Ground Tent versus Vehicle Roof Tent. The Overland Workshop
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Ground Tent versus Vehicle Roof Tent. The Overland Workshop
Roof-top tent:
Secure from wild animals, to a point.
A rapid evacuation from the area is not possible.
More secure from insects and scorpions.
Security from mosquitoes depends on tent quality.
Even the large ones can only sleep two adults, and even then it’s cramped.
Leave the bags in the vehicle.
Takes a shorter time to erect, perhaps 20%.
Easy to unpack. Some are awkward to pack up and return to its cover. Some are easy.
Must be collapsed and packed away fully before the vehicle can be moved, for a game drive etc.
Warmer.
If the ground is not level, the vehicle can be made level with rocks etc.
You have to be a bit of a contortionist to get dressed and undressed in a roof top tent.
The mattress and sleeping bags can be left inside as the tent is folded away, saving space in the vehicle. A distinct advantage.
Roof tents weigh between 50 and 75 kgs, thereby reducing the remaining weight permitted on roof.
Lifts the centre of gravity, and therefore caused a significant reduction is safety when travelling at high speed on tar, or at low speed on sand dunes and rough, sandy tracks,
Increases fuel consumption
Ground tent - typical, bow style 3-man
Less secure from wild animals although they are not a real danger, more a perceived one.
Keeping the flap zipped up is more important.
Security from mosquitoes depends on tent quality.
Most tents advertised as three-man bow tents can easily accommodate three adults and their bags.
Often less effort to pack away, depending on the make.
Self-standing. More convenient.
You can almost stand up.
If there is no level ground or it’s covered with rocks, too bad!
The ground can be very hard and cold.
Tent must be emptied when packed away.
In comparison, lightweight and can be carried anywhere.
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by far the best 4x4 show in any media.
Ronny Dahl is good too. Worth a watch.
@@Outland9000 oh yes, I watch both, Ronny has a LOT of experience and Andrew is besides such a good storyteller! always entertaining
One benefit I can see in having a roof top tent is minimizing the risk of getting run over by drunk people trying to drive in busy campgrounds.
I have a RTT and one big advantage is that you can camp anywhere you can park. Dirt, mud, gravel, concrete, rocks. Anywhere you can get the truck or trailer it's on reasonable level. Another advantage is that if it rains it doesn't get muddy like a ground tent can. It is also much, much more comfortable to sleep in than a ground tent.
But... you have to park very level. And you can't use your car at all during the day without packing it up.
The packing up and putting the cover on a high vehicle be a problem for me.
You can't beat the view in the morning in a roof top tent...
unless you wake up urgently needing a piss
I'm falling more and more out of love with the idea of a RTT with each one of these videos on the subject. I think I will stick to sleeping in the truck or using the springbar for bigger groups.
i think the rooftop tents satisfy a primal urge for us primates to sleep in the trees.. i like the idea of being up higher even if in reality it's not any safer. The look cool too. For me its going to come down to price. There is a huge variety of choices in ground tents in the under $500 usd range. Coleman makes an good tent that you can find for $130. Rooftop tents seem to pretty much be in the $1200 to $1500 range. That's a significant difference. Excellent video 4xOverland. I love all the great content you put out.
I have been camping for many years. I do have many ground tents and a roof top tents. The biggest disadvantage of a rooftop tents is, if you're all set up and need to go somewhere short distance or go down the shop. you have to pack it all up again. with the ground and you can just leave it there. and go exploring. Also it take up too much Space on the roof rack.
And some National Parks in the USA have beautiful walk-in sites only a couple hundred feet from the parking lot. Each has their place, but roof tents were originally designed for an Australian or African setting.
so basically you camp next to parking lots. Meeeeeeeeh. USA outdoors mostly sucks. Tight, controlled and for a fee. Does not have the right feel.
Sam Sam The USA isn't always that bad, but if you put it that way, European outdoors is the suckiest then?
Swim in a lake while camping and you get a ticket.
Sam Sam yeah look it does suck but the benefits outweigh it
I can listen to this gentleman speak all day long.
