Roof Top Tent (RTT) Picture Gallery & BS Thread

[TerraCrawler]

For those with hard top, like Autohome, how is it to do changing? Without an Annex I assume you change in the tent itself, is that difficult?

 

[MandAtaco]

My family of 5 just made the jump, what a great way to sleep! We went with the smaller 2+ tent so I didn't have such a large tent up top, but with the Annex there is still plenty of room for us all. Wife and I have the upstairs and all three kids sleep downstairs. On trips by myself, or with just a couple kids, I'll just use the tent.

 

[greatape]

My family of 5 just made the jump, what a great way to sleep! We went with the smaller 2+ tent so I didn't have such a large tent up top, but with the Annex there is still plenty of room for us all. Wife and I have the upstairs and all three kids sleep downstairs. On trips by myself, or with just a couple kids, I'll just use the tent.

--Sweet rig!

 

[leftyguns21]

While it is quite quick to get it set up, it is kinda a pain on a lifted vehicle, especially if you're not a taller person. On my 3rd gen 4Runner with a VERY low profile rack it was quick and easy.

However, on my GX with a Front Runner rack, it's pretty annoying to set up. It's just so far off of the ground that it's tough to reach everything, even at 6' 2" or so, and standing on the tires/sliders.

even worse when you are only 5'9" on a lifted 4th gen. i climb on the roof when i need to zip the cover on.

the other minus I would add. if you've had a lot to drink and need to get up in the middle of the night. its not as easy to navigate the ladder as it is to roll out of a ground tent. all in all though, pluses outweigh the minuses.

i ordered some solar panel lights for inside. i hope to try them out this weekend.

 

[A.Wilson013]

even worse when you are only 5'9" on a lifted 4th gen. i climb on the roof when i need to zip the cover on.

the other minus I would add. if you've had a lot to drink and need to get up in the middle of the night. its not as easy to navigate the ladder as it is to roll out of a ground tent. all in all though, pluses outweigh the minuses.

i ordered some solar panel lights for inside. i hope to try them out this weekend.

Yeah, my wife IS 5' 9" and she was able to open and close the tent on the 4Runner by herself nearly as quickly as I could. The GX she cannot reach the zipper when it's in the middle on the front side. Sucks for me

Something that revolutionized my camping is stopping drinking about an hour before bed, and making sure I get it out right before heading up for the night.

Which lights did you get? I keep meaning to get some and forgetting. It's been years, lol...

 

[leftyguns21]

Which lights did you get? I keep meaning to get some and forgetting. It's been years, lol...

I got these ones from amazon. they are solar powered and real thin wires. I figure I can weave them in/out of the support bars inside and leave them in even when the tent is closed. they aren't too bright to blind us inside but should provide enough light to see.
I haven't used them yet in the tent but I have tested the charging and the brightness.

 

[A.Wilson013]

I got these ones from amazon. they are solar powered and real thin wires. I figure I can weave them in/out of the support bars inside and leave them in even when the tent is closed. they aren't too bright to blind us inside but should provide enough light to see.
I haven't used them yet in the tent but I have tested the charging and the brightness.

Interesting... Not what I was expecting at all, haha.

I don't think those are the ones for me =D Thanks for the link though!

 

[leftyguns21]

Interesting... Not what I was expecting at all, haha.

I don't think those are the ones for me =D Thanks for the link though!

I didn't want anything too bright or too expensive since ill barely even use them. I couldn't really find anything that weren't dangly lights, or looked like xmas lights, or solar powered. These were the closest to what I was looking for.

 

[A.Wilson013]

I didn't want anything too bright or too expensive since ill barely even use them. I couldn't really find anything that weren't dangly lights, or looked like xmas lights, or solar powered. These were the closest to what I was looking for.

I just bought and "installed" one of those luminoodle things by recommendation from a friend. https://www.amazon.com/Luminoodle-Lights-Camping-Hiking-Emergencies/dp/B0198VDWPQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497317782&sr=8-1&keywords=luminoodle&th=1&psc=1

Pretty slick. I got the 5' version and just ran it across the top/center pole in the tent.

I'll test it out this weekend... $20 risk, I'll take it.

 

[MeanoTorino]

Anyone got pics of an eezi-awn series 3 1800 on their 4runner? Also an inside the tent shot would be great.

Thanks

 

[violation]

I just bought and "installed" one of those luminoodle things by recommendation from a friend. https://www.amazon.com/Luminoodle-Lights-Camping-Hiking-Emergencies/dp/B0198VDWPQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497317782&sr=8-1&keywords=luminoodle&th=1&psc=1

Pretty slick. I got the 5' version and just ran it across the top/center pole in the tent.

