3 Problems with Roof Top Tents and How To Fix Them Category: Dad's Dirt Roads: A Blog on Wed Sep 21, 2011 by Mark Stephens on Wed Sep 21, 2011 Oh, come on now, it looks much more complicated than it really is. Though they're atypical, roof top tents could very well be the answer to the comfort woes of those who don't approve of sleeping on the ground. Inside (and up top) is a pleasant foam mattress the size of a queen bed. Plus you'll appreciate that private stand-up space within the walls of the lower room when it comes time to change your underwear, take a shower, or bail out of the rain. As you can see, one entire side of that lower portion also detaches and rolls up; it could also be staked outward in awning fashion giving you a lovely veranda under which to sip morning coffee, listen to songbirds, and get amped up for a bike ride in the pines. Like all things in life, this comfort comes with a trade off or two. After owning this tent or one like it for the past six years, I've sorted out some downsides, lived with them, and found a few answers to them.
1. Taking it on and off the roof is a pain A roof tent weighs between 100 lbs and 175 lbs, and their size and shape add to the challenge. But I've found a way to put it on and take it off without a helper - it's now a one person job. And I'm serious when I say it's pretty easy, too. There are two parts to this. Make a cart/skateboard for your tent. You'll spend about $30 in strong caster wheels, and maybe $30 in a sheet of 3/4" plywood. See it in this video. Use a tip and roll onto the tail gate. Or if you don't have a tail gate, a table or chair would work. The cart not only lets you maneuver the tent around your garage but it makes a dandy place to store the tent. When it's time to get this thing on your vehicle, roll it on out and position it. Keep the tent on end, tip it toward the tail gate and keep going. Lift up on the ground end until it's standing on the tail gate. Tip it onto the roof bars and slide the tent into place. 2. The rain fly collects rain water
Not all roof top tents suffer this fate, but, dammit, mine does and here's what I've done about it. While the bed portion of the tent is on top of the truck, there's a lower room. As you can see, it sure is awfully rectangular. The roof may slope down, yes, but it's flat and when it rains (ugh, or snows) that roof over the lower room pools up with water. What's bad about that is all that weight residing on the top of your tent and wearing things out or the water leaking through. Your nearest gear shop probably sells an extendible tarp pole. Get one or two. They're handy for a hundred different scenarios. In this instance, you use the pole to hold the center of the rain fly up so the water just runs off. sells this beauty: LINK sells a more collapsible version: LINK (I like this one better — just FYI) 3. They're dark inside Depending on your perspective, a dark tent might be just fine. Sure, you can fix that with a battery operated lantern or flashlight strapped to your noggin.
But there's a slightly better way. A roof top tent is attached to your vehicle, which means with a little bit of thinking you can fashion a more sophisticated form of lighting into your tent. LED strips are a nice choice because they're small and require such an insignificant amount of battery juice to operate. More details on how to install >>> (this site) I know you might be wondering what could be so wrong with just using flashlights or headlamps. But let me tell you, installing some lights inside is just nicer. Especially in wonky weather when you're hunkered down in the tent. For those with babies who wake up and need some attention in the night, or who have bigger kids with tiny bladders that need to be drained around midnight, we know how much of a drag it is to hunt for a flashlight in the dark. There's an element of home comfort that comes with lights attached to a ceiling. < Prev Next > More Stories You Might Like Caption This Crazy Camper How to Reduce Santa's Carbon Footprint of 67.9 Million Metric Tons
A Pretty Girl Broke Down, I Stopped to Help — Look What Happened Why Parenting Advice Sucks: A RebuttalRoof top tents (sometimes just RTT) are more popular than ever, due to their convenience and an abundance of overlanders and adventure seeking campers. Securely attached to a rack that is positioned on the roof of a truck or car, these tents can be deployed instantly. All you have to do is simply unfold them and lower a ladder to gain access to the tent.Camping from a roof top tent provides a great vantage point, and by sleeping off the ground you'll have less to worry about when it comes to bugs and critters entering your tent. Best of all, because these tents can be setup so quickly, you can spend more time hiking or fishing.We've listed some of the most popular roof top tents that will get any outdoor adventurer's blood pumping. Jetpack Skiing Seems Like a Fun Way to Break Your Legs Fishing From the Sky See the Majestic Andes Mountains in One Stunning Bike Trip
8 Things to Know Before You Hike the Appalachian Trail The California Rains Have Ruined America's Favorite Road Trip Yosemite's 'Firefall' Phenomenon Lights Up the Cliffs of El Capitan A New Dead Sea Scrolls Cave Has Been Discovered Let a Daredevil Talk You Through His Craziest Stunt Yet This River Makes a Rare Kind of Ice That Looks Like Diamonds This Small Town is Apparently America's #1 Up-And-Coming Vacation Destination Extra-rugged frame and poles: 2mm wall thickness, small diameter, aluminum tubing Three oversized fully-zippered no-see-um mesh windows with patent-pending roll-up awning Patented removable shoe/utility storage bags Patent-pending quick release hand screws for easy install & removal Heavy duty rubber storage latches Utility net on tent base underside for additional storage Tough, all metal structure, hinges and receivers Condensation sleeves on all exposed metal frames Large hinges (store bedding inside tent while collapsed)
2.5" high-density foam mattress with removable condensation-proof mattress cover Goal Zero® Solar Ready D rings for hanging lighting and solar panels Additional material for tent, rainfly and meshing repairs Fits on any vehicle with most standard roof racks Matching Annex can be added for additional living space for additional cost Our third generation of Roof-Top Tents are our best yet. Designed by us, and built according to our specifications, the new tents are lighter and more aerodynamic than ever. All Gen3 tents are Solar Ready, designed in collaboration with Goal Zero® to seamlessly integrate with their numerous solar products. The Constellation's dual skylights allow for natural light to enter the tent even with the fly on. It features a rugged, lightweight aluminum honeycomb base, the strongest and most durable tent base on the market. Aluminum tubing with 2mm wall thickness, makes the tent both light weight and extra rugged. And it comes with Treeline's signature oversized patent-pending awning windows that can be rolled up for unrestricted views.
Other features unique to Treeline include our patented utility/storage bags, utility net on the underside for additional storage, hi-tech Diamond Ripstop rainfly, and heavy duty rubber latches for storing heavier gear like rods and paddles, keeping them safe and out of the way. As always, the tents setup and take down in minutes. Large hinges allow storage of bedding inside the tent while collapsed. It also comes with a built-in, waterproof, high density 2 1/2" foam mattress made for max sleeping comfort that can stay inside the tent during travel. COLOURS: Grey/Orange or Treeline Green Base: 23mm Aluminum Honeycomb Rain Fly & Annex 380g Poly/Cotton Ripstop Canvas PU Coated Water-resistant 1000 mm Mold and mildew resistant coating 420D Diamond Ripstop Polyester Oxford PU Coated Waterproof 3000mm 2 1/2" High Density Foam 190D Polyester Taffeta, Waterproof, Removable 2000D coated durable Polyester Taffeta (PVC), Waterproof 49 x 56 x 12″