For music festivals I would set up a ten man instant tent for just myself or with a girlfriend. It’s not hard and doesn’t take long if it’s one of those instant ones.
I spent over 100 nights in a tiny cheap 35$ ground tent while traveling for work. Now, having saved that money, I love my RTT and I could find these more as trade offs or frustrations.
Seriously considering buying a RTT for round the country fishing trips. Good to see a video around the negatives of the setup. If these are the biggest drawbacks with a RTT they seem like a great option. 4 min setup doesn't sound too bad haha. Cheers for the info
I think they're great for extended camping trips! And I agree, some of my complaints aren't deal breakers for many people. There is a reason they are becoming so popular, most people love them!!
I have the same tent he has, it takes me less time to prop it up just because I have it on a pickup truck. I can step on the side of the bed all around... I have my rods in the bed or on my mini pontoon in the bed of the truck. I don't remove the tent cover I just let it hang off the side, makes it super easy to work with.. If you add a little WD40 to the ladder you have nothing to worry about really. It also helps to have a tent on a pickup because I can put lights on the base of the tent and light up the bed to rig in the dark early morning.
Man the setup of a RTT is fun and something I have looked forward to it every time. Only thing you should change from what he had is buy a RTT that does have a telescoping ladder. I have the same ladder system as in video and thing only thing I am changing. Have told all my friends and family that getting the RTT is everything I hoped it would be. Love the whole concept.
The big reason I don't get a roof top tent is the cost! I priced a hard shell roof top tent. It was $3,500.00. Are you kidding me? I've been using a ground tent ever since I was a teen. I'm now 69 years old. I refuse to pay that kind of money for a glorified tent.
Good vid and some good points. I helped a friend pack up his softshell RTT the other day and it was an absolute pain in the bum....hardshelll is the way to go. If you want to reserve a campsite just take a $20 tent with you and set it up....works for me. Cheers for the vid
Some good points. I have owned all sorts of tents over the years up to wall tents for hunting camp. The roof top tent is the best purchase I have ever made. If you want an easier to use RTT get a clamshell version like the Alucab or the Roofnest Falcon. Ground tents are great when you are in college 😂
Or you want to be comfortable. Get a good springbar tent that you can stand up in. Only takes 7-8 minutes to set up and you aren’t crawling around in a tiny tent.
I don't understand how this video has so many dislikes? It was so informative and helpful. I researched alot to get one of the root tent but biggest issue was trying to find a place that installs roof racks for the tent. I am lost.
Glad you brought up the camping by the river. I came across the same issue, so I purchased a very light small packaging tent and now I have options. But yes, it did kinda sucked.
Excellent review.... Gets straight into practical issues....I bailed out at 1.56 because that was enough good information on which to decide I won't be buying one.... Cheers buddy you saved me a bundle of cash ...
Bro, I've had the SB XL tent and annex similar to the one in your vid and you are 100% correct. They seem cool at first but in reality they are a pain to put away, the extra weight is felt on my truck, ugh I'll be selling soon -
They seem very appealing at first but you don't really know what to expect until you experience it yourself. RTTs aren't for everyone but a cool product nonetheless!
Thanks for illuminating the topic and making it easier for us, the future buyers, to decide on a tent style. Thank God: these are all First World Problems! Comments: 1. a conventional, compact, back-packing-tent can always be packed along, and carried 50 yards for that perfect site, or to serve as a place holder when leaving the site with the vehicle. 2. It would be interesting to learn about the tent's true impact on the gas mileage. I presume the drag caused by the tubing of an empty rack could be even worse. Given that air rag, and the car's energy state is exponentially (not linearly) higher with every additional mph, going slightly slower would likely eliminate any extra drag of roof cargo, add safety, allow more time to look at the scenery, and look really cool :)
I carry a Catoma EBNS mil spec version in the vehicle that I set up if I need to leave the campsite to go into town for provisions. It’s always kept my campsite, and is a super quick set up that weighs 4.5lb. You just toss it out and run one pole through the spine.