Excellent points regarding animals. Perceived threat mostly. I've heard that roof top tents stay cleaner on the inside and are better at keeping creepy crawlies away, like ants and ticks. Ideas?
"Wow, that's a nice looking pair of Crocs" Said no one ever
Very glad you posted this. I was almost talked into this style of RTT by a few people who said that it was no problem for one person to set it up. Now, I think the AirTop is the best way to go.
Great points. RTT also take away roof storage. In very bad conditions I just sleep in my rig. But mostly a tarp and simple tent! It seems folks want to make things more complicated than it needs to be. Thanks
You always give an honest unbiased review and that's why you the best
This has made me smile knowing that for so long doubted that i had defenitely made the right choice with buying a ground tent
Having all of the aforementioned tents in this clip, I think that the single biggest omission from the discussion is the quality of sleep that you get. After all, isn't that what it's all about? Would you go for a simple tent that's awful to sleep in or something more complicated that was super comfortable? Maybe something in between. Certainly it's my experience that anything in the Northern hemisphere, getting up off the ground is the single biggest differentiator. You can do that in a ground tent but then you need a cot bed as well. Roof tents whatever sort they are are just so much better in terms of thermal comfort. I slept out in mine in -9 degrees C recently. Awoke to 6" of snow. Superbly warm all night long.
I do agree with some of the points written in the description above but some additions should be made. A comparable sized roof tent is bigger than ground tent. I have a Bergans 3 man tent, when I sit up in it my head is touching the inner tent but in the RTT I have well over 15cm of clearance over my head. Comfort, the RTT wins hands down every time, try finding a perfectly level spot to pitch your tent and sleep comfortably. Even when I thought I've aced it and have the best spot ever, there's always a small rock or root that's digging in my back. Inclement weather, the RTT is better. Sturdy constructed frame and thick tenting material fends of the outside weather very well. My ground tent is not as sturdy even using the ground anchors plus puddling is a big concern when tenting. As for wild animals in their habitat, it can't be stressed enough that they are WILD ANIMALS! Don't ever assume anything with them nor put any trust in them, be on your guard and be safe. Here in Sweden we have wild boars and bears, I know the the feeling of having wild boars outside my ground tent sniffing around and banging into things outside of my tent, yes sir I'll take my RTT every time I revisit those woods. A RTT may not be as versatile as a ground tent but don't let it restrict you either. I switch between my utility trailer and my Land Rover's roll cage for mounting points. As for COG, I would like to think also that if a person decided to place the RTT on top of their vehicle that they would have done their homework concerning manufacturer recommendations for max roof load, total carrying capacity for their vehicle applying it to the total weight of their kit & RTT. Knowing these figures they seek professional advice and upgrade their suspensions accordingly.
Watched this video before but now after looking to buy a rooftop tent and researching myself appreciate this video a lot more. Tossing up between a quick launch rooftop tent and a clam shell. Seems most of the clam shells have poor ventilation except the very $5,000+ expensive ones but worried the quick launch rooftop tent cover will get annoying. Will take your advice and go see them in the showrooms and have a play around.
I've been wanting to add a RTT to my Jeep for a while but the detractors for me so far are 1) requires a good roof rack to hold the weight (Gobi makes a nice one, around $1600 US dollars). 2) The large cost of the roof rack and the tent itself which runs from $800 to $1400. 3) As you stated in your video, it's not a clear improvement. There are pros and cons, but as far as cons go, the cost is a pretty big one. And finally 4) With all that on my Jeep, I won't be able to park it in my garage at home anymore as it won't fit in the door (too high). Sure, I could take it on and off, but it's 125lbs (the one I;m looking at) and my Jeep is pretty high, so that would be a difficult undertaking to do solo every time I want a tent. Consequently, I'm still sleeping on the ground in a $150 dollar standard tent.
Like you, I think price is the biggest complaint that I have with the RTT. The inconvenience of having to carry the RTT around with you everywhere you go (when not out camping) and the ability to park inside a garage - whether yours or a shop for repairs to be made are big cons as well.
