RTT Thoughts?
- Thread starter Mudhorn
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Teamoatmealpie
New member
Looks like a decent smaller sized RTT. Having some room for surfboards, other gear etc on the roof rack is a bonus for sure.
My recommendation would be to see one in person or better yet rent one for a few days if possible. That way you're making a decision from you're own experience. Having enough space to comfortably sleep is something I'd consider.
My sons were 13 & 14 when we bought and now 16 & 17, they grew a lot since our purchase, they are both almost 6'ft now and I am 6'4" - so now days we sleep head foot to open up shoulder space
We have a CVT and have over 120+ nights in it and it's a ton of fun, makes camping easy, rough/uneven ground will never matter again, mattress is 1000x better then any blow up options. Many many family memories and adventures have been made from our camping trips. And we think the CVT has paid for itself man times over.
We almost pulled the trigger on a Tepui since REI was having a 20% off sale and it applied to Tepui tents.
However CVT was in our area, they matched the 20% off at REI, so we went CVT.
REI typically has a few big sales per year and 20% off is nothing to sneeze at so you might watch for something like that.
Good luck in your search!
My recommendation would be to see one in person or better yet rent one for a few days if possible. That way you're making a decision from you're own experience. Having enough space to comfortably sleep is something I'd consider.
My sons were 13 & 14 when we bought and now 16 & 17, they grew a lot since our purchase, they are both almost 6'ft now and I am 6'4" - so now days we sleep head foot to open up shoulder space
We have a CVT and have over 120+ nights in it and it's a ton of fun, makes camping easy, rough/uneven ground will never matter again, mattress is 1000x better then any blow up options. Many many family memories and adventures have been made from our camping trips. And we think the CVT has paid for itself man times over.
We almost pulled the trigger on a Tepui since REI was having a 20% off sale and it applied to Tepui tents.
However CVT was in our area, they matched the 20% off at REI, so we went CVT.
REI typically has a few big sales per year and 20% off is nothing to sneeze at so you might watch for something like that.
Good luck in your search!
Last edited:
sn_85
Senior Member
That's probably not the RTT I'd get, especially if your consideration is a growing family. Seems like that RTT is good for about 2 adults. If the consideration is for 3-4 people I'd recommend the iKamper or one of the typical soft shell tents. CVT, Tepui, FSR, Roam among other brands. Although I'd probably recommend an Eezi-Awn Jazz tent over any of the Chinese made tents. You really have to consider the pros and cons of an RTT though. Weight, aerodynamics, takes up space on your roof, and really they don't save that much time over a normal ground tent. They can be very cumbersome to setup an take down as you climb all over your truck trying to stuff the fabric back in and put the cover on. After owning a soft shell and hard shell tent I can say they just aren't for me. I think it also depends on how often you stay at a campsite. If you tend to stay for more than a night then a soft shell makes sense. If you move from site to site on a daily basis then a hard shell is more convenient.
I also wouldn't overlook a good ground tent. I actually prefer it over a RTT. I'm using an Oztent RV3 right now and it by far as been my favorite setup along with an Exped megamat. Gazelle tents are nice as well. Both options are cheaper, offer more space, and less impact on the vehicle than any RTT.
I also wouldn't overlook a good ground tent. I actually prefer it over a RTT. I'm using an Oztent RV3 right now and it by far as been my favorite setup along with an Exped megamat. Gazelle tents are nice as well. Both options are cheaper, offer more space, and less impact on the vehicle than any RTT.
Or...the USA made Terrapod. Just sayin.
Not to mention. We will be releasing the RTTx SOLO next month.
What's the Solo? Made for one person? lol
Terrapod
New member
Sure is and we already have a waiting list. :laugh:
Teamoatmealpie
New member
Sn-85 has some valid points. Especially on space- the width on that tent allows about 24" width per person, which is what we have in our CVT 72" wide x 96 long for 3 people, so 24" wide per person.
The set up is actually pretty easy and takes about 10 minutes. Taught my boys how to do this on their own at 13 & 14 and they mastered it pretty quick. The take down is where they needed help from me when they were little, that process is about 15 minutes.
The take down explained- it's kind like a PB & Jelly sandwich, with too much jelly. When you compress the bread the jelly spills out. Same goes for the tent, you'll end up with tent fabric spilling out, that then needs to be tucked back in on 3 sides. And as SN85 said you'll be climbing up on wheels, rear bumper etc, to stuff it all in so the cover will go on.
PRO tip, leave the entrance cover flap open, so when you close up the tent your not trying to compress all the air inside = less spillage & less tucking. Doing this made a huge difference on the take down.
Other thoughts-
A really comfortable mattress is huge win for us.
We camp a lot and have everything from bivy tents, to solo backpacking, to 2,3,4,6 man tents. And all kinds of sleeping pads, from foam to air and combos of those. None compare to the CVT premium mattress, sleep just a well as any real mattress.
A Con - like any tent you don't/can't put it away wet for very long. A ground tent you can hang in your garage when you get home. dry it out deal with it later, but a RTT is going to need to be opened up and dried out with in a day or so. And since it's on your rig, there's that to consider.
Rent one of any brand if you can, so you know from your experience. Any way about it camping out with your kids is one of the best family adventures one can have no matter how you do it.
Good luck.
The set up is actually pretty easy and takes about 10 minutes. Taught my boys how to do this on their own at 13 & 14 and they mastered it pretty quick. The take down is where they needed help from me when they were little, that process is about 15 minutes.
The take down explained- it's kind like a PB & Jelly sandwich, with too much jelly. When you compress the bread the jelly spills out. Same goes for the tent, you'll end up with tent fabric spilling out, that then needs to be tucked back in on 3 sides. And as SN85 said you'll be climbing up on wheels, rear bumper etc, to stuff it all in so the cover will go on.
PRO tip, leave the entrance cover flap open, so when you close up the tent your not trying to compress all the air inside = less spillage & less tucking. Doing this made a huge difference on the take down.
Other thoughts-
A really comfortable mattress is huge win for us.
We camp a lot and have everything from bivy tents, to solo backpacking, to 2,3,4,6 man tents. And all kinds of sleeping pads, from foam to air and combos of those. None compare to the CVT premium mattress, sleep just a well as any real mattress.
A Con - like any tent you don't/can't put it away wet for very long. A ground tent you can hang in your garage when you get home. dry it out deal with it later, but a RTT is going to need to be opened up and dried out with in a day or so. And since it's on your rig, there's that to consider.
Rent one of any brand if you can, so you know from your experience. Any way about it camping out with your kids is one of the best family adventures one can have no matter how you do it.
Good luck.
Last edited:
