StraightEight
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 267
- Location
- LA, California
[QUOTEI've seen those rooftop tents, and always wondered about them. Are they convenient and comfortable? Seems like it would get you up into the breeze a bit more, if nothing else.][/QUOTE]
In our opinion the pros far outweigh the cons.
Pros are the tent is off the ground so there's no chill effect from ground dampness, and it weighs 140 lbs and is anchored to the truck so there's never a fear of it blowing away. It's made of heavy canvas and thick aluminum bar stock with a stout plywood floor, compared to the thin nylon of backpacker's tents, so it really warms up inside and holds its shape in the wind. Our first all-day rain was at Yosemite and the tent proved completely waterproof, unlike ground tents which tend to get soaked by the little rivers that run through the campsite. We recently camped at the Bryce Canyon rim, 8000 feet, and got a snow storm overnight, but we were warm and comfortable under just a down comforter. Plus it's dark inside, great for non-morning people. We've slept through many a sunrise, woke up wondering what time it is, cracked the zipper only to be surprised by the beam of sharp sunlight that lasers through. Full setup is a snap and takes a max of 10 minutes (if I put all the stanchions in the windows). No fussing with feeding the bungee-poles through loops. The tent opens like a book. You just pull out the ladder and pull down, and up she goes. It comes with a foam mattress that folds and stores with the tent, and it's quite comfortable. We don't bother with sleeping bags, just throw in regular bedding. A sheet and a down comforter suffices for most situations.
The cons are that it's expensive, around $1400 mounted as I recall. Getting up in the middle of the night to pee is a bit more of a process because you have to climb down the ladder. Taking off and putting on the weather cover for driving is something of a pain, especially when you're tired. It probably cuts fuel economy by about 1-2 mpg (the Montero was getting 21 mpg on long highway stints and now the best I can do is about 19). There's some extra wind noise at 65 mph. Once it's securely mounted on the roof, it doesn't really want to come off, so the truck's practicality as a daily driver is reduced. Also, you have to be careful with parking structures. We pretty much use the Montero like most people use an RV. It sits around until we go camping or need it to haul stuff or tow the race car.
Below is a picture of our current setup in the Orocopia Mountains. I bought the truck, a '95, 3 years ago with 97,000 miles. All-up, tent and sun shade included, I have about $7000 invested. Not bad for a go-anywhere camping setup which we definitely use more often because it's quite comfortable and convenient.
Here is the US distributor for the tent:
http://www.equipt1.com/h/
In our opinion the pros far outweigh the cons.
Pros are the tent is off the ground so there's no chill effect from ground dampness, and it weighs 140 lbs and is anchored to the truck so there's never a fear of it blowing away. It's made of heavy canvas and thick aluminum bar stock with a stout plywood floor, compared to the thin nylon of backpacker's tents, so it really warms up inside and holds its shape in the wind. Our first all-day rain was at Yosemite and the tent proved completely waterproof, unlike ground tents which tend to get soaked by the little rivers that run through the campsite. We recently camped at the Bryce Canyon rim, 8000 feet, and got a snow storm overnight, but we were warm and comfortable under just a down comforter. Plus it's dark inside, great for non-morning people. We've slept through many a sunrise, woke up wondering what time it is, cracked the zipper only to be surprised by the beam of sharp sunlight that lasers through. Full setup is a snap and takes a max of 10 minutes (if I put all the stanchions in the windows). No fussing with feeding the bungee-poles through loops. The tent opens like a book. You just pull out the ladder and pull down, and up she goes. It comes with a foam mattress that folds and stores with the tent, and it's quite comfortable. We don't bother with sleeping bags, just throw in regular bedding. A sheet and a down comforter suffices for most situations.
The cons are that it's expensive, around $1400 mounted as I recall. Getting up in the middle of the night to pee is a bit more of a process because you have to climb down the ladder. Taking off and putting on the weather cover for driving is something of a pain, especially when you're tired. It probably cuts fuel economy by about 1-2 mpg (the Montero was getting 21 mpg on long highway stints and now the best I can do is about 19). There's some extra wind noise at 65 mph. Once it's securely mounted on the roof, it doesn't really want to come off, so the truck's practicality as a daily driver is reduced. Also, you have to be careful with parking structures. We pretty much use the Montero like most people use an RV. It sits around until we go camping or need it to haul stuff or tow the race car.
Below is a picture of our current setup in the Orocopia Mountains. I bought the truck, a '95, 3 years ago with 97,000 miles. All-up, tent and sun shade included, I have about $7000 invested. Not bad for a go-anywhere camping setup which we definitely use more often because it's quite comfortable and convenient.
Here is the US distributor for the tent:
http://www.equipt1.com/h/
