These are things I wish I knew before buying a Roof Top Tent. I hope this guide gives you information that makes your purchase more transparent and ultimately gets you the tent you really want. For more V2R videos, please visit our channel and consider subscribing! th-cam.com/users/venture2roam
I've owned a TuffStuff alpha and the tent is tough as nails and customer service was amazing. A small crack led to a warranty claim in which they weren't hesitant to replace the entire tent with an upgraded model. Their customer service alone will keep me a customer moving forward.
Great comment. Customer service is so huge. The companies that "get it" invest heavily there because they understand customers will continue to buy and refer others if they have a great experience.
One topic I wish you would have mentioned. Roof rack weight limit is different from your actual vehicle roof weight limit rating. Most vehicle has this in the owners manual.
As a 20 year CS leader at Tech companies, I absolutely love how you pointed out customer service as the top priority. I 100% agree and always weight customer service high when I look at new products. I enjoyed the video and it gave me food for thought for looking at a roof top tent.
Main thing I learned is it appears these offroad companies like to lie about their equipment and then apologize when you call them on it. If not lie, then at least mislead the customer. Good advice in the video and thanks for sharing.
For anyone who isn’t an experienced camper or overlander. Please skip out on roof top tents. They are incredibly overpriced and heavy and alter driving characteristics. Just get a 100 dollar tent and an air matress, use it for a while. Then if and only IF you decide a roof top tent would really enhance your camping then go for it. I’ve seen too many noobs drop 3 grand on a roof tent they’ve used once.
Agree. I used to go rock crawling and do hard tracks. Totally avoid rtts. However, I’m 40 now and my back is shot. So I do lots of easy-medium tracks and touring, the hardshell wedge rtt has been amazing. Cant throw pillows in it (4) but easy to throw them up once parked.
Thank you for a really well thought out guide on rtt's. We did the same exhaustive research to find the right fit for our vehicle and tent. We settled for a hybrid style Arb tent as it was the lightest for the price in our budget range. 3 grand for a 55kg RTT. We love it. Boy, there are some sharks in this arena when buying these things. Some brands even go to lengths to hide the weight of them. Our dynamic roof weight is 100kg.Roof rack, 270 degree awning and RTT all combined leaves us with about 6kg under weight.
Speaking as somebody who bought, and then sold, a RTT I'd urge anybody to think very carefully before buying one. You're building your overland rig, you sort out a storage system, water tank, cooking facilities, fridge, electrical system, spotlights, rock-sliders and... it just seems like a RTT is something else that should be on the shopping list. In practice, however, I found that the usefulness of a RTT was very limited. Basically, for single nights (and in bad weather) it's preferable for two people to sleep inside a vehicle. For longer stops, it's better to tow a trailer, which you can set up and leave so you can make use of the vehicle during the day. About the only time you really NEED a RTT is if you're travelling as a family and you need space to sleep 3 or more people.
Great perspective thanks for sharing. It’s subjective though. I prefer an RTT to a trailer, and it’s more comfortable than sleeping inside my rig, but everyone is different. I think you’re perspective good though…you don’t NEED to buy one, there are other good options to consider.
@@Venture2Roam Yep. I don't mean to be too critical of RTTs. I just think (like a lot of stuff related to overlanding) it's a good idea to ask yourself if you're buying something because you're pretty sure you NEED it or if you're buying it just because all the cool kids seem to have it. My Disco' 2 looks like your average overland rig, with a winch bumper, chunky tyres, rock sliders, snorkel and (previously) a RTT and, honestly, in 15 years of car-camping, I haven't really NEEDED any of that stuff. I guess, if I'd known that 15 years ago, I WOULD still have bought most of it because building the vehicle is half the fun but, for me, spending £1.8k on a RTT that made me groan every time I thought about setting it up was just a step too far.
Been overlanding since the 1960's, never needed a 'build' and never owned a 4x4, yet traversed my part of Africa extensively. Younger people lack understanding and aptitude, if not acumen. I say this every day: I went to places where others with Land Cruisers refused to go. I did it with old 1970's Mercedes-Benz family sedans.
@@afriquelesud To be fair, I think people are exposed to a LOT of very deliberate, very insidious, product-placement, these days, intended to convince them that they "need" stuff for overlanding. As a Land Rover fan, for example, I watch half a dozen related channels and the creators have ALL been approached by AluCab and ended-up having their vehicles fitted with an Icarus roof conversion. There's millions of people watching those video's week after week - some of them getting their first look at overlanding - and they're all being presented with the idea that people who take Land Rovers overlanding "should" have a £10k roof conversion. I'll admit, I'm not immune to that. I'll watch a series of video's featuring a Disco' with, say, a particular bumper and I'll think "that looks cool" and I'll end up buying one. I do, at least, have enough self-awareness to understand I'm buying it because it looks cool, rather than because I NEED it, but the product-placement is doing it's job.
i know this is a bit of an older video, but I went with the Inspired Overland RT that has the tonal cover material. From the time I ordered to delivery to an issue I had with mounting they were there at every step and provided diagrams to help this nOObie. At 78 lbs and me being a single light over lander (not for the wifey, as she's no longer into camping) it's the perfect match for my 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness.
I so agree. I saw that shot and just had to find a way to use it! That shot was courtesy of Jeremiah over at Overland Pioneers and Rugged Bound Supply. I believe it's from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
I bought a hybrid rooftoptent for my Jeep and after the first night a self inflatable matras. Now I can leave my bedding in the rooftoptent. I sleep like a baby and I'm happy with it. The costumer services is out off the ordinary. I had a big issue with attaching the tent on my roofrack and without any problems they solved it, using out of the box materials custom made.
It's always so exciting/nerve wracking when you open up the box for the first time...I'm like "was I dumb for spending the $$$ or is this going to be worth it?"
