Tepui or Thule vs. Yakima Tent Review - Which one is best?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 เม.ย. 2018
- What's the better Roof Top Tent? Tepui (now Thule) or Yakima? We look at compactness, build quality, ease of deployment and packing. We check the quality of the mounting, waterproofing and sturdiness as well. Check prices and specs here: Tepui Kukenam Sky from REI - snp.link/a3ebf8f8
Yakima Skyrise at REI -snp.link/83358709
Rooftop Tents at REI - snp.link/7336ab66
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I love how you guys literally did a side by side comparison of these two tents. Helped me with my decision alot.
Right on. We'll do more of this.
what did you decide on?
I have the Kukenam Tepui and my brother had a Yakima. World of difference in build quality. The Yakima cover is bad design as it allows air to flow past the velcro causing the top cover to mushroom at highway speeds. Tepui zipper cover, while more time consuming to put on, does not mushroom. His Yakima had several issues with bolts/screws coming loose and finally the center hinge separated one night while he was asleep. Returned the tent after the fourth use. I've been using my Tepui for nearly two years now without an issue.
yeah tepui all the way. they were recently bought by thule. excited to see what proper distribution can do for them.
Thanks for this info. What year was each of those tents built in? I wonder if the brands have changed / improved since then.
Thanks for the review ... another question .. who makes the racks and the basket on the trucks ?
Solid feedback... we are currently building our overland rig up, and I've seen a couple videos now discussing Yakima quality issues. Another TH-camr uploaded a video about how the rain fly is poor... allowing rain through seams in the structure.
I could tell where he was going right from the beginning. The Tepui is twice the quality outer materials. The raincover is great, we got caught in a downpour and everything was dry when we got 6 hours down the line. Long term, and I went to REI to compare, Tepui without a doubt.
Thank you for this. Really appreciate all the detailed comparison. Displays good understanding of the tents.
Nice review 👍🏼
After a few high wind camping trips I’m now putting my gear on the roof with a cargo box and sleeping in the vehicle (suv) No flapping tent, surrounded by steel and glass 😀
Outstanding review, thank you! This really helped to understand the difference between the 2. Nice job!
Best roof tent review/comparison I've seen! Mad love from Australia 🍻
That says a lot coming from Aussies who know roof top tents.
Awesome job with describing/showing the comparison of these two roof top tents. Cant wait to purchase mine!!
Yes, thank you. We tried to give insight on the details.
Great video content. Thanks Guys. Much appreciation for you taking the time out to answer questions about pros and cons.
Damn nice review. Very nice, efficient camera use and dialogue. Fair and honest comparison and i learned some things besides what I'd buy. Thank you
We usually have a remote mic so it could have been better!
Thanks for the video. I have Tepui Autana Ruggedized Tent: 3-Person and just ordered a sick truck rack for my Tacoma from Randy! Gotta wait a few weeks for it, but going to love my new setup. Thank you for sharing the rack maker. Stoked!!
That rack is sooooo sick!!
Good solid review. Just bought the ruggedized kuke 3 for my runner. Lovin it. Your review helped
Very thorough and incredibly helpful...thank you so much for sharing.
Excellent review RC. Thanks
Glad I found this video. I owned what I would say was a generic tepui. Same design, but very cheap. I've been looking to buy something better for this summer, and this was a great comparison. Going to do some research on different models for these brands. I had never heard of Yakima, I own a Toyota Sequoia... So needless to say I love the quick release feature of that tent. Thanks for the video!
Got a yakima and i really love it!...
I just bought the Yakima medium used for $525 with Yakima racks. But the 2 top rungs on the ladder are busted off. Its still usable. One thing i like about it eas when your inside its nice and bright and the color red kinda gives you a nice feeling. And you can open up the skylights and stsmd up through them and look around if you dont have the rainfly on. Alot of other tents are dark which might be nice too but bieng able to see inside is cool. I was shocked on how many flies got in there though. They were coming in were the tent folds up at. I think next time i will shove toweks down there to stop flirs from coming in. At night no flies. The next day i was out and about and come back to 50 flies trapped inside. I would imagine this is a design flaw in all roof top tents. I like how you guys configered your tent on your rigs and i think i might change my orientatoin of the tent on my rig like yours. Having the tent cover over the back tailgait of my 4 Runner would be nice and less side to side rocking in the tent too. Kinda makes an awning. I have to get stringer roof racks though my stock 4 runner ones seperated my 1st time out. I need to get the right bases for these Yakima racks so i can use those instead.
Thank you. This was very informative!
Great review RC. What brand bed racks are those?
great video thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Great review. I'm also trying to decide between soft shell fold open or hard shell pop up, to go on top of my ARE cap on my Raptor. I've got a bed rug, so very comfortable but at 5.5 feet its to short to sleep.