I'll test it out this weekend... $20 risk, I'll take it.

i've been using luminoodle for a few months now, on multiple trips. it's great.

if you are going to put it in your tent permanently, i recommend using small zip-ties and strap them to the frame or where ever. The magnets are not very strong so an accidental brushing will make it fall, and then sometimes domino-effect the rest of the magnets too.

also, keep this away from a dog that might have separation anxiety, because your 10' luminoodle will magically become a 3' luminoodle lol

 

[A.Wilson013]

i've been using luminoodle for a few months now, on multiple trips. it's great.

if you are going to put it in your tent permanently, i recommend using small zip-ties and strap them to the frame or where ever. The magnets are not very strong so an accidental brushing will make it fall, and then sometimes domino-effect the rest of the magnets too.

also, keep this away from a dog that might have separation anxiety, because your 10' luminoodle will magically become a 3' luminoodle lol

I just used the yellow zip tie things it came with. I honestly didn't realize it was magnetic... lol

Luckily my dogs aren't chewers. Within a few minutes I can hear my pointer snoring when I put them up there. They don't like camp fires so they hang out up there getting the bed nice and toasty for us.

 

[the great him]

Still Loving my 23zero tent

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[greatape]

Still Loving my 23zero tent

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]

Looks like a Litchfield,,definitely a good bang for the buck when they came on the seen in the States

 

[TerraCrawler]

The ARB Simpson III is built better than most of the other China made RTTs. The ARB tents are still not in the class as Eezi-Awn, Howling Moon and Autohome tents. I would not call ARB "THE" brand as they are still a cheaper made Chineese tent. There is a reason the high end tents comand a $3-6K asking price. The tent material, zippers and overall construction are overbuilt. "THE" tent brands would be Eezi-Awn, Autohome and Howling Moon. I've owned Campling Labs, ARB Simpson III, Eezi-Awn 1600 T-Top and now I have a Medium Maggiolina Grand Tour (in that order) so I have some experience with tents lol. For most people the Chinese tents are fine and will serve you well for years but just like everything else, you get what you pay for.

After lots of extensive reading, this video finally cinched it for me on the Simpson III. There are differences between the Chinese tents, and ARB does a nice job of making its tent a bit different:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m38sIioJ6nc

 

[the great him]

Looks like a Litchfield,,definitely a good bang for the buck when they came on the seen in the States

its been a great bang for the buck especially at the price i paid for it...

 

[greatape]

its been a great bang for the buck especially at the price i paid for it...

As well...

 

[leftyguns21]

spent the weekend in the mtns and finally got to try out the full tent with annex. what a difference, it worked out so great.
I was able to leave the door open to the tent too so it felt really large inside. we had kids and dog sleeping in the annex part and stored food/used it for changing.

curious how most of you load your tents. I am restricted to a 7' garage entrance so I am not able to load it using a pulley system or leave it on. Here is a video (I don't know how to embed flickr videos sorry) I shot of me loading mine solo, not sure if there is a better way or not. this way works but unloading it is still tricky and has scratched my rack up pretty good.

I was strapped for room with 4 people and a dog so I ended up packing the annex on top of the tent under the cover along with a few other items. then strapped a couple of totes and chairs to the roof.


funny story about this trip. we went out near Rollinsville here in CO and winged it. we found a 4 wheel drive road and decided to take it and see where it landed us. on one of the turns there was a group of Nissan xterra's coming down with no room to pass so I had to back down the whole trail. these guys clearly dropped a lot of $ on their setups and here I was with minimal setup doing the same trail in reverse. it must be a semi popular trail I saw quite a few jeeps and 4 wheel drive vehicles. I cant seem to find any details on the trail, it was called moon gulch rd I believe and is off of CO-119 if anyone has info

 

[Sig_Fan_55]

Recent camping trip a buddy and I went on. Had reservations to bring the trailer but wife and son couldn't make the trip so he and I went up. I offered to bring the Anex but he wanted to use his set up which he regretted after some rain overnight. I slept comfy in the penthouse while he got rained out on the ground floor.

I think it's safe to say the CA drought is over up here.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[maddiesel67]

After lots of extensive reading, this video finally cinched it for me on the Simpson III. There are differences between the Chinese tents, and ARB does a nice job of making its tent a bit different:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m38sIioJ6nc

4wp is having a special $1490 free shipping free annex good for another couple days on the Simpson 3. i was inches away from clicking buy but i found a great deal on an instock 23zero litchfield and went that route.