I've been on the fence for quite a while now about the whole RTT vs tent thing. My 2 biggest things swaying me with staying with a tent (but getting a better, easy up tent) is a) I like the room to stand up and change clothes b) I like to drink beer while camping, causing me to get up several times at night to pee (id imagine that would suck climbing out of a RTT) and c) I like to be more mobile and leave my camp site at the camp site
Great video! Wish it was published before I purchased my first RTT from Freespirit Rec. Talk about poor customer service. What a disaster. Three months of back and forth with a credit card dispute to get my money back. Think I made a better choice on my second RTT. Just ordered the Eezi-Awn Stealth yesterday and its ready to ship!
You’re definitely not alone. This is stuff you can only learn by actually going through it..hoping to help others ask the right questions before buying since, as you found out, returns can be really hard with RTTs.
I have a tuff Stuff Ranger and i like it a lot. It came as a package with a 4'x6' awning, the annex, the shoe bag and a condensation mat for $800. That was only 4 years ago. Now that same setup is far more than double. the cost of entry has become too high.
Thanks for the video Will, an informative production that has pretty much decided me against getting a roof tent for my SJ, I'm disabled and travel alone most of the time so I think I'll go down another route. Regards from the UK.
I really liked FSR tents, but they didn't have any 4 person hardshell hybrid options when I was looking for a new tent. There is footage in this vid from the FSR Evolution (from Casey 250).
Great video. I was very interested in a Desert Armor Ninga. They were quick to answer my questions but absolutely refused to call me. I was looking at several different models and was busy driving to see a client and could not text. I guess I am old school but if a potential customer cannot get some one on the phone what happens if you buy one and have issues. I was concerned about exact dementions as that was crucial to fit in my garage. I am sure these tents are drop shipped from Asia so it's not like Desert Armor ever actually sees one to confirm. I went with Terrapod
It’s a tough business to break into, so I can empathize with them…but customer service is sooooo important. I really hope they invest in it. There are mistakes made by other manufacturers as well..something I’d like to see corrected in the industry…I think you are correct that they trust the tent makers a little too much on the spec sheets.
We love our Roofnest Falcon pro and have not had 1 problem with it. So far so good! Our bedding also fits inside the tent with pillows. Plenty of head room and space. Way better compared to our soft shell roam we had.
Nice follow up, on the "Tent Cluster"! Will do you use radios, and if so maybe you could do a video on maybe CB vs GMRS? Thanks. Keep up the good work.
I have an Ikamper BDV. The mattress is garbage. I just threw my Thermarest in there. Blow it up at setup and realease the valve at shut down. It holds the matress and sleeping bag....just. i had to add two side latches to fully compress it. With those changes, I love it. 140 Lbs, no wind noise and doesn't decrease the gas mileage. I left the ladder on once and busted it😂. They have distributors all over the USA and I got a ladder within 3 weeks from Korea. I would recommend.
Such a great vid. So many RTT vids act like they’re all the same. I am super happy I went to a RTT. Makes life so much easier. Wedge works for me. Centori Outdoors. Very satisfied.
@@Venture2Roam replaced the struts with their stainless steel ones bc I broke one when I was a bit off camber in the mud and slid into a tree. Lol. I would probably recommend just replacing right off the bat, stainless steel are a lot nicer. Very responsive customer service.
I’m looking to buy one, I have a 1948 Jeep willy overland truck. I’m going to mount the bed directly to the bed walls. They are very thick. I might have to build a rack that fits the top of my bed so under it I can store all of my materials. I’m curious about your thoughts on my plan.
It's hard to say unless I see it..but in general putting a tent on a rack in your the bed of your truck should be great. I'd double check the length of the bed vs the length of the tent just to make sure the tent isn't too long. What an awesome truck to have...congrats on that - a collector's item for sure!
Mattress density should also be taken into account, it is given as an index (at least in Europe) corresponding to the deformation of the foam under mechanical force. For a high density you want an index value of at least 20-25, even better 30. A 3" mattress with 20 index density may well be much less comfy than a 2" one with a density index of 30. Additionally, the ideal combination is a thin higher density mattress allowing for either more storage for your pillows etc and/or for a thinner tent thickness altogether.
Hi, my name is Richard. I notice you. I notice you're in venmyra who's that, right? I'm also a resident of this Ventura area looking at rooftop tents to see what I can find out there and I'll fit my 2023. Ford maverick just wanted to let you know
I'm working a large awning comparison video...still probably a month out from posting it though. That awning is the Bid Country 4X4 Ostrch Jr from Rugged Bound Supply Co. It's a fantastic awning. You have to get a special bracket to attach it to the Rhino Rack..but it's solid. Love mine.
Hey, I was just wondering what rooftop tents would you recommend because I’m just getting into rooftop camping and I really wanna do it and really commit to doing a lot of camping so just wondering if you Could give me any recommendations
The mattress in the Lance Camper was allegedly high density. It wasn't. A $250 memory foam topper stiffened it somewhat. A miserable nights sleep will torpedo a whole trip!
I totally agree. This is a common theme with tent/camping manufacturers. I wish they would Q/A it a bit more..or at least not try to tell us it's a great mattress when it's clearly not lol.
Hi Will. Thanks for the video. One question. Does the tent have to sit (when closed) within the foot print of the racks? I’m in Australia and want to put a tent on top of the tray/tub of my Ford Ranger. Thanks in advance!
It does not (unless there’s an Aussie law about it). The tent can overhang and be just fine, as long as it’s not too much. There are lots of examples of midsize trucks with short beds that have tents overhanging the back. Thanks for the great question.