That said (a year ago), I bought a Gobi Stealth roof rack and a CVT Mt. Bachelor RTT for my Jeep just recently. I'm kind of tired of sleeping on the ground and setting up / breaking down a tent every day on the trail. The RTT is so much easier to setup, you can leave your sleeping bags and pillow in it when you fold it up. The only real cons are the added weight up high on your Jeep, the inability to park in the garage when its attached, etc...but I went with a smaller RTT (85lbs) that sets up in minutes and breaks down in around 10 minutes. I haven't mounted I yet but will be doing so next weekend, weather permitting. I think I'll be mounting it during the spring and removing it for the fall...but we'll see. I do fancy some winter camping as well, so maybe it will be on more then I think. Who knows.
another argument in favor of a roof tent is that you are not lying on a cold and/or damp (sometimes flooded) ground, which is the case here in Patagonia, but then on the other side you are far more exposed to the wind, which in this cold climate can develop into a huge disadvantage... being so I would rather go for the pickup truck... so the comparison remains even, and only terrain and weather conditions would make me decide in every case (over here wind is a big issue!)
Learn of the day : Don't wear Crocs :)
This being said, cool video!
+CA Guns
9 out of 10 people who wear crocs are brain dead to begin with ;-)
I like to give my impressions of the RTT vs ground tent. For many years I have been using 3 person ground tents and found them to be a hassle to set up, crawl into and keep creepy crawlies out of. Since using a RTT, the Jazz in this case, I have been extremely happy. Setup with all poles in position is easy and I do it on my own from within the tent. You need to be a bit flexible for this as it demands some bending and stretching, good exercise though. Same is packing up. I do it on my own and just reverse the procedure. No hassle or stress and still faster then ground tent. Sleeping in the RTT is another positive for me as it is extremely comfortable and feels so good to look into the surroundings in the mornings.
Great video! With this kind of experience, your advice really weighs heavy! We generally travel with a ground tent. We are two adults and two children. Roof tent ha been on my -really wonder if the safety is worth it- list for some time. I guess now it's not any more.We would need a huge one, or two of them. You can have a really good quality groumd tent for the price of a simple roof tent. And we pack really efficiently, so space is not a big issue. We use a 80 series. Biggest complaint with ground tent is crawly critters, ground conditions and moisture. But all of those issues can be delt with by preparing in advance by having the right equipment.
Great video. I think one important thing to mention is that the rooftop tent renders your vehicle immobile. So, if you need to leave in a rush (medical emergency) or just want to go on a game drive; you will need to close tent first. I have found that if I am on an expedition that breaks camp everyday to move on, the convenience of the rooftop tent is great. However, if I am spending several days in the same location and will (or may) need to move the vehicle for any reason, then I prefer to use a ground tent or trailer tent.
Also to add that once the roof top tent is set up, you cant really move the vehicle to go and do anything. At least you have that freedom with a ground tent.
You can move around a bit with the tent open just not over maybe 10-15 mph
Just don't set the tent up till ready to camp.
good review! when you mention the importance of leaving the pillows and sleeping bag on the tent I think in my vw t3, i leave everything inside the pop up roof.
Excellent video, for me as a single traveller there are too many cons to a RTT. I will stick with a ground tent or sleep in the truck. Great shirt, Columbia PFG. hard to find in UK so I buy them in SE Asia, they last for years!
Informative video, Thanks a lot! Although I've used it twice in Botswana and Namibia, in Israel we have very tiny land to cover and usually we use the ground tents
I use the roof of my 2008 Hummer because S. NV snakes can kill me. Thanks for sharing, as always :|
For me the worst part of a rooftop tent is that once it is deployed, it makes it very difficult to go for a quick game drive. Ditto for an early morning drive. A plus not mentioned is the view of your surrounding bush with which you could wake up in the morning with a RRT by far surpasses that from a ground tent.
Thanks for that, as its just for me... a "Clam Shell " Bundutop it is.... like your enthusiasm and info..
I like being off the ground. I don't have a rooftop tent. I bought a truck bed trailer that had a camper shell/topper and put a full size bed mattress inside that with storage space underneath. When I went beach camping with my friend and his family, they all had ground tents. The second day there the wind picked up really bad and blew hard inland all day. This caused a tidal surge and they all woke up with the tide washing into their tents (the previous night the tide didn't even come close to us - that's how bad the wind was). I was elevated so I was clear.
