Thread: Why use roof-top tents?

would love one to sit atop the trailer for the kids ( the frame CC has on the rear of his HCPU and think tis will be the go for my trailer top...and then be able to use the trailer via side doors ) and then on top of the roof if needed, but my main concern has always been the matter of strength ... I'm 130kg and would be very worried how the extended fold out would handle my weight as well as the swmbo's... how do some you bigger guys find it ???

cheers

Originally Posted by cucinadio

I'm 130kg and would be very worried how the extended fold out would handle my weight as well as the swmbo's... how do some you bigger guys find it ???

cheers

I am interested too. I am up around the 130 kg as well, and she is somewhere near 100kg (don't tell her I said so!).

We have had 180kg + gear in ours with no worries.
Don't forget the ladder takes all the weight from the cantilever section in compression (strongest). So your roofracks should only ever be loaded in compression also.

With that in mind you do need to be careful how you setup when on soft surfaces like sand. You need to ensure the ladder feet do not sink too far or you put some horrible loads through your roof rack. An old carpet offcut does a decent job of spreading the load and as an added bonus gives your guest a hint to wipe their feet before climbing up.

Hi All,
I really appreciate your replies.

As some have said, it's often a matter of priorities.

I hope that more people contribute.

Rather than reply to each post, when it seems that the contributions are slowing down, I will give a more generic response.

Best Wishes,
Peter

It's horses for courses:-

Swag - a quick over nighter with little planning

Camper trailer - a planned holiday staying more than one night in any one spot

Roof tent - touring where you want a quick set up / pack up staying only one night. (10 - 15 mins including skirt)

The roof tent was fantastic for our quick trip around the corner country earlier this year - 2 adults 2 fur kids and ten days.

Originally Posted by woody

It's horses for courses:-

Swag - a quick over nighter with little planning

Camper trailer - a planned holiday staying more than one night in any one spot

Roof tent - touring where you want a quick set up / pack up staying only one night. (10 - 15 mins including skirt)

The roof tent was fantastic for our quick trip around the corner country earlier this year - 2 adults 2 fur kids and ten days.

so without implying the bleeding obvious ..... what kind of weight were you putting in the sleeping quarters ??

Originally Posted by KarlB

I have Def90 for two people touring.

with no trailer and no roof top tent ? Where the heck do you put everything ?

My wife brings a lot more gear with us - we can fill up the back of a 130 no worries !

Originally Posted by VladTepes

with no trailer and no roof top tent ? Where the heck do you put everything ?

My wife brings a lot more gear with us - we can fill up the back of a 130 no worries !

The basic setup is as follows (looking from the rear of the vehicle):

• National Luna Fridge on the left floor (40 litres fridge and 10 litres freezer compartments).
• Between the back of fridge and the passenger seat are two 28 litre plastic boxes (one on top the other).
• Behind the driver's seat are two larger 44 litre plastic boxes running lengthwise (again with one on top the other).
• In front of these larger boxes (ie to the rear of the vehicle), and between the drivers side wheel box and the fridge are two 20 litre jerry cans for water plus another 20 litre jerry for diesel. Two Front Runner fold up chairs fit neatly on top of the jerry cans.

All of the above sit on top of a sheet of plywood which has various fixings so that all of the above can be strapped in place to secure the load. One of the smaller boxes is full of recovery gear. The other three boxes are filled with food, cooking gear including a stove, torches etc. The top of the fridge, boxes, and jerry cans with chairs on top, is roughly level.

On top of passenger side wheel box fit two sleeping mats and sleeping bags, and two bags for clothes and personal items. Over the driver side wheel box goes an ARB portable air compressor (with a hydraulic jack inside); a small box of fishing tackle; tent poles and pegs, and a bucket in which sits a gas bottle (I do plan to move it outside). The loads over the wheel boxes is again almost level with the rest of the gear. I throw a large cotton floor rug over the top of the lot. Other odds and sods such as day packs, camera gear, small cardboard box with some fresh fruit and veg are tucked in where ever. First aid kit and some other stuff is stored between the back of the seats and the bulkhead bars (or what ever they are called).

On the roof rack (which is 1.4 metres long and weighs 14 kg) I carry the touring tent and a shovel. Under the roof rack sits a stainless table (775 x 11175 mm).

I have on order two auxiliary fuel tanks (45 litres and 40 litres) which will bring my fuel capacity up to 145 litres which will increase my remote touring range considerably and allow me to replace the fuel jerry can with a water one.


Cheers
KarlB