Great review my man.
The Tepui definitely has a heavier fabric. I own the Kukenam 3 and it performs excellent in terrible weather. In addition customer service from Tepui is excellent . I wouldn't even consider the Yakima unless is was sub $1000.
The kukenam is definitely durable!
Very good review. Answered a lot of questions specifically about orienting the tent to open parallel to the truck. I would think moving the rack and tent centered over the rear axle would be advantageous to distributing dynamic weight. Also would increase the tailgate overhang at the rear for sitting. I may be wrong about that but very good review.
You are right about the weight. Having the tent back there actually helps the truck's rear grip since it gives the rear wheels more weight. Moving that then back would help that effect even more.
Very good video, you put a lot of thought into it. I may not choose either of these tents, but I will look for the features covered here.
much much appreciated
I question the alignment used in this video. When you get in the tent from the back like this, will the springs of your truck compress and cause the ladder to compress or increase the elevation on that end of the tent making uncomfortable to sleep in or hard to get out of with the ladder compressed.
I personally have tepui and I love it
Fantastic info! Thanks
Have dealt with both and Tepui is definitely a nicer, longer lasting, more thought out tent. Lots of customers complain of leaks on the Yakima canopy. Yakima upgraded recently by spraying the tents with water repellant. Tepui's can also be mounted other ways than shown here.
Agreed! Great analysis.
The key advantage of the Yakima is lighter weight and tool-free mounts. But that's only an advantage if one takes the tent off and on a lot.
What kind of rack do you have the Yakima tent on. Also what's the height of it
In looking for a rooftop tent, these two are the front runners for me. Thanks for comparing the two of them. It looks like I can't go wrong with either so I'm opting for the lighter one because I have to take it on and off an explorer. Thanks for your time and efforts.
Right on. You're welcome!!!
Just buy a ground tent. Save the money, time, weight and gas mileage. I know its the "cool" thing to do these days. My ground tent pops open in under 30 seconds and folds up just as fast.
Ya, that's what I ended up doing. Thanks for the feedback.
This is an awesome comparison! My sister and her husband drive a taco and I'm in a cherokee. They are buying a tepui and we are opting for the Yakima. It's cool to see them side by side.
Love it. Yes we were lucky to have the opportunity to have them side by side.
How do you drive a Taco?
Good review. Well done.
We are happy to help.
Hey there, I couldn't notice if you guys installed bed stiffeners on your trucks. I currently have a bed extender on my 3rd gen Tacoma and would hate to lose it in order to properly install the stiffeners. Great vid!
Just ordered, today, my Autana 3 on sale for $1750 brand new.
Do you know if there is an aftermarket Quick release mount similar to the Skyrise?
Nice blog maid ,cheers
Nice tents and trucks pare. Looks like your in the Los Altos/ Mountain View area.
Really good review and flow. I like your logic and thoughts on why you oriented the way you did. Do you find that the tailgate gets in the way when you set up the Annex. I was also thinking that this way works well because I you show up and its raining you can unpack from the truck bed more efficiently to the tent area and annex. Do you agree with this logic and if you could expand on if you feel the tailgate is a problem with the Annex or later in the way when tailgate is down.
Very much appreciated.
Tailgate and annex. Maybe a little interference when down but the tailgate is usually up so not a big deal.
Cheers and thx
What kind of bed rack system does that Tacoma have (that's holding the tent)?
Very through. Thank you.
Much appreciated.
Thank you for the review. If you don't mind, can you say what kind of bed rack you're using to support the RTT?
Tim Schoffelman it is a Randybuilt.com. Most amazing one around
Great video.
Thank you!!!
Thanks
I was offered a Yakima on a trailer and it is a neat setup .After this review and another complaining about leaking in the Yakima I might well just get a camper trailer with comfort .I have a 12 person tent now and at my age using a ladder to access a leaky tent to sleep sounds worse
Fair assessment. Yes, the initial Yakimas had a leak problem. Easily fixed but not ideal for this price.
Are you having any leak issues with the Yakima?
Can these attach to my Canoe/ Kayak Thule racks for my truck box?
What truck racks are those?
Nice video. Are the zippers for the Yakima's cover on all four corners? I hear you about convenience but the Tepui's cover looks like it will handle driving in the rain better. Most of us who have camping experience already know how to deal with zippers for sleeping bags so as you point out, using a finger to close the zipper should do the trick. I'm often out in Moab or elsewhere in the southwest where the summer monsoons can cause you to think about how to handle rain.
Yeah zippers on all four corners indeed. Not needed but makes it easy to slide it on.
