Tentbox
- Thread starter jon 12
- Start date
Be mindful of where you leave your vehicle with tent attached. Heard our local VW dealership had an amorak in for some work, and it was parked up in the dealership car park over night. Come the next morning the tent box had been cut off and taken!
They do seem great though, even my wife likes the idea so may look into it ourselves.
They do seem great though, even my wife likes the idea so may look into it ourselves.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
I have used roof tents in Namibia and quite like them. But they are a lot of money for a tent, and the biggest challenge is that you have to fold them away if you want to use the car. I think a decent free standing bell type tent (with a wood burning stove) and a couple of camp beds would be a much better and cheaper option.
Am also not sure I would want to be in a roof tent in proper British summer time weather ( ie blowing a gale and ****ing with rain).
Am also not sure I would want to be in a roof tent in proper British summer time weather ( ie blowing a gale and ****ing with rain).
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
Also worth considering the need to find a flat spot to park, but have seen plenty of folk using them and seemingly enjoying them.
jon 12
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the replies, I would only consider the hard shell type, seem very easy to put up and down, it would just be for the odd night away, on top of a Ford ranger, two dogs in the back of truck and me and the boss up top. Coming close to retirement and just looking to get about and enjoy life, it's more so because of the dogs.
Slightly of topic but this afternoon walked past a caravan showroom here in sunny Chorley. Any number of second hand VW van type campers, with the tent/extending roof models. £60.000 plus. I couldn't get my head around the price and the running costs, thinking how far would 60K plus costs get you away on holiday for leisure or shooting.
jon 12
Well-Known Member
I know what you mean, some bas##rds will steal anything.
I have a rooftent on my pickup. It's one of the most fun and most useful things I've bought. I didn't like the hard shell ones much ( too much to go wrong, and not so fixable when they do), and avoided softshell options where the cover was secured by about 15ft of zip (same reasons).
Looked at many brands and models, seeking simplicity, sturdiness of construction, heavy-duty fabric and value for money (in terms of how much space you get per £).
Eventually settled on Wildland Wildcruiser 160 which, when set up (takes about 3 minutes) gives us a full-size double bed, plus a covered outdoor space alongside the pickup. Softshell secured by buckle clips.
The 250 model would have been better value in terms of space/£, but physically very difficult to lift on and off the vehicle. The 160 weighs about 75kg, and my wife and I can lift it onto the roof between us. During the summer it stays permanently attached, so we can snatch an impromptu night away without preparation. Have used it in the winter too.
Highly recommended.
Looked at many brands and models, seeking simplicity, sturdiness of construction, heavy-duty fabric and value for money (in terms of how much space you get per £).
Eventually settled on Wildland Wildcruiser 160 which, when set up (takes about 3 minutes) gives us a full-size double bed, plus a covered outdoor space alongside the pickup. Softshell secured by buckle clips.
The 250 model would have been better value in terms of space/£, but physically very difficult to lift on and off the vehicle. The 160 weighs about 75kg, and my wife and I can lift it onto the roof between us. During the summer it stays permanently attached, so we can snatch an impromptu night away without preparation. Have used it in the winter too.
Highly recommended.
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i bought one last weekend and stayed put last saturday night for an evening stalk and the following ’morning. Was easy as anything to set up, 60 seconds or so, and about 10 minutes to pack down all tucked in securely for a 1hr 40min drive.
Bit of extra road noise as to be expected but already have bf goodrich all terrain so always a bit nosier than a standard car.
The stabdard mattress was very comfy and even in a fair wind the tent felt very sturdy.
Overall based on the 1 night i have slept it in it I would recommend one to anyone.
Bit of extra road noise as to be expected but already have bf goodrich all terrain so always a bit nosier than a standard car.
The stabdard mattress was very comfy and even in a fair wind the tent felt very sturdy.
Overall based on the 1 night i have slept it in it I would recommend one to anyone.
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easy, just unzip and pee out the door.Hope when you guys wake up in middle of night for a pi55 that you remember where you are whilst still half asleep !….
Doctor” so how did you manage to ****er bother yer legs ?”
You “ well doctor you see ….”
jon 12
Well-Known Member
This is the exact one I was thinking about, same sort of plan sometimes as well, especially in the. Summer months with very little time between sun down and sun up.
jon 12
Well-Known Member
It's always a bonus that I even wake up these daysHope when you guys wake up in middle of night for a pi55 that you remember where you are whilst still half asleep !
Doctor” so how did you manage to ****er bother yer legs ?”
You “ well doctor you see ….”
@jon 12,
I reasoned that if a hard shell got damaged it wouldn't be self repairable, but a soft cover could be. Decision justified when my wife drove under a low barrier and damaged the cover. Easily repaired with a lorry tarp patch in identical material and colour. Hard cover would have smashed like an eggshell. Also, many of the hard shell models had gas lifts to raise them, which is just another thing to go wrong imo. The hard shell tents didn't give as much space per £ spent either.
Another thing I wanted to avoid was guy ropes. Some models (hard and soft) need to be tensioned up with guy ropes and I reckoned that would just be extra faffing about.
The only setting up mine requires is remove cover, flip open tent, fit tension strut in porch.
I reasoned that if a hard shell got damaged it wouldn't be self repairable, but a soft cover could be. Decision justified when my wife drove under a low barrier and damaged the cover. Easily repaired with a lorry tarp patch in identical material and colour. Hard cover would have smashed like an eggshell. Also, many of the hard shell models had gas lifts to raise them, which is just another thing to go wrong imo. The hard shell tents didn't give as much space per £ spent either.
Another thing I wanted to avoid was guy ropes. Some models (hard and soft) need to be tensioned up with guy ropes and I reckoned that would just be extra faffing about.
The only setting up mine requires is remove cover, flip open tent, fit tension strut in porch.
So far cover is standing up well to uv / wind / abrasion etc, and I've done a few thousand miles with it on top of the vehicle. Wife asked same question on rooftent Facebook group, and one chap who responded has had his softshell tent permanently attached to vehicle for over 5 years.
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