Hard Shell vs Soft Shell RTT

[JsinLegacy]

Throw the obvious difference out and thats price.

I'm in the market to get one of these and am wondering which one would be the better choice.

I am running a 3/4 front runner rack so I could get a soft shell that would fit the rack perfectly where as a hard shell would have close to 20" of overhang towards the front of the vehicle.

Still I find myself struggling between the two and which would be better. It is just 2 of us that would be sleeping in it.

 

[MyanRagahis]

I just installed a RoofNest Falcon on mine this past weekend. I know its probably not the one you're looking for since it's quite longer. But for me I picked this one for ease and quickness of opening and tearing down. Hardshell would be a bit more durable to me as well. Price seemed to be a bit better compared to some other hardshell ones at the time as well I think.
I'll get to really test it out for a trip to Colorado in August.

My friend got also got a RoofNest and his is a Condor. It seems like it would suit your needs in terms of size.

We went to Arkansas last year and I did the ground tent. It was fun and I enjoyed being close to the fire. Two others in our group had CVT soft shell tents I think. I don't think I heard any complaints from them. One though is fixing to switch to a hardshell. I'll have to ask why.
They were of course the faster ones at opening and closing their set up over mine. But I did get fairly quick with my setup. Having to deal with a wet muddy ground with a tarp was no fun though.

I just read that GoFastCamper came out with a lighter RTT if you want to research that as well. Price is pretty awesome too.

 

[Jpilot]

I think it comes down to whether you have it mounted permanently or just put it on for weekend excursions. I have a 23zero soft shell and it is great, works wonderfully, easy to deploy, and does great in the weather. BUT, it comes off the rig when I am not using it, because it is a huge box up top when not in use.
Hard top shells are sometimes not as big inside as there is a ‘joint’ where the shell pivots. Not a big deal, but something to consider if you are tall, or more than one in the tent.
My .02

 

[Sundy]

Go Fast Campers just dropped this hardshell - to me it's a no brainer between this and a softshell for similar price points. A lot smaller profile, lightweight, and it looks good!

SUPERLITE ROOF TENT – Go Fast Campers

 

[bring_it_on]

Go Fast Campers just dropped this hardshell - to me it's a no brainer between this and a softshell for similar price points. A lot smaller profile, lightweight, and it looks good!

SUPERLITE ROOF TENT – Go Fast Campers

Interesting concept. Just about a $1000 raised sleeping platfrom with protection from the elements. I like ground tents, but I can see this being really popular for those who just want to be off the ground. Buy it w/o a matress and just throw an Xped mat or something there for bedding. Seems a great deal at the price as long as it it can survive heavy wind and rain.

 

[btcsxj]

As someone who has owned both a Roam Vagabond (great tent, btw) and imported a custom colored hardshell RTT from the same factory as the Roofnest Falcon.

Cost aside...

Soft Shell

Pro: Much larger inside, thicker more comfortable mattress, you can keep bedding inside, you can store the ladder inside, potential to add an annex

Cons: KILLS MPGS (13-14mpg soft shell - 17-18mpg hard shell climbing moderate hills), cover WILL wear out and require replacement, not any faster to set up than a ground tent, 12-13" tall and may not fit in parking garages

Hardshell

Pro: Super fast setup (<1min, seriously), very little effect to MPGs, should last longer, fits in most parking garages, can carry cargo on top

Cons: Narrow (48" interior), Thin mattress (I add an inflatable pad for comfort), Can't keep bedding inside, can't keep ladder inside tent, can't add annex

 

[JsinLegacy]

As someone who has owned both a Roam Vagabond (great tent, btw) and imported a custom colored hardshell RTT from the same factory as the Roofnest Falcon.

Cost aside...

Soft Shell

Pro: Much larger inside, thicker more comfortable mattress, you can keep bedding inside, you can store the ladder inside, potential to add an annex

Cons: KILLS MPGS (13-14mpg soft shell - 17-18mpg hard shell climbing moderate hills), cover WILL wear out and require replacement, not any faster to set up than a ground tent, 12-13" tall and may not fit in parking garages

Hardshell

Pro: Super fast setup (<1min, seriously), very little effect to MPGs, should last longer, fits in most parking garages, can carry cargo on top

Cons: Narrow (48" interior), Thin mattress (I add an inflatable pad for comfort), Can't keep bedding inside, can't keep ladder inside tent, can't add annex

Did you prefer the hard over the soft shell.

 

[btcsxj]

Did you prefer the hard over the soft shell.

Personally, yes. But my circumstances may be different than yours, that's why I listed all the pros/cons.

I work from home, but put about 18-20,000 miles on my 4runner each year just in camping and road trips, so MPGs matter. I do a majority of those trips without the wife and dog. That being said, when it's the 3 of us, the dog sleeps in the truck and the wife still complains it's too small . Last, when I travel for work, I prefer parking in the garages, so I appreciate the low profile.

That's my math. Yours may differ

 

[JsinLegacy]

Personally, yes. But my circumstances may be different than yours, that's why I listed all the pros/cons.

