The only disadvantage we've found is that putting it on and taking it off the car is a 2 person job - love ours
Definitely an improvement over tour last set-up, but not as stealth...
Boardinbob highlights most of the issues in one photo
Has roof tent. Needs other tent to store the stuff in.
Not an issue at all. I was pitched there for a week racing the EWS hence bringing the gazebo for a bit of bike fettling space sheltered from the weather.
Managed to do 2 weeks around the highlands and islands last year with just the roof tent and the van, so there is no issue about space.
^ Looks like something out of Nomadland.
Great film
We love our roof tent but we do move around a fair bit on our trips. If we do stay in one place for a few nights, we use our bikes to explore. It's really comfy, has great views, quick to set up and pack away, it also means more space in the car.
I did a fair bit of research recently and decided on a softshell roof tent with an annex room underneath. We had an Autohome hardshell previously which was amazing quality (pricey mind!) but not big enough for our young son to join our adventures. We choose a Tent & Trail roof tent as the owner was really helpful and took the time to explain everything we asked him. We were also really happy with the quality of the tent when compared to the price we paid.
Sounds like people are very divided on roof tents. They are either the scourge of the earth or the best thing ever!
Surely it's just based on how much you use it and if you're okay with installing it at the very beginning with some help? Other than that its mostly like camping with more convenience.
Sounds like people are very divided on roof tents.
Well they were 9 months ago anyway.
Having never come across this invention before, they look for all the world like a triumph of form over function.
Nevertheless, the very best of luck to all who sail in them.
Speaking of sailing...
Despite a perfectly rational hatred of caravans...
I keep thinking this might be ace ...
http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/recreational-vehicles/clc-teardrop-trailer.html
i see them mounted on cars more often these days and can't really understand the popularity. if i go up to the lakes for example for a few days, i'll pitch my tent and then us it as a base for activities - head off in the car to go walking in one area, next day somewhere else for biking etc. the idea of having to pack down the tent each time i want to drive anywhere and re set it up when i get back is nuts. . i guess your only option is to pitch up somewhere an not not go anywhere you can't walk or ride too, which also seems somewhat limiting
see also massive motorhomes
the idea of having to pack down the tent each time i want to drive anywhere and re set it up when i get back is nuts
My roof tent took 30 seconds to put up and 30 seconds to put down
I've just bought one - looking to use it for races. Can pitch up in Fort William, Glenshee, Inners car park and have somewhere to camp. First use will be Fort Bill on the SDA weekend.
I went for a cheaper one (Ventura) though the forums are split between people claiming it's cheap rubbish, leaky,... and others claiming they're the best kit ever. We'll see, hopefully good enough for our use. It has an annex - so the space under the tent to ground is enclosed. Should give somewhere for shoes and (hopefully) another body to sleep.
Holly thread resurrection Batman!
If pitching the storage tent – then all arguements about speed of pitching are a bit off no ? Quechua secconds tents would be as quick (assuming not in the seringetti)
That's my setup, 2-man quecha pop-up, takes seconds to put up/take down. Pull up somewhere after dark, pack up at dawn before breakfast. I've never really decided if a roof tent would be more or less socially acceptable. On the one hand it's more blatant than hiding behind a wall. On the other it's not actually wild camping in some farmers field, it's just sleeping in your car somewhere nice/quiet.
The advantage that's dragging me towards the roof tent is being able to have a really good mattress and proper bedding, but without having a campervan/caravan. At some point my car-free life is going to have to end because the OH's car is 20 years old so we'll need something between us at least, and it'll probably be van shaped. So I'm looking at NV200 or Expert size/shape vans. The 'downstairs' could have a simple insulate, carpet line, lino floor with a fold down bed on one wall and fold down worktop on the other for solo trips, and leaving it almost entirely van capacity for work. And a 2-person tent on top for trips together.
Since I last posted in this thread - I've acquired a project XC90 that I'm building into an Overlander-lite. My thoughts haven't changed based on previously owning a Defender and a Howling Moon rooftent.
For the XC90 I've removed all 5rear seats (it's a 7seater) and we will sleep in the rear of the car. Storage will be on the roofrack along with a canoe.
I'm going to buy a Dometic inflatable boot awning or an Oztent for when we want a larger footprint.
For me the hassle of RTT hasn't changed, to stop scroats pinching them they need seriously attaching which means they stay on 24/365, you can't carry anything else on the roof (canoes etc). The softshell RTT's are still faffy with springy rods to insert and bend and a faffy cover to get back in place everyday you move on. It doesn't sound much but it did my wick in.
Hardshell/clamshells are heavy & expensive.
This thread reminds me of the discussion weeksy started about sorting a camping Van based setup for him/his lad when out and about racing.
My thoughts are similar here, that having a few pitching options and accessories for camping on the ground which still make use of the vehicle might be better than an expensive rooftop tent i.e. just buying a pop-up tent or two for easy pitching and then using windbreaks, and possibly a car mounted side awning or just lashing a tarp to the roof bars to provide supplementary cover if the rain is hammering down.
As for camping in FC carparks? I thought the official name for that was now "dogging" 🙂 and using a roof mounted tent for that is just not going to work, it makes it harder for the weirdos to peer in...
