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Corey that Maggiolina is awesome. I need one !!!
 
The one little gripe I have with my Maggiolina and it could easily be fixed at the factory: The way (and the type) the weatherstripping is cut to allow it to lay down smoothly around each corner of the tent frame has little 'gateways' for dust to enter the tent during travel: And believe it or not dust does follow these channels right into the tent. Not a huge amount of dust mind you but kind of bugs me just the same especially knowing by changing the type of rubber seal they could eliminate it altogether. Granted out here in Nevada the dust is much worse than most other areas of the country but it still wouldn't be that hard to fix at the factory if they: Used a more traditional automotive type weatherstrip.

I've laid down some soft durometer closed cell foam tape I got at MMC to the bottom of the tent clam shell that has eliminated the issue. But you have to be careful when entering/exiting to not snag it.

Just a little detail they could remedy if they wanted to.
 
My gripe about the Maggiolina is the ladder. It is not as stout as it could be and when it lays against the fiberglass lip, it causes little flex/stress cracks. I'm trying to find a reasonably priced shorter version of this telescopic ladder and make some kind of bracket to rest/latch on, rather that rest on fiberglass. Other than that, it's a pretty nice tent.

Sell_Telescoping_Ladder_2m_2_6m_2_9m_3_2m_3_8m_.jpg
 
hoser said:
My gripe about the Maggiolina is the ladder. It is not as stout as it could be and when it lays against the fiberglass lip, it causes little flex/stress cracks. I'm trying to find a reasonably priced shorter version of this telescopic ladder and make some kind of bracket to rest/latch on, rather that rest on fiberglass. Other than that, it's a pretty nice tent.

Sell_Telescoping_Ladder_2m_2_6m_2_9m_3_2m_3_8m_.jpg
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Les, I had the same issue about letting the ladder rest on the fiberglass. And if I used it in this manner, per Maggiolina's instructions, the angle to the ground was too supine due to interference with my AT Horizon sidebox. But before I sectioned and customized the mount specifically for the Horizon I thought about the very ladder pic you posted.

I just saw somebody, maybe Sears, had one for sale/on sale for about !50 and it only weighed 15 pounds.
 
$50 would be what I'd want to pay. Searched Sears but found nothing.

Oh, one more gripe about my Maggiolina. I wish the fabric was darker/less translucent so I could control the amount of brightness via a window. Sometimes, I just want to sleep in till like 7:30-8am.

My Mombasa Expedition tent has the perfect amount of sun dimming capability... but the fabric isn't very breathable.
 
hoser said:
$50 would be what I'd want to pay. Searched Sears but found nothing.

Oh, one more gripe about my Maggiolina. I wish the fabric was darker/less translucent so I could control the amount of brightness via a window. Sometimes, I just want to sleep in till like 7:30-8am.

My Mombasa Expedition tent has the perfect amount of sun dimming capability... but the fabric isn't very breathable.
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Agreed. For some reason the tent fabric from the Autohome Overland that we had didn't allow near the light to come through that the Magg does.

The KK, as I understand, is a dark cave unless you have the 'shades pulled' ;)
 
I agree with the dust leaks after 10+ years my seal needs some TLC. I recently had a temporary-infusion of alkali dust and black rub marks on the blue fabric. There is way, way more alkali dust inside the cruiser - everywhere. I did get new aluminum ladders that are way, way nicer than the steel ladders on the older models. My biggest beef is that the ladders collect dirt/grit through the bottom hole, then they don't slide nice and leave dirt in the tent when stored, but they are way better than the steel ladders - lighter and easier on the feet and more stable - no more slipping into the side of the truck. I looked hard at the telescoping Alum ladders a few years ago, but did not go that route.

Regardless, with what my Maggiolina has been through would destroy most other things. I've had three roof breaks that I've fixed, all new interior wood work, a broken zipper pull, rock dings on the front and bugs by the billions. All in all it has been a fantastic cruiser companion. I pressure washed the Burning Man dust off it the other day - there was less than a tablespoon of water on the inside. The screws & chain inside still look brand new. So in 10+ years and well over a 100 nights use and abuse the only wear/tear is a broken zipper pull, broken roll up tab string & a very small part of the bottom fabric-rivet is damaged by one of the doors. The roof breaks were from freeze damage and trees - all my fault.

Magg. #2 will be entering the family soon.
 
hoser said:
My gripe about the Maggiolina is ...
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the fact that it looks like a friggin' coffin ... and I reckon I'll spend enough time in a coffin. :grinpimp:

I know it's all personal preference ... but I went with the Technitop. Not only better lookin' ... but I wanted alot of windows/ventialtion for warm nights. :cool:

Works real nice for me. :beer:

:flamingo:
money shot.webp
 
KOWBOY:

That's a nice trailer where did you get it? Make/Model???


