Great review for a great rooftop tent! I have two rooftop tents, the original Dune Nomad and a Kings Mark 3. I was interested in the same model as yours but the Kings came up for an unbeatable price. I had the Nomad setup on my Hilux originally then it went onto my Colorado. It fitted and worked beautifully on both vehicles. Light, easy to setup/pack away and quite comfortable. I picked up the Kings and tried it on the Colorado. The only advantage over the Nomad was that I could attach both the awning and shower tent directly to the tent. I couldn’t part with the Nomad so I mounted it to an off-road trailer/camper that I still use if my daughter and a friend want to join in camping and it’s handy if staying in one location for more than just one night. I find that it doesn’t matter which brand or style of rooftop tent you use, they all have their own idiosyncratic issues. Definitely a better option (for me) than struggling with a swag!
Hey mate! The original Nomad is such a great tent, we ran one on our previous vehicle for years and loved it. 😁 Good to know regarding the mounting channels on the Kings model too - you're right they all have their pros and cons!
Nice long-term review on a very underrated RTT, I also have the Dune Hardshell RTT and find it great. I do agree with many of your comments, and yes, my zip at the bottom can also be a pain at times. Interestingly the shell is the same as the Drifta RTT's, meaning accessories from drifts for their tent also fit the Dune. I have fitted the Drifta ladder mount which means I can close the tent without taking the ladder down and the mounts also prevents the ladder from sliding. I have discarded the internal bungy cord and fitted a bungy cord around the outside of the tent. Once I got the length right, I found this much more effective in keeping the tent material tucked in when closing. I have also stuck 2 semi-flexible solar panels on the roof via some core-flute strips for ventilation and cooling. The great thing about this tent with the solar panels is that you can chase the sun by closing whatever side is required to have a 45deg angle to the sun left or right. Thanks again for a great review!
Glad you enjoyed the review mate! Thanks for those tips too - we'll have to give some of those a go and great point about the roof design to follow the sun! 🙂
We just bought one of these 2nd hand but never used. Plan is to remove the massive side opening tent on our 2014 Black series Alpha camper and Install this. The tent on the camper is great for stays of more than a couple of days but a lot of l work for quick o/n trips etc. plus we’re getting older and it’s a task to set up and we don’t really need all the space, as nice as it is. We’ll probably get the annex attachment at some stage as well. Great review, picked up a few hints on the setup/packup bit 😎👍
Great review guys, would be nice to know if you are sponsored by Dune (or Anaconda i recon it is), or if you bought it yourselves. not that i am saying that if the first, i dont "trust" your review, but i do believe in transperancy... and finally, how tall are you that you can pull it down without needing to step up on something...
Hi you 2 fantastic travellers. Enjoyable videos. I have same DUNE RRT for 2.5 yrs. Agree saying there is decent amount of room, 6foot 4. Find ir easier for the struts when you open the top section/last & close first. I have mounted 2 flat solar panels straight to roof panel. For bad wet weather and frosty areas, I added a tarp that covers the sloping side when open, does not touch material.
Hey mate! Glad to hear yours is working well for you too! We're planning to add solar to the roof of ours in the next few months too actually, let me know if you have any tips for how best to attach the panels. 🙂
Hey guys little tip for your cons on the tent, when doing the zip grap the inside pull tab aswell and it'll pull away from the bedding and won't jam up, And for the roof storage go online and buy a roof cargo net and can attach it using the little hooks in the 4 corners of the tent
Ive had this tent for about a year, i think you guys pack it away wrong, if i remember the instructions say to do the front then the back, reason is they have that pull down cord so you dont have to climb the ladder. Negatives for me, wish the material was black out, i wish the door zipper was at the top. I dont bother to zip it along the bottom. I lost one of the latches and havent found a new one. Other than that i agree with all the positives you gave it. I think its the pefect thickness, good trade off between thiness but also can still pack bedding. Good recommendation.
