Food for thought on Roof Top Tents (RTT) -- is it right for me or you?

[ahtoxa11]

I recently came across this video doing a pretty good job about talking both the good and the bad of RTT application.

Roof Top Tents aren't all they're cracked up to be - YouTube

I considered an RTT, but ultimately, it won't work for me, and here are my reasons, for what it's worth. It might help someone decide; these downsides were just too much to offset the benefits of it.

1. Flexibility, or lack thereof. This is the biggest reason for me. RTT means I camp where I park. This isn't always a good thing, because where I live there are awesome sites where you can camp, but you can't park your vehicle there due to terrain damage you'd inflict. Would I rather sleep near the road or a few yards down by the creek and a better view? Yeah, the answer is clear.

2. Weight. I know some folks run RTTs on stock racks, but mostly you'll need an aftermarket rack to go along with the RTT. The weights will vary, but it's not unreasonable to expect to add a couple hundred pounds, depending on the size and construction of the RTTs that I looked at. In the end, I was not comfortable wheeling with that much weight that high above center of gravity. It just reduces stability both on-road and off.

3. Setting up camp and breaking it down. I like to camp and wheel, and it's nice to have a base camp set up, go wheel and get back to camp without having to set up the RTT. Yes, I know it's fast, but there are other considerations: I will leave cooking gear, some clothes, tables and chairs in camp, so with an RTT I would have to pack them up. I feel better about leaving my gear in tent or with tent set up so it doesn't look like someone left the site behind. Might be nonsense, but that's my line of thought. The more weight I leave at camp, the better it is when I wheel.

4. Getting big dogs up and down the ladder. At night. At dawn. In the rain or snow. No, thanks.

5. Last and not least -- cost. $2-3k for rack and RTT vs. a few high end tents of different sizes and season ratings? I'd rather have my pick of tents, that I can select based on number of people, length of trip, time of year, rather than be limited to the one option. And I'll still have cash leftover for beer, park passes, outdoor gear (clothing, boots, lights, GPS, etc.).

 

[Harlock]

I actually watched this video about a week ago. I've never owned a RTT, but I've done/do a lot of camping and I generally agree with the points he makes. Another big factor for me against a RTT is the fact that my 4Runner is also my daily driver work vehicle and I wouldn't be able to keep putting it in on and taking it off easily.

That said, the promise RTTs make about quick setup/takedown is very appealing - as is the whole overlanding concept of vehicle-based camping that doesn't require a lot of lifting and carrying. So I'm getting ready to try it. But instead of a RTT, I'll be using an ARB 2500 Awning with ARB's Deluxe Awning Room that essentially turns the awning into a large tent. I'll be mounting this to my roof rack with RacksBrax brackets that add the ability to quickly remove the awning from the vehicle and make it free standing by adding a couple of tarp poles and added guy points when needed. Ideally this'll give me a system that can quickly be mounted or removed from the vehicle when needed and can be separated from the vehicle when the camping situation requires at about half to one-third what a RTT would cost. I'll follow up on how this works for me.

 

[jdm-v35]

I have a Smittybilt XL RTT along with the annex. I can share my experience as I still car camp sometimes but no longer use a ground tent.

I will start off by saying yes it is an investment as to do it safely you should buy an aftermarket rack. I drive my 4runner 50% of the time as I have another car but just purely like the 4runner. I mounted a motorized hoist on my garage ceiling to take it off when not in use and only put it on for camping. set up/takedown time is about 10 min.

I also only camp in the cold months and sometimes take the wife. When she goes with me I always use the RTT as it becomes a home away from home for a few days and is pretty luxurious and much more comfortable to sleep in with the mattress. Along with tons of space and the thick tent provides better weather protection.

When i go by myself I sleep in the 4runner with just a air mattress and sleeping bag. It is not super comfortable but it does the job and it is not worth setting up the RTT and grounding myself if I am offroading and moving daily and I am trying to camp minimalist style.