Never seen such an ancient ladder! We use easy pitch clamshell tents, not that Berber village you have on the roof. RTTs are great if you know how to buy. Now, if you have seen us play rugby in 🇿🇦, just know that we don't get to cry about pitching a tent. We are just more masculine than some, I think.
i have a 3 person CVT RTT, 3 years now! on my 4 runner tent opens to the back. with the annex on my tail gate down i’ve got great access to the inside of the vehicle. I am 68 years old 155 lbs, 5’7” And i put the tent on my car by myself! CONs have to make the bed in the morning lots of looky loos like to come check it out! PROs meet a lot of nice people! what i hate the most is having to come back home!
In regards to removal. Invest in a cheap pulley system to take the tent setup on/off, like people do with the huge hobie pro angler kayaks. You can even leave it hanging up in your carport, garage etc once removed to save space. Not that hard really imo. Most people have both or either, if you don't you can fabricate a cheap frame to drive under or even slang the pulley system from a decent tree.
Hi Wilma, I completely agree that pulley systems are the way to go! Unfortunately, my current house doesn't have a garage so I am S.O.L. Maybe some day though haha
@@rooftentinsider512 Build an A-frame with slip joints and pins. Then you could just put it up long enough to get the tent off and break the A-frame down. Put some straps around it and store it with your tent.
For pickup trucks, the costs are considerable: (1) the RTT ($1000 - $3500); (2) bed rack system ($500-$1000); (3) storage solution for RTT ($?); (4) gas mileage decrease ($?); and (5) other things you might buy to better store or secure your stuff now that there's a tent over your bed ($?).
It’s all about the hard shell! I got the auto home Columbus variant, love that thing. Slept in -5* F in vail, CO. Also being off the ground is the whole point right?
Seams to me that all of your complaints are oblivious and something a person would of figured out before purchasing one. Basically the same for me with a small tag along trailer tent. But I never expected a Rose Garden with it, just some convenience. Never did a trip without taking my loaded Backpack and a decent Jungle Hammock for that real feeling of freedom.
I was pretty much sold on the rooftop tent idea, but then I took a good look at the top of my 2019 Ford Escape and there is an antenna on the roof towards the rear that angles back at a 45 degree angle towards the rear. The rooftop tent I'm looking at (Roof Nest Falcon or Sparrow Eye) would interfere with that antenna. I spoke to customer service and they said they thought I could make it work, but they had never run into this before, so I don't dare order the tent unless I can find a seller that can tell me it will work. Very frustrating! Anybody else have a 2019 Ford Escape with a roof tent that has an answer to this?
well if i where to own a roof top tent, id still bring a regular tent for those locations where its simply worth parking your car and traveling a bit on foot to get to a good spot and if u want a tent that's quick to setup a Popup tent is the choice
If you’re going to complain about wanting to camp by a lake and how it’s hard to get your dog up in the dang tent on top of your car maybe you should have just gotten a regular tent
I still think the pros out way the cons. You should have purchased a higher quality tent like Tepui. I mounted my just above the bed of my Ford pick up so it doesn't really affect my gas mileage and no messy bugs splatter all over it at the end of the drive.
Sometimes I scratch my head at the down votes. This was an informative review on the cons of RTT, that no one wants to talk about. Also I think it's valuable if you're going to down vote the video, leave constructive feedback in the comment section and let the channel know why you gave them a down vote, so they improve.
People love leaving mean comments that aren't helpful. But like this one there are many more kind comments and likes thankfully. This video in particular gets a lot of replies but I thought it was truthful and helpful. Thank you for the nice comment!
I think this video got a lot of thumbs down because of the title. It says “why I HATE my rooftop tent”, when really you’re discussing some of the issues of RTT use and ownership. In the video it didn’t come across as hating on the RTT, more about being aware of x y z before purchasing. The bug splatter, simple solution is to add a wind deflector to take the bug juice. It wouldn’t have to be anything overly complicated. If it bugged (pardon the pun) that much, you’d already have this worked out and installed. It could give slightly better fuel usage too.
The only valid point here is how your car is stuck once you set up. All the rest is just whinging and rambling! I travelled with rooftop tents for 3 years, the setup is under 2mn when you do it often, you develop some tips and tricks that make it fast and easy, nothing compares! If you have a rooftop tent on a trailer, then there's nothing to be said. Defo not an experienced camper that guy, cuz if you wanna bitch about rooftop tents, talk about how you're closer to trees and have to contend with spiders in the morning, or how you're getting full blast of wind and there's no way around it, or how when you're camping under rain, shoes and damp cloths are just the worse when you try to squeeze in the tent and you have to find a spot to dry your tent as fast as possible otherwise it stinks... not "omg it's hard I literally have to do one thing that takes 2s and I can't be arsed!" lol
Check out our videos- rooftop on a small offroad trailer we built was a game changer. Also, using the changing room to set up a propane heater. Camped with kids all winter!
