navigator wrote:hi Jamie, I think of RTT's having 3 main advantages.
1. faster setup than many normal tents.
2. you don't have to find a large flat/smooth surface to set up the tent.
3. some safety factor with regards to dangerous critters.
4. space savings of not having to put a tent in the cargo area.
Your tent looks like one of those double cot things, it looks like a great idea but I'm wondering if you are gaining much by mounting it on the roof?
The cot tent will set up faster than other tents.
Since it is relatively small you don't need a large flat/smooth area to set it up.
Do you really have to worry about critters where you are going?
If you put it in a roof rack you solve your cargo space issue.
I'm just wondering out loud what you are really gaining by mounting it to the roof other than maybe it is really cool.
The tent cot is very comfortable and like you said quick set up, small when set up, and gets you off the ground. For my uses currently that is enough. the main issue i have is the space the tent takes up when folded up, it is heavy and takes up a whole lot more room than a typical tent. my soulution to this originaly was to carry it on the roof, but still use it on the ground. but that soon turned into using it on the roof
. it was the best soulution for me beacause i didnt have space for a basket or rack up there with out taking off my lights kayak mounts and hilift mount, and it fit in the unused space. the way i mounted it to the rack i can use it either on the roof or the ground, its just a matter of mounting to the rack or the legs for ground use.
I have also always loved the idea of a RTT but couldnt justify paying 800 to 1000 dollars for a tent
I am currently an assistant scout master at a fairly large boy scout troop, so sometimes space in a camp site is valuable. I take up alot of room in a camp site when fully set up awning, hamack, tent(s). As for the critters i havnt had a problem so far but i am planning longer trips further away from home and it might be a possiblity
as far as a ladder goes im thinking of a side mount ladder or one that attaches to the tent cot its self.