Tuesday, Feb 23, 2021 at 20:59
Flap alot in a high wind, you'd roll around in bed when windy as the vehicle would be buffeted by the wind... I haven't had an issue, Like any tent if you pull the canvas taught and use the spreaders for the windows it isn't an issue. I've slept through some good thunderstorms and snow without noticing any serious swaying.
The ladder could be slippery when raining. The ladder could be uncomfortable on your feet.... Could, but the ladder I have has nice angled 1.5" wide rungs that are fine on bare feet. The ladder is on an angle, so you can lean against the structure and feels safe. The floor and covered entry keeps the ladder dry, so moist feet aren't a huge
hazard.
You can trip over a guy rope on a normal tent too, so nothing is without risk.
It's hard to get the RTT level... not really, depends on the site. I've used it a lot and can count on a blind butchers left hand the number of times I've had to put a
rock under a wheel to level it out.
Packing them up is a physical exercise.... Can be.
Mine is on a canopy that is at roof height of the cab. I climb in, fold the bedding in 1/2, hook up the elastic straps that help pull in the sides, remove the pillows and fold it up. I can zip the cover on from the side steps and reach across the headboard, on the roof of a lifted wagon might be more challenging.
They're a hassle because you still have no where to dress, standing up, so you need to also pack a tent or muck around with an awning or tarps to make a private space..... I have no issue sitting down and getting dressed. I'm 6'4" and can kneel in the tent fine. No need to step out to change your mind.
It removes the roof as an area where you can store things... I can fit 2 x 5m sea kayaks up there as
well as the RTT. A dual cab with a canopy gives you some real estate though.
I like
mine because it saves me room in the vehicle as the tent and bedding is on the roof, I only have a couple of pillows in the car. I can also set it up and knock it down a lot quicker than a tent, especially when I just fold it out, stick in a couple of window spreaders and throw the pillows in and its done.
Ventilation is better than a tent on the ground, much easier to get any cross breeze that is going, or zip it up and block any wind.
I have felt a bit exposed in a thunderstorm though.
I've done a few improvements to
mine; beefed up the attachment system, shock cord around under the folded out floor to hang towels and boots off and LED strips inside the tent.
I had 3 sleeping in there on a particularly snowy trip to
Barrington tops and a stormy couple of nights in
Mareeba.
I've had it for 9 years now and would get another. It makes sleeping so much more civilized.
AnswerID:
635183
Follow Up By: Siringo - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021 at 09:28
Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021 at 09:28
Thanks for the detailed reply Hoyks, it's a great help.
What brand RTT do you have if I can ask?
I have a 3" lifted Patrol on 32's so the roof is a bit high.
It's the packing up part that concerns me most I guess.
We always arrange things so my wife can do them as
well and packing up an RTT may be hard for her? We've looked at the hard
shell RTTs, some are great, some average. The hard
shell RTTs are easier to pack up, but also about twice the price of a non hard
shell RTT.
FollowupID:
912720
Follow Up By: Hoyks - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021 at 17:46
Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021 at 17:46
Mine is an
Austrack Campers tent, its an older one and only around 1.2m wide though.
I'll admit that zipping the cover on is a bit of a pain, particularly if you're vertically challenged.
I was out camping and this single mum turned up in a Prado with a tent on top. She was a dynamo. Unzipping the cover from the ground? Not for her, straight up the spare tyre and onto the top of the tent, hanging over the side she had that cover off in seconds and was just about doing chin ups to fold it out on the way down.
Impressive to watch.
If my budget stretched that far, I'd have a look at a
Drifta RTT. Its around double what I paid, but set up is a lot easier, being 1/2 hard
shell and no zip on cover to wrestle with and the latches are on the one side.
Having the
shell also lets you use the top for some (very) light weight gear or solar panels.
FollowupID:
912728