Gear Review: SJK Roadhouse Tarp 2017

[HOJeepster]

Debuting in spring 2017 is the Slumberjack Roadhouse Tarp. The Roadhouse tarp is an innovative shelter ideal for hunting, camping, and overland enthusiasts. Three primary pitching options, countless alternate setups and an easy vehicle connection system make this versatile tarp into a a must have item. Includes 2 steel poles, reflective guy lines and 8 super duty massive stakes.

I was fortunate enough to test the prototype during a 5 day desert overlanding trip. It was great to have a covered 'porch' for cooking while the after noon drizzle occurred.

I also paired the Roadhouse Tarp with the Slumberjack InSeason 2 Person tent. This tent is bomb proof and a great hunting or overlanding set up. It withstands strong winds, rain, and snow like a champ, and has 3 doors allowing for easy access and storage. I really was digging the desert tan color combo. The are available now for sale.

Keep an eye out for this product to drop early 2017.

 

[HOJeepster]

Hello all-
Just wanted to mention that the SJK Roadhouse tarp is now available for purchase!

https://slumberjack.com/roadhouse-tarp/

Let me know if you have any questions about this product. We ran it this weekend out in Poison Springs Canyon and it worked great.

 

[mwray8909]

How easy/ hard is it to put up and take down. How does it store

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[techno]

I quite like this idea in that it sort of address a limitation I see with awnings (fox wing style awnings in particular) where the open lift gate height is higher than the roof rack height.
However, how tight do you need to adjust the straps that attach to the wheels? Could there be an issue with the straps and tarp material rubbing on the paintwork, especially on a windy day? Is there an attachment point in the middle of the edge that goes over the vehicle roof?

 

[4rcybr]

I quite like this idea in that it sort of address a limitation I see with awnings (fox wing style awnings in particular) where the open lift gate height is higher than the roof rack height.

This has been one of the reasons I haven't bought an awning yet. I don't want to be limited to just having shade off one side, but blocking access to my fridge is also a bad idea.

I'm intrigued by this option, but at the same time-I don't want to be putting in 10 stakes to get shade set up.

I wonder if you could make your own somehow...

 

[HOJeepster]

How easy/ hard is it to put up and take down. How does it store

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It's fairy easy to set up. I attach it to my roof rack in the middle and strap it around the tires (straps provided and are adjustable in length and tension), and then the pole simply connects together and you pitch it up. The tarp has tie strings to attach to tent stakes, etc. The edges of the tarp on the car end has fabric, and I don't foresee this scratching the truck at all. The tent only uses 1 stake, but it still offers multiple configurations.

Here are the specs:
SPECS

Packaged Weight: 12 lbs 6 oz
Dimensions: 124" x 103"
Packed Size: 25" x 7" x 7"
Peak Height: 96"
# of Poles: 2 steel poles (96" tall, 5 segments each)
Fly Material: 68D polyester / 1200mm
DETAILS

3-in-1 tarp provides shelter for hunting, camping & offroad adventures
Unique attachment system easily connects to most Jeeps, SUV's or trucks
Option 1/3: Single pole "A-frame" set up with vehicle
Option 2/3: Dual pole "awning" set up with vehicle
Option 3/3: Dual pole "A-frame" without vehicle
Includes two heavy duty, 96" tall steel poles
Includes 8 super-duty 10" steel stakes
Includes heavy duty reflective guylines
Carry bag included
Best served with cold beer, huge views & good friends

It stores in a tent style sack, about 7x24 inches long.

 

[mwray8909]

It's fairy easy to set up. I attach it to my roof rack in the middle and strap it around the tires (straps provided and are adjustable in length and tension), and then the pole simply connects together and you pitch it up. The tarp has tie strings to attach to tent stakes, etc. The edges of the tarp on the car end has fabric, and I don't foresee this scratching the truck at all. The tent only uses 1 stake, but it still offers multiple configurations.

Here are the specs:
SPECS

Packaged Weight: 12 lbs 6 oz
Dimensions: 124" x 103"
Packed Size: 25" x 7" x 7"
Peak Height: 96"
# of Poles: 2 steel poles (96" tall, 5 segments each)
Fly Material: 68D polyester / 1200mm
DETAILS

3-in-1 tarp provides shelter for hunting, camping & offroad adventures
Unique attachment system easily connects to most Jeeps, SUV's or trucks
Option 1/3: Single pole "A-frame" set up with vehicle
Option 2/3: Dual pole "awning" set up with vehicle
Option 3/3: Dual pole "A-frame" without vehicle
Includes two heavy duty, 96" tall steel poles
Includes 8 super-duty 10" steel stakes
Includes heavy duty reflective guylines
Carry bag included
Best served with cold beer, huge views & good friends

It stores in a tent style sack, about 7x24 inches long.

Any idea if a discount code or GB could happen?

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[HOJeepster]

Any idea if a discount code or GB could happen?

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I'm working on that

 

[techno]

What happens when you close the lift gate? Does the tarp go slack and need to be readjusted?

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[MeefZah]

I just picked up one of these. I've been wanting an awning since our last "big" trip to Alaska, where cooking in rain under the tiny overhang of the rear hatch got a little old. I didn't want to spend a ton though, for what is essentially a tarp (rule out ARB and other "overland design styles", then). I also thought that it made more sense to have the tarp coming off the back hatch and not the side. I was debating getting a 'pop up canopy' or just making my own tarp when I happened to see this on the shelf at Sportsman's Warehouse for $100... and I'm glad I did because this is better than a pop up and better than whatever crap I could home-brew, plus it's a fair price for what you get.

