Roof tents.....?

[Sprocker101]

Anyone have any experience with roof tents? recommendations or ones to avoid?

I'm keen on the idea for exploring the highlands and would be great not to have to tow anything.

Cheers

 

[Essex stalker]

Are you on your own or is there a good lady in tow, if on your own then a good bivvy bag takes a lot of beating or just kip in back of vehicle

 

[rodp]

An aquaintanceof mine imports used one from SA, only good makes, usually Howling Moon. if of anyinterest give him a ring and reserve one, they sell very quickly.

http://www.simba4x4.com/

 

[Chris J]

Where do I start. Yes, lot of experience with them. I'll begin by saying there simply isn't one perfect set up. Principally there are two main types. Yes there's more - but like I said in the main they are either a fold out style, framed pramhood affair or a hardshell roof box type pop up. Howling Moon, Hanibal, TuffTrek, ARB, EziAwn etc all make good designs of pram hood and James Baroud, Maggiolina and Autohome make the majority of the hardshell one. Within those designs there are small, large, multi roomed, twin ladder, extra wide ...it goes on. What they have in common is that they require ladder access.

Typically, the pramhood style have access through a door or flap where one person can climb up and get along side the person already up there without having to clamber over them. They tent to be taller inside which helps when putting your socks on. They tend to be much more like a tent with seams and zips with flaps here and there and take a bit more putting away. Harder if you are on your own. However, they're a very nice place to stay and sleep.

The hard shells are generally super fast to put up and take down. Brilliant for a late stop and early get away. But they are smaller, lower inside and normally access is only one side which makes getting up in the night trickier if you are on the far side from the ladder. But if you are usually on your own they are fantastic. Super warm and cosy.

In between these two there is an other option. And that's the wedge style pop up. Instead of going up at both ends, one end is hinged and the other lifts up. This gives a huge wedge shaped tent often with ladder access at the high end. You get more head height and only one end to close. But really you can only sleep one way round in them. So park facing downhill!

I've had both designs and currently have an EziAwn and a James Baroud on my set up. So best of both worlds.

Each have pros' and cons but there's a taster to be going on with.

Oh just to add, most of the pramhood design can be fitted with a downstairs room tent too. Can be handy but you need a full height 4x4 really.

 

[User00033]

I've slept in an Eezi-Awn for around about 3 years in Africa, and later in NZ. This one:



Obviously with that much practice, we were pretty good and putting it up and down. Couple of minutes tops. That tent sheltered us from plenty of extreme torrential weather, we never got wet or cold with the right bags. It's great to share with yer girlfriend when you're young... excuse me for a moment while I go all misty eyed and reminisce for a while...

What they don't like is breezy coastal winds. The fly will flap flap all night, which can be slightly annoying. We kept the fly on all the time and devised some improved ties for the fly to reduce flap. We still have ours, it needs some minor work to the flyscreens and a new high density foam mattress to be serviceable, then as good as new. For us, at that time in our lives, it was brilliant and the key to travelling comfortably, as well as keeping us out of harms way when we had unwanted carnivorous visitors.

I would suggest for the Highlands (in summer I assume?) that you get a decent quality tent... one of the proper proven brands. There are a few knock offs that are much lighter canvas and rubbish zips. With Scottish weather in mind, you need quality to back you up.

 

[geoffrey]

i have been using a Maggiolini for a while now and very pleased with it, as others have said none of them are perfect but if you want a tent thats easy to errect comfortable, one where you can leave all your bedding in place, the pop up is the way to go.

 

[Sprocker101]

Thanks for the replies. It would be for 2 on occcasion but if I’m honest it will mainly be just me and the dog on stalking trips! I like the idea of a hard shell one as it’s quick to put up etc. Don’t see many used ones for sale so that tells me they must be pretty good. They are expensive but I don’t imagine or I hope anyway that I would ever have to replace it and beats a caravan or b&b’s in my opinion.

 

[Chris J]

No problem. I could go on and on about RTT's but it's so dependant on your individual circumstances. One thing worth considering (perhaps for others) is that the hardshells take up the whole of a 2m roof rack. The folding type usually only take up half of that and fold out over the side or rear. That way you can stick jerry cans and such up there.

