All, I'm looking for guidance from the group before I drop a ton of money and screw up. I already purchased a Front Runner Slimline 2 roof rack (selected for the accessories, and slim profile), however I'm still within the return policy. My goal setup for the family and I (2 adults, 2 kids) was the Slimline 2, with a James Baroud Gran Raid, (selected for the quality, durability and easy setup) and a 270 degree awning.I have my eye on the Bush Company 270 XT Mk2 (appears to be built to last) but open to suggestions. Is anyone running this setup? I seen another post mentioned the 270 XT, but no mention of them combining that with an RTT. I appreciate the help!
RTT and Awning Combo that will work for a family of 4?
- Thread starter easton85
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r2m
Richard
You can save a lot of money and have more options if you go my route.
I purchased a 6' x 9' rectangle umbrella and folding stand. Some 6" PVC drain pipe with cap ends and now I have a huge cover I can put on ANY side of my vehicle OR have it be stand-alone away from the vehicle!
Here's my thread about it, it starts at Post # 842: Builds - R2M 2013 GX460 Overland Build - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/r2m-2013-gx460-overland-build.1104719/page-5
I purchased a 6' x 9' rectangle umbrella and folding stand. Some 6" PVC drain pipe with cap ends and now I have a huge cover I can put on ANY side of my vehicle OR have it be stand-alone away from the vehicle!
Here's my thread about it, it starts at Post # 842: Builds - R2M 2013 GX460 Overland Build - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/r2m-2013-gx460-overland-build.1104719/page-5
- Thread starter
- #3
You're right, I should do something like that... however I prefer something attached to the rack to save on some space in the rig since I have to account for gear for the entire family. Thanks for the suggestion r2m!...edit. Just saw you strapped it to the side off your RTT...BTW how do you like your iKamper?
r2m
Richard
Love it! Warm, spacious, and comfortable. We've had it in sub-32°F and windy nights, not cold or any other issues. Very well insulated.
My only complaint is not have racks on top so we could load surfboards/paddle boards, solar panels, etc.
I have not done this setup yet but planning on getting the rhino rack backbone system with their heavy duty bars as I have a family of 4. Adding the Roofnest Condor XL and an OSV 270 awning that opens on the driver's side. Unless you have planning on taking the tent off and putting boxes up there, I don't see the need for a heavy rack that is covered by a RTT. The Condor XL can keep sleeping bags and inflatable pillows and theoretically has a space on top for additional gear even-though more weight up there is not the best. I currently use a Gazelle T4 and 2 Xpeds attached together to form a queen bed since the kiddos are still little and climbing a tent with them is not optimal at this point.
My buddy fits four in his iKamper but his kids are like 3 and 4. Couple more years and they won't fit.
I'd probably get them a dog leash or something, tie them to a tree overnight?
I'd probably get them a dog leash or something, tie them to a tree overnight?
r2m
Richard
The Ikamper RTT's are huge inside. I'm 6'-0" and with my wife and granddaughter, we have more than enough room with our clothing packs, gear and anything else inside. Easily sleep 3 adult friends with everyone in their own separate sleeping bags with plenty of room.
r2m
Richard
You're better parents that my wife and I.
We'd take the nice soft, yet firm RTT and put the kids on the saggy 'ol inflatable.
Lol... well, I returned the Coleman and bought Aerobed at Costco. No more saggy mattress.. It does hook to my portable battery just in case.
btw, I replaced the firm RTT mattress with Exped... and I sleep on it if I go on a solo trip. When you spend 1/3 of your day on it, better be comfortable.
- Thread starter
- #11
I wish I could still find an iKamper X-Cover, that actually fits all my wants and measurements since I'd also like to have the option to store a kayak on top and still have room for the fam. My only issue with that one and the SkyCamp 2.0 is the ladder is on the right side and I want to have my setup with awning on the left, but not a huge deal breaker. I see they are coming out with another X-Cover but not until early 2022, not sure if I can waiting that long. I have a ground tent for now so we'll see. I appreciate all the replies.
r2m
Richard
Only thing I don't like about the X-Cover is that it's not a hard shell. I think you have to drop a fly over it for wet weather, don't you?
Soft top? Might as well get the s***tybilt XL. For the price of the X-Cover, you can afford to replace it several times when it breaks. 4Wheelparts will also give you a really cheap 5 year warranty. 100% new tent if you so much as break a strap.I wish I could still find an iKamper X-Cover, that actually fits all my wants and measurements since I'd also like to have the option to store a kayak on top and still have room for the fam. My only issue with that one and the SkyCamp 2.0 is the ladder is on the right side and I want to have my setup with awning on the left, but not a huge deal breaker. I see they are coming out with another X-Cover but not until early 2022, not sure if I can waiting that long. I have a ground tent for now so we'll see. I appreciate all the replies.