Pretty sure the some of Drifta RTTs come out of the same factory and or though very different RTTs they share similar materials and structure, FYI Drifta make brackets to suit the angled sides for fitting awnings and shower tents etc as I have fitted on mine. All in all looks like a great tent one that was on my short list, however I needed the rear ladder entry.
We tested a San Hima tent back in 2023 for a couple of months, it was decent and definitely had it's pros and cons but the Dune model suits us better so it went back on. 🙂
Good review... looks like a lot of work for a roof top tent. Don't imagine it'd be that much quicker than a swag. Don't really see the point over a standard clamshell. Price might justify it, each to their own I suppose 🤷♂ What's the weight limit like on the roof racks? Does it still open if you leave a kayak etc up there?
Absolutely quicker than a swag. I was camping with my son and his girlfriend, when it was time to pack up, I had packed the same RTT plus a 180deg awning by myself way before the swag was packed, and there were two of them packing the swag.
Hey mate! I actually filmed a timed setup comparison between the Dune soft top and hard top back when I first got it - it took me 1 minute and 26 seconds to fully set it up 👍 (here's the video if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/EwddPRvaE4A/w-d-xo.html )
Ah yeah thats not bad at all… it’s mostly the needing to walk around the tent tucking it in to pack it down that looked a little tedious. That being said, theres probably a bit much fuss in the industry on needing everything to be super quick (guilty myself haha). For me the pros/cons against a clamshell design don’t hold up as well. Always like seeing the reasons for people going different ways in their setups… great video mate 🫡
I actually tied a Bungy cord around the tent. This works much better than the internal one supplied. When I put the tent up I just pull the Bungy cord down to the base, easy 👍
mate, I've got the same tent and put all my bedding including 2 pillows the and the ladder at the same time and I can still close it. yes it is hard but it still closes but it requires me sitting on the tent to close the latches
@@explorebound in the year or so i have had the tent, I have never got any water or dust inside. You will also find that even if it get behind the seat, The dust and water still needs to get inside the tent where you actually sleep behind the canvas and I think its why we never get water or dust in the tent.
Yeah the ladder stays setup overnight - we've never had anyone try to steal it but definitely worth keeping in mind! Hopefully we'd wake up as they're unhooking it haha.
@@explorebound, it would be a complete pain if you had to take the ladder away each night. Trying to pack it up and find somewhere to put it would be nearly impossible. Crazy thought.
Hey mate! We don't have a 270 awning at this stage, still managing with a cheap roll-out style for now haha. If we do upgrade in future we'll keep an eye out for models that have the rear access flap to get around this. 😁
For three years I have had the same tent and traveled over 50K with it. It’s been great. I had a canvas bag made for the ladder and store in the tent (just one person) plus I connect the internal elastic cord to the end windows unzipped half way and this pulls in the end canvas walls automatically as I close it. Much easier and quicker. I have modified a Thule pod manual cable winch to lift and lower the tent. Takes me about 2 minutes. Takes me longer to undo the bolts than lifting it. Here’s a little look at my camping setup:- th-cam.com/video/ssvmCvq5kys/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_KCUbl1xfhCLUIr-
I know wealthy women who will buy kislux replicas. The main reason they give is that they simply understand the value of money and don't want to spend too much on a bag...especially a trendy one. They do, however, spend a lot of money on fine jewelry and other things.
Great review guys!!
Long term usage review are by far the best.
Great review for a great rooftop tent!
I have two rooftop tents, the original Dune Nomad and a Kings Mark 3.
I was interested in the same model as yours but the Kings came up for an unbeatable price.
I had the Nomad setup on my Hilux originally then it went onto my Colorado. It fitted and worked beautifully on both vehicles.
Light, easy to setup/pack away and quite comfortable.
I picked up the Kings and tried it on the Colorado. The only advantage over the Nomad was that I could attach both the awning and shower tent directly to the tent.
I couldn’t part with the Nomad so I mounted it to an off-road trailer/camper that I still use if my daughter and a friend want to join in camping and it’s handy if staying in one location for more than just one night.
I find that it doesn’t matter which brand or style of rooftop tent you use, they all have their own idiosyncratic issues.