When I go with the wife or to certain spots with friends I don't move for 2+ days and that's when it becomes a huge asset to just have basically a 2 story condo when the annex is on. I have used it as my hunting base camp before as well. in which case I set it up for just myself but did not put the annex on.

It is super nice to just be able to walk around and relax when its raining or snowing outside and be super comfortable.

I think it is definitely a situational purchase but that is my experience. I am glad I made the investment and wouldn't go back and change that even if I could.

 

[Brick Sprickly]

I recently came across this video doing a pretty good job about talking both the good and the bad of RTT application.

Roof Top Tents aren't all they're cracked up to be - YouTube

I considered an RTT, but ultimately, it won't work for me, and here are my reasons, for what it's worth. It might help someone decide; these downsides were just too much to offset the benefits of it.

1. Flexibility, or lack thereof. This is the biggest reason for me. RTT means I camp where I park. This isn't always a good thing, because where I live there are awesome sites where you can camp, but you can't park your vehicle there due to terrain damage you'd inflict. Would I rather sleep near the road or a few yards down by the creek and a better view? Yeah, the answer is clear.

2. Weight. I know some folks run RTTs on stock racks, but mostly you'll need an aftermarket rack to go along with the RTT. The weights will vary, but it's not unreasonable to expect to add a couple hundred pounds, depending on the size and construction of the RTTs that I looked at. In the end, I was not comfortable wheeling with that much weight that high above center of gravity. It just reduces stability both on-road and off.

3. Setting up camp and breaking it down. I like to camp and wheel, and it's nice to have a base camp set up, go wheel and get back to camp without having to set up the RTT. Yes, I know it's fast, but there are other considerations: I will leave cooking gear, some clothes, tables and chairs in camp, so with an RTT I would have to pack them up. I feel better about leaving my gear in tent or with tent set up so it doesn't look like someone left the site behind. Might be nonsense, but that's my line of thought. The more weight I leave at camp, the better it is when I wheel.

4. Getting big dogs up and down the ladder. At night. At dawn. In the rain or snow. No, thanks.

5. Last and not least -- cost. $2-3k for rack and RTT vs. a few high end tents of different sizes and season ratings? I'd rather have my pick of tents, that I can select based on number of people, length of trip, time of year, rather than be limited to the one option. And I'll still have cash leftover for beer, park passes, outdoor gear (clothing, boots, lights, GPS, etc.).

Don't forget all the lost cargo space on the rack. Hope you have enough room in the back.

 

[Chrisw023]

Im new to this forum, still waiting for the dealer to get my 4runner in but I do have a 80 series landcruiser I use a RTT (roofnest sparrow) on for camping and hunting season and it is nice with how quick it sets up or tears down and the fact I can keep the sleeping bags and pillows in it. I have a 85lb doberman and thankfully he likes his crate so I just set it up inside the vehicle for him at night. where it sucks is for hard wheeling as you can definitely feel the weight on top and off camber situations get a bit more exciting.

 

[Mr_Bingley]

I actually watched this video about a week ago. I've never owned a RTT, but I've done/do a lot of camping and I generally agree with the points he makes. Another big factor for me against a RTT is the fact that my 4Runner is also my daily driver work vehicle and I wouldn't be able to keep putting it in on and taking it off easily.

That said, the promise RTTs make about quick setup/takedown is very appealing - as is the whole overlanding concept of vehicle-based camping that doesn't require a lot of lifting and carrying. So I'm getting ready to try it. But instead of a RTT, I'll be using an ARB 2500 Awning with ARB's Deluxe Awning Room that essentially turns the awning into a large tent. I'll be mounting this to my roof rack with RacksBrax brackets that add the ability to quickly remove the awning from the vehicle and make it free standing by adding a couple of tarp poles and added guy points when needed. Ideally this'll give me a system that can quickly be mounted or removed from the vehicle when needed and can be separated from the vehicle when the camping situation requires at about half to one-third what a RTT would cost. I'll follow up on how this works for me.

we have the 2500 and the zip in room. we use cots inside it, it works great. i don't have those racksbrax though...