Why do I want a roof top tent?

[Southeast Overland]

I just pulled our RTT down from the top of the shop's FJ Cruiser to a trailer bc of the weight (120 lb tent, 80 lb rack, plus gear) and I was setting it up and taking it down every day at events we sponsored. Sometimes 4-5 days in a row. Set up and take down is easy but people often want to go wheeling NOW and not wait 5 mins to take a RTT down. Now if everyone is moving camp then its not a problem. I also needed the trailer for taking merchandise to events so I killed two birds with one stone.

Now to the benefits - EVERYTHING. Weather tight, off the ground, mattress included, I leave bags and pillows in the tent so less to pack, I love 'me. We have a Mombasa now on our trailer but I'm thinking about putting a AutoHome Columbus Variant up there.

Here are some pics.

The trailer on its maiden voyage at GSMTR last week.



The trailer on Tail of the Dragon headed home after GSMTR. No sway bars, loaded vehicle and trailer, and long travel suspension = a bit of body roll.



Wheeling pic with rack, RTT and awning on top which made the vehicle a bit more top heavy.

 

[concretejungle]

I will add this one super picky, super pansy comment too.... two weekends ago i was beach camping in my RTT and had to get up in the middle of the night to pee. I did not realize how painful that ladder is on bare feet! It really sucked on the feet, but sure as heck was nice to peep out the awning, let it go while it is raining and then climb back up into comfort and dryness. But my feet did hurt!

 

[Southeast Overland]

I will add this one super picky, super pansy comment too.... two weekends ago i was beach camping in my RTT and had to get up in the middle of the night to pee. I did not realize how painful that ladder is on bare feet! It really sucked on the feet, but sure as heck was nice to peep out the awning, let it go while it is raining and then climb back up into comfort and dryness. But my feet did hurt!

Not that I personally know this... but... you can carefully pee out your RTT and not get anything wet that should be dry. It is tricky, but can be done.

 

[Enigma]

Friend of mine just uses a hose and funnel...classy I know, but it works.

 

[concretejungle]

Not that I personally know this... but... you can carefully pee out your RTT and not get anything wet that should be dry. It is tricky, but can be done.

haha i tried that the first night and ended up getting a little down the side of the truck

 

[Southeast Overland]

haha i tried that the first night and ended up getting a little down the side of the truck

As long as it all gets outside the RTT...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Fwiw I've never climbed out of my tent in the middle of the night, hundreds of nights and counting. With adequate line pressure you rarely have issues with drippage

 

[scrapdaddy]

Fwiw I've never climbed out of my tent in the middle of the night, hundreds of nights and counting. With adequate line pressure you rarely have issues with drippage

Just wait, you're not old enough.... yet!

 

[Southeast Overland]

Fwiw I've never climbed out of my tent in the middle of the night, hundreds of nights and counting. With adequate line pressure you rarely have issues with drippage

My issue is adequate pressure but a brain that is half asleep leads to poor aim.

I also camped one night through 5-6" of rain. It caused hella rain and flooding and washed away several RVs in a park down river. A guy in the group I was leading for a few days off road was in a ground tent and pulled his tent during the night under the overhang of my RTT for some shelter. I didn't realize it until I was about to add to the rainfall. He was lucky!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Just wait, you're not old enough.... yet!

I'll rock the gatorade bottle at that point

 

[Southeast Overland]

I'll rock the gatorade bottle at that point

I always forget mine, and realize it, at 2 am when I awake...

 

[cboyd]

I always forget mine, and realize it, at 2 am when I awake...

To quote someone else in here, *dont* drink from the red Nalgene bottle. I've adopted this "standard" now.

 

[bluemax009]

RTTs are all the rage, but I can't live with the CoG changes and the space it eats up on top.
Long ago I bought a lightweight piece of aluminum and zip tied it to my roof rack. After looking at it for oh..about 10 minutes I naturally decided to pitch my 2 man Marmot ultralight up there. Well...it fit, perfectly. A 2 man works out great cause if your solo you can fit your gear in with you.
Also solved the climbing up and down to use the bathroom problem. Some call it the piss bong. I just call it common sense. Buy about 6 foot of plastic tube , 100mph tape one end to the inside of a gallon jug. Dig one foot hole by rear passenger door, bury gallon jug halfway up. Run the other end up to the outside of the tent door and tie it off with a handy slip knot. Now push a medium sized funnel down into tube coming up from the ground and waalaa... a bathroom. It's easy to do from your knees. Not good for girls and no solve for #2 yet..

 

[Corey]

I put on my water sandals when climbing down the ladder, as they do hurt bare feet.
A few years back I tried one of those red portajohn containers, and ended up dribbling on my nice down comforter.
No more of that, I go down the ladder.

 

[spressomon]

That wee-hour pee break is the excuse I need to see the stars at 2:00AM! A pair of Crocs are always in my Columbus...secure and comfie ladder rung interface

Compared to even 5-years ago its nice to have so many choices in all kinds products aimed at every type of camper! What's right for one doesn't even get to the 4th ring out from the proverbial bullseye for others. But having the ability to choose from so many different product offerings today is something not to take for granted...

 

[rusty_tlc]

That wee-hour pee break is the excuse I need to see the stars at 2:00AM! .....

I actually look forward to "bachelor" trips when I sleep with just a ground tarp and my sleeping bag*. Nothing beats the night sky in the desert or high in the Sierra.


*I have added a Big Agnes air mat in recent years.

 

[concretejungle]

I actually look forward to "bachelor" trips when I sleep with just a ground tarp and my sleeping bag*. Nothing beats the night sky in the desert or high in the Sierra.

*I have added a Big Agnes air mat in recent years.

That would never work in the east. The bugs would eat you up all night long. It sounds great but not practical.

I've accidentally slept under the stars before and woke up looking like I have chicken pox lol

 

[rusty_tlc]

Yet another reason to avoid the East.

We were camped in the Redwoods last week and my wife said she preferred scorpions and snakes to gnats and mosquitoes. Scorpions and snakes mind their own business and leave you alone for the most part.

 

[concretejungle]

Trust me, the east is starting to get to me....

 

[zags]

I actually look forward to "bachelor" trips when I sleep with just a ground tarp and my sleeping bag*. Nothing beats the night sky in the desert or high in the Sierra.


*I have added a Big Agnes air mat in recent years.

Funny, I do the same thing when I don't have to lug a tent along when the wife comes with me. I just added air mattress to my pack too. I am amazed at how small they pack now. Sucks getting old.

My son and I camping in the Superstition Wilderness area:

There are some good arguments being made, but I don't think a RTT is for me yet.