It sounds like you have the wrong tent. There are tents with telescope ladders and zipper covers… I picked up my tepui Ayer 2 for $500 used. They are out there
Easy: Cost, mpg, in the event of an emergency you’ll have to break it all down just to drive, they are more of an inconvenience than anything. I have a Gazelle tent that is up or down in a minute, plus in case of an emergency, I’ll leave it. RTT are for yuppies who glamp and don’t plan ahead. The secondary market for these doesn’t exist either. Good luck IF you can sell it later. Most are from over seas; and the one’s made here are dying (that’s due to their price). Hey, but what do I know? I just want other people to plan better and realize what you are getting into. Storage? Lmao!
If the road ends 50ft from the lake get a vehicle that can take you through that 50ft where there isn’t road pavement princess even if you had a ground tent parking ur rig next to it is always best
That setup was really quick and easy. Get a friend to help lift it off and stop wasting fuel and sorry dude but you really sound spoiled. Sorry that's not an insult as you seem like a nice guy but you have it really good.
You get what you pay for:( Hard shell for sure bro:) We went full retard with our 80 Series Land Cruiser and have a Bush Company "Alpha" tent. It is pretty ridiculous as far as size and aerodynamics, but worth the cost.
Just recently came across your channel and I'm diggin it !!! Not sure where your located yet and I looked for a way to directly contact you with no luck so I'm gonna try and ask the your channel , since looking to upgrade would you be willing to sell this tent ? Thanks regardless and I appreciate your videos !!!
Hey Craig! Thanks for the comment and I’m so glad you like the channel. I actually very recently sold my tent and hope to buy a new one for next season but we will see hahah I’m located just outside of Portland, OR!
@@craigversetti5700 I know... I got $750 for it and sold it in less than 24 hours after posting. I think I'm gonna make a video about that whole experience. I have been eyeing the roofnest falcon! I love how slim it is and I think it looks really slick. I've said it on the channel before but I think Roofnest is the best brand in terms of value.
I found a cvt mt.rainer a guy only used a few times and he gave me a steal at 1600 with the bed rack on Facebook market. Honestly if u wanna get a deal on one of these rtt just look around. He probably spent north of 3000 and I got it for less than half with the included bed rack. My advice if you wanna try but not spent to much is look on Facebook market and similar things. Deals are everywhere you just gotta look.
Buying used is by far the best way to get the most bang for your buck!! Facebook marketplace is an awesome way to go about selling an RTT. And they go FAST
If you've got access to a garage with some reasonable head room, install a locking pulley in the ceiling and attach a removable steel ring to the top of the tent at its centre of mass, or use a couple of cables wrapping around the tent if you can't find anything to screw into. You can then remove it single handed and keep it stored in the roof of the garage. My father kept a sailing boat like that for years, much heavier than a roof tent.
I am of flimsy build but handled my Klondike wooden kayak single-handedly, no rigging, for years. But Im not that soft, either. It's the size of the fight in the dog, not the dog in the fight, that matters. I feel sorry for young girls looking for real men. Sold out.
Yeah, that's what I thought too, but the garage door is the limitation - even a stock SUV like a 4Runner or FJ will not fit under a standard 6'6" garage door with a RTT.
@@Afriqueleblanq , Interesting! A kayak is narrow. A Roof Top Ten is not. I'd like to see you hoist a 150lb RTT on top of my Jeep by yourself. I'm sure some sort of incline ramp could be built to help push the tent up on top of my Jeep. Or even build a portable hoist. But after paying $3,500 for the tent, I wouldn't go to the additional expense and trouble. I'll just stay with my $100 ground tent and replace it as needed. Although I am thinking of investing in a small teardrop trailer. At 73, sleeping in a tent on the ground IS getting old. Plus, a tear drop trailer gets me off the ground and out of the elements. And in some campgrounds in Grizzly county, sleeping in a tent is prohibited. It also fits in my garage. A RTT on my Jeep won't clear my garage door.
