Thread: Why use roof-top tents?

Originally Posted by Bushwanderer

Hi All,
I accept that I must be missing something, but why, in Australia, is a roof-top tent (rtt) advantageous?

The only times that I can imagine are:
1. One has been stranded in floodwater,
2. There is insufficient space for both our LR and a ground-dwelling tent, or
3. There is a risk of being eaten by crocodiles.

None of these have been an issue for me.

To address those times:
1. This is plain bad planning, and one has bigger things to worry about.
2. Don't camp there.
3. As per point 2. If you feel the need to camp near crocodile-infested waters, even with a rtt, you will need to watch your step when you leave your rtt.

I look forward to your considered responses,
Peter

1 lazy, unclup pull tug and clip, beds already made up, its just easy
2 spiders, ants, snakes.
3 clean, no dirty swag tent etc
4 no packing or unpacking
5 wind resistance, economy
6 trees
bla bla bla

good question and will be interested in why members have them

i am considering one..........but not sure why, maybe for when its raining, i would really like to see one being set up in the flesh

i have swags and the square canvass touring tents, i like the idea that the bed stays made up ready to go

I think rooftop tents are a good concept and the plusses would include having the bed already made up "ready to hop into".

However the one major disadvantage that I can see is that the motor car isn't useable whilst the tent is erected.

I imagine they would rock a bit on a windy night as well..... (and under other conditions too)

Having a tent and trailer-camper already erected/sited both secures the site AND allows tours away from the campsite, and also allows short excursions to pick up firewood & supplies (if there's a shop nearby) without dismantling the tent.

"horses for courses" as they say, OR, six of one, half a dozen of the other ...

Originally Posted by Bushwanderer

Hi All,
I accept that I must be missing something, but why, in Australia, is a roof-top tent (rtt) advantageous?

The only times that I can imagine are:
1. One has been stranded in floodwater,
2. There is insufficient space for both our LR and a ground-dwelling tent, or
3. There is a risk of being eaten by crocodiles.

None of these have been an issue for me.

Going my experience arriving to camp after 4pm
1) ants nest
2) Wet or rocky ground

I would like to have one but in the Defender will be a long way up and to come down and up again when go to the loo during the night is not a good thing
Perhaps a funnel, hose and a bucket at the bottom will be an option to explore

Very fast easy set up with the bed already made, especially in bad weather, always get good airflow (think queenslander houses) If you were staying in one place and wanting to tour around it would be a pain.

Perfect for those holidays when you want to camp some and cabin some and motel some without the need for a trailer. Swags are one of my favourite forms of sleeping, but when you have 2 swags on the roof it is no more wind resistance and the Wife loves the extra privacy and comfort. The fold out doubles as a shelter underneath and you get some of the best views of the ocean etc above the low lying shrubbery!

Not all of us camp in nice green prepared sites.
Some of the places we visit often has someone walking into the bush first to see if we can turn the trailer around etc easily. The RTT solves that.
It isnt wet and muddy/ dirty when you pack it up

Mine sits on roof rack which easily transfers to my trailer for longer trips where i want to stay in one spot for a few days and use the vehicle for sightseeing, fishing etc.

Its not the ideal for everyone, especially for those a bit older, but for us and our setup, it gives us a full camper trailer (when we use the awning also) for long stays/ trips or a fully capable 4 wd with all the comforts.

And for those who think Oz doesnt benefit from being up a bit higher, we have some of the deadliest snakes in the world, with some like the King Brown loving to come out and play at night. Buffalo up north have little repect and no fear of you, neither do the myriad of centipedes scorpions and spiders.



Cheers

It sort of depends what you are comparing it too.

If a ground tent positives would be

All bedding (some including pillows) is stored inside
proper matress
Once put up, bed is already made
Better quality canvas - properly dark inside, even in daylight in ours.
Quick to put up / down
stays clean, probably helped by the fact you dont tend to just go in for the sake of it!
moves a fair amount of stuff out of the car
lots of ventilation
nice views!

If comparing to a trailer.

Dont need to tow it.
car is more manouverable, doesnt affect where I can drive really
a lot cheaper
far quicker to set up and down
Doesnt come with all the added maintence requirements of a trailer
lots of ventilation
nice views!

Downsides are mainly that you cant move the car when its up, they are reasonably expensive compared to a ground tent, and quite heavy, and its a long way down!

All in all I find ours excellent for the two of us.

We've got a ShippShape.

+ve:
- 2 minutes to erect.
- Bed already made up.
- Bedding stays clean and dry, and is not rolled up inside the cabin taking up space
- can drive a short distance with it up if you need to relocate.
- Up away from snakes, spiders, whatever
- better view (usually)
- bulky but light, so up on the roofracks is OK for stability

-ve:
- have to pack up if you are touring away from the camp for a day (although this is only 2 or 3 minutes, so not too bad)
- Going up and down the ladder if you forget something or need to pee
- can move around on a windy night, but not much worse than a normal tent for flapping noises etc.

They are a good solution I reckon. I don't like towing things though.....

I thought about a rooftop tent but in the end opted for a touring tent. I can erect the tent, put out bedding and personal items etc all in about 15 minutes. If the weather is fowl with rain belting down I can 'live' in the tent. I have room for chairs and a host of other gear. The issue of creepy crawleys has never been an issue and to suggest that you won't get spiders and the like in a rooftop is belief that the boogey men will go away if you turn the lights out. I carry my touring tent on the roof rack but I still have lots of room for other stuff if I need to put it up there. The touring tent can stay up at a base camp and it is a good place to put gear that I don't want to take when I go off for the day. Roof top tents as a consequence of all the bedding inside can be thought of as bulky, have a high wind resistance that can increase fuel consumption when driving and can add to the noise level. Don't get me wrong. I think rooftop tents are very good. They just weren't what I needed. I should have added I have Def90 for two people touring. No camper trailer.

Cheers
KarlB