Homemade Roof Top Tent

[chevycrew]

I was just thinking of the added noise and rocking of being so far up. I tent camp and have had wind so bad here in Utah that I have went and slept in the truck. Utah blows!

[Trail X]

I guess we'll know next week how we do in the Utah winds. Hehe.

[chevycrew]

Hopefully its not very wind!

[Trail X]

I always wanted to follow up this thread with a video of me setting up the tent. Takes right at 4 minutes, even with a lot of fumbling:



I didn't include setting up the awning... that would probably add another 4 minutes or so.

[djthumper]

Nice job.

[Skidder]

James, what are you carrying on your spare tire?

[steveroche]

Looks like one of these?

http://expeditionoffroad.com/expedition ... _bag_green

[Trail X]

Yep, a Trasharoo.

[dirty anton]

wow that goes up quicker than i would have imagined! great job!

[KE7WOX]

About that ladder.... a) Where did you get it, b) Is that the only vertical support (other than the truck itself)?

[Trail X]

Got the ladder from... umm... where DID I find that!? Looked through my records, and actually ordered it through Toyota of Dallas.

It is the main support for the cantilevered section for sure. It shares the weight with the aluminum lip and hinge. There is also the tension ropes that help support the cantilevered section. But yes, that's essentially the only vertical support.

[KE7WOX]

Oh wow, it's pretty sturdy then. I didn't notice it was the main support until I saw the video.

[SomeOffPave]

WOW ! Four minutes from On the Road to Home Sweet Home. Wow again!

Not to critize at all, I am asking only because you make it look soooo easy. In the first two minutes of your video there is (to my unexperienced eye) a lot of right to left to right to left to right again walking on your part. I am sure there are extremely good reasons why you have all ready considered and rejected my suggestions but why not have a bamboo pole with a boat hook on one end so you could push (or pull as needed) straps or what have you from one side to the other? Or maybe one of those two foot long devices that you squeeze the handle and jaws close at the other end?

Have you tried settin up the tent in the dark? How did that go"
How long does it take to collapse, put the cover on, and secure everything?

Once more time James, Great job.

[Trail X]

I will dictate the video:

Passenger side: undo two cover straps, throw over vehicle
Driver side: undo cover cinch, undo two hidden cinch hooks
Passenger side: undo two hidden cinch hooks, begin folding up cover
Driver side: finish folding up cover, stuff in truck
Passenger side: undo bedding compression straps
Driver side: extend ladder and begin unfolding tent, ensure cantilevered section is in lip, jump into tent and extend poles

You have a good point, a lot of back and forth. Not sure if a extension pole could help me at all, but... if I put the cover on backwards (with the cinch cord on the passenger side), I think that would help optimize how many times I have to jump back and forth. Instead, the above would look like:

Passenger side: undo two cover straps, throw over vehicle, undo cover cinch, undo two hidden cinch hooks
Driver side: undo two hidden cinch hooks, begin folding up cover
Passenger side: finish folding up cover, stuff in truck, undo bedding compression straps
Driver side: extend ladder and begin unfolding tent, ensure cantilevered section is in lip, jump into tent and extend poles

I have not set up the tent in the dark, but will tomorrow night, as we're going to get into camp at approx 8. So I'll try to take notes on how easy it goes. I don't expect any issues, since I know it inside and out, literally.

I have not yet timed collapse, but it's a bit more time. The process is essentially reverse, but it adds a couple minutes to get the bedding in order (because it folds up in the tent), and then a couple minutes to tuck in the tent after folding it back up. Then it takes a few minutes to get the cover back on. It's pretty fast though, honestly. Maybe 8-10 minutes?

I actually appreciate the questions, don't feel bad for asking them! I like re-evaluating my designs.

[mikekey]

Hate to dig up a thread that's been inactive for a few months, but as an avid tent camper myself, I really have to ask, how does this hold up to heavy winds?

[Trail X]

I camped a couple months back in a very heavy windstorm. The tent held up fine. A little more tautness to the fabric could have been good, but it could have also added stresses to the stitches more. My tent did hold up better than my buddy's tent, which collapsed in on him during the heavy gusts. The biggest problem with a roof top tent in heavy wind is the vehicle's suspension. The tent acts as a sail, and will rock the truck a good bit... which woke me a few times - though I'm not sure my buddy slept any better that night.

[samdavies]

hey man, your tent looks awesome, great job. i am in the process of building my own rooftent right now, could you please tell me where did you found your folding ladder? i havent had any luck finding one.
thanks
sam

[Trail X]

If I recall, I got mine from Toyota of Dallas. I was stuck on that object for a while too. Be sure to post up a link to your build once you get into it, I'd like to see what you've got going.

[Trail X]

Finally got the hoist up in the garage and the rtt off. Seems to work great so far. Allows me to even store the half rack on top if the rtt.

Annoying part is that I have to remove the cover and ladder to fit the truck w/ rtt into the garage. I do need to get more rope though... i'd like to be able to lower the tent all the way to the ground if needed.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Sweet!