[BrewsterII]

Strong words.
I'm not sure if I'm considered a "rock crawler". I have crawled on rocks, I liked it, I don't crawl on them daily, but in spite of your demands, I'm pretty sure I can still comment.

I think anyone who wants to buy a RTT should. It's their money. No need to label everyone and judge who should and who should not purchase one.

If people find out they don't like it, no big hairy deal. Not a life changing investment.

For me, I laugh out loud when I see them on top of jeeps, trucks and suvs.
I'm not hating, just laughing. They bring me joy.

I'm sure in Africa, I would feel much differently about them.

I've owned just about every type of camping vehicle/tent/RV there is. Except for a RTT.
Choosing the perfect one is a real chore.
What works extremely well on one trip, isn't practical on the next.
The main thing is that we are getting out, enjoying nature with our friends and loved ones.

Happy camping,
MJ

I apologize, I didn't feel they were "strong words", and I certainly made no demands, just gave my opinions.

 

[Moab Junky]

I apologize, I didn't feel they were "strong words", and I certainly made no demands, just gave my opinions.

Again, Sorry

It's all good!

 

[Sanderhawk]

Just remember if you get up in the middle of the night to take a wiz your 7 feet off the ground. If you forget that first step is going to be real exciting

 

[NyNomad]

Just remember if you get up in the middle of the night to take a wiz your 7 feet off the ground. If you forget that first step is going to be real exciting

get the big bottle

 

[Quatsch]

I have considered a rtt but after seeing a guy set his up for half an hour, I decided not to pursue it. Discouraged by the price and extra weight I still slog it out with ground camping gear . I did invest in a $400 inflatable Hest mattress through REI and have been sleeping very well since.

My set up and breakdown routine for the entire camp is less than half an hour, that to me is what camping is about. Camp routine is is a mental exercise in perfecting it. The test is a first world problem.

 

[FJtest]

Just remember if you get up in the middle of the night to take a wiz your 7 feet off the ground. If you forget that first step is going to be real exciting

True, but if you remember to drain before you climb into bed, it's usually not an issue.

Obviously, how many beers you imbibe before bed can be a factor.

I occasionally do need to make the midnight trip down to ground level, and have added a pair of grab handles to the roof rack side rail on both sides of the ladder to make the transition from mattress to ladder a little less risky, especially when half asleep or when the ladder is wet from rain.

Filling the Gatorade bottle up top really doesn't appeal to me.

 

[FJtest]

I have considered a rtt but after seeing a guy set his up for half an hour, I decided not to pursue it. (snip)

Not sure what type of RTT you observed that took a 1/2 hour to set up. but the hard-shell tents with gas-struts open fully in less than 30 seconds. The manually-cranked units take about 1 minute to unlatch and crank up, and about 4 minutes to collapse if you take extra time to carefully fold and position the fabric as the upper and lower shells come together.

 

[thane]

I can set up my tent in 30 seconds while the rest of my friends are barely getting their tents out. I usually end up helping them anyways [emoji28]. Also, the feeling of being off the floor and safe throughout the night while sleeping on a mattress really gives me a great night's rest. Makes a huge difference. It also depends how many times you intend on using your tent. If you spend the money, you better get your moneys worth [emoji4][emoji106]

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

Not sure what type of RTT you observed that took a 1/2 hour to set up. but the hard-shell tents with gas-struts open fully in less than 30 seconds. The manually-cranked units take about 1 minute to unlatch and crank up, and about 4 minutes to collapse if you take extra time to carefully fold and position the fabric as the upper and lower shells come together.

Does the 30 seconds include sourcing and stacking the right combination of rocks to level the FJ

 

[NyNomad]

Does the 30 seconds include sourcing and stacking the right combination of rocks to level the FJ

No.. stacking rocks or other materials to level the fj(or any vehicle) doesn't count

 

[FJtest]

Does the 30 seconds include sourcing and stacking the right combination of rocks to level the FJ

In 6 years of use, I have never had to stack rocks or other material, or remove material, to 'level' the vehicle. There is really no need to be precisely level unless you have a big RV with a table, or with a propane fridge that needs to be level to operate correctly.

I don't mind if the truck is slightly nose-high or tail-high, we simply place the pillows at the high end of the tent and all is good. As far as left or right lean, I normally can jocky the truck into a position where it is reasonably level. Too much lean and we wake up over against the canvas at the low side, but the central location of the tent door makes it impossible to actually fall out (at least so far).

 

[BrewsterII]

Does the 30 seconds include sourcing and stacking the right combination of rocks to level the FJ

LOL

 

[mikey]

Here is my crude but effective setup for my Maggiolina.
The 2x6’s are notched to hold on to the bull bar, and relieved at the top to contour to the roof. I use a packing blanket to pad the roof. I slide the Maggiolina up the ramp a bit, then while holding it with one hand, I set the cross bar in place with clamps. That way it does not slide down on me and I can take a break at that point. After my break, i climb up on the bumper and slide it up the rest of the way. It would be easier with 2 for sure, but ive always done it alone.
View attachment 1143359 View attachment 1143360 View attachment 1143361

Red Green approves!

 

[Uncharted]

the ground is wet! Tents suck in the wet!

LoL the site has you registered from Ireland but you have CO plates.
Howerver if the forum isn't screwing it up the geolocation again;
Duit duit mickell, fáilte ó Ohio

 

[Winterpeg]

This is the main reason I don't think an RTT would work for me.... And I would destroy it going thru the tight trails to get here.....

The tent I use is a Cabela's XWT (Extreme Weather Tent).... Tested with 80mph winds.

It's been good to us so far.... Just damn heavy at over 80 lbs.

 

[NyNomad]

James Barouds are rated at about 70-75mph I believe

 

[BrewsterII]

Where is the OP in all of this ?

Anyway, there you go justinjam ......

Valid opinions from people that actually use, or have used RTT's

And opinions from people that have never owned one

Now , if we could move on to suspensions ...........................

 

[monkeybusiness]

For me it’s a sense of safety being high up off the ground. I do a lot of solo camping and it gives me peace of mind that it’s unlikely that something will be able to harm me while I sleep. I got the IKamper which is extremely easy to set up and take down. I can do it alone in under a minute. It stays super warm in the winter, I camped last week in 19* weather in my usual sleeping bag and no layers. It is the best investment in my exploring hobby by far!

Hey Amberrr, can you post a photo of your roof rack w/ the IKamper?

 

[dedhed]

Hey Amberrr, can you post a photo of your roof rack w/ the IKamper?

Not Ikamper but very similar, Roofnest condor XL

 

[dedhed]

Not Ikamper but very similar, Roofnest condor XL View attachment 1143706 View attachment 1143707

Bout $900.00 cheaper

 

[JKFJ08]

Here is my take they are not for everyone. I like mine have been in some severe weather and never been wet. never had any issues in high wind. if its cold or raining put the bonus room up. also nice to stand up in the bonus room to get dressed. I have a small heater that heats the bonus room if needed. can sit in there if the weather is bad and eat, play cards, smoke a cigar and avoid bugs if they are an issue. I still wheel my truck sometimes just need to take a different line.
also do not have a tent and sleeping bags in the truck sleeping bags and pillows stay in the tent. do not have do deal with animals, snakes or scorpions which can be a issue in AZ.