I work from home, but put about 18-20,000 miles on my 4runner each year just in camping and road trips, so MPGs matter. I do a majority of those trips without the wife and dog. That being said, when it's the 3 of us, the dog sleeps in the truck and the wife still complains it's too small . Last, when I travel for work, I prefer parking in the garages, so I appreciate the low profile.

That's my math. Yours may differ

Yeah I won't be out that much. Usually go during the cooler months here in AZ. I like the idea of a RTT because I don't want to keep sleeping on rocks and uneven ground here. I'm more worried about space and durability.

MPG is important as I'm only averaging about 17 now. Also a little worried about the overhang of the hard shell given I'll be using the 3/4 rack. Although I can't really explain why I'm worried about that. Haha

 

[Teamoatmealpie]

3" lift on 285/70 with K9 low profile rack and CVT Mt. Rainer Summit = 89" tall. That means a lot of parking garages are a no go.

With that said we love our tent, the mattress is super comfortable. Rocky ground? Never a problem again. I don't regret the soft top RTT one bit.

We did rig up a fairing made from a Blue Ridge Maxtrax bag and maxtrax. Reduces noise, protects the front of the tent, not sure I can claim MGP help though.
Good luck on your purchase, RTT are awesome.

 

[bring_it_on]

3" lift on 285/70 with K9 low profile rack and CVT Mt. Rainer Summit = 89" tall. That means a lot of parking garages are a no go.

Thanks for this data point. I'm a few inches shy of 7 ft at the moment with a similar lift and a frontrunner slimline roof rack. Enough to mount stuff like solar panels, recovery boards etc on top and still fit inside my parking garage which has a 7 ft. height restriction. Good to know that despite my lift there are plenty of tents out there that I could mount in the future and still be within the height limit for shipping containers since I plan on doing some international travel in the medium term with my rig.

 

[SnowYeti]

Great points

I would add sleeping capacity. I have an X-Cover and three people can sleep in it no problem with elbow room (rated as a 4 person)

While this RRT tent is in between a hard shell and soft shell it still takes as much time as a small easy set up tent. Just did that head to head last weekend because we took our big dog. Comfort the RTT won hands down.

I can’t imagine the PITA a regular soft shell would be on my lifted 4R.

Gas mileage is very real. I ran some highway tests with my tent and my tent with a custom fairing that almost goes to the top leading edge of the tent. 5 mpg better with the fairing! The tent is a brick. This is obviously not an option for you with a 3/4 rack. So mpg with easily goes to a hard shell. 19 mpg with the fairing and MUCH quieter

If it is just you and maybe 1 other I would go hard shell low profile. Want a little more room go iKamper hard cover.

The speed doesn’t really bother me, I am out to relax and slow down. But if it was raining a fast hard shell would be great.

I also can’t pull into my garage, but that might be true for me even with a low profile hard shell

There is a forum member that has just launched his own company with a low profile tent. It looks really good.

I was tired of all the "huge" RTT's, so I made my own.

 

[Gxblade1]

I'll get to really test it out for a trip to Colorado in August.

Is that a XL?

 

[btcsxj]

Yeah I won't be out that much. Usually go during the cooler months here in AZ. I like the idea of a RTT because I don't want to keep sleeping on rocks and uneven ground here. I'm more worried about space and durability.

MPG is important as I'm only averaging about 17 now. Also a little worried about the overhang of the hard shell given I'll be using the 3/4 rack. Although I can't really explain why I'm worried about that. Haha

You could go the path that I did... Delete the rack and get a hardshell tent that has a rack on top. You can sell your rack towards the purchase of the tent.

Never understood why people bought expensive roof racks just to cover them completely with a tent.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/288510-hardshell-rtt-directly-roof.html#post3522780

Also, the height savings is huge. My truck is under 7ft tall with the tent and rack on top. I can still go in most parking garages!

 

[tls3601]

Been my understanding that a hard shell RTT can be mounted to stock roof rAck with addition of stronger crossbars like LFD, has anyone done this and care to post up a pic?

 

[Jpilot]

Awning is something to consider. My wife gets up in the night to use the loo, so likes to sleep on a cot down below. Works great. Picture is Yellowstone NP. We were on a paved spot, so couldn’t tie down corner. Otherwise is a little less wrinkled.

 

[Jpilot]

Been my understanding that a hard shell RTT can be mounted to stock roof rAck with addition of stronger crossbars like LFD, has anyone done this and care to post up a pic?

Try the Niserack. Installed on factory side rails, super solid. Less than $300.

 

[tls3601]

Try the Niserack. Installed on factory side rails, super solid. Less than $300.

Would it be long enough to install a hard shell RTT on it? Thinking something like the roof nest.

 

[MyanRagahis]

Is that a XL?

Just the regular. I think the XL is only wider and not longer. I think

 

[Jpilot]

Would it be long enough to install a hard shell RTT on it? Thinking something like the roof nest.

I put the front and rear mounts as far apart as possible, and then measured the distance from the back of the rear mount to the front of the front mount (maximum surface distance). I got just over 38 inches. This is definitely not a full roof, or even a 3/4 rack, so you would have to measure the mounting requirement for your RTT.
My 23zero has a distance between mounting rails of about 33 inches, but I mount mine sideways (ladder and entrance on passenger side), so it fits with no problem.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you want some pictures with tape measure or items on top.