Definitely a better option (for me) than struggling with a swag!
Hey mate! The original Nomad is such a great tent, we ran one on our previous vehicle for years and loved it. 😁 Good to know regarding the mounting channels on the Kings model too - you're right they all have their pros and cons!
Nice long-term review on a very underrated RTT, I also have the Dune Hardshell RTT and find it great. I do agree with many of your comments, and yes, my zip at the bottom can also be a pain at times. Interestingly the shell is the same as the Drifta RTT's, meaning accessories from drifts for their tent also fit the Dune. I have fitted the Drifta ladder mount which means I can close the tent without taking the ladder down and the mounts also prevents the ladder from sliding. I have discarded the internal bungy cord and fitted a bungy cord around the outside of the tent. Once I got the length right, I found this much more effective in keeping the tent material tucked in when closing. I have also stuck 2 semi-flexible solar panels on the roof via some core-flute strips for ventilation and cooling. The great thing about this tent with the solar panels is that you can chase the sun by closing whatever side is required to have a 45deg angle to the sun left or right.
Thanks again for a great review!
Glad you enjoyed the review mate! Thanks for those tips too - we'll have to give some of those a go and great point about the roof design to follow the sun! 🙂
I'm looking into getting a rooftop tent, your pros and cons are good for me to have as a reference when I finally decide what I want.👌
We just bought one of these 2nd hand but never used. Plan is to remove the massive side opening tent on our 2014 Black series Alpha camper and Install this. The tent on the camper is great for stays of more than a couple of days but a lot of l work for quick o/n trips etc. plus we’re getting older and it’s a task to set up and we don’t really need all the space, as nice as it is. We’ll probably get the annex attachment at some stage as well. Great review, picked up a few hints on the setup/packup bit 😎👍
Great review guys,
would be nice to know if you are sponsored by Dune (or Anaconda i recon it is), or if you bought it yourselves.
not that i am saying that if the first, i dont "trust" your review, but i do believe in transperancy...
and finally, how tall are you that you can pull it down without needing to step up on something...
Hi you 2 fantastic travellers.
Enjoyable videos.
I have same DUNE RRT for 2.5 yrs. Agree saying there is decent amount of room, 6foot 4. Find ir easier for the struts when you open the top section/last & close first. I have mounted 2 flat solar panels straight to roof panel. For bad wet weather and frosty areas, I added a tarp that covers the sloping side when open, does not touch material.
Hey mate! Glad to hear yours is working well for you too! We're planning to add solar to the roof of ours in the next few months too actually, let me know if you have any tips for how best to attach the panels. 🙂
Hey guys little tip for your cons on the tent, when doing the zip grap the inside pull tab aswell and it'll pull away from the bedding and won't jam up,
And for the roof storage go online and buy a roof cargo net and can attach it using the little hooks in the 4 corners of the tent
Thanks mate - appreciate the tips there!
I’ve brought one of these from your first review, Super stoked with it but would be interested in a video on how you’ve mounted your awning
Cheers
Great vid, super informative. 🎉
Thanks mate! 🙂
Ive had this tent for about a year, i think you guys pack it away wrong, if i remember the instructions say to do the front then the back, reason is they have that pull down cord so you dont have to climb the ladder. Negatives for me, wish the material was black out, i wish the door zipper was at the top. I dont bother to zip it along the bottom. I lost one of the latches and havent found a new one. Other than that i agree with all the positives you gave it. I think its the pefect thickness, good trade off between thiness but also can still pack bedding. Good recommendation.
Pretty sure the some of Drifta RTTs come out of the same factory and or though very different RTTs they share similar materials and structure, FYI Drifta make brackets to suit the angled sides for fitting awnings and shower tents etc as I have fitted on mine. All in all looks like a great tent one that was on my short list, however I needed the rear ladder entry.
Thank's for sharing
does the MRT Canopy come with those bolt channels that you attached the tent too?
Yep it did, but it was something I had to request and provide them with measurements for where I wanted the channels. 🙂
Time to upgrade to the Outback Tourer 1550Z RTT ;)
I thought you guys ran a San Hima RTT? What happened to it?