Good point on the full bottom zipper for inclement weather.
Awesome review. thanks very helpful to me.
as good as your servo reviews,
they still holding up?
new insights?
thinking of something for the M3 Dad escape pod...
Good review
appreciate it!!!
nice set ups, I am curious as to what cargo rail/rack you guys have installed in both of those truck beds. Could you tell me the brand of those? Thank you!
randybuilt.com. Truly dialed!!
RCReview, which truck rack system are using in this review? I would Iike to see if I could get one for my truck. 😀
That is a randybuilt.com rack. The best we've ever seen
Hey thanks for review what brand of rails did You use on both trucks? They look nice.
randybuilt.com
Hey thanks again for sharing Your videos
The new Yakima tents seem crazy expensive. Up to $2k.
what brand of roof top tent racks are you using, and where do get them?
It's Randybuilt.com. Very good.
They have memory foam mats you could add under the mattresses that would help too ...
At Walmart lol
Tried both, Yakima is not nearly as burly. Try them in the PNW - huge negative for Yakima.
Agreed and good feedback.
Do you have any issue with water leaking? And when did you buy your tent? I want to get a Yakima for the low profile, but I read a lot of review about leaking at the seams. When calling Yakima, they said they have adjusted the seam tapes and should have resolved this issue. But they don't tell me when this changed happened. Just told me any new one now should have this improvement.
The leaking on the corners where the awning has been improved a lot. Some say it's not completely gone.
I don't have that issue because California. :)
Haha nice. Thanks for the info
Thanks for the side-by-side comparison. As you mentioned, RTT's are not just for trucks and Jeeps anymore. RTT's also fit vans and allow a minivan to become a viable camper for a family of four! GoneCamper.com
Where do you purchase the truck bed frame that the tent sits on?
randybuilt.com
Get you a pee bottle...they make em both for male and female and never leave your tent again when NATURE calls. The female one is called a GO GIRL. Nice review and great explanation.....I guess it comes down to price and what trips your trigger.
I was going to get the tepui but couldn’t pass up the $700 deal I got on my Yakima. Not worried about rain being in Utah.
Exactly. The Yakima looks good and is low profile. So if it works well for those not in monsoon country.
Great video been thinking about getting a rooftop tent how have they performed in bad or raining weather? Thanks 🇺🇸😎
Tepui performs much better in bad weather.
Yakima canopy material is lesser quality and the ladder requires you to push buttons on every rung to open and close. Yakima's seams leak hence the need for a rainfly. Their cover is not as nice, the corner zippers allow water in and the velcro seal around the base wears out. Traded up for a Tepui and couldn't be happier.
Great feedback!
Agreed. Thank you for the share.
Yakima is a 2 inches thinner than the Tepui so lower profile. But, you cannot leave sleeping bags and pillows in the then since there is a lot less room. Also, hard to upgrade the mattress to something thicker.
What are your rails on the truck bed?
That is a randybuilt.com rack. Best ever as it's modular and allows tailgate use with bikes.
All that velcro on the cover will be pain in the ass when it gets covered with crap...think of any velcro you’ve had in the past..the Tepui cover has velcro corners and a Very Easy to use zipper system...the Tepui holds my wool blanket,sleeping bag and two pillows when folded..the mattress is excellent and the Yakima’s is thinner..The Rails are installed by you ,either way you want and they are a different length because the tent isnt square in size..These units can be installed to open out in any direction...My Tepui is only 93lbs..I install it by myself and Im 63...5 minutes to open my first time..
I think this guy was paid by Yakima for his review..I looked at both and the quality,weight,thoughtfulness,and versatility of the Tepui is far superior to the Yakima...I Love my Tepui and I wasn’t paid a cent for my opinion..
Good point. Tepui is better for those that really rally in rugged conditions
Why do you mount these tents over the truck bed? If you mounted them over the cab on a roof rack, the truck bed could be covered with a topper giving you lots of dry storage for gear or another shelter.
David Golembeski less wind drag. Better fuel economy
Where did you buy the racks.
randybuilt.com
Tepui for longevity and performance. The Yakima is light duty.
What brand is your truck bed rack?
Randybuilt.com rack
I have a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Limited and average around 31-33 MPG at highway speeds around 70mph, how much will this affect the fuel economy?
It won’t
Thank you
More racks need to be made, I have nissan armada and can't find the roof rack
No inside views?
Good point that the ladder is hard to climb when you're hammered. Better to hear it from you now than to fall off like an idiot later.
hard to climb and hard to descend at 3am.
If putting on a pickup why not a bed tent.
So if I were to steal one, the Yakima is the easiest?