Pro tip, don't take the cover off completely leave it attached on the driver's side and let it drape down, or roll it up if you need access to the doors. Much easier to put back on and doesn't take up a bunch of room in your rig.
Reason # 1 - Outside of a ladder, what other way is there? Reason # 2 - Why not just have a ground tent as well and boom problem solved? Reason # 3 - Take said spare tent and use it as a decoy Reason # 4 Hard shell but damn it's expensive. Except that new superlite! Reason # 5 I got nothing. That's just part of it I suppose.
Bug splatter - add a wind deflector to take the bug hits! Problem solved! Think outside the box, the deflector could also be angled backwards to help push air over the RTT rather than hitting a perpendicular surface that it then needs to go around. Doesn’t have to be overly complicated!
If 4 minutes takes forever then I'm starting to feel bad for your girlfriend
😂
Set up a 10 man ground tent and then complain about a 4 minute setup time :/
loll.4 mins .
For music festivals I would set up a ten man instant tent for just myself or with a girlfriend. It’s not hard and doesn’t take long if it’s one of those instant ones.
@@dmay949 Ours was not an instant one. It was possibly the worst purchase decision of my adult life.
@@PhallacEye oh man I know the horror haha I feel for you.
@@PhallacEyeinvest in the instant pop up one . No fussing with poles. Just unfold
I spent over 100 nights in a tiny cheap 35$ ground tent while traveling for work. Now, having saved that money, I love my RTT and I could find these more as trade offs or frustrations.
Seriously considering buying a RTT for round the country fishing trips. Good to see a video around the negatives of the setup. If these are the biggest drawbacks with a RTT they seem like a great option. 4 min setup doesn't sound too bad haha. Cheers for the info
I think they're great for extended camping trips! And I agree, some of my complaints aren't deal breakers for many people. There is a reason they are becoming so popular, most people love them!!
I have the same tent he has, it takes me less time to prop it up just because I have it on a pickup truck. I can step on the side of the bed all around... I have my rods in the bed or on my mini pontoon in the bed of the truck. I don't remove the tent cover I just let it hang off the side, makes it super easy to work with.. If you add a little WD40 to the ladder you have nothing to worry about really. It also helps to have a tent on a pickup because I can put lights on the base of the tent and light up the bed to rig in the dark early morning.
Man the setup of a RTT is fun and something I have looked forward to it every time. Only thing you should change from what he had is buy a RTT that does have a telescoping ladder. I have the same ladder system as in video and thing only thing I am changing. Have told all my friends and family that getting the RTT is everything I hoped it would be. Love the whole concept.
We love our rooftop tent! We carry a spare tent and we also have never had a problem getting into tight places. I guess it's not for everyone .
The big reason I don't get a roof top tent is the cost! I priced a hard shell roof top tent. It was $3,500.00. Are you kidding me? I've been using a ground tent ever since I was a teen. I'm now 69 years old. I refuse to pay that kind of money for a glorified tent.
Totally understandable!
Nice age
@@toomo5 heheh you get it
Yeah, you can buy a poptop roof fitted to a van for half that.
@@adambrickley1119 , Really? I'd like to know where. Most places I've checked want close to 10 grand or sometimes more to install a pop top on a van.
Good vid and some good points. I helped a friend pack up his softshell RTT the other day and it was an absolute pain in the bum....hardshelll is the way to go. If you want to reserve a campsite just take a $20 tent with you and set it up....works for me. Cheers for the vid
Some good points. I have owned all sorts of tents over the years up to wall tents for hunting camp. The roof top tent is the best purchase I have ever made. If you want an easier to use RTT get a clamshell version like the Alucab or the Roofnest Falcon. Ground tents are great when you are in college 😂
Or you want to be comfortable. Get a good springbar tent that you can stand up in. Only takes 7-8 minutes to set up and you aren’t crawling around in a tiny tent.
I don't understand how this video has so many dislikes? It was so informative and helpful.
I researched alot to get one of the root tent but biggest issue was trying to find a place that installs roof racks for the tent. I am lost.
Great point about not being able to get to the out of the way site with your tent - never thought of that.