We tested a San Hima tent back in 2023 for a couple of months, it was decent and definitely had it's pros and cons but the Dune model suits us better so it went back on. 🙂
Good review... looks like a lot of work for a roof top tent. Don't imagine it'd be that much quicker than a swag. Don't really see the point over a standard clamshell. Price might justify it, each to their own I suppose 🤷♂ What's the weight limit like on the roof racks? Does it still open if you leave a kayak etc up there?
Absolutely quicker than a swag. I was camping with my son and his girlfriend, when it was time to pack up, I had packed the same RTT plus a 180deg awning by myself way before the swag was packed, and there were two of them packing the swag.
Hey mate! I actually filmed a timed setup comparison between the Dune soft top and hard top back when I first got it - it took me 1 minute and 26 seconds to fully set it up 👍 (here's the video if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/EwddPRvaE4A/w-d-xo.html )
Ah yeah thats not bad at all… it’s mostly the needing to walk around the tent tucking it in to pack it down that looked a little tedious. That being said, theres probably a bit much fuss in the industry on needing everything to be super quick (guilty myself haha). For me the pros/cons against a clamshell design don’t hold up as well. Always like seeing the reasons for people going different ways in their setups… great video mate 🫡
I actually tied a Bungy cord around the tent. This works much better than the internal one supplied. When I put the tent up I just pull the Bungy cord down to the base, easy 👍
mate, I've got the same tent and put all my bedding including 2 pillows the and the ladder at the same time and I can still close it. yes it is hard but it still closes but it requires me sitting on the tent to close the latches
Hey mate - that's good to know! Does it still seal ok against dust etc?
@@explorebound in the year or so i have had the tent, I have never got any water or dust inside. You will also find that even if it get behind the seat, The dust and water still needs to get inside the tent where you actually sleep behind the canvas and I think its why we never get water or dust in the tent.
Good to know mate, cheers!
Drifta makes brackets to suit those channels to mount awnings and ladder mounts since the tent is made by wildlands
Yeah I've actually got a couple of those in the garage 🙂
Do you leave the ladder set up over night? Have ever had anyone try to steal it??
Yeah the ladder stays setup overnight - we've never had anyone try to steal it but definitely worth keeping in mind! Hopefully we'd wake up as they're unhooking it haha.
@@explorebound, it would be a complete pain if you had to take the ladder away each night. Trying to pack it up and find somewhere to put it would be nearly impossible. Crazy thought.
If you had a tent with rear entry, would that get annoying with your 270* awning having to be packed away to access the tent?
Not at all, you can get a rooftop access flap, no need to pack it away 👍🏽
Hey mate! We don't have a 270 awning at this stage, still managing with a cheap roll-out style for now haha. If we do upgrade in future we'll keep an eye out for models that have the rear access flap to get around this. 😁
@@explorebound Ah cool, didn't know they had those. And didn't know you had the rollout (newbie to the channel).
@@Travelbug68 Excellent, I didn't know about that.
@@exploreboundcamp boss make a 270deg awning with an opening at the rear. $1700🤨
For three years I have had the same tent and traveled over 50K with it. It’s been great. I had a canvas bag made for the ladder and store in the tent (just one person) plus I connect the internal elastic cord to the end windows unzipped half way and this pulls in the end canvas walls automatically as I close it. Much easier and quicker. I have modified a Thule pod manual cable winch to lift and lower the tent. Takes me about 2 minutes. Takes me longer to undo the bolts than lifting it. Here’s a little look at my camping setup:- th-cam.com/video/ssvmCvq5kys/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_KCUbl1xfhCLUIr-
I know wealthy women who will buy kislux replicas. The main reason they give is that they simply understand the value of money and don't want to spend too much on a bag...especially a trendy one. They do, however, spend a lot of money on fine jewelry and other things.
Ya get what ya pay for I guess... :-)
It’s weird, the content was better when you weren’t doing TH-cam full time. 🤷♂️