Dude I was very mislead when I first got into finding the right RTT. That company that you’re talking about that sent you the wrong bed size I don’t want to mention their name, sent me the same tent you have that I spent 4k on as well and the paint wasn’t even finished, there were spots that were still bare. This wouldn’t have been such an issue if they would’ve just picked up their phone and gotten back to me. The customer service was only good in the process of when I was buying the tent. This is the one industry in the overland community that I’ll say is so difficult when making a purchase due to all the options and misleading information. Alot of these companies that promote themselves as small business are trying to make a quick flip. Anyway not to get in the weeds on that topic but the customer service part is the most important in my opinion. When you’re buying these tents the majority of them are coming from the same distributor in China with different specs that they pick (names, sizes, and models). I personally love Freespirit recreation, GFC, 23zero and ROAM from personal experiences they were so awesome when it came to answering questions. I ended up with the the Freespirit Odyssey RTT based on my needs, quality, pricing, and customer service interaction. Thanks for making this video I wish I would’ve seen this when I first made my $4000 mistake. Lastly to all the people who may read this do your research there are only a few RTT companies that are actually completely made in the US.
@@kk-pz8gn no I believe only go fast camper is and there’s a few more solid companies coming out now, like Harker outdoors. The other ones I mentioned like ROAM, FSR, and 23zero just have very good customer service and I’ve had good experiences with them just figuring out what’s right for what I was looking for.
A mistake is forgetting a zipper pull or being short a bolt/nut. Being off on not one but 2 dimensions and by a fair amount is not a mistake. Companies who do the kind of R&D to design something like these RTT’s (which has a major safety component to them) don’t make “mistakes” like these. If they do, might want to reconsider as what else did they mess up on?
You are not wrong. I do think some companies do less R&D than others..and rely on the spec sheets from the manufacturer to be correct. It wold be nice if they were easier to see in person so we could gauge some of these things for ourselves. I really appreciate this comment - thanks for sharing!
I've yet to see one RTT Co. that matches their # of people able to sleep or dimensions as you have experienced with size measurements. it's one thing if 4 people are 165 & 5'7", but many aren't and kids = 6' & 220 lbs when sleeping ha !...
I think sometimes there is a disconnect between the manufacturer’s specs, and the companies..that there needs to be additional validation of the specs by the company. As long as the dimensions are correct we can make a good decision about what “4 person” really means.
they making „mistakes“ I think this is a little to generous. I assume there is no known incident where the mattress is 4 inch when it was advertised 3 inch^^
5:20 not sure how you can say that with a straight face. They were flat out lying about the stats, nor a reputable company. Either they have no idea what they are selling/recelling from cheap import, or they just hope nobody will check. Something as easy as this to check, do you really trust anything else on the product after? 10:50 they do NOT make misstakes, either the product is as they advertise or they are lying to sell. Would you accept this from other companies?
Thanks for the great video. The imperfections in the metal work for the case is a red flag of poor craftsmanship. The fact the company misrepresented the size of the sleeping area and mattress is shady. There is no way they were unaware of that. If they actually weren’t aware they are completely incompetent. I wouldn’t go near that product of $4000.
I bought a clamshell CVT Mt.Hood tent. The tent itself meets my needs, but the seal sucks. When the tent is closed, it fills up with water in the rain. Then you spend the life of the tent fighting mold and mildew. Don’t ever buy a Mt.Hood,,,
Great video - constructive criticism: turn down the sound effects. I know you want them to keep people interested, but I wanted to turn off the video several times. They're really invasive to the content. Otherwise, thanks a ton for the video.
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!
1. I'm 52 with a dog. Neither one of us should be going down an icy ladder at 2am. 2. Coffee in bed? Good luck climbing back up that wet ladder half-awake at 5am. 3. In an emergency, I can drive off in like 10-15 seconds without an entire camp tied to my Bronco. 4. I can take a short drive while camped... yet still remain "camped". 5. My two Oztents pack up faster than most rooftop tents. 6. High winds are no fun if you're inside of a kite that's already 8 feet off the ground. 7. Rolling my Bronco while out alone doesn't leave me homeless. Related: lower center of gravity. 8. Lightning. I was hit by lightning 3 years ago. 0/10, would not recommend. 9. No additional vehicle height while traveling. I know it's just a few inches, but just like some women, I've been screwed by just a few inches. It's a thing, and it sucks. 10. Downside: you'll have to annoy people by telling them how cool you are, because they can't just look at the rooftop tent and know that you've checked all the "overlanding" "must-haves". Come on people, the homeless do what we do. My great-grandfather crossed the desert states on a horse 150 years ago with just a bedroll and a canteen. Too bad he didn't have a GoPro. We aren't that cool. Just go explore, live your life, and chill.
This isn’t a video on why RTTs are better than ground tents…this is a video on things to know before you buy one. All of your points make perfect sense for people who want a ground tent, but they are meaningless here. Maybe pick a different video to argue why ground tents are better.
@@JasonSmith-gq4hb No nerve hit here, but give your comment another read? It doesn't read like a reminder you don't have to follow a checklist, it reads like reasons your set up is better than an RTT...which isn't what this video is about. Maybe I mistook humor for a bit of a rant?
@@Venture2Roam not really humor, just a concise list, albeit without social niceties. More of a reminder that people don’t need to follow every trend to be happy. High-dollar car camping (overlanding) shouldn’t be just another way to flex cool gear on social media. Just an opinion. But hey, my comments are helping the algorithm, so you’re welcome 😉
@@JasonSmith-gq4hb Ya thanks for the extra comments. But I stand by original reply. It just seems out of place on this video, which is about how to help people make better decisions when buying a rooftop tent...not a commentary on the lifestyle or comparison to other ways to recreate.
Here is another tip... never do business with a manufacturer that does not provide a customer service phone number. If you spend thousands of dollars on a rooftop tent, then I want to speak with someone in person, not through an instant messenger or an email.
This vid, and every other vid that you see creators post, are probably for the algo. However, it has to be valuable to viewers in order for the algorithm to pick it up. So if that value isn’t there, nothing else matters because the algorithm takes viewer watch time into account. I worked hard to add a ton a value to this vid, and really hope it delivers. But if it doesn’t, the algorithm won’t pick it up, because people will stop watching and I’ll have to try again with another vid.