Thank you, it happens frequently as you can imagine!
When I pull up to camp, I usually change one of my broken cvs and then just fall asleep drunk in the dirt .
Bring a hammock or cheapie tent to set up at camp to hold your spot or use to hike closer.
Exactly what I was thinking
I use those quick three second pop-up tents as placeholders. Works great
Exactly! All of these reason are why I got rid of my RTT. It's just me, so I changed the inside around and now I sleep in the vehicle.
Glad you brought up the camping by the river. I came across the same issue, so I purchased a very light small packaging tent and now I have options. But yes, it did kinda sucked.
I bought mine and absolutely love it! Should have bought one with a tandem.
Swags are the way to go. Been using them for 2 years.
It’s good aye love how quick and easy swags are to set-up
Link?
Excellent review....
Gets straight into practical issues....I bailed out at 1.56 because that was enough good information on which to decide
I won't be buying one....
Cheers buddy you saved me a bundle of cash ...
Bro, I've had the SB XL tent and annex similar to the one in your vid and you are 100% correct. They seem cool at first but in reality they are a pain to put away, the extra weight is felt on my truck, ugh I'll be selling soon -
They seem very appealing at first but you don't really know what to expect until you experience it yourself. RTTs aren't for everyone but a cool product nonetheless!
Thanks for illuminating the topic and making it easier for us, the future buyers, to decide on a tent style. Thank God: these are all First World Problems!
Comments:
1. a conventional, compact, back-packing-tent can always be packed along, and carried 50 yards for that perfect site, or to serve as a place holder when leaving the site with the vehicle.
2. It would be interesting to learn about the tent's true impact on the gas mileage. I presume the drag caused by the tubing of an empty rack could be even worse. Given that air rag, and the car's energy state is exponentially (not linearly) higher with every additional mph, going slightly slower would likely eliminate any extra drag of roof cargo, add safety, allow more time to look at the scenery, and look really cool :)
I carry a Catoma EBNS mil spec version in the vehicle that I set up if I need to leave the campsite to go into town for provisions. It’s always kept my campsite, and is a super quick set up that weighs 4.5lb. You just toss it out and run one pole through the spine.
Now thats a pro tip!!! Thanks for sharing Ronan :)
Never seen such an ancient ladder! We use easy pitch clamshell tents, not that Berber village you have on the roof. RTTs are great if you know how to buy. Now, if you have seen us play rugby in 🇿🇦, just know that we don't get to cry about pitching a tent. We are just more masculine than some, I think.
Yeah it’s not a reason to buy a tent just buy the good ones lol.
i have a 3 person CVT RTT, 3 years now! on my 4 runner tent opens to the back. with the annex on my tail gate down i’ve got great access to the inside of the vehicle. I am 68 years old 155 lbs, 5’7” And i put the tent on my car by myself! CONs have to make the bed in the morning lots of looky loos like to come check it out! PROs meet a lot of nice people! what i hate the most is having to come back home!
Hey, you got a home though.... That's pretty nice.
This guy is a "soft shell"
What's a soft shell from the 🇬🇧
Yep.
Stay at home ace. Sounds like camping is a bit hard for you. 😂 🇦🇺
In regards to removal.
Invest in a cheap pulley system to take the tent setup on/off, like people do with the huge hobie pro angler kayaks.
You can even leave it hanging up in your carport, garage etc once removed to save space.
Not that hard really imo.
Most people have both or either, if you don't you can fabricate a cheap frame to drive under or even slang the pulley system from a decent tree.
Hi Wilma, I completely agree that pulley systems are the way to go! Unfortunately, my current house doesn't have a garage so I am S.O.L. Maybe some day though haha
@@rooftentinsider512 Build an A-frame with slip joints and pins. Then you could just put it up long enough to get the tent off and break the A-frame down. Put some straps around it and store it with your tent.
Why don’t you just carry a ground tent lol.. then you won’t have that issue with pulling up the the lake front
isn't temperature an issue in those? I imagine it is much harder putting that in the shadow over a regular tent
The Gen 2 of the tent you have fortunately did fix a couple of the rtt drawbacks. Ordering one right meow for my Forester Wilderness!
Take a ground tent with you also and set it up at your camp spot so when you go kayaking or exploring the ground tent will hold your camp spot.