It has a lock
Yakima is one of the lowest grade RTT on the market. Yakima RTT doesn't even come close in comparison to the Tepui. Yakima RTT is only sold to amateur campers who do not research the RTT market. Every person I met that had one wish they bought a higher end RTT. If you camp 1 or 2 times a year then this may work out for you. Do your research on RTT's. Main concern about RTT's is the density of the fabrics, zippers, screens and hardware used and the quality of the product. How well the RTT will hold up in increment weather such as high winds, heavy rainfalls. Prices for higher graded RTT's are well worth the money invested if you camp on a regular basis. If you want to research go the RTT manufactures websites, call the RTT company, they will answer all questions you may have. There are many great RTT manufacturers in the market, Yakima just isn't one of them.
Good feedback, thank you.
Their target market really is the more casual camper with a product of lighter, tent-like materials. Their advantage is easy to install and remove with pro-grade, tool-free attachments. Lighter to lift too and put on top of the vehicle.
We think build quality is absolutely on-par with the Tepui. Just lighter duty, materials.
Thank you
I can't really speak for other RTT's as the Yakima Skyrise is the first i've owned. (After doing plenty of research iRonik...) But I have been out with the Skyrise a number of times in the last month or two. I chose the Yakima because of the light weight, I run a two door Wrangler that I like to take off road so I didn't want something heavy. This is a tent that will be on my jeep in the Spring, Summer, and some Fall in the mountains in CO and for that I think it works absolutely great. I haven't seen any quality concerns yet, I've even taken it on some offroad trails with little to no concern. I'm not sure about other RTT's in this regard either but i've been able to fold it up with all of our bedding and camp pillows inside with the rainfly still on, making setting up camp an absolute breeze. The mattress felt a bit firm the first night, but after a few I was getting some really good sleep on it, I've heard other RTT's mattresses aren't as nice.
I would agree that this might be meant for a different market than the tepui, but not so much a "casual" camper. It's been amazing in the dryer climate of Colorado and been able to stand up to strong winds and doesn't over kill extra weight on the top of my jeep.
jeremy bryson hey man are you still running the yakima tent? And if so how has it been?
@@battleXking I am, still good! Some minor issues here and there but nothing major.
I'm trying to like these but I can't see any advantage to these tents over a ground tent . 2 to 3 grand for a tiny tent.
puma51921 ya its a joke. My ground tents pops up way quicker and weighs 4lbs.
its nice to have while in a backcountry camp. adds security and protection from bears and other predators if camping away from people. if you are using this for a campsite, i agree total waste of money. Just like how buying a yeti would be a waste of money for someone who only camps once in a while, where as if you are a fisherman or hunter, having a cooler that provides your ice to remain ice for weeks, is great.
You need to camp in the desert to understand the purpose of the RTT. If you camp in Anza borrego or Mojave desert etc you will understand y overlanders prefer RTT.
@@IWNTYU i camped in in anza and down in anza borrego in winter this last year. Slept on the ground like people have for 100s or years. 🤷♂️
@@focusdrivenmedia3436 keep on prairie dog camping broke ass hater. I guess if you couldn't afford it you technically couldn't understand it. 😉
Any rooftop tent comes with a free Gatorade bottle to pee in when in tent 🤣
Or a funnel and hose that routes to the neighbors. lolol
RC Review Hahahaha 🤣
Tepui the best Yakima cheap product
1980
You are a Yakima seller. Obviously your tent is going to be better! What dont you mentioned that your tent was recalled in REI? The tents had manufacturer issues and were leaking. I wouldn't buy this tents. They just started entering into the RTT business and still learning
Don't sell Yakima, don't own Yakima. Just pointing out pros and cons.
You asked... Why get a rooftop tent, one word... Bears! Lol
critters and rabid coyotes
Tuff Stuff brand. Exactly the same as the Tepui for less than $1,000.
The Yakima is garbage. Same material as a hiking tent. Seriously, it is crap.
Point taken. Will look up Tuff Stuff
Kind of, I prefer the sky openings and the ruggedized tepui versions are a notch above tho.
Ha ha. "You can't be hammered and have to pee at night". That is a recipe for dis
aster.
Seems like every camping trip. Definitely more challenging when sleeping on a roof.
Aah
Pronounced "Tool-e"
They shouldn't cost more than $300 with all things considered!
F--k me, I wouldn't want to fart in the Yakima in case the sides blew apart. Just shelve it and man up to an Aussie made one. Simple.
I wonder how much Yakima paid you to put up such a biased review... the single most important thing about ANY tent is not the way it mounds or its fly but its the canvas... what denier canvas is the tent made of... and for this single item Tepui is much much better than cheap build Yakima. Lol