On another occasion we got rained on really bad over night. The water started pooling around some of their tents making for a miserable night.
My friend's wife wound up buying this tent that folds out like a cot off the ground. It is a single person tent, but seems to work really well - she loves it.
In my experience the great advantage of a ground tent, not mentioned, is that once you’ve set your camp your vheicle is free and you don’t have to pack it all every time you want to drive around. While visiting Southern Africa National Parks we use to wake up very early, go for the morning game drive, then at 9 or 10 am we’re back at the camp, we pack everything and spend the hottest hours moving to the next camp. When we arrive at the new place is the same... we arrive about 4 pm, we pitch the ground tent and all the camp and we exit for the afternoon drive. This way we can stay out until the very last light and when we’re back we don’t have to struggle with tents in the dark. Double value if you stay 2 or 3 nights in the same camp.
Used a ground tent for a few years as wasnt convinced about a rtt, bought a 1.2m eezi awn, i much prefer the rtt, feels much more comfortable and sleep much better, easy to pack away alone, actually i take a small ground tent also, gives me the option.
Informative video, good narrator with personality.
you mentioned excellent points as far as center of gravity and likeliness of animals attacking. I will subscribe and watch some more of your videos. good job
totally agree instead of a $1500 RTT my solution that i used for many years was a $100 dome tent with my bedding and mattress inside all the time and rolled up like a swag. for overnighters it was unroll, install 2 poles and i was all done. no more than 2 minutes and that includes bedding. it was soo easy i would wait till bed time and put it under the awning so i didn't need the fly. if iwas there for longer another 5 min and its all set up for the week. the best thing though was the pack up. fly just shoved in the bag because its only half full and you roll the tent, mattress and bedding in one go. throw in the back seat and away you go.
The risk of falling in the middle of the night is enough for me, great review.
We've got a rear fold camper trailer and an Oztent RV5 both get used depending on the trips. Having been away with a couple with an RTT, my thoughts are that both of mine are faster than an RTT...
Great, but not all ground tents are equal. Be nice to see a ground tent comparison, e.g. Quecha pop-up, Caranex, Oztent
Great feedback!!! It was a clear and experience based feedback.
The only real benefit I can see about the roof top tents is that there's no worry of groundwater issues but if you know how to pick a campsite, that's not really a concern.
that is why I like my 12oz canvas 4 man tourer tent, 4 pegs and centre pole. the pain is the mattress and sleeping bag etc
In Idaho, United States, so many people are incredibly fearful of bears. I consider myself lucky to even get a glimpse of one. Most animal fears are totally unfounded.
really great points that I didnt even consider. Thanks!!
I live in the US where we have zero elephants or hippos, yet suddenly I'm worried about them and keeping that in mind with my next tent purchase.
My issue with roof top tents and I'm surprised he didn't mention it. I like to set up camp quickly and head off exploring/fishing etc... You cant really do that with a roof top tent... You can drive off with a ground touring tent.
very sharp narration, enjoyable
excellent video! I have wanted a rooftop tent for years and I've wanted to hear from someone who owns and actually uses theirs. Great job, this video really compares the two styles of tent well. I just subscribed to your channel and I look forward to your future videos! -Mark
I solved most of the disadvantages of the roof tent by getting myself a Bundutop. Sure you cant stand up in it, though there is an add on annexe room available. I just uploaded a video to my channel showing me putting it up and down in the wind in real time with a timer so you can truly see what its like. If you have time have a look.
You can open the side window from inside the tent than climbing up from outside
Great information. Just what I needed to know. Thank You!
just subscribed to you, amazing chanel i'm looking to set up my JK and out of all the videos i've watched you are my favourite, keep killing it guys
excellent video thank you
Do they protect against squirrels?