There are people with different needs, medical reasons, disabilities even, that cannot live in a regular tent. Soft-shell tents are just impossible, and quick pitch ground tents often are just impossible. In my instance, after literally a dozen strokes, I have lost much of my executive functions and, as I drive a Jimny, I cannot carry a heavy hard-shell RTT. The answer is an easy-to-use hard-shell such as Alu-Cab LT-50, which is made less than 25km from me. It fits onto an Alu-Star Alu-X Camper trailer. I don't really have more options, please let the nayhsayers dig a hole and put their wisdom there. Most people are inept and cannot think beyond their own little lives.
I thought your video was quite negative and it dissapointed me. If you had taken your time and reviewed a few products in person so to speak it would have been more helpful. There will of cause be small things which annoy the buyer, but this ought to be expected to some extent, unless you expect everything always to be perfect. I recently watched a few Ikamper reviews and it was done slowly looking at the negstives and positives and suggesting things to overcome any minor irritants. I'm sorry to be a little negative, but I'm sure you will appreciate the feedback.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment! This isn't a product review video, or product comparison video, it's a buying advice video with personal stories and examples to back up my advice. So if you were looking for specific product comparisons, or in-depth reviews of any of the tents we mentioned, I can understand your disappointment. The issues I covered are not small variances that out to be expected, they are major buying decision criteria that anyone spending thousands of dollars on a tent should pay attention to. We have two much more in-depth RTT reviews if that's what you're looking for, you can find those reviews here: th-cam.com/play/PLv4WOiu-rUDDc4eI4D3CVHr9Y22lr6_g-.html
Wow I think your being little over the top with your criticism my man. I thought the video was frank and very well done. Wondering if you have ties to the company that was mentioned to have mis information. IMHO there is no excuse for not knowing the dementions of your product
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
These are things I wish I knew before buying a Roof Top Tent. I hope this guide gives you information that makes your purchase more transparent and ultimately gets you the tent you really want. For more V2R videos, please visit our channel and consider subscribing! th-cam.com/users/venture2roam
I've owned a TuffStuff alpha and the tent is tough as nails and customer service was amazing. A small crack led to a warranty claim in which they weren't hesitant to replace the entire tent with an upgraded model. Their customer service alone will keep me a customer moving forward.
Great comment. Customer service is so huge. The companies that "get it" invest heavily there because they understand customers will continue to buy and refer others if they have a great experience.
One topic I wish you would have mentioned. Roof rack weight limit is different from your actual vehicle roof weight limit rating. Most vehicle has this in the owners manual.
As a 20 year CS leader at Tech companies, I absolutely love how you pointed out customer service as the top priority. I 100% agree and always weight customer service high when I look at new products. I enjoyed the video and it gave me food for thought for looking at a roof top tent.
Thank you. I'm so glad that resonated with you...it makes all the difference.
Main thing I learned is it appears these offroad companies like to lie about their equipment and then apologize when you call them on it. If not lie, then at least mislead the customer. Good advice in the video and thanks for sharing.
I think a lot of them, just don’t actually check the specs from the manufacturer..which are clearly incorrect sometimes.
@@Venture2Roam Agreed. They're all buying this shit from China and putting their logo on it.
For anyone who isn’t an experienced camper or overlander. Please skip out on roof top tents. They are incredibly overpriced and heavy and alter driving characteristics. Just get a 100 dollar tent and an air matress, use it for a while. Then if and only IF you decide a roof top tent would really enhance your camping then go for it. I’ve seen too many noobs drop 3 grand on a roof tent they’ve used once.
This is good advice!
Agree. I used to go rock crawling and do hard tracks. Totally avoid rtts. However, I’m 40 now and my back is shot. So I do lots of easy-medium tracks and touring, the hardshell wedge rtt has been amazing. Cant throw pillows in it (4) but easy to throw them up once parked.
Thanks for the advice
I’m thinking of getting one for chilling at the beach 😅
Agreed don’t buy these new. Plenty to be had for a good discount barley used.
Thank you for a really well thought out guide on rtt's. We did the same exhaustive research to find the right fit for our vehicle and tent. We settled for a hybrid style Arb tent as it was the lightest for the price in our budget range. 3 grand for a 55kg RTT. We love it. Boy, there are some sharks in this arena when buying these things. Some brands even go to lengths to hide the weight of them.
Our dynamic roof weight is 100kg.Roof rack, 270 degree awning and RTT all combined leaves us with about 6kg under weight.
So glad you found it helpful! Sounds like you found the right tent!
Great topic for a video. Great points as well. The big ones for me is the ability to leave bedding in the tent and the quality of the mattress.
Awesome comment. Agree with you on bedding and mattress. Those are both big factors
There's nothing worse than bad customer service. Thanks for the buying advice!
I think that’s probably the most important thing when it’s all said and done. I can forgive a lot when a company stands by their products!
Really well edited video, well done mate, well done. So enjoyable to watch with knowledgeable tips / tricks.
Thank you so much!!!
Man there is some great advice here. Things I would have never thought about! Great job!
Thanks Matt! Some were hard-earned lessons from myself or one of my friends.
Speaking as somebody who bought, and then sold, a RTT I'd urge anybody to think very carefully before buying one.
You're building your overland rig, you sort out a storage system, water tank, cooking facilities, fridge, electrical system, spotlights, rock-sliders and... it just seems like a RTT is something else that should be on the shopping list.
In practice, however, I found that the usefulness of a RTT was very limited.
Basically, for single nights (and in bad weather) it's preferable for two people to sleep inside a vehicle.
For longer stops, it's better to tow a trailer, which you can set up and leave so you can make use of the vehicle during the day.
About the only time you really NEED a RTT is if you're travelling as a family and you need space to sleep 3 or more people.