I tested it out in the yard yesterday and I'm impressed. There is a significant amount of shade / rain protection and installation was pretty fast. Probably took 20 minutes the first time (by myself) and now that I know the tricks and have the guy lines on the sides preset I think it'll be a 5 minute job with another set of hands to assist. Quality seems good. It's quite robust. There's a lot of nice details that aren't even mentioned in the product description - for example, the tent poles are tethered; the stakes are the beefiest I have ever seen; there's extra lash points and fastex buckles for a D-I-Y setup; there's separate bags for the poles, pegs, and tarp; the tarp material is double layered in areas where it comes in contact with the truck. I can easily stand up under it.

Seems like the 'A' configuration is best for rain; the 'H' configuration is best for shade. I doubt I'll ever use it freestanding. I could maybe see myself slinging it between trees if the spacing was correct but it probably will get used most in the 'H' configuration (with 2 poles).

Looking at online reviews it's hard to find one that isn't full of praise so I'm hopeful the Slumberjack Roadhouse will be a durable product long term.

To specifically answer [MENTION=9776]techno[/MENTION] question above, if you set the tarp up with the lift gate open and then close the gate, there is some slack that develops. It won't be enough to collapse the tarp but it won't be a perfect fit anymore, either. Still totally usable.

 

[gfxcruncher]

Ha, just saw this thread pop up, never saw it before.

I really like this tarp, pretty easy and quick to setup, which is a big plus as foul weather rolls in or setting up camp in the rain. Decent amount of space underneath for a few people to hang out under and with the way the sides turn down it helps keep the weather out better than the ARB awning styles if there's any wind blowing precipitation around.

I haven't noticed any scratching on the paint, but I doubt I would anyway since the truck is already pinstriped to hell.

Some pics I've snapped, not nice shots like above...

 

[JAXJeremy]

I'm ordering one..this will be great for the beach.

 

[MeefZah]

I'm actually surprised this product isn't getting more interest on this forum. Seems like it should really appeal to most of the people here. I mean, it doesn't have the Clay Croft seal of approval, but it's cheap, durable, and versatile.

I actually only found this thread by doing a Google search for the product to look at reviews, then it popped up.

 

[gfxcruncher]

I'm actually surprised this product isn't getting more interest on this forum. Seems like it should really appeal to most of the people here. I mean, it doesn't have the Clay Croft seal of approval, but it's cheap, durable, and versatile.

I actually only found this thread by doing a Google search for the product to look at reviews, then it popped up.

I'm with you on that, once I got it my suspicions of a well thought out design were confirmed, it works really well, the construction is well executed and the price point is a great value (IMHO). This thread never came up when I was doing my google research.

HAHA "Clay Croft seal of approval" Would be reason enough for me to look elsewhere...

 

[MeefZah]

I'm with you on that, once I got it my suspicions of a well thought out design were confirmed, it works really well, the construction is well executed and the price point is a great value (IMHO). This thread never came up when I was doing my google research.

HAHA "Clay Croft seal of approval" Would be reason enough for me to look elsewhere...

I stand corrected, Slumberjack's media department just confirmed it is now Croft approved.

 

[gfxcruncher]

i stand corrected, slumberjack's media department just confirmed it is now croft approved.

bahaaaa

 

[formulate]

I only took notice of these in the past couple weeks, but everything I've read has been very positive.

Question for current owners -- if one wanted to, could they set this up off the side of their rig? Or does it truly have to wrap over the back of the vehicle? With a full-length roofrack, maybe the fastening points would be able to anchor in a way that you could run this out over the side?

Regardless of the answer, I'm mighty tempted. I currently have a 2m roof-mounted awning, but I actually use it less than anticipated, and it's bulky chunk of weight on the roof. Alternately, when we're loaded up for camping, it's ready to set up quickly and it's not taking up valuable (limited) space inside.

 

[MeefZah]

Yeah you could totally run it off the side. The section that attaches to the truck has 2 straps that go through the wheels but that section also has three additional straps that can go on a rack. The only thing with running it to the side would be you wouldn't have "low" tether spots to really pull good tension on the fabric, so it might be a tad loose / flappy.

 

[gfxcruncher]

I only took notice of these in the past couple weeks, but everything I've read has been very positive.

Question for current owners -- if one wanted to, could they set this up off the side of their rig? Or does it truly have to wrap over the back of the vehicle? With a full-length roofrack, maybe the fastening points would be able to anchor in a way that you could run this out over the side?

Regardless of the answer, I'm mighty tempted. I currently have a 2m roof-mounted awning, but I actually use it less than anticipated, and it's bulky chunk of weight on the roof. Alternately, when we're loaded up for camping, it's ready to set up quickly and it's not taking up valuable (limited) space inside.

Yeah as [MENTION=132734]MeefZah[/MENTION] said, it could totally be set up off the side. Never did it but could envision using zipties through the provided grommets. I have a side awning too and use that most of the time. The roadhouse really shines for me when I want to cook or hang out in foul weather since I have a drawer system with the stove integrated into one of the drawers.

 

[Jetboy]

Does this do something a regular $30-40 shelter tarp doesn't?

What am I missing? Is it the shape that makes it different? Any idea what the fabric is? I'm have a sailboat so I'm certainly guilty of spending obscene amounts of money on fancy pieces of fabric. Just not sure I'm understanding what's new or special about this.