- Thread starter
- #15
Really, that's a great warranty...
There’s simply no way you are fitting 4 in any James Baroud. You need a fold out tent to fit that many, and the only one I’d suggest is the iKamper.
Soft shell tent covers are such a pain. we have been through a soft shell and we are on our 3rd hard shell.
We just got the new set up and spent 16 nights straight in it, a bush alpha tent and 270XT MAX awning. The bush awning is fantastic, but I recommend the extra 13lb and $300 for the MAX variant, it’s worth it!
Soft shell tent covers are such a pain. we have been through a soft shell and we are on our 3rd hard shell.
We just got the new set up and spent 16 nights straight in it, a bush alpha tent and 270XT MAX awning. The bush awning is fantastic, but I recommend the extra 13lb and $300 for the MAX variant, it’s worth it!
Family of 5, 2 middle schoolers and a little man.. I have a 10' and the 1st thing I installed was the slimline 2 so that I can put my 2019 iKamper on it after pulling it off my Yukon. That was 13 months ago and it has yet to make it on. We used it a bunch years ago, the kids loved it, it caught attention, and it really was worth it the one time a bear woke me up in middle of night in Tahoe trying to open a gear case I left out. But, now that it is sitting in my garage, yet to be installed, I am having regrets because if someone told me the following, I would have thought twice about buying into an RTT.
The ikamper is 4 grand. It fit all 5 of us for 2 years. On year 3, I was demoted to my trusty swag and the important ppl stayed in the RTT. To this day, I don't care what anyone says, you will hate the included pad and be forced to shell out another 500+ for a premium mattress. Look at the Facebook group. They all upgrade. So 4k becomes 4.5k.
For that much money I could instead buy the entirety of my wishlist from last Spring.
| Front Runner Boxes | 3 | $40.00 | $120.00 |
| Front Runner Lock Straps | 3 | $60.00 | $180.00 |
| Front Runner Stratchits | 6 | $32.00 | $192.00 |
| Front Runner 2M Awning | 1 | $275.00 | $275.00 |
| Front Runner Tent Awning | 1 | $220.00 | $220.00 |
| Front Runner Table Kit | 1 | $620.00 | $620.00 |
| Roam 95L Box | 1 | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Gazelle Tent | 1 | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Front Runner Roof Water Tank | 1 | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Fronty Runner Spare Roof Mount | 1 | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Front Runner Propane Mount | 1 | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Frontrunner Typhoon Bag | 1 | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| 5lb Propane Tank, Hose | 1 | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Hitch Mount Swing Tire Carrier | 1 | $1,500.00 | $1,500.00 |
| $4,467.00 |
I've made a decent dent in the list since then, but the point is you can get so much gear for the price of an iKamper.
We just had an outing last weekend with most of our gear on the roof and all got way better sleep on our mattresses inside my old Coleman 12 person tent. The fact that I can use the 3rd row seats to separate the kids and create space on long drives will beat out the fad of any roof top tent any day. Kids grow up, the RTT high will fade and Frontrunner flat out has figured out the accessories. This will be our style moving forward. Now to find a buyer for this iKamper.
This is my take.
- Thread starter
- #18
I pulled the trigger on the iKamper Skycamp 2.0. I had a 20% coupon for REI so I used it before it expired...I like that Bush Alpha, too bad it was too small for the fam. Appears to be well engineered.
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- #19
Yeah I see your point. I must say your list is very similar to mine lol. I'm still scheming how to come up with the funds for the rest of the setup...
- Thread starter
- #20
An idea I had to share to the group...I'm pretty sure it should work, but unable to test at the moment since I'm still building out my rig. To save some money since I don't want to spend the money for a decent 270, even though I wanted the coverage. I was debating on purchasing a 2M awning and also purchasing the Front Runner movable awning arm, however that movable arm is $700+ plus the cost of an awning, and its fairly permanent once installed. So to save money since both those would come out to 1000+. I decided to purchase a Front Runner 2M awning, and 2 sets of their quick release awning mounts. (which I will mount to the side and rear). That way I can theoretically have the 270 coverage, but only have to physically move the awning from the side of the rig to the back as the sun changes for half the cost of a 270...for now or at least until I purchase a smaller awning for the rear. Plus I like the idea of being able to easily remove the awning as needed and mount on my garage wall. I really like Front Runner and all their accessories but wish they just sold the mounts that go on the rack separately, so I did not have to get another set of the awning quick release.