Great perspective thanks for sharing. It’s subjective though. I prefer an RTT to a trailer, and it’s more comfortable than sleeping inside my rig, but everyone is different. I think you’re perspective good though…you don’t NEED to buy one, there are other good options to consider.
@@Venture2Roam Yep.
I don't mean to be too critical of RTTs.
I just think (like a lot of stuff related to overlanding) it's a good idea to ask yourself if you're buying something because you're pretty sure you NEED it or if you're buying it just because all the cool kids seem to have it.
My Disco' 2 looks like your average overland rig, with a winch bumper, chunky tyres, rock sliders, snorkel and (previously) a RTT and, honestly, in 15 years of car-camping, I haven't really NEEDED any of that stuff.
I guess, if I'd known that 15 years ago, I WOULD still have bought most of it because building the vehicle is half the fun but, for me, spending £1.8k on a RTT that made me groan every time I thought about setting it up was just a step too far.
Been overlanding since the 1960's, never needed a 'build' and never owned a 4x4, yet traversed my part of Africa extensively. Younger people lack understanding and aptitude, if not acumen.
I say this every day: I went to places where others with Land Cruisers refused to go. I did it with old 1970's Mercedes-Benz family sedans.
@@afriquelesud To be fair, I think people are exposed to a LOT of very deliberate, very insidious, product-placement, these days, intended to convince them that they "need" stuff for overlanding.
As a Land Rover fan, for example, I watch half a dozen related channels and the creators have ALL been approached by AluCab and ended-up having their vehicles fitted with an Icarus roof conversion.
There's millions of people watching those video's week after week - some of them getting their first look at overlanding - and they're all being presented with the idea that people who take Land Rovers overlanding "should" have a £10k roof conversion.
I'll admit, I'm not immune to that.
I'll watch a series of video's featuring a Disco' with, say, a particular bumper and I'll think "that looks cool" and I'll end up buying one.
I do, at least, have enough self-awareness to understand I'm buying it because it looks cool, rather than because I NEED it, but the product-placement is doing it's job.
We use a Nemo Roamer Double in our soft shell tent and it’s more comfortable than most beds!
i know this is a bit of an older video, but I went with the Inspired Overland RT that has the tonal cover material. From the time I ordered to delivery to an issue I had with mounting they were there at every step and provided diagrams to help this nOObie. At 78 lbs and me being a single light over lander (not for the wifey, as she's no longer into camping) it's the perfect match for my 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness.
Glad to hear it. I’ve been impressed with the Inspired team too.
What an amazing camp spot at 3:03.
I so agree. I saw that shot and just had to find a way to use it! That shot was courtesy of Jeremiah over at Overland Pioneers and Rugged Bound Supply. I believe it's from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Some solid advice here, thank you. I’m looking for a RTT for my 2021 Ram and the choices are overwhelming for sure.
If you're curious about tents I've reviewed you can find more here: utube.com/playlist?list=PLv4WOiu-rUDCwwXSfA_S153s49N1DxBJB
I bought a hybrid rooftoptent for my Jeep and after the first night a self inflatable matras. Now I can leave my bedding in the rooftoptent. I sleep like a baby and I'm happy with it. The costumer services is out off the ordinary. I had a big issue with attaching the tent on my roofrack and without any problems they solved it, using out of the box materials custom made.
Sounds like you had a great experience! It's nice to hear those stories.
Got my Roofnest Falcon 2 last week. Hella expensive! I'll be uncrating it and putting it on the land cruiser today :) So excited!!
It's always so exciting/nerve wracking when you open up the box for the first time...I'm like "was I dumb for spending the $$$ or is this going to be worth it?"
I've been on the fence for quite a while now about the whole RTT vs tent thing. My 2 biggest things swaying me with staying with a tent (but getting a better, easy up tent) is a) I like the room to stand up and change clothes b) I like to drink beer while camping, causing me to get up several times at night to pee (id imagine that would suck climbing out of a RTT) and c) I like to be more mobile and leave my camp site at the camp site
The climbing down the ladder in the middle of the night thing is real...there are other solutions..but none that I've cared to try.
Great video! Wish it was published before I purchased my first RTT from Freespirit Rec. Talk about poor customer service. What a disaster. Three months of back and forth with a credit card dispute to get my money back. Think I made a better choice on my second RTT. Just ordered the Eezi-Awn Stealth yesterday and its ready to ship!
You’re definitely not alone. This is stuff you can only learn by actually going through it..hoping to help others ask the right questions before buying since, as you found out, returns can be really hard with RTTs.
I have a tuff Stuff Ranger and i like it a lot. It came as a package with a 4'x6' awning, the annex, the shoe bag and a condensation mat for $800. That was only 4 years ago. Now that same setup is far more than double. the cost of entry has become too high.
They have become incredibly expensive!
Thanks for the video Will, an informative production that has pretty much decided me against getting a roof tent for my SJ, I'm disabled and travel alone most of the time so I think I'll go down another route. Regards from the UK.
That’s awesome to hear!! Are you thinking of getting a trailer?? I think that might be an easier set up.
Thanks for the information. I always wonder how much weight a normal SUV can hold for the weight of a roof top tent + two adults.
Hope you found it helpful!
Good info for the overland masses there. Good job laying the mattress concerns to rest!
The mattress stuff was so surprising to me…that those spec sheets could be wrong!
I enjoyed this video. Just curious if you considered the Freedom Spirit Recreation (FSR) RTTs.
I really liked FSR tents, but they didn't have any 4 person hardshell hybrid options when I was looking for a new tent. There is footage in this vid from the FSR Evolution (from Casey 250).
Thanks, great video .. is it possible to have pillows and blankets in the tent when it is folded up?
It depends on which tent model you're asking about. But for many of them the answer is yes.
@@Venture2Roam Thanks for answering..Whas thinking about the Thule Tepui Kukenam.
@@Outdoor_Kicks Sorry I don't know much about that particular tent. But you should be able to call or chat with customer service to find out.