I think price is a big negative for a decent RTT as well, coupled with having to climb down a ladder to go for a pee in the middle of the night! Although biggest negative is loss of the roof for additional storage. However a big plus, esp. when in the desert/sandy environments is that you don't get sand blowing in and through the tent, same with water in the event of heavy rainfall. Overall it's just more comfortable for less effort - I sleep with a duvet/sheet rather than sleeping bag for instance.I have a Medium Autohome AirTop, there's loads of room, marketed as two plus a child which is totally believable. It's one of the best purchases I've made.
Roof top tent from '4wdsupacentre' if price is issue. Personally I go with ground touring tent
Hello from the US, great video!
Wish you'd gave demoed assembly and packing away ,, but thanks man helpful :)
We shot that a week ago in Namibia. Will be released sometime in the next month or so. Keep watching!
great stuff ,,, great vid and great to see you man, hows that special troopy?
an other good thing whit a roof tent is that you will always get a plane surface to sleep on....witch you need luck to find and some wooden area
Try the jimba jimba by sheepie, does have more space and you can open the windows from the inside
cool channel mate .. keep it up keep us entertained
So... the only thing to fear are Croc's.
No, just their shoes
A little difficult to see but it looks like they sent him a older model to use, the newer ones have an improved ladder with the rungs flat and they have a non-slip surface and not mounted on the ladder with the skinny edge up like this one, and it looks like this one has a plywood flooring, again the newer ones have a aluminum honeycomb floor.
I could see how you could slip on that ladder when it is damp and really hurt yourself. I have the newer version and I still have to be careful getting out of the thing, but I am 60 and not as agile as I used to be.
Part 2? please show how it opens and closes as well as the interior. Plus the space with people inside.
Thank you. Very informative.
Does the car move a lot when you're stroking in there?
A roof top tent is way more comfortable because you have a actual mattress compared to air beds and those useless roll up foam things, you also don't have to go looking for a spot with no rocks or anything so you don't have to sleep awkwardly to avoid the thing
Excellent video and information. What is a "clam shell" style tent, though? I would have thought you might call any folding roof-top tent a "clam shell" style???
I want to get a Roof Top tent for my Land Rover!
Have you ever come across ikamper? I've seen on their IG nice looking hardtop roof tent on a LR 😅
Thanks, mate! Great video!
Great video, really enjoyed it.
When you add up the amount of time getting all the stuff out of the rooftop bag, getting it into the tent, blowing up the air mattress @ 8000 ft, then rolling up the sleeping bag, folding the air mattress, getting the tent back onto its bag, and getting it all neatly tucked back in the rooftop bag, there is no comparison. The roof top tent wins hands down.
oztent about the same than RTT
I’ve been thinking about the difference myself… contemplating a Shiftpod III
Very objective review. Key words. 'Reasonably athletic' and add, have a constitution which does not require frequent toilet visits at night. After 12 years of using both, I cannot disagree with anything Andrew has said. Go and try one out first.
Good stuff. Really helpful.
Great information, thank you!
great explanation, cheers!
My biggest problem with roof top tents is the cost. For the number of times I'd use one in a year, I just can't justify it.
As always, good sensible, based on experience advice.
Bit of skateboard tape on that ladder will solve the slippery thang. Simple. Cheap. Effective.
LOL! In the city this could protect us from Human animals! Cool!
if you're moving to Australia, a rooftop tent is negligible. There are no big game here to harass you and an Oztent (which you have previously demonstrated in RSA) is more than you need to be safe and comfortable. Yes, you hit the point with major weight distribution above the centre of gravity on the roof rack
snakes, crocodiles, wild pigs?
Thank you sir for good explantion ..
No man should be wearing Crocs anyways.
Right, are they going on Safari or swimming, lol.
could have sworn i was watching Attenborough at the start
Holy shit, giraffes? I think it's cool when I see chipmunks when I go camping.
what about an elephant or hippo with a splinter in its foot? and no mouse to be found?
thanks for the info! what chairs are you using? they look very supportive
Love your videos. So, there was a long list of disadvantages to roof tents and the only advantage was storage for pillows and sleeping bags...really? Everyone is spending $2000+ for a roof top tent for pillow storage?...I'm surprised. I thought it was for protection from nasty spiders and snakes and other crawlies.
