Don't like the adverts? Click here to remove them
Roof tent v normal tent ?
- Thread starter toolsplus
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2016
- Messages
- 1,889
- Country Flag
For me, a roof tent is for touring with one or 2 nights in each place. Max two people. Downside is weight / bulk on the roof but unavoidable, so get a streamlined low weight one.
My preferred M.O. is to set up a base and explore the area for a few days or a week so a ground tent is best so it can be left in situ while driving the truck away. The downside is the extra set up time and potentially putting wet stuff away!
My preferred M.O. is to set up a base and explore the area for a few days or a week so a ground tent is best so it can be left in situ while driving the truck away. The downside is the extra set up time and potentially putting wet stuff away!
toolsplus
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2014
- Messages
- 939
- Country Flag
My dog wouldn't like the roof tent idea.I saw an interesting Berghaus tent that inflated rapidly with a hand pump. It took him a while to deflate it and put it away though. I'm thinking about at least two nights so I can explore the area...
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2016
- Messages
- 1,889
- Country Flag
The Berghaus looks like a lightweight one which is good. I went down the oztent route which is very flexible but quite heavy.
Mblinko
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2014
- Messages
- 744
- Country Flag
We tried a ground tent. We found sleeping on the ground uncomfortable until we got fishing bed chairs, but they were quite bulky. Went back to a RTT. Dog loves it too. Had an iKamper 3 before the bundutop we have now. IKamper was great but a thin mattress.
Don't like the adverts? Click here to remove them
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2010
- Messages
- 6,202
- Country Flag
One of the Jap 4x4 lads has an Oztent, great thing but carries it in a roof box on top of his Patrol and has to have a hand to chuck it up there. I's floor footprint is way more than any roof tent can offer.
On the subject of roof tents I've had a few variations:-
Maggiolina, pretty quick to erect and fairly quick to put down, limited for size and a bit old but quality made. ok just for sleeping. Have it on the 80 for laning.
Ikamper2, Great thing, plenty of floor space, pretty well made. Doddle to put up, about 3 mins to put down, my favourite. Good space with the awning.
Pathfinder, Went up and down at the touch of a button, bit short on room like the Maggi but we had no issues with ours.
EasiAwn, we have this on the Metalian trailer. As it's a fold over it's a bit of a faff packing it away but there is more room than the Maggi and Pathfinder. Maria likes it to sleep in.
Next we're going to try one of the ones which open from one end. A few of the lads have them and think it's the way to go.
These days there is a vast range on offer to choose from.
None of the above have ever leaked in whilst camping in the rain
On the subject of roof tents I've had a few variations:-
Maggiolina, pretty quick to erect and fairly quick to put down, limited for size and a bit old but quality made. ok just for sleeping. Have it on the 80 for laning.
Ikamper2, Great thing, plenty of floor space, pretty well made. Doddle to put up, about 3 mins to put down, my favourite. Good space with the awning.
Pathfinder, Went up and down at the touch of a button, bit short on room like the Maggi but we had no issues with ours.
EasiAwn, we have this on the Metalian trailer. As it's a fold over it's a bit of a faff packing it away but there is more room than the Maggi and Pathfinder. Maria likes it to sleep in.
Next we're going to try one of the ones which open from one end. A few of the lads have them and think it's the way to go.
These days there is a vast range on offer to choose from.
None of the above have ever leaked in whilst camping in the rain
Main pro of most roof tents imo is not needing a perfect pitch - if you can park the truck somewhere you can probably use your roof tent there (low hanging trees etc excepted) and the bedding being in the tent already so there's less faffing about. Main cons is having to put the tent down to go exploring from a base you'll be returning to and the slight contortions of ladders and getting in and out off them.
I own and use a roof tent and a ground tent on different trips depending on a few factors like are we moving on each day or setting up base camp for 2 or more nights often, will we be on decent camping pitches or roughing it, and how extreme are the tracks if it's an off road biased trip and an RT might get in the way / be too top heavy.
I own and use a roof tent and a ground tent on different trips depending on a few factors like are we moving on each day or setting up base camp for 2 or more nights often, will we be on decent camping pitches or roughing it, and how extreme are the tracks if it's an off road biased trip and an RT might get in the way / be too top heavy.
They are fairly hefty awkward things to heave up onto the roof but a folding step, or even a collapsible ladder like you'd use for a roof tent can help with that.
