Roof top tent advice

 been debating for years whether to buy one, have always talked myself out of it and in the absence of going away with anyone who had one I always figured lots of cash for just a tent....however on a recent trip one of the guys brought his and I'm now convinced and as soon as I have some cash I'm going to buy one.....was awesome!

i'll probably be limited by cost to one of the cheaper versions such as KINGS or TIGERZ11.....has anyone had any experiance with these?.......retail for about $850.

if I don't go for one of these brands, I'll prob chase a good brand but second hand.

the real reason for my post.....does anyone have one mounted to a dual cab Ford Ranger? I don't want to mount above the Flexi fibreglass canopy because with it being a work car I don't want to buy an internal frame (as work might take the car back oneday and I would have done my dough), I'm happy to buy good roof bars that i can remove if/when I loose the work car......

any advise would be appreciated, especially how mounted, rating of roof bars/type etc, plus any issues anyone may have had.

obviously I need to mount so it opens sideways

cheers, Chris 


Super peg's picture

Posts: 760

Date Joined: 02/09/12

 If your camping and all set

Sun, 2015-05-31 19:14

 If your camping and all set up, and then wish to go for a drive some where, be it for a fish or a sightsee or the milk runs out, you need to pack up your whole tent man!

Rekon they are over rated man, good idea if you have another car but even then, what if that car gets bogged or breaks down

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The art of fishing consists of casting, winding, trolling and jigging

while freezing, sweating, swatting and swearing.

Posts: 790

Date Joined: 25/05/12

 Get a normal tent, my mates

Mon, 2015-06-01 08:38

 Get a normal tent, my mates got a roof top he hates it!! And always borrows my tent  for the same reasons peg mentions,

you can get a sweet black wolf or similar (great strong tents for steep and dhi) for the same price as a small roof top

 

but if you do want one  he has rodeo with a canopy  he mounts it on Rolla roof Racks, it's easy to get it on the roof with 2 ppl 

im sure he wants to sell it if your interested it's an oz trail cost him over a grand a few years ago but spends most of the time in the shed

Posts: 185

Date Joined: 01/10/14

I thought Id hold of until

Mon, 2015-06-01 13:28

I thought Id hold of until others commented. I have to concur with the others and recommend against the purchase. Being stuck with the thing on top all the time is just a hassle for access to many places around the metro or built up areas and if you do take it off where do you put it? Just more trouble. If you are prepared to buy some roof bars use them to carry a normal tent.

Posts: 791

Date Joined: 05/12/09

 Get yourself a tent cot big

Mon, 2015-06-01 17:43

 Get yourself a tent cot big boy size!

fn awesome!!! 

Super peg's picture

Posts: 760

Date Joined: 02/09/12

 Had a mate that had one and

Sat, 2015-06-06 19:07

 Had a mate that had one and he set up a pulley system in his garage so he would just drive under it and hoist it up, when he wanted to go camping he would drive under and lower it down and attach, he sold it now though, 

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The art of fishing consists of casting, winding, trolling and jigging

while freezing, sweating, swatting and swearing.

Chasin' Tail's picture

Posts: 37

Date Joined: 14/03/13

 Just did my first trip with

Wed, 2015-06-10 12:23

 Just did my first trip with a Darche Panorama roof top tent, absolutely loved it, heaps of room, up off the ground and 5 minutes to set up/pack up. I was worried about the whole packing up to move the car but you only set the tent up at the end of the day to go to bed. Might be a pain if you were staying in one place for a week.

 

Have it mounted over the canopy on a Colorado with internal strengthening kit. Not sure what the roof weight limit is on a dual cab.

Walfootrot's picture

Posts: 1385

Date Joined: 23/07/12

Good up Darwin with all the

Wed, 2015-06-10 14:38

Good up Darwin with all the snapping hand bags .....................

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Perfish's picture

Posts: 103

Date Joined: 15/11/11

Avoid them

Thu, 2015-06-11 10:03

Avoid them for all the reasons stated.

Just got my hands on an OzTent - up in 30 sec (plus pegging time), easy to stow and can be left behind on day trips..... you can get connectors for the awning to attach to a caravan or car if you want.

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Swompa's picture

Posts: 3970

Date Joined: 14/10/12

 Bro in law has a Black Wholf

Fri, 2015-06-12 15:34

 Bro in law has a Black Wholf tent. Almost better than my camper trailer.

during the day he goes for a drive.  With a roof top tent I assume you couldn't do that.

On gumtree the other week, there was one and I contemplated buying it for future trips when I want to take the boat

Posts: 43

Date Joined: 10/02/12

There great for overnightstop

Sat, 2015-06-13 13:03

There great for overnightstop on the beach or bush, if you want to stay set up but drive about to differnt locations get a trailer and bolt the tent to the top of that.

Then you have a trailer tent also!

ChrisG's picture

Posts: 558

Date Joined: 30/12/11

 Thanks for the comments

Sun, 2015-06-21 15:51

 Thanks for the comments Gents. Appreciate it.

I'm sold on the idea, did have doubts for all the negative reasons stated but when I stay anywhere for more than a single night I have other options/gear which I leave set up whilst I go for a drive etc. roof top tent wasn't for that purpose, it's strictly for a quick overnighter on the beach or similar - of which I do heaps of. Also, camper trailer not suited for when I'm towing a boat and when have back of ute full up to the gunnels with all the other crap I take away. Also camper trailer is problematic on some / most of the tracks I go on. As I said I'm sold on the idea, might well be a mistake but mine to make I suppose.

Was more chasing advice on mounting on a dual cab, and what roof racks people have used, problems may have had with the mounting etc?..

scubafish's picture

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Date Joined: 15/08/12

rooftop

Sun, 2015-06-21 16:43

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR9vJfvmTy8

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ChrisG's picture

Posts: 558

Date Joined: 30/12/11

 Cheers 

Sun, 2015-06-21 17:00

 Cheers 

Posts: 790

Date Joined: 25/05/12

 Good chit Chris, like I said

Mon, 2015-06-22 18:25

 Good chit Chris, like I said my mates got one he'll probably offload in good condition .. if your interested pm me and I'll point you in right direction 

 

Mick's picture

Posts: 501

Date Joined: 28/08/06

 Howling moon all the way.

Thu, 2015-06-25 12:03

 Howling moon all the way. Have a heap of mates up here with different roof tops ( ARB, Tigerz, ect) and theyre amazed by the space and comfort of ours. Packing up takes all of 10 minutes if you need too. Had it in 25knots, and in pissing rain, on different ocassions, and it stood up brilliantly. Well worth the money. 

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