+ More warmth (if needed) + quick assembly + cleaner + he did mention psychology re perceived animal fears
Being an owner of a roof top tent this gentlemen is making it way more complicated then it should be. Either he's inept or just don't know what's he's doing. Taking off the cover, undoing 4 straps and pulling the ladder over, and connecting 8 rain flap rods and your tent is up and ready. It's a 5 minute process to setup and 6-7 to put back up. I got a RTT because of the convenience of being able to camp anywhere that my truck goes, I don't have to worry about ground surface or finding a level spot to pitch a tent. Of course, there are CONS to owning a RTT but it certainly out weights by the benefits for me and how I camp.
I've been on hundreds of expeditions and used many, many types of tents in all kind of conditions. I have never, ever seen a RTT that is five minutes for one person to erect. You have never actually timed yourself is my guess. If you have, I would love to know who makes it. Also, it is true that they require one to climb onto the roof to erect properly. Its unavoidable and impossible for older people. How is that is the easiest solution to erect a tent? Inept or insightful?
How do you feel a roof top tent does in heavy wind?/rain? We are doing the panamarica, but mostly beachside.
I think that is a clamshell tent, the other kind he's talking about is hardshell tents.
Happy Shopping 😀
Will it protect me from mosquitoes. Those are the most dangerous beasts that I would be worried about.
RTT's generally weigh 60+ kilo + whatever they're mounted to. The ladder on that RTT looks crap. The rungs are too narrow which is both hard on the feet and dangerous as there is reduced contact area with your feet. It's far safer to climb RTT ladders in socks or bare feet. This keeps the ladder rungs free of mud and dirt and the inside of tent cleaner. Have a bag or such at the top of the ladder for your shoes so no animal carts them off and they don't get wet from rain or dew.
can you get the canopy youve put on your truck in Canada? I love it!
this video gave me a very interesting thought and id like to get some advice from you or really anyone who feels they can give me a good answer
i have a Jeep, i love the concept of overlanding and thats slowly the direction my jeep has started to head as far as build. i love adventuring traveling and i want to spend my life exploring this world. what would you guys recommend as a career path/ program i could get in where i can travel/ overland or anything along those lines. im not so much concerned about pay because i dont need millions of dollars to be happy. obviously ill need some source of income for food and gas etc but at the end of it im more concerned with what kind of job would allow me/ involve a lot of traveling the world/overlanding. any ideas?
Andrew, there’s a roof top tent from S. Korea. Clam shell design that can sleep 3-4 person. Could you review the iKamper. Is the quality and durability really worth the huge price compared to others? I’m looking for a a hard shell and you are more detailed in your reviews compared to other youtubers. Does this RTT hold up to harsh conditions. Are there cheaper one that could hold up to 4 seasons that won’t break the bank.
This video about 5 yrs old and yes Andrew that RTT (roof top tent) is a great one. I used to have two with different widths. When the kids left home I sold the more narrow one. You might be referring to the canvas Bow Tents, and basically there are two to consider for two adults, the one is 2,5 x 2,m and the larger one is 3 x 3 m. The latter one is big and pending on type of canvas can be heavy to carry and the 3 x 3 m is ideal if you want to use to stretchers to sleep on which adds more to your packing space! You very right regarding the safety aspects of both. The biggest problem with a ground tent, you need to keep it close at all times, day and night to keep bugs, ants, ticks and at night to keep the hyena from pulling you out if the tent is not close! Regarding crocks. Well I rather wear my crocks NOT the slip-on ones rather those with a strap at the back than climbing down at night or early morning when mother nature is calling than bare foot! It's not about the wet surface due to dew but those alu bars are so narrow it hurts your feet. As someone mentioned the morning view is fantastic and if lions do visit your camp at night or early morning you have a safe viewing point! Regarding time to setup and close, well I think a RTT takes longer, especially if its mounted on top of a Land Rover Defender! I love my RTT and my canvas bow tent.
Would you say this or the alucab gen 3 is best Andrew ?
Ps I have a jacklore too :)
Have you had any experience of the Bundutec Bundutop electric roof tent?
how do these support weight and how much can they support?