For pickup trucks, the costs are considerable: (1) the RTT ($1000 - $3500); (2) bed rack system ($500-$1000); (3) storage solution for RTT ($?); (4) gas mileage decrease ($?); and (5) other things you might buy to better store or secure your stuff now that there's a tent over your bed ($?).
It’s all about the hard shell! I got the auto home Columbus variant, love that thing. Slept in -5* F in vail, CO. Also being off the ground is the whole point right?
I agree!! Hardshells are the move
Thanks for sharing your experience with these tents, a very helpful video for anyone looking into camping options.
🤣🤣this video was ridiculous!!!! Didn't learn a think except, that you need to stick to indoor activities
very true 2nd point... just take a light ground tent that packs small with you anyway (MSR Hubba Hubba etc)
Your kidding me!!!!! 4 min setup time! And your complaining!!! Wow!
Seams to me that all of your complaints are oblivious and something a person would of figured out before purchasing one. Basically the same for me with a small tag along trailer tent. But I never expected a Rose Garden with it, just some convenience. Never did a trip without taking my loaded Backpack and a decent Jungle Hammock for that real feeling of freedom.
You can set it up so it's detachable from the roof, people in Australia do this.
What a great video, thank you. And thanks for not promoting tattoos
Telescoping ladders are notoriously dangerous. When they fail, it's such a surprise.
If you hate it just sell it an sit at home in your recliner.
I was pretty much sold on the rooftop tent idea, but then I took a good look at the top of my 2019 Ford Escape and there is an antenna on the roof towards the rear that angles back at a 45 degree angle towards the rear. The rooftop tent I'm looking at (Roof Nest Falcon or Sparrow Eye) would interfere with that antenna. I spoke to customer service and they said they thought I could make it work, but they had never run into this before, so I don't dare order the tent unless I can find a seller that can tell me it will work. Very frustrating! Anybody else have a 2019 Ford Escape with a roof tent that has an answer to this?
Move the antenna?! Shouldn't be too difficult
Cars still have antennas?
well if i where to own a roof top tent, id still bring a regular tent for those locations where its simply worth parking your car and traveling a bit on foot to get to a good spot and if u want a tent that's quick to setup a Popup tent is the choice
If you’re going to complain about wanting to camp by a lake and how it’s hard to get your dog up in the dang tent on top of your car maybe you should have just gotten a regular tent
Thanks for all the great info!!
Any time!
I still think the pros out way the cons. You should have purchased a higher quality tent like Tepui. I mounted my just above the bed of my Ford pick up so it doesn't really affect my gas mileage and no messy bugs splatter all over it at the end of the drive.
All great points as always 😃 thank you!
Thank you for watching!!
i settup a hoist system in my garage so i just back my truck in and go when it’s camping time
I don''t understand why these are even popular. No one ever said, 'I wish I could sleep on my car roof' when i grew up camping
We have the I kamper ....Its great ...So well made .....Can flick it out in minutes .Park anywhere etc.
Love that!
Mate, just take a ground tent with you and set it up as and when required. Some free-standing tents take a few minutes to setup.
If that's all the negatives ...I'm getting one
How do u feel about the Rivian R1T? I feel like it's a huge step in the right direction for camping. It also had a tent like urs.
So basically the only negative is the ladder and the rest is you complaining about having to do some work!
3:03 there is a tent called ikamper that has a 1 minute set up
Excellent reasons, thanks, it just saved me a lot of aggravation. Cheers
1:45 ever thought of using it as a ground tent by taking it off?
Sometimes I scratch my head at the down votes. This was an informative review on the cons of RTT, that no one wants to talk about. Also I think it's valuable if you're going to down vote the video, leave constructive feedback in the comment section and let the channel know why you gave them a down vote, so they improve.
People love leaving mean comments that aren't helpful. But like this one there are many more kind comments and likes thankfully. This video in particular gets a lot of replies but I thought it was truthful and helpful. Thank you for the nice comment!
I think this video got a lot of thumbs down because of the title. It says “why I HATE my rooftop tent”, when really you’re discussing some of the issues of RTT use and ownership. In the video it didn’t come across as hating on the RTT, more about being aware of x y z before purchasing.