Great video. I was very interested in a Desert Armor Ninga. They were quick to answer my questions but absolutely refused to call me. I was looking at several different models and was busy driving to see a client and could not text. I guess I am old school but if a potential customer cannot get some one on the phone what happens if you buy one and have issues. I was concerned about exact dementions as that was crucial to fit in my garage. I am sure these tents are drop shipped from Asia so it's not like Desert Armor ever actually sees one to confirm. I went with Terrapod
It’s a tough business to break into, so I can empathize with them…but customer service is sooooo important. I really hope they invest in it. There are mistakes made by other manufacturers as well..something I’d like to see corrected in the industry…I think you are correct that they trust the tent makers a little too much on the spec sheets.
We love our Roofnest Falcon pro and have not had 1 problem with it. So far so good! Our bedding also fits inside the tent with pillows. Plenty of head room and space. Way better compared to our soft shell roam we had.
How many ppl can sleep in it??
@@Venture2Roam 2 comfortably maybe 3 if it’s a kid
Think it would fit two people and an 80lb dog?
@@billwilliams4281 sure it would
Nice follow up, on the "Tent Cluster"! Will do you use radios, and if so maybe you could do a video on maybe CB vs GMRS? Thanks. Keep up the good work.
Hi Ken - we do use radios. CB and GMRS. Thanks for the video idea, I just might do that one!
I have an Ikamper BDV. The mattress is garbage. I just threw my Thermarest in there. Blow it up at setup and realease the valve at shut down. It holds the matress and sleeping bag....just. i had to add two side latches to fully compress it. With those changes, I love it. 140 Lbs, no wind noise and doesn't decrease the gas mileage. I left the ladder on once and busted it😂. They have distributors all over the USA and I got a ladder within 3 weeks from Korea. I would recommend.
Great to hear. I have a few friends who like their BDVs as well. Looks like an interesting tent!
Such a great vid. So many RTT vids act like they’re all the same. I am super happy I went to a RTT. Makes life so much easier. Wedge works for me. Centori Outdoors. Very satisfied.
Glad to hear you like the Centori. I’ve been curious about those.
@@Venture2Roam replaced the struts with their stainless steel ones bc I broke one when I was a bit off camber in the mud and slid into a tree. Lol. I would probably recommend just replacing right off the bat, stainless steel are a lot nicer. Very responsive customer service.
Brother, your videos are amazing and I know your numbers are going to keep on climbing.
Thank you so much…means a lot!! And really grateful that you took the time to leave a comment!!
Do you think the Tank XL is actually 156 lbs?
I have wondered. But don’t have the ability to weigh it myself. After the mattress, it’s the first thing I questioned though.
@@Venture2Roam I'd be interested to know! I am surprised that it's so much lighter than the Stealth and even the iKamper.
I’m waiting on an official reply from DA..but would love to find someone with a hanging scale to see for myself!
I’m looking to buy one, I have a 1948 Jeep willy overland truck. I’m going to mount the bed directly to the bed walls. They are very thick. I might have to build a rack that fits the top of my bed so under it I can store all of my materials. I’m curious about your thoughts on my plan.
It's hard to say unless I see it..but in general putting a tent on a rack in your the bed of your truck should be great. I'd double check the length of the bed vs the length of the tent just to make sure the tent isn't too long. What an awesome truck to have...congrats on that - a collector's item for sure!
Mattress density should also be taken into account, it is given as an index (at least in Europe) corresponding to the deformation of the foam under mechanical force. For a high density you want an index value of at least 20-25, even better 30. A 3" mattress with 20 index density may well be much less comfy than a 2" one with a density index of 30.
Additionally, the ideal combination is a thin higher density mattress allowing for either more storage for your pillows etc and/or for a thinner tent thickness altogether.
I’d love that. We have no rating system like that for RTT mattresses here. I wish we did.
I shared this to my Group, Alaska Roof Top Tent…🤔🔥⛺️⛺️⛺️😊
That’s so great, Thank You! I hope they find it helpful!!
Will this was a great video. Are you going to be at the expo this year?
Thank you! We'll be at Expo PNW this year. Looking forward to it!
Thank you for the advice and information 👍
Thank you for your kind words! It means a lot to me that you found the information valuable.
Thank you for the honest video.
Hope it was helpful!!
Fantastic video and great info!
Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment!!!
Hi, my name is Richard. I notice you. I notice you're in venmyra who's that, right? I'm also a resident of this Ventura area looking at rooftop tents to see what I can find out there and I'll fit my 2023. Ford maverick just wanted to let you know
Not sure I understand everything in this comment. But I appreciate you taking the time to do it.
what awing are you using on your Jeep? Does the rhino rack hold it well? I am looking for a 270 awning for my Jeep.
I'm working a large awning comparison video...still probably a month out from posting it though. That awning is the Bid Country 4X4 Ostrch Jr from Rugged Bound Supply Co. It's a fantastic awning. You have to get a special bracket to attach it to the Rhino Rack..but it's solid. Love mine.
Thx so much Bro! Love your advice!
Hope it was helpful!
Hey, I was just wondering what rooftop tents would you recommend because I’m just getting into rooftop camping and I really wanna do it and really commit to doing a lot of camping so just wondering if you Could give me any recommendations
Here's a good place to start! th-cam.com/play/PLv4WOiu-rUDCwwXSfA_S153s49N1DxBJB.html
@@Venture2Roam thanks
The mattress in the Lance Camper was allegedly high density. It wasn't. A $250 memory foam topper stiffened it somewhat. A miserable nights sleep will torpedo a whole trip!
I totally agree. This is a common theme with tent/camping manufacturers. I wish they would Q/A it a bit more..or at least not try to tell us it's a great mattress when it's clearly not lol.
Great tips Will!! Cheers!! J & C
Thanks Johnny and Colleen!!
