Less expensive roof top tent

Runt · 09-29-2009, 07:54 PM

Hello all
Been searching roof top tents (RTT) out lately and holy c#$p are they expensive. Found a less expensive one here:

- View topic - GROUP BUY RTT

- View topic - GROUP BUY RTT

Looks like a copy of the ARB tent. What are your thoughts on the ARB style?

Runt

**Corey** · 09-30-2009, 05:23 AM

The URL is missing.

FJNewb · 09-30-2009, 05:56 AM

Yes, Please fix the url

Brock · 09-30-2009, 06:01 AM

Roof Top Tent

They are actually great tents....good construction, good service....better price.

1leglance · 09-30-2009, 07:12 AM

There are basically 3 classes of Roof Top Tents.
The nylon ones like Camping Lab, Mombassa, ARB, Rack Tents and such...usually good quality (but there can be variation by spec)
Then the canvas tents like Eezi-Awn, Hannibal, MyWay and some others, these are nicer in that they last years longer, block out the light if you like to sleep in, are warmer in winter than the nylon, and can be much cooler in the heat as they block light and still have good ventalation.
Lastly you have the hardshell Autohome designs which are unique in the easy of setup and durability.

With many things you get what you pay for vs how often you will use it. If you are like me and out in your tent at least 1x a month and many times for extended trips then you want max durability with easy setup. I had a Autohome and loved it. Size was the only issue so since I wanted part of my roof rack aval I went with the a Hannibal canvas.

Other things to really look at:
Changing room under the tent, very useful for the wife, for a potty area or for pets.
The Eezi-Awn T-top is perfect over the back door of a FJC (see rockfj of expeditioneers for an example) as you can access the back of the rig, change clothes and enter the tent sight unseen.

Mounting system, make sure you keep the tent low like with the BajaRack EXP rack, great design and nice price.

What ever you get post up pics & trip reports.

**SwiCago** · 09-30-2009, 07:42 AM

My RTT is by far the least expensive, but requires some DIY

Cheap to replace the tent part, if ever damaged.

Easy to install, uses little to no storage space. Weight only 9lbs

Behold, The Ghetto RTT

Runt · 09-30-2009, 06:42 PM

Fixed the link

ArmyTaco · 10-15-2009, 08:24 PM

I love my Camping Lab for $800. I have never seen a Ezi Awn, and I am sure it is better, but for what I sue it for it will last me 10 years easy. I have had it on my truck for about a year and it is working well. Once I get into my house with a garage it will come off for storage to help it last even longer.

**fj4julian** · 10-16-2009, 12:21 AM

Thanks Lance, Mombasa has just come out with a new version of the Expedition Plus and it's really nice, IMO.

1leglance · 10-16-2009, 01:58 AM

Mombassa has come a long way and when you pair it up with a nice low mount rack like the Bajarack EXP it is a near perfect solution.

If someone is looking at a roof top tent and has interest in a changing room it is well worth it to do some measuring to see if you can have it open over the rear door so you have that access..I did some runs with JP of Expeditioneers and his Eezi-Awn T-top opened like that & it was very cool...of course I had the Hannibal side awning room which served a similar purpose