The bug splatter, simple solution is to add a wind deflector to take the bug juice. It wouldn’t have to be anything overly complicated. If it bugged (pardon the pun) that much, you’d already have this worked out and installed. It could give slightly better fuel usage too.
Thanks man! After opening my tent for the first time these are all true 😂
Any time!
The only valid point here is how your car is stuck once you set up. All the rest is just whinging and rambling! I travelled with rooftop tents for 3 years, the setup is under 2mn when you do it often, you develop some tips and tricks that make it fast and easy, nothing compares! If you have a rooftop tent on a trailer, then there's nothing to be said. Defo not an experienced camper that guy, cuz if you wanna bitch about rooftop tents, talk about how you're closer to trees and have to contend with spiders in the morning, or how you're getting full blast of wind and there's no way around it, or how when you're camping under rain, shoes and damp cloths are just the worse when you try to squeeze in the tent and you have to find a spot to dry your tent as fast as possible otherwise it stinks... not "omg it's hard I literally have to do one thing that takes 2s and I can't be arsed!" lol
Every complaint here is solved by planning ahead and bringing another tent, or just literally one of the perks of features of a rooftop tent
Thanks for your honesty 🙏🏽
Enjoy your tent it is good
Check out our videos- rooftop on a small offroad trailer we built was a game changer. Also, using the changing room to set up a propane heater. Camped with kids all winter!
The cover alone makes me want to change to a hardshell tent.
When I go bush I drink. When I drink I piss constantly. I'm not getting in and out of that thing three times a night
very insightful! thank you!
You're so welcome!
They are a royal pain to pack up if you are short like me!
I can imagine! Its honestly not the time to set it up, rather the level of exertion it takes haha
thanks for this video. hardshell it is then.
You bet!
Geez, hard work is... HARD!
You just bought the wrong tent. I got 6 man ground tent that fits neatlt in my trunk lol
Yep... he bought a wrong tent. then making a video to cry about it. Lol
It sounds like you have the wrong tent. There are tents with telescope ladders and zipper covers… I picked up my tepui Ayer 2 for $500 used. They are out there
Easy: Cost, mpg, in the event of an emergency you’ll have to break it all down just to drive, they are more of an inconvenience than anything. I have a Gazelle tent that is up or down in a minute, plus in case of an emergency, I’ll leave it. RTT are for yuppies who glamp and don’t plan ahead. The secondary market for these doesn’t exist either. Good luck IF you can sell it later. Most are from over seas; and the one’s made here are dying (that’s due to their price). Hey, but what do I know? I just want other people to plan better and realize what you are getting into. Storage? Lmao!
If the road ends 50ft from the lake get a vehicle that can take you through that 50ft where there isn’t road pavement princess even if you had a ground tent parking ur rig next to it is always best
Ironman 4x4 America swift 1400 pop up tent solves all of these issues
your going camping ....you're roughing it.... if your going to complain about 4 min to set up anything then maybe ....
If you have a truck, id recommend a canopy.
I hope to get a truck soon!
0:35 it what came with your tent so right now you are talking about why not to get your tent
I’ve had a Velcro one and a zipper style and a zipper is definitely a bigger pain in the ass.
hahaha good to know, thank you!
Keep it!
2:18 just get the stuff to begin with
Some decent points…but not going to lie, you lost me at “it takes forever to set up” and that “forever” is 4 minutes…dude.
Most of these are such non complaints
This is the stupidest cons for a roof tent I've ever seen. Man - buy a camper or sleep in the hotels 🤣
Half these could be solved by putting it on a small trailer.
Reason nr 2 is just dumb. Just bring a ground tent as well, or even better, no tent and enjoy the open night sky.
That setup was really quick and easy. Get a friend to help lift it off and stop wasting fuel and sorry dude but you really sound spoiled. Sorry that's not an insult as you seem like a nice guy but you have it really good.
You get what you pay for:( Hard shell for sure bro:) We went full retard with our 80 Series Land Cruiser and have a Bush Company "Alpha" tent. It is pretty ridiculous as far as size and aerodynamics, but worth the cost.
bro you should give up camping i think,,,,, or spend some descent money and get a better tent
It will cost you more in additional fuel than a hotel bill.
What? No way
You certainly are soft, good luck in life.
