Roof top Tent on a Sherpa Rack...Suggestions (1 Viewer)

[Squ1dward]

Hey Guys and Gals,
Yes, I promise I will get my Nav Delete video done this year for my 2003. I promise.

Today, my question is roof top tents. I'm looking for one and there are so many options out there its making my head spin.
Requirements:
-I'm 6'2" so I need one that will be long enough.
-I'm over 40, so I require comfort.
-I get annoyed easily, so it has to be simple.
-I'm gonna drive the TransAmerica Trail for 6 months, so it has to be durable.

Im sure there are plenty of you out there who have run many different ones. I am contemplating a RTT or maybe a trailer... either small camper or one with a tent on it. Although, I want to stay away from a trailer just because , if I'm exploring, backing up with a trailer is a pain.

Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks!
Squ1d

 

[Super77]

I have a Yakima Skyrise Medium that I overlanded on my 62. Used it in baking heat, torrential rain, and strong winds. It’s a decent tent, but having lived with it for a few years, I’d consider the following:

Setup: the Yakima takes me about 20-30 min to set up, and that includes leveling out the truck and rolling out a down duvet (yes, I’m fancy). Mine is a soft shell tent, and if I had to do it over, I’d consider one of the hard shell models that literally just pop open. They’re $$$$ but way faster to set up and collapse.

Weight: the Yakima is about 120lbs. Getting it mounted is a 2-3 person operation, plus it’s a little sketch having all that tall weight in a stiff crosswind.

Size: I’m 5-11 and I’ve got plenty of room to spare.

Comfort: the Yakima mattress is crap. It’s a piece of 2” upholstery foam in a nylon sleeve. I augmented with a 1” memory foam topper, custom fitted sheets, and the aforementioned comforter. It’s a work in progress, but you can’t add more than an inch or two, else the tent won’t close. What it really needs is 2-3” of high quality memory foam, but that weighs like 50 lbs.

Moisture management: I suppose all tents have this issue, but ones with foam on the floor have to have drainage. This is only an issue on cold humid nights where condensation collects. There are mesh mats available that let water flow under the mattress and drain out, but they add thickness. I only used mine once but decided I don’t like camping in the wet cold anyway.

Mounting: again, Yakima’s solution is garbage. It’s these giant crank-clamps that are supposed to be universal but they’re janky and add 3” of unnecessary height. I engineered my own attachment system out of 80/20 rail that’s much sturdier and lower. Look for hardware that screws down to your rack securely.

With an RTT you also have to deal with the fact that once you’ve made camp, you’re not going anywhere in your vehicle, especially with a fold-out tent - you can’t even reposition the vehicle without folding it back up. This is where a small trailer for the RTT might be nice: set it up, leave it behind.

 

[Squ1dward]

I have a Yakima Skyrise Medium that I overlanded on my 62. Used it in baking heat, torrential rain, and strong winds. It’s a decent tent, but having lived with it for a few years, I’d consider the following:

Setup: the Yakima takes me about 20-30 min to set up, and that includes leveling out the truck and rolling out a down duvet (yes, I’m fancy). Mine is a soft shell tent, and if I had to do it over, I’d consider one of the hard shell models that literally just pop open. They’re $$$$ but way faster to set up and collapse.

Weight: the Yakima is about 120lbs. Getting it mounted is a 2-3 person operation, plus it’s a little sketch having all that tall weight in a stiff crosswind.

Size: I’m 5-11 and I’ve got plenty of room to spare.

Comfort: the Yakima mattress is crap. It’s a piece of 2” upholstery foam in a nylon sleeve. I augmented with a 1” memory foam topper, custom fitted sheets, and the aforementioned comforter. It’s a work in progress, but you can’t add more than an inch or two, else the tent won’t close. What it really needs is 2-3” of high quality memory foam, but that weighs like 50 lbs.

Moisture management: I suppose all tents have this issue, but ones with foam on the floor have to have drainage. This is only an issue on cold humid nights where condensation collects. There are mesh mats available that let water flow under the mattress and drain out, but they add thickness. I only used mine once but decided I don’t like camping in the wet cold anyway.

With an RTT you also have to deal with the fact that once you’ve made camp, you’re not going anywhere in your vehicle, especially with a fold-out tent - you can’t even reposition the vehicle without folding it back up. This is where a small trailer for the RTT might be nice: set it up, leave it behind.

Great feedback and info. Thank you so much. You hit on why I'm considering a trailer... it would be a must have for hunting...on the fence about the off-road trip.

***major props for the Al Swearringin photo***

 

[GTV]

I have the clamshell style RTT simply because I didn't want to block the sunroof. Setup and take down is a bit more work but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. The wedge style is simpler, much easier to use and usually lower profile. Get a good mattress in there and you'll be set.