Thanks


Mark
 
KOWBOY said:
the fact that it looks like a friggin' coffin ... and I reckon I'll spend enough time in a coffin. :grinpimp:
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I see no resemblance between it and my tent :D

casket_clear.gif


airland1.jpg
 
I do agree the Maggiolina feels like a coffin, especially with the quilted ceiling. I am also interested in the Technitop but have never seen one in person. When closed, how well does the Technitop seal out dust without the cover? Or is that not recommended?
 
Sheesh...I don't know if I can sleep in my Magg without thinking of this coffin thread again :flipoff2:. Thanks guys :rolleyes:

The reality to all this RTT decision making stuff is that, IMO, there still isn't a clear choice for a well designed and manufactured RTT. Either they flap in a breeze, don't seal dust out when in transit, have straps and fabric covers that quickly degrade in the sunlight and/or abrade from simply installing and removing the covers, have fabric covers that are a PITA to get back onto an RTT sitting on the roof of a rig (even my Horizon trailer!) due to dirt, dust & wind issues when reinstalling, no easy to deploy vestibule, lacking storm doors and awnings, have mechanical linkages, screws that constantly need to be checked, too thin mattress, etc.

Maybe Yakima and/or Thule needs to get into the RTT business. It seems they are part way there with their roof top carriers.

Sorry to whine and sorry to be so critical but the whole thing is actually kind of depressing to me actually...based on my past 2+ years of trying to rely on the current crop of RTT's and what I have come to learn about obvious shortcomings through actual usage. Which is my biggest gripe: If any of the companies designing and manufacturing these RTTs actually used one they would quickly get their butts into the redesign/tweaking stage! Oh yeah...sure they all will work OK in sorta perfect weather, travelling down a paved road and maybe used just a few nights a year. But through the types of terrain and usage they seem to pretend to be made for and they all come up short fast!
 
I see a few complaints in here about the Maggiolina not sealing dust and the ladder.
I have no gripes on either.

I have taken my rig off road too up where I like to wheel, and the forest service roads up there are very dusty.

When the AirLand was opened, I did not see any dust inside whatsoever.
And that was with a lot of flexing too.

We have had some torrential rains here too, and not one drop has entered into the tent structure with freeway speeds blowing the rain all over the tents surface.

I am 100% satisfied with my purchase.
 
Corey said:
I see a few complaints in here about the Maggiolina not sealing dust and the ladder.
I have no gripes on either.

I have taken my rig off road too up where I like to wheel, and the forest service roads up there are very dusty.

When the AirLand was opened, I did not see any dust inside whatsoever.
And that was with a lot of flexing too.

We have had some torrential rains here too, and not one drop has entered into the tent structure with freeway speeds blowing the rain all over the tents surface.

I am 100% satisfied with my purchase.
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We have fine silt type powder dust here in Nevada...especially this time of year as its been months since any rain at all. the weatherstripping is very thin and they relieved little sections from the weatherstripping in each corner (the weatherstripping is installed on the bottom of the top 'clam' shell) to presumably allow it to lay down smoother. But the dust enters through these little channels at each corner. Not a huge deal but if it were me I would just use a rubber bulb/automotive type seal that #1 is a little thicker to allow for the natural flex and/or undulations in the fiberglass (since they are only using 2-front latches and 1-rear latch to hold it all tight together) and I think it would perform better overall.

And, although no one has apparently experienced this issue, I managed to derail the chain that connects the two drive screw/sprockets. I was able to get it fixed. But it would be a PITA if it happened in the field.

I think they could also, even if they offer it as an available optional accessory, offer a quick to attach little awning over each door. I will make my own but, again, it would be highly useful to many Maqg owners...
 
hoser said:
When closed, how well does the Technitop seal out dust without the cover? Or is that not recommended?
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This was my first trip with the trailer/RTT ... and the route was certainly dusty goin' in. The tent had no dust whatsoever but the cover was on it until I got to camp. Then again ... ain't sure why a Fella wouldn't have the cover on it ... since it comes free with the tent. :grinpimp:

'Course the other possibility is that I was so drunk when I crawled into the thang ... I didn't notice the dust. :beer:

:flamingo:
 
I like an RTT that is quick and easy to set-up/take down so I would prefer a tent that doesn't need a cover over it. Having it on a low trailer like yours would make it easy but on the top of roof, it adds time, jumping back and forth trying to cover and fasten it.

Perhaps I missed the boat on the hardshell Eezi-Awns.
 
hoser said:
I like an RTT that is quick and easy to set-up/take down so I would prefer a tent that doesn't need a cover over it. Having it on a low trailer like yours would make it easy but on the top of roof, it adds time, jumping back and forth trying to cover and fasten it.

Perhaps I missed the boat on the hardshell Eezi-Awns.
Click to expand...


I didn't know there was a hardshell Eezi-Awn! What was that all about?
 
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