Technitop Roof tents

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blupaddler said:
Derek,

I noticed you have the 6" Slee lift. Have you noticed any adverse affects with the tent up that high? Any extra sway or? Also is it very difficult entering/exiting the tent being up that high? What have the most difficult trails been that you have run with the tent on the 80?
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The tent does raise the center of gravity a bit. With the tent up there I get more sway, but it isn't too bad. Corners have to be taken a little slower. Also it adds a bit of drag. I haven't been on anything too difficult with the tent. In Death Valley last year I did take a route that a Discover Series II had some issues on, but that's not saying much ;) I would be inclined to leave the tent at home if I thought the trail might be tippy much like a roof rack.

Entering and exiting isn't really effected by the lift, however normally getting into tent can be interesting at times. Think tree house. I haven't fallen out yet. So far so good.
 
one thing to consider about the folding tents- many of them require a solid ground surface for the supports to, um, support from. A cool mod in that circumstance might be to have some sort of bumper or slider attachment point from which the tent is supported so that on muddy/sandy surfaces it doesn't dig in too far.

Ladders seem to be a universal problem on RTT applications. We didn't care for our ladder very much, but it worked ok. When I install it to our newest cruiser, I think we'll probably hard-mount some steps to the side (C pillar) of the cruiser and just walk up that way. We are both pretty nimble, so I don't think it'll be a problem.

Our biggest problem now is figuring out what to do with the dog. She isn't climbing up into the tent, period. But is a bit of a pansy, so staying downstairs might not work for her either.... maybe we'll just have to bring the crate, but that sorta stinks for her.
 
Having just come over to LC's from Landrovers I've done a little research on rtt myself. I was going to buy one built in Canada! If you contact http://www.roverparkboys.comRoverparkboys in St Albert AB they sell a rtt made by Wise Owl in BC. Seemed like a very nice tent. Just a suggestion and with them being in AB you probably could get a look at one your self.
 
My BJ74 is one of the ones that Lowenbrau mentions that one of these tents is destined for. My plan is to mount it towards the rear of the roof, and fold it forwards towards the winshield. Lay some alum. checkplate on the hood to reinforce it for walking on, and then there's not spindly ladder to contend with. I have to build a new front bumper anyway, so I'll plan for stepping on it onto the hood. I'll also need a step up the windshiled into the tent, I figure. I've never liked ladders, and this has been a mental barrier for me with the whole RTT concept. Going across the hood has be sold on the whole concept.

As for dogs, our newfoundlander won't even jump into the truck on her own... yes, it's bend over and lift up her front paws... then lift up her rear. She will be travelling in the crate, and spending her nights there too!

Peter Straub
 
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Might have been mentioned before.......

Autocamp-Rooftents

got one since 1995, first on a Pickup now on my Trailer.
The best Camping gear i ever bought.

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Pyrenees / Val´dáran

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At Home

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Wales / UK

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Wales / UK


From my experience there is no better place than a rooftent to sleep when youre travelling.
 
lowenbrau said:
Thanks Steve:

One of my design requirements was for it to fold. I have a pal with a maggiolina that has had it for at least ten years (imported from Europe himself) and loves it. If I thought I had the roof space I'd have gotten one. Two of the tents I'm buying are going on BJ74s and they have a raised space that measures about 1.2m x 1.4m Just about right for a foldover tent. I'm going to exo cage/rack that part of my rig to hold and protect the tent and plan to do a tiny bit more extreme wheeling than expedition with it. Protecting a maggiolina from the perils of Little Sluice or Pritchart Canyon might have been beyond my abilities.

This is turning into a good thread I think. The world needs more RTT comparison info.
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Thanks for the kind words about our AutoHomeUSA products and operation. There are a number of choices out there and we have looked at all of them. Customer support before, during and after the sale in crtical. Spare parts and accessories must be available. Warranty service must be available. We are in the rooftop tent business only, and stock over 100 tents in our inventory. We provide warranty service, special order service and are bringing in a 40' container more than 5 times a year.

As for managing a hardtop tent on a rough trail, Mudrak has one mounted on the exoskeleton of his FJ45 - over the bed - and has taken it through the Rubicon and on other runs. He is planning on one for his 80 series as well. Here is a link to our Toyota gallery page - Mudrak's rig is pictured toward the bottom of the left hand column. This Columbus tent weighs only 95 pounds - a minimal top load. Sandcruiser's FJ60 is pictured near the top of the column.

http://www.autohomeus.com/gallery/toyota.php

We also offer the all fabric OverLand tent in 1.3m, 1.6m, and 1.8m sizes. The 1.8 meter tent is 71" X 87" X 49". It packs to just 71" X 43.25" and is less than 12" high. I use one of these on my trailer - an outstanding tent.

If you e-mail me, I can arrange for a tent you can look at and possibly evaluate.

Just a thought for a fellow Crusierhead.

Mike S
 
I just travelled in Baja with Robin (and his wife) from New Cruiser (great people!). It gave me the opportunity to inspect their Technitop unit and discuss with them their successes, etc.

Overall, they are very happy, and with hundreds of nights in the unit, they would know.

He did mention that the clamshell does leak some, and that the cover allows water ingress from underneath. So it might not be a better solution for wet weather. He also mentioned having problems with the fiberglass window and awning poles. Under extreme winds they have shattered.

We had heavy winds one night in Baja Sur (near San Evaristo) and all tents did well.