Good to know. Never thought about those inconveniences
That is not a lot of bug guts on the cover. Come on up to British Columbia and we’ll serve you up a much bigger helping of bugs.
Just recently came across your channel and I'm diggin it !!! Not sure where your located yet and I looked for a way to directly contact you with no luck so I'm gonna try and ask the your channel , since looking to upgrade would you be willing to sell this tent ? Thanks regardless and I appreciate your videos !!!
Hey Craig! Thanks for the comment and I’m so glad you like the channel. I actually very recently sold my tent and hope to buy a new one for next season but we will see hahah I’m located just outside of Portland, OR!
@@rooftentinsider512 lol wish I got to ya earlier !! I'm sure the new one will be really nice 👌 curious what one you'll buy ?
@@craigversetti5700 I know... I got $750 for it and sold it in less than 24 hours after posting. I think I'm gonna make a video about that whole experience. I have been eyeing the roofnest falcon! I love how slim it is and I think it looks really slick. I've said it on the channel before but I think Roofnest is the best brand in terms of value.
You should have looked into it before you bought it.
I found a cvt mt.rainer a guy only used a few times and he gave me a steal at 1600 with the bed rack on Facebook market. Honestly if u wanna get a deal on one of these rtt just look around. He probably spent north of 3000 and I got it for less than half with the included bed rack. My advice if you wanna try but not spent to much is look on Facebook market and similar things. Deals are everywhere you just gotta look.
Buying used is by far the best way to get the most bang for your buck!! Facebook marketplace is an awesome way to go about selling an RTT. And they go FAST
If you've got access to a garage with some reasonable head room, install a locking pulley in the ceiling and attach a removable steel ring to the top of the tent at its centre of mass, or use a couple of cables wrapping around the tent if you can't find anything to screw into. You can then remove it single handed and keep it stored in the roof of the garage. My father kept a sailing boat like that for years, much heavier than a roof tent.
I am of flimsy build but handled my Klondike wooden kayak single-handedly, no rigging, for years. But Im not that soft, either. It's the size of the fight in the dog, not the dog in the fight, that matters. I feel sorry for young girls looking for real men. Sold out.
Yeah, that's what I thought too, but the garage door is the limitation - even a stock SUV like a 4Runner or FJ will not fit under a standard 6'6" garage door with a RTT.
@@Afriqueleblanq , Interesting! A kayak is narrow. A Roof Top Ten is not. I'd like to see you hoist a 150lb RTT on top of my Jeep by yourself. I'm sure some sort of incline ramp could be built to help push the tent up on top of my Jeep. Or even build a portable hoist. But after paying $3,500 for the tent, I wouldn't go to the additional expense and trouble. I'll just stay with my $100 ground tent and replace it as needed. Although I am thinking of investing in a small teardrop trailer. At 73, sleeping in a tent on the ground IS getting old. Plus, a tear drop trailer gets me off the ground and out of the elements. And in some campgrounds in Grizzly county, sleeping in a tent is prohibited. It also fits in my garage. A RTT on my Jeep won't clear my garage door.
Pro tip, don't take the cover off completely leave it attached on the driver's side and let it drape down, or roll it up if you need access to the doors. Much easier to put back on and doesn't take up a bunch of room in your rig.
I'll try this next time I'm out! thank you for the suggestion :)
To avoid the bugs guts on the front of the tent, and to improve gas mileage, build a sloped air deflector to fit in front of the tent.
Agreed. I'd just wear gloves to take it off. Doesn't seem like a Con to me; seems pretty simple to overcome.
@@jefffeltes9309 Sure, but wearing gloves won't improve your gas mileage.
Just bring a crappy Wal mart tent to save your spot!
Reason # 1 - Outside of a ladder, what other way is there?
Reason # 2 - Why not just have a ground tent as well and boom problem solved?
Reason # 3 - Take said spare tent and use it as a decoy
Reason # 4 Hard shell but damn it's expensive. Except that new superlite!
Reason # 5 I got nothing. That's just part of it I suppose.
@Patrick Hubert go fast campers
Bug splatter - add a wind deflector to take the bug hits! Problem solved! Think outside the box, the deflector could also be angled backwards to help push air over the RTT rather than hitting a perpendicular surface that it then needs to go around. Doesn’t have to be overly complicated!