Hi Will. Thanks for the video. One question. Does the tent have to sit (when closed) within the foot print of the racks? I’m in Australia and want to put a tent on top of the tray/tub of my Ford Ranger. Thanks in advance!
It does not (unless there’s an Aussie law about it). The tent can overhang and be just fine, as long as it’s not too much. There are lots of examples of midsize trucks with short beds that have tents overhanging the back. Thanks for the great question.
@@Venture2Roam thanks so much! I really appreciate it 😀
I see a roof tent as a cheaper alternative to a small camper van ie suitable for overnights where there is no campground.
That’s a great way to think about it!
These are all great tips.
Thank you!!
Dude I was very mislead when I first got into finding the right RTT. That company that you’re talking about that sent you the wrong bed size I don’t want to mention their name, sent me the same tent you have that I spent 4k on as well and the paint wasn’t even finished, there were spots that were still bare. This wouldn’t have been such an issue if they would’ve just picked up their phone and gotten back to me. The customer service was only good in the process of when I was buying the tent.
This is the one industry in the overland community that I’ll say is so difficult when making a purchase due to all the options and misleading information. Alot of these companies that promote themselves as small business are trying to make a quick flip. Anyway not to get in the weeds on that topic but the customer service part is the most important in my opinion. When you’re buying these tents the majority of them are coming from the same distributor in China with different specs that they pick (names, sizes, and models). I personally love Freespirit recreation, GFC, 23zero and ROAM from personal experiences they were so awesome when it came to answering questions. I ended up with the the Freespirit Odyssey RTT based on my needs, quality, pricing, and customer service interaction. Thanks for making this video I wish I would’ve seen this when I first made my $4000 mistake. Lastly to all the people who may read this do your research there are only a few RTT companies that are actually completely made in the US.
This comment highlights the reason I wanted to make this video. Thank you for sharing your experience, I really appreciate it!
Are Freespirit recreation, GFC, 23zero and ROAM completely made in the US? Thanks in advance
@@kk-pz8gn no I believe only go fast camper is and there’s a few more solid companies coming out now, like Harker outdoors. The other ones I mentioned like ROAM, FSR, and 23zero just have very good customer service and I’ve had good experiences with them just figuring out what’s right for what I was looking for.
Great advice Will!
Thanks Gari!!
A mistake is forgetting a zipper pull or being short a bolt/nut. Being off on not one but 2 dimensions and by a fair amount is not a mistake. Companies who do the kind of R&D to design something like these RTT’s (which has a major safety component to them) don’t make “mistakes” like these. If they do, might want to reconsider as what else did they mess up on?
You are not wrong. I do think some companies do less R&D than others..and rely on the spec sheets from the manufacturer to be correct. It wold be nice if they were easier to see in person so we could gauge some of these things for ourselves. I really appreciate this comment - thanks for sharing!
It's blatant lies when someone orders a 3" thick mattress and gets 1.5"
amazing review
Thank you!
You should have chosen ikamper skycamp 3.0
Maybe..but There are some drawbacks to that tent as well.
Great advice Will! Thanks for helping me with my rtt purchase!
OVS was pretty great sending you that package ahead of time, and getting it shipped to you so fast!
@@Venture2Roam I’ve been very happy with them!
I like this video. Great job Jeff Dunham's bother! 👍🤙
Great video! I'd still rather just buy a Gazelle T3 and save 3500$ Up, down, and in the Jeep in 60 seconds
That’s a great point. Seems like Gazelles are great options if you prefer ground tents! Thanks for watching and taking the time comment!
Great advice
Thanks, hope it was helpful!
Great video
Thank you!
I've yet to see one RTT Co. that matches their # of people able to sleep or dimensions as you have experienced with size measurements. it's one thing if 4 people are 165 & 5'7", but many aren't and kids = 6' & 220 lbs when sleeping ha !...
I think sometimes there is a disconnect between the manufacturer’s specs, and the companies..that there needs to be additional validation of the specs by the company. As long as the dimensions are correct we can make a good decision about what “4 person” really means.
BTW- Thanks for leaving this comment!
Can’t expect specs to meet every possibility out there. Can only go by averages.
Excellent
Thank you so much 😀 And thanks for taking the time to comment!
Yup!!!
mmmhmmm.
When you learn new word as kid and you use it all the time. You can play drinking game with him saying "generally"
Generally speaking I’m happy to give you a new drinking game!
Generally.
they making „mistakes“ I think this is a little to generous. I assume there is no known incident where the mattress is 4 inch when it was advertised 3 inch^^
Very good point.
5:20 not sure how you can say that with a straight face. They were flat out lying about the stats, nor a reputable company.
Either they have no idea what they are selling/recelling from cheap import, or they just hope nobody will check. Something as easy as this to check, do you really trust anything else on the product after?
10:50 they do NOT make misstakes, either the product is as they advertise or they are lying to sell. Would you accept this from other companies?
Thanks for the great video. The imperfections in the metal work for the case is a red flag of poor craftsmanship. The fact the company misrepresented the size of the sleeping area and mattress is shady. There is no way they were unaware of that. If they actually weren’t aware they are completely incompetent. I wouldn’t go near that product of $4000.
I agree with you.
I bought a clamshell CVT Mt.Hood tent. The tent itself meets my needs, but the seal sucks. When the tent is closed, it fills up with water in the rain. Then you spend the life of the tent fighting mold and mildew. Don’t ever buy a Mt.Hood,,,
That’s no bueno. Hopefully they fix that issue!!
They see you coming when you ask about rooftop tents. I never got the pt of them, besides being cool. Highly impractical.
@5:30 That is absolutely the worst customer service
Great video - constructive criticism: turn down the sound effects. I know you want them to keep people interested, but I wanted to turn off the video several times. They're really invasive to the content. Otherwise, thanks a ton for the video.
Ya I actually stopped doing SFX like that in general...for exactly what you pointed out. Each vid I try to get a little better :)
@@Venture2Roam I’m new into overloading, so your videos are going to be great as I learn. Thanks dude! Keep at it!