For my money, the worst thing about the fold-outs is the rain cover. Most use a zip to close them over the folded tent. This can be an absolute arse, especially in the cold and wet. Where the EziAwn scores is there's no zip but a ratchet strap and cord system which is kinda fail safe and fixable unlike zips.

No you don't see many for sale and when you do they fetch good prices. The James Baroud is generally cheaper than the Maggi and a super product with a really good warranty. I had an unusual problem with my Evo and after nearly 4 years of ownership, JB replaced it with a completely new one at zero cost. All the way from Portugal.

 

[User00014]

I’ve been thinking for along time about getting a hard shell pop up roof tent, not cheap at just over £1,000 but just ideal for me and the dog on a long haul tracking trip.

I might finally treat myself this year.

 

[Sprocker101]

I say go for it, with the re-sale value, if worst comes to worst sell it on again. Which ones are you looking at leec?

 

[User00014]

I say go for it, with the re-sale value, if worst comes to worst sell it on again. Which ones are you looking at leec?

http://www.adventurehire.co.uk/product/2-person-hard-sell-roof-tent/

this one on the car, but the overland series looks very tempting but at £2k tad rich for my wallet!

 

[Sprocker101]

that looks good and pretty good price too.

 

[Chris J]

Just watching the vid there I'd say it's probably OK but I'd suggest it's a pretty cheap copy. The shell looks like its just plastic. The top range ones (yes daft money) are proper fibre glass and very strong. I think that one which is supported on two roof bars might bend considerably with a big lad in it. You can see it wobble and flex. Better to spend money on a good, rapid ground tent. Something like an OZtent maybe.


These are my two current tent set ups. The trailer has an awning which takes a sealed downstairs room and the truck has a 270 degree Foxwing awning that has zipped in sides. In any weather you can have either shade or shelter.

I've used the RTT in Scotland for stalking and its great to sleep in, but not easy to put your boots on!

 

[sauer]

What size dog? .....bugger lifting my lab up the ladder .....used to have a jack Russel as a kid that could cling vertical ladder and up on my bunk bed as a kid .

I’ve looked at these for ages too thinking I’d love that for the syndicate.....evening stalk ....come back ......jet boil and a cup of stew or wee MSR Porte rocket and a venison burger at back of the truck .....then up into the tent and up early morning stalk .....if you drive any distance it makes your time more efficient and keeps costs low .

As for sleeping in back of the car or truck ?

I do that every 5 weeks in the desert and my back and neck soon said poke this!
We have a metal fram o. The back of the GMC truck for tools......I sling my (a mock on there now and get a great nites sleep ....I’d avoid the car seats as much as possible

Paul

 

[Sprocker101]

I’m going to have to go for it me thinks. Can’t put a price on happiness!

 

[John Gryphon]

The brand is far better than one would imagine,their products are robust,very good quality gear. @ 330 GBP`s a steal.

Adventure Kings Roof Top Tent WEEKENDER , 4WD Outdoor Products - Australia

 

[Chris J]

They're a good product, but you have to remember as you bathe in an Australian summer, it p***s it down in Scotland, it's cold, it snows, blows a hoolie and nice light flysheet material tents just don't really work. I took mine down to the Sahara and frankly could have slept out in a hammock, but when back stalking in Scotland it was -9 and snowing like a scene from the Lion, the witch and the cupboard under the stairs. You really need a heavier fabric in the UK.

 

[Sprocker101]

If they are available over here I’d love to take a look as Chris J says the weather is a bit different in Scotland but I won’t rule them out.

 

[Sprocker101]

If they are available over here I’d love to take a look as Chris J says the weather is a bit different in Scotland but I won’t rule them out.

 

[Chris J]

I've not seen them in the UK but if you fancy that sort of style and price range, there are alternatives. They are a bit flappy in the wind. If you get a single skin one be prepared for condensation issues. Just had a quick look and not seen anything that pops out on e bay but they are around if you look.