Roof Top Tents

Couldn’t find a solid comparison thread so figured I would ask here. Looking for a solid option that would work for my wife and the pup. Too many options to count so wanted to get some input from you guys. I can get some good deals through Yakima and tepui for their set-ups, but I know there is a lot more out there. It won’t be going on the tundra for now. The lx470 is the trail and camping rig. Will likely just mount it up on some Thule cross bars until I get a custom rack. Pictures are great if you have them!

 

They are only cool on Instagram. Take a minute and think about the logistics of using it. Get you a proper lady canvas tent. Thank me later.

https://elliscanvastents.com/product/prairie-tent-canvas/

 

Haha touché. The convenience is hard to beat. I’ve had pretty good experience with RTTs overall! Those are some pretty sweet tents though

 

I’ve had a Tepui kukenam 3 for 5 years now on the tundra and old 4Runner. Love it. 14 days through Utah with 2 people and a 50lb dog. Plenty of room.

 

Thanks for the info! Do you have the ruggedized version? How is it holding up? Also, how did you mount it on the 4Runner? Sorry for all the questions

 

Started out with a Tepui Ayer 2. Good tent but after using it for a year and running into high winds at Alabama Hills I changed to a hard shell tent. Went with Roofnest Sandpiper and it’s been great with about 800 miles on dirt this year.

 

No, I bought it used from a guy who had it about 3 years. No ruggedized version back then. I have the weathershield that works well in rain/snow and high winds. Plus the insulator and heater buddy for the real cold nights.
It’s held up very well considering it’s probably 8 years old and used 50+ nights a year, already around 65 this year. Zippers are starting to catch sometimes but always zips up. I’ll get a couple more years out of her.

I had the utility Bajarack. Ran it on the oem crossbars for one summer without issues though.

 

I was wondering why is the roof top tent so popular?
Why not just sleep in the back of a regular
Good solid camper shell?

 

How did you train your dog to climb a ladder?

 

She always tried but with no success. She jumped on my shoulder and I lifted her in and out. 50# pit so smallish but solid.

 

With the height of our trucks I prefer the hard shell after having a soft shell for a year.

 

Seems practical . Lots of pros to ground tent over rtt. NVM the payload concerns with Tundras.

 

Unreal. I’m sure you got a great deal. I’ve been watching out for a used one now for the better part of 6 months and there is nothing out there. Even new tents are hard to come by! Good to know they are worth the high price tag though

 

Looks great, Tepui? What rack for the truck?

 

I’d want a hardshell, but I went with a slide in camper.

 

It’s a James Baroud on an RLD topper with an @upTOPOverland rack (front and rear)

 

Would be nice that’s for sure. Price tag jumps up a bit though. Especially for more space

 

I vote skip the RTT and get a habitat or similar. By the time you factor a RTT plus topper or rack, it’s really not that much more money and you get way more space. Plus i can be setup in 2 minutes and packed up in 5.

 

Hard shells are definitely the way to go if you go with a RTT. The soft covers are a pain to deal with and the zippers always fall apart and are filled with dirt

 

Definitely something to consider if I were to start taking it out on the tundra. That is a sweet set up

 

are those Titan forged wheels on your tundra?

 

They are SCS Ray 10’s

 

Rooftop tents allow you to use your bed for supplies, tools, recovery equipment, spare tires, gas cans, generator, food, water, stove, etc. Really great for camping, overlanding where you want to spend days or even weeks out in the middle of nowhere. I've seen Tundras with racks looks like a lumber rack and the big rtt extends the entire length of the truck.

 

Smittybuilt gen II
Prinsu rack
Leer with supports

happy ! Takes 15 min to set up take down. So not the fastest. But great price

 

The new overland journal just did a hard shell review FYI. They ranked the GFC RTT as their favorite due to size, weight, setup (and a few other factors) as the editors pick.

 

I have the relentless bed bars and a 62” 23zero breezeway on order. Should be level with the cab of the truck. 62” is perf in that it’s gonna be near the same size as the Crew max bed without hanging off.

 

I have been thinking about getting a roof rack. Either between uptop or victory. How do you like it? quality? how bad is the wind noise?

 

There is almost none honestly. When I get a strong crosswind there is definitely noise but that’s to be expected (and some of it comes from my midland antenna and ditch lights). And with the LP6’s, waterport and jack nada normally. I’m partial to Uptop because their customer service is second to none and craftsmanship is incredible. Small things like the handles are the attention to detail that made me go with them. I told @upTOPOverland they should refuse to sell roof racks on a full size without grab handles lol. I use them all the time!

 

Plus the rock light mounts are awesome when it comes to illuminating camp (I use red lights in mine)

 

Cool, thanks for the reply