Why do I want a roof top tent?

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spressomon said:
Phil,
I saw the CampTeq in Moab last year but didn't inspect it closely...

What's the weight of it? How tensioned or not are the fabric walls when set-up (this question drives at how much wind flap it has >25mph wind)?

Like you I love how fast and easy my similar Columbus is to set-up/put down...a snap. The fabric walls are stable/quiet, with a spreader pole I fabbed, to about 25mph wind. But above that its mostly a sleepless night :frown:.

It seems tighter manufacturing tolerances for the fabric would go a long way...in addition to slight stretch in the fabric. Autohome also, for my Columbus, chose a very stiff & noisy fabric to begin with...it literally rattles when you touch it. This fabric would never make it in the hunting stalking world :rolleyes:.
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The basic design has not changed from last year but with new windows, doors, and hardware is a nice improvement.

More CampTeq info HERE

Wind tested at Gooseneck State Park last week and it passed with flying colors. If you have never been to Goosenecks SP they do not recommend tent camping due to strong winds:eek:. I did feel the truck moving from the wind but no flapping.

The CampTeq is a winning set-up for me. I need to get out and look to know its on at a weight of ~#130.

The CampTeq stands alone with it tough construction and set up time. No issues or concerns with two men standing on the top, try that with any RTT or roof camper. Set up Start to finished and ready for bed was just timed at less then 30 sec and full break down ready to drive away was less then a minute.
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LandCruiserPhil said:
No issues or concerns with two men standing on the top, try that with any RTT or roof camper.
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This would be the MAIN reason for me to consider a campteq....
Have the ability to place any kind of load on top (if ever needed) would be great...and obviously if it can hold that much weight it's less likely to brake like fiberglass can...

Mine would also need a swing-out arm for my awning......
 
Phil,

I have the same ladder as you...didn't make it through 2-weeks of Utah red. It was a nice ladder and a big improvement over the stock Autohome...that is until it succumbed to sand grit.
 
spressomon said:
Phil,

I have the same ladder as you...didn't make it through 2-weeks of Utah red. It was a nice ladder and a big improvement over the stock Autohome...that is until it succumbed to sand grit.
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Thanks for the heads up but Im not to worried because I avoid dust when Im out:princess:

I also ended up with a spare for some reason I cant recall:rolleyes:
 
LandCruiserPhil said:
The basic design has not changed from last year but with new windows, doors, and hardware is a nice improvement.

More CampTeq info HERE

Wind tested at Gooseneck State Park last week and it passed with flying colors. If you have never been to Goosenecks SP they do not recommend tent camping due to strong winds:eek:. I did feel the truck moving from the wind but no flapping.

The CampTeq is a winning set-up for me. I need to get out and look to know its on at a weight of ~#130.

The CampTeq stands alone with it tough construction and set up time. No issues or concerns with two men standing on the top, try that with any RTT or roof camper. Set up Start to finished and ready for bed was just timed at less then 30 sec and full break down ready to drive away was less then a minute.
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Phil,

Was that you who I saw in Blanding? I was heading out of the Four Corners motel and I think I saw you drive by. You did wave back :D

To the OP: when it comes to a RTT, there are convincing arguments from both sides. If you got the itch, scratch it and find out!
 
alia176 said:
Phil,

Was that you who I saw in Blanding? I was heading out of the Four Corners motel and I think I saw you drive by. You did wave back :D
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Yes, All I knew for sure it was another group of happy Cruisers:cool:
Sorry I didnt stop I was rushed to get to Goosenecks State Park for a night of wind testing.
 
I have an "ICT."
Inside-Cruiser-Tent.
Cabella's Alaska Guide double pad in the back of the cruiser.

--Takes seconds to pull the camp boxes with the fly and kitchen stuff out, seconds to unroll the pad and shake out the bags, bang I'm sleepin'.
--If there's skeeters, I've got magnetic mounted screens for the back door windows.
--If there's me-eatin' critters, I'm in the cruiser with the shotgun, .45 and pepper spray.
--When I want to go 'splorin' next morning I get up, pee, make coffee and drive away.

I might build me a roof rack to put the camp boxes on which would make sleepin' set up time about um, zero. Well ok, one minute to put the screens on.

Forget your RTT and get you a ICT.
Yep.
 
freepowder said:
I have an "ICT."
Inside-Cruiser-Tent.
Cabella's Alaska Guide double pad in the back of the cruiser.

--Takes seconds to pull the camp boxes with the fly and kitchen stuff out, seconds to unroll the pad and shake out the bags, bang I'm sleepin'.
--If there's skeeters, I've got magnetic mounted screens for the back door windows.
--If there's me-eatin' critters, I'm in the cruiser with the shotgun, .45 and pepper spray.
--When I want to go 'splorin' next morning I get up, pee, make coffee and drive away.

I might build me a roof rack to put the camp boxes on which would make sleepin' set up time about um, zero. Well ok, one minute to put the screens on.

Forget your RTT and get you a ICT.
Yep.
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Yup, bunch of us use the ICT and works out quite well.
 
freepowder said:
I have an "ICT."
Inside-Cruiser-Tent.
Cabella's Alaska Guide double pad in the back of the cruiser.

--Takes seconds to pull the camp boxes with the fly and kitchen stuff out, seconds to unroll the pad and shake out the bags, bang I'm sleepin'.
--If there's skeeters, I've got magnetic mounted screens for the back door windows.
--If there's me-eatin' critters, I'm in the cruiser with the shotgun, .45 and pepper spray.
--When I want to go 'splorin' next morning I get up, pee, make coffee and drive away.

I might build me a roof rack to put the camp boxes on which would make sleepin' set up time about um, zero. Well ok, one minute to put the screens on.

