RTT and a Kayak?

[IslandJim]

Considering a RTT but is there a way to carry a kayak also or is it going to be just one or the other?

There are some great places to go camping here in Florida, that are better to fish with a kayak then bringing the big boat.

We are looking a getting a kayak or a aluminum canoe. Considering getting an aluminum flat roof rack. The RTT is a great idea but we may be better off camping on the ground if we cant bring a kayak also with a RTT.

Is there a way to do both? Pics please.

 

[manganos]

Trailer the yak. I trailer my Jackson and hobie pro angler 14


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Hltoppr]

I've run 78" load bars and mounted kayaks on each side of a rear-opening roof top tent. Worked really well.



-H-

 

[brtnstrns]

Considering a RTT but is there a way to carry a kayak also or is it going to be just one or the other?

There are some great places to go camping here in Florida, that are better to fish with a kayak then bringing the big boat.

We are looking a getting a kayak or a aluminum canoe. Considering getting an aluminum flat roof rack. The RTT is a great idea but we may be better off camping on the ground if we cant bring a kayak also with a RTT.

Is there a way to do both? Pics please.

I struggle with the idea of how limiting a RTT is. Like, I really want one because something about sleeping on top of the vehicle seems awesome. But then you can't just set up camp and leave. Plus, how bad ass of a ground tent can you get for half the price of a RTT? Probably pretty bad ass.

Add on to the fact that you're having to consider how to transport other things on the roof but the RTT takes up nearly all the room (I've also got a kayak I put up top).

 

[Havik]

There are RTT that have bars on top that can carry extra load like a kayak. They are the hardshell variety not the canvas type, so space in the tent is a bit limited, but if it is just you or you and 1 other person, it may work out.

I was considering this one:
Maggiolina Grand Tour ? Autohome US

I ultimately went with a Front Runner tent, which wouldn't fit with a kayak.

 

[transistor]

This was a consideration when I was picking out my RTT. I decided to go with a packraft instead.

 

[Explore604]

RTT's seem attractive and cool, etc, etc, but mostly an "overlanding image" thing IMO. Big, heavy (top heavy), expensive, limit functionality and versatility (set up camp and go explore). Makes sense in S. Africa, Australia perhaps.

As mentioned a killer ground tent can be had for way less $$. Check out Oz Tent, Kodiak Canvas, REI Kingdom, or even Coleman Instant.

If you're worried about comfort check out Thermarest Basecamp or Luxury Map mats, or even a tent cot.

If you're overly paranoid about about animals keep bear spray or a SOLAS handheld flare handy.

 

[mrblah]

OP: your better off with a ground tent, if you plan on actually using your roof rack for hauling large items.

 

[4R_OUT]

I have also wondered about getting my two kayaks and RTT up there but the tent takes so much space. I was thinking of maybe getting longer Thule crossbars but don’t know if that would help.

 

[JSparky]

My old man is sorting through this down in Baja right now.. pretty sure he'll end up with a trailer for a soft-sided rtt and other supplies with kayaks on the 4rumner's roof.

 

[PeoplecallmeIan]

I personally don't do RTT's but if you are wanting to do both why don't you get a foldable kayak? That way you can have the RTT and a kayak that is the size of a big briefcase.

https://www.orukayak.com/collections/kayaks

 

[MossJenks]

I struggle with the idea of how limiting a RTT is. Like, I really want one because something about sleeping on top of the vehicle seems awesome. But then you can't just set up camp and leave. Plus, how bad ass of a ground tent can you get for half the price of a RTT? Probably pretty bad ass.

Half? You're going to have to work hard to spend half on a regular tent. Find the most expensive one you can. A 3-man Tepui RTT is $1500 - $2000. Most high-quality 3-man, 3-season tents are in the $200-$400 range. The most expensive one REI list is $850 and it's a 4-season expedition base camp tent. Even if you get that you start going backward fast. The $850 tent weighs 8 pounds and has zero wind resistance. Every time you start to drive with the RTT it's costing you gas money.