Robin also mentioned that in extreme wind, the sides can collapse. That is one of the unique design features of the Technitop, as it allows a little more interior room by making the side walls telescope outwards. I guess the telescoping feature can collapse under stiff winds (but does not cause damage).

On my Eezi-awn, the unit is very stout, and has some of the best fit and finish I have found. The ladder is also the highest quality and best designed by a wide margin.

The one think I have not been the most happy with is the cover. It does not quite seal around the roof side when closed (the side of the tent that comes down and closes against the bottom). Fortunately (and probably by design), that is the side of the tent with the best protection (rain fly, etc.). All other sides are sealed ok. The top also becomes a bit of a pain after a few weeks because the surface gets very dirty (dust, mud, etc.). I started using my on-board shower to clean it a few times a week, which improved the situation.

The tent mounting configuration of the Eezi-Awn is also the most robust I have found.

At the end of the day though, go with the tent that has the features you most desire, as they are all of great quality (Eezi-Awn, Technitop and Autohome)

But, here is my short list of my opinions on the models:

Autohome Maggolina:
Good-
Lowest profile when stored
Easiest to store closed
Bedding stored inside and ready to sleep
Best ergonomics


Not so Good-
Mounting hardware and design not sufficient for extreme overlanding (3/16 bolts IIRC and galvanized top clamps)
Shell rattles, wearing tent material when closed
Material thin and allows light to enter, door position makes it harder to enjoy the view.

Eezi-Awn:
Good-
Best overall build and quality (heaviest fabric, strongest ladder, etc.)
Dark inside when light outside
Rattle free and super strong mounting. tongue and groove when open increases support and prevents flex.
Best mattress (dual density)

Not so Good-
Cover does not seal as well as others
Mounting to vehicle takes time, with slide groove mount (glad it just stays on the truck)
Netting holes are too big for no-see-ums, will need to sew in additional screening for Alaska trip.

Technitop:
Good-
Most room inside for footprint
Most rainfly coverage
Big side windows


Not so Good-
Pole design (fiberglass)
Hard plastic shell adds weight, but does not increase durability/weather resistance. Still requires second cover to seal properly.
High wind performance (poles snap, rainfly noise, sides collapse)
 
expeditionswest said:
I just travelled in Baja with Robin (and his wife) from New Cruiser (great people!). It gave me the opportunity to inspect their Technitop unit and discuss with them their successes, etc.

Overall, they are very happy, and with hundreds of nights in the unit, they would know.

He did mention that the clamshell does leak some, and that the cover allows water ingress from underneath. So it might not be a better solution for wet weather. He also mentioned having problems with the fiberglass window and awning poles. Under extreme winds they have shattered.
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I am looking for a tent that will mainly be used in Baja. Which one would you recommend? sturdiness in high wind will be extremely important. Frankly, until your post, I have doubted that any of the roof top tents can withstand the winds in Baja. what are your thought son that?
thank you,
Jan
 
Hi Jan,

In the most extreme conditions, I would recommend the Eezi Awn.

Here is why:

1. Can be set-up with one side windward, rainfly and door at an angle against the tent. You can see this arrangement in this image. It allows the wind to hit an angled side, as opposed to a vertical side, reducing the sail effect.
2. If no rain is anticipated, you can even remove the rainfly, which is the greatest source of noise.
3. All windows can be closed tight, reducing wind pockets.
4. Window bows are spring steel, CAD plated
5. Like mountaineering tents, the Eezi-Awn has internal tension lines that can be connected, pulling the tent sides in tight against the bows.
6. The bows and brackets are massive, and made of steel and aluminum as opposed to plastic or fiberglass. All bows and tent supports are round tube, which is much stronger than flat stock.

My configuration also benefits from how I mounted the tent, which is below the cab. This allows me to point the drivers side front corner into the prevailing wind and allow the air to foil up the windshield and miss most of the tent surface.

I will also say that the Autohome Columbus might be an interesting high wind solution as well. Just face the angle to the wind. The only question would be how strong the internal support structure is. I have not seen one of these in person.
 
How about the Overland tent?
 
The Eezi-Awn seem to be the strongest that I can find however now that I have a INTI rack I found out that INTI makes a tant too. And I would think that the good people of South America know a thing or to about rain. I want a tent that can hold up to wind and rain and highway travel in heavy rain. Also I have noticed that most if not all the fold out tents seem to shed the water too the door or over the door opening. Done anyone make a tent with the door on the gable end of the roof?
 
As far as the Technitop goes, it did fine in the wind and rain at Death Valley. My only complaint was having to put it away in the rain, which sucks for any tent. I found that placing the skinny end against the wind worked best for reducing flapping of the tent and rain fly by the wind. With the wind hitting us broadside it would annoyingly flap the rain fly. Facing into the wind, the rainfly stayed in place and didn't flap.

The wind was so strong on night that it was picking one end of the tent up when no one was in it.
 
I just picked up the three Technitops I ordered from Slee. Couldn't wait so I opened one up on the shop floor. Looks like it will do the trick nicely. I love how dark it is inside, that will be very helpfull way up North when, if you want to hit the sack befere midnight, you're doing it in the light. I can't wait to get it on a truck and out for a real world test. Really good service from Christo and his team.

Again, I have to give credit to Mike S who tried really hard to win my business. He seems like a real stand up guy and if the Techinitops don't meet my expectiations he'll be getting a call right away.
 
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