Forget your RTT and get you a ICT.
Yep.
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I have all your camp stuff and kitchen items you forgot to pack back in after you left in such a hurry. ;)
 
Enigma said:
I have all your camp stuff and kitchen items you forgot to pack back in after you left in such a hurry. ;)
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:lol: I love it! Won't buy a RTT, but hell, yes they'll stick all their gear in a roof rack or on the ground for the night to make room to sleep in the rig :confused:
 
^^ not if you have a well design drawer/sleeping system and or if you are a minimalist (less is more).
All I know is that I love my previous and current RTT....

Guess this is one of them "personal preference thingies"......eH.
 
I would like to try to answer the original question. Simply put, you want a RTT so you are properly "kit'd out". Can't blame you there. I roll with a small collapsable hard sided trailer minimally stocked but ample for a week out. Or I have a cot and a mosquito net....tarp in case I need it.
 
I will chime in on the RTT since now i've owned one for two years and have been using it pretty regular.

Pros for me: super comfortable! Most comfort i've ever slept during a camping trip. Being up off the ground is very nice. With the "porch" attachment, it makes a super place to cook, shower or pretty much do anything if there is a need to get out of the rain or wind. I was also VERY impressed at how cool it was when i was on the beach last week. On the beach it was almost a must have!

Cons for me: very heavy! I can feel it up on top of the truck and i really don't like the way it makes the cruiser feel. Once you have a mattress in it, sleeping bags and pillows, it's just darn heavy! I am constantly wanting to take it off the truck while driving around. Then i find myself wanting it at camp but not liking the drive to camp with it up top. Also, it's not a maggiolina so it's not very aerodynamic and that has caused at least a 1-2 mpg drop on the highway.

As for the noise in the wind, last week i was sleeping on the beach in my RTT when i pretty good storm came up. It got really windy to the point where my friend that was with me sleeping in their ground tent actually got blown a few feet from their original location. Once i zipped all the doors closed and velcroed the hatches down, it was not bad at all and i was glad i was up there.

So bottom line, it's nice and comfy and adds a nice place to get out of the elements and have a place to cook. But, i hate having it on top of my truck.
 
^ FWIW: I ran two different RTTs, Maggiolina Grand Tour medium and Autohome Overland, atop our then AT Horizon (glorified 101 style trailer); easier to deal with the ladder being relatively lower to the ground, less wind drag, no COG effect on LC, etc. We had 25-30,000 miles pulled between the two RTTs.

It was quite ideal for anyplace suitable for pulling a trailer. And with the aid of a lift or 3-other buddies it can be moved back/forth between trailer and LC/tow rig as necessary.
 
Matt, good question. I think that comes down to personal preference, but i would have to say yes, it would be better on a trailer. However, with that said, i personally do not want to pull a trailer around. I have always felt that keeping everything with you on/in one truck is the way to go.

Also with all that said, haha, i did install a supercharger on my 80 series this past winter and that has made a huge difference in the highway driving with the RTT on. Without the supercharger i felt like i had a parachute on top of my truck just sucking the life out of the truck. Now, it's not as bad, until you start hitting curves on mountain roads or off camber in offroad situations.

In the situation with this pic at the beach, having the RTT was absolutely awesome!

IMG_2774.webp
 
I asked RTT question 18 years ago and ended up searching for five years until I stumbled across Maggionlina - Italy. I currently have what very well may be the oldest Maggiolina in the USA. It is around 18 years old now. I have absolutley loved having the giant "hot tub" on top of my 60. I have rebuilt it a couple of times (winter ice damage and a tree or two). The only thing wrong with it that I did not cause is 1 broken zipper pull. The rest of the tent still functions as new and is great. That includes two Cruise AK, many Moabs, 100's of local trips, Oregon coast fog, Eastern Oregon wind, Snow, Ice, more wind, more snow/ice/rain/sleet/hail and of course that early morning sun that bakes you out. All around this tent has been incredible in all weather conditions for many, many years.

Having spent my youth backpacking and college years in remote field science, living out of a backpack, sleeping in a variety of everything you could imagine, this is like going to a Hilton every night. I upgraded with an electric mattress pad and real bedding about ten years ago and am not looking back. For me the RTT is pretty much manditory equipment. It's lived through two kids, many trips, much weather, much abuse and is still running strong.
 
Bob, That's quite the testimony for a "Maggi"! Don't know if you've heard Sue Fuller's (from C.O.C.) story about her Pismo Beach experience with her Maggi. I guess this was like 5 yrs ago, not long after she had just got it. She let some dude drive for a while and he jumped her 80 and when it landed, the RTT came off & hit the ground. The landing pretzeled her rear axle, but she just stuffed the Maggi back up on top and she's still using it today - no damage. I hope my CVT holds up half as well! :cheers:
 
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zags said:
So roof top tents seem to be all the rage, but I just don't see any advantage to spending that kind of dough for one over a $200 tent that can be tossed in the back of my Cruiser one handed. I am guessing that set-up times are reasonably close between the two.

I can see an advantage maybe if I was in the Jungle, or possibly the Pacific NW where things are really wet to get the tent up off of the ground but that is about it.

The disadvantages seem to me to be that they are heavy and raise the truck's CG, also they must add drag to the vehicle at highway speeds, costing at least a MPG or two. It looks like they would suck to sleep in in any kind of wind, I could see my wife getting motion sick. Also, having to crawl down a ladder for a midnight nature call can not be fun.

I camp pretty much in AZ, NM, UT, CO, WY, and SoCal. at altitudes from <0 to 10,000 feet.

Are there advantages that I am missing? :hhmm:
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How about moving to a different area for 5 days in a row. By then, you will see the advantages.
 
The only "real" negatives to me are the load on the truck. That's mostly it. A lot more positives when you are set up and not moving.
 
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