I've got several tents but my priciest was $400 - a Nemo Losi 3P that weighs only 4.5 lbs complete or you can go to a stripped down 1.8lb ultralight configuration. When I camp with other groups in that, nobody has a nicer tent than I have. For family camping I have a big 10-person dome, forget the brand (Kelty maybe). Actually that might have been a little more than the little Nemo. Still nowhere remotely near half the price of a RTT - and more than double the capacity. It's too big really. A family of 4, two big dogs and our gear only fills maybe half the tent. The 4Runner is too big to fit through the door to park inside but I'm pretty sure I could park my Alfa Romeo in it.

 

[brtnstrns]

Half? You're going to have to work hard to spend half on a regular tent. Find the most expensive one you can. A 3-man Tepui RTT is $1500 - $2000. Most high-quality 3-man, 3-season tents are in the $300-$400 range. The most expensive one REI list is $850 and it's a 4-season expedition base camp tent. Even if you get that you start going backward fast. The $850 tent weighs 8 pounds and has zero wind resistance.

Yeah, that's what I mean! You'd be in the boutique range of tents at that point (I don't even know if that's a thing, but I'm assuming there's some company out there that produces a ground tent good enough for long-term survival on Mars with a full built-in kitchen and a hefty price tag)

 

[SpoonDiddy]

I ran into the same issues and just ended up buying a nice tent for the ground and keeping my rack open for other goodies. I'm sure there will be something coming out in the future but nothing will currently hold the weight of two kayaks. If you do find one that works let me know.

 

[RAD4Runner]

A RTT would be just too much trouble if you plan to put other large objects on the roof rack.

There are RTT that have bars on top that can carry extra load like a kayak. They are the hardshell ...maggiolina....

Yes, Corey of Yotatech has that or similar. Less drag than the fabric RTT, too.

...But then you can't just set up camp and leave...

And what if you had already set up camp and realize you ran out of beer? LOL!

Plus, how bad ass of a ground tent can you get for half the price of a RTT? Probably pretty bad ass.
...

Half? You're going to have to work hard to spend half on a regular tent...

Yah bet ...
Less than $600 can get you a tent that fits on your lap and backpack and can bring here...

INGRAHAM FLATS CAMP, MOUNT RAINIER

FRANKLIN LAKES, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park


Or bring overseas here ...
<iframe width="1080" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2XuiNKksJUo" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And speaking of kayaking, If I had an RTT, that would have stayed in the parking lot while we paddled across Tomales Bay to camp here...

PELICAN NORTH BEACH, Tomales Bay, CA

 

[MattAK]

Speaking of too much trouble there's always a tent-cot.

I actually really like mine. Slept in it during howling windstorms and torrential downpours. Took it on a road trip to Alaska and back a few years ago. Not super convenient to transport though. (actually a PITA to transport, but I like it enough to do it). Sets up way faster than a tent, keeps me off of the ground, and doesn't require a huge tract of flat land to be comfortable.

 

[IslandJim]

There are RTT that have bars on top that can carry extra load like a kayak. They are the hardshell variety not the canvas type, so space in the tent is a bit limited, but if it is just you or you and 1 other person, it may work out.

I was considering this one:
Maggiolina Grand Tour ? Autohome US

I ultimately went with a Front Runner tent, which wouldn't fit with a kayak.

That's a pretty nice RTT, but the price is like 2 - 3 k. It is smaller than other RTTs but it would be pretty easy to roll down and go get more beer.

Thanks for all the replies, have plenty more food for thought now.

The double tent cot is nice idea too, think I would go that route before I spent 3k on a RTT.

I've run 78" load bars and mounted kayaks on each side of a rear-opening roof top tent. Worked really well.



-H-

You have pictures of this? Were the 78" load bars on a 4Runner?

 

[TOYO74]

RAD4RUNNER:

Beautiful photos and nice tents! I have to ask though--in the photo of your camp at Franklin Lakes is the door on the yellow tent as close to the dropoff of the rock edge as it looks? If so, I would be doing a rock-n-roll right off the edge the first time I tried to exit the tent! :jaw:

 

[dot_tom]

I had this issue. So when we camp and kayak we take my wife's Tacoma instead of the 4runner.

 

[RAD4Runner]

... is the door on the yellow tent as close to the dropoff of the rock edge as it looks? ...

Pretty close but the area right in front is pretty flat and wide. Not advisable for sleepwalkers, though