotes came in our camp and hung out for about 1/2 hour while we were up in the tent.
Yipping and howling.
My GF was freaked and no matter how much I tried to tell her that coyotes are harmeless, she swore she was never going back to a ground tent again.
At least, not in Mexico.

 

[stevezero]

so, that mp3 file i sent you of all the coyotes howlin paid off???

 

[rusty_tlc]

Yet another reason I like my trailer with the RTT. I have two jacks on the back plus the tongue wheel/jack...leveling is a piece of cake that sponsors a great night's rest...

You definately get your camp set up and taken down faster than any of us ground hogs.
You also had a huge advantage last weekend when we couldn't follow plan and were trying to find an alternate camp. With your rig you could set up almost anywhere and be comfortable.

 

[Skillet]

so, that mp3 file i sent you of all the coyotes howlin paid off???

Shhhhhh.

 

[rapovt]

Skillet, what kind of tent is that?

 

[Skillet]

Skillet, what kind of tent is that?

The one in the picture is my old CTT Mombasa. A decent tent but really big for me and the ladder was terrible.

Here is my new one. A bit smaller and more refined from the same vendor.