Basically you have to be a engineer to order and install a toof rack
😂😂. I’ve done it twice now and the Rhino Rack is not an easy install. Good rack though.
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!
When you go camping that’s all you have time
1. I'm 52 with a dog. Neither one of us should be going down an icy ladder at 2am.
2. Coffee in bed? Good luck climbing back up that wet ladder half-awake at 5am.
3. In an emergency, I can drive off in like 10-15 seconds without an entire camp tied to my Bronco.
4. I can take a short drive while camped... yet still remain "camped".
5. My two Oztents pack up faster than most rooftop tents.
6. High winds are no fun if you're inside of a kite that's already 8 feet off the ground.
7. Rolling my Bronco while out alone doesn't leave me homeless. Related: lower center of gravity.
8. Lightning. I was hit by lightning 3 years ago. 0/10, would not recommend.
9. No additional vehicle height while traveling. I know it's just a few inches, but just like some women, I've been screwed by just a few inches. It's a thing, and it sucks.
10. Downside: you'll have to annoy people by telling them how cool you are, because they can't just look at the rooftop tent and know that you've checked all the "overlanding" "must-haves".
Come on people, the homeless do what we do. My great-grandfather crossed the desert states on a horse 150 years ago with just a bedroll and a canteen. Too bad he didn't have a GoPro. We aren't that cool. Just go explore, live your life, and chill.
This isn’t a video on why RTTs are better than ground tents…this is a video on things to know before you buy one. All of your points make perfect sense for people who want a ground tent, but they are meaningless here. Maybe pick a different video to argue why ground tents are better.
@@Venture2Roam Wow. Just reminding people that they don't "need" to follow anyone's checklist. Did I hit a nerve?
@@JasonSmith-gq4hb No nerve hit here, but give your comment another read? It doesn't read like a reminder you don't have to follow a checklist, it reads like reasons your set up is better than an RTT...which isn't what this video is about. Maybe I mistook humor for a bit of a rant?
@@Venture2Roam not really humor, just a concise list, albeit without social niceties. More of a reminder that people don’t need to follow every trend to be happy. High-dollar car camping (overlanding) shouldn’t be just another way to flex cool gear on social media. Just an opinion. But hey, my comments are helping the algorithm, so you’re welcome 😉
@@JasonSmith-gq4hb Ya thanks for the extra comments. But I stand by original reply. It just seems out of place on this video, which is about how to help people make better decisions when buying a rooftop tent...not a commentary on the lifestyle or comparison to other ways to recreate.
Here is another tip... never do business with a manufacturer that does not provide a customer service phone number. If you spend thousands of dollars on a rooftop tent, then I want to speak with someone in person, not through an instant messenger or an email.
Great tip!
for the algo
This vid, and every other vid that you see creators post, are probably for the algo. However, it has to be valuable to viewers in order for the algorithm to pick it up. So if that value isn’t there, nothing else matters because the algorithm takes viewer watch time into account. I worked hard to add a ton a value to this vid, and really hope it delivers. But if it doesn’t, the algorithm won’t pick it up, because people will stop watching and I’ll have to try again with another vid.
@@Venture2Roam Yeah absolutely, I love your content and the effort you put in, so happy to watch it 100% through
@@Venture2Roam ah what I meant was with, for the algo, is leaving that comment for the algo. Since YT likes videos that get comments
Hahahaha...whoops. well then..thank you sir! Sorry for the diatribe then! Appreciate it.
Hell nah! I aint correcting them before I buy it, im deamanding a partial refund or a return. Your talking about $4000 that aint cheap.
If a company does not tell the truth, they need black listing
Nonsense
Rooftop tents are a joke. Get a Super Pacific or AluCab, where the roof top adds legit utility, or just keep it ground tent.
Why give an ultimatum??? 😂 To each their own.
What legit utility does an alucab or superpacific add?
Can you be more specific?
@@farzana6676 for starters, multiple people can actually stand/shelter inside of them as needed while cooking or doing other tasks.
There are people with different needs, medical reasons, disabilities even, that cannot live in a regular tent. Soft-shell tents are just impossible, and quick pitch ground tents often are just impossible. In my instance, after literally a dozen strokes, I have lost much of my executive functions and, as I drive a Jimny, I cannot carry a heavy hard-shell RTT. The answer is an easy-to-use hard-shell such as Alu-Cab LT-50, which is made less than 25km from me. It fits onto an Alu-Star Alu-X Camper trailer. I don't really have more options, please let the nayhsayers dig a hole and put their wisdom there. Most people are inept and cannot think beyond their own little lives.
I thought your video was quite negative and it dissapointed me. If you had taken your time and reviewed a few products in person so to speak it would have been more helpful. There will of cause be small things which annoy the buyer, but this ought to be expected to some extent, unless you expect everything always to be perfect. I recently watched a few Ikamper reviews and it was done slowly looking at the negstives and positives and suggesting things to overcome any minor irritants. I'm sorry to be a little negative, but I'm sure you will appreciate the feedback.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment! This isn't a product review video, or product comparison video, it's a buying advice video with personal stories and examples to back up my advice. So if you were looking for specific product comparisons, or in-depth reviews of any of the tents we mentioned, I can understand your disappointment. The issues I covered are not small variances that out to be expected, they are major buying decision criteria that anyone spending thousands of dollars on a tent should pay attention to. We have two much more in-depth RTT reviews if that's what you're looking for, you can find those reviews here: th-cam.com/play/PLv4WOiu-rUDDc4eI4D3CVHr9Y22lr6_g-.html
Wow I think your being little over the top with your criticism my man. I thought the video was frank and very well done. Wondering if you have ties to the company that was mentioned to have mis information. IMHO there is no excuse for not knowing the dementions of your product
The thing to know before buying a roof-top tent: Do not buy a roof-top tent.
😂