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Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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  • 1 Post By roamingyak
  • 1 Post By Tom Mc

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  #1  
Old 19 Oct 2014
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AutoHome Airtop Rooftent
Has anyone any experience with these tents particularly long term performance of gas struts?
Cheers
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  #2  
Old 19 Oct 2014
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Hi Tony,

Not used one personally, but we travelled for a while in West Africa with Rob Soeteway from Belgium who had a regular Maggiolina mounted on his Discovery in 2003/4, he did a Western Trans with it and used to be on the HUBB as 'Robbert', might be worth sending him a PM.

He did like it, very quick to put up and take down and quite airy, I see the Airtop is rated as 'not as good in windy conditions' as the extreme versions, so looks like its not as beefy.
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  #3  
Old 26 Oct 2014
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I swapped from a Eezi Awn used in two long trips to a a Columbus Variant:
Columbus Variant roof top tent | Autohome Official Columbus Variant

The Eezi Awn is a nicer tent when up space wise, but in all other ways the Columbus is better for me. I'd recommend it's triangle shape over the rectangle of the ones I thing you are looking at. At 6ft I can almost stand up in one end, much easier for putting on/off clothes and intimate gymnastics is also much 'easier' with the triangle shape - try doggie style in the rectangle one.

30 Seconds to put up and about 1 min to put down. When you do it for 1,000 days in a row like I did thats a big consideration as you don't start/finish the day with a sweat and dusty hands etc as I used to with the Eezi Awn.

I built an extension to my roof rack out the back so I could climb up the roof rack ladder at the back onto the platform, take my shoes off and easily get in and out. Great for night time game viewing also - easy to swivel around and jump inside when the Lions see you.

Highly recommended piece of kit for me.... park facing the wind and its as good or better than my Eezi Awn was....
Last edited by roamingyak.org; 13 Apr 2015 at 01:11.
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  #4  
Old 10 Nov 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tony johnston View Post
Has anyone any experience with these tents particularly long term performance of gas struts?
Cheers
I see gas struts failing all the time at work, not sure I would go with the airtop.

We use a regular Maggiolina and have done since 2009 and wouldn't swap it for anything else. Also great in the wind.

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  #5  
Old 11 Nov 2014
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My gas struts are 9 years old and I have had no problems. They are only used once a day.

They are tiny and lightweight, easy enough to take two spares strapped onto the inside of the tent if your that worried. In event they didn't work it wouldn't be any drama, nothing that a bungee cord couldn't fix....

Does your Maggiolina use a chain inside etc?
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  #6  
Old 11 Dec 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roamingyak.org View Post
intimate gymnastics is also much 'easier' with the triangle shape - try doggie style in the rectangle one.

30 Seconds to put up and about 1 min to put down.
Ooeerrr!!! It was going so well, but a bit too much information mate!
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  #7  
Old 2 May 2018
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When the rooftent is rockin' don't come a'knockin'!
Woof, woof!
I too have a Columbus Variant on my Troopy, excellent piece of kit (both). Spoke to a techy chap at SGS in UK who make the struts for Airhome; he's given me the specs and email address of the guy in Italy who orders them. I'm after a couple of cosmetic rejects - say, illegible spec print - as spares. I may remember to post the result of that mission here. Failing that, a bunjee, gaffa tape, old coat-hanger and a shower curtain rail should suffice if not dislodged as we work our way through the Karma Sutra.
Should we now have a thread on rooftop tent carpet burn cures for sore knees?
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  #8  
Old 15 Mar 2019
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Does anyone have any comparisons between the Columbus Variant and the Columbus Carbon Fiber? I like the idea of saving 20lbs/9kg, but the price differential might not be worth it.

Is the tent base stiffer? Is the fabric material different? Any differences on the interior?
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  #9  
Old 19 Mar 2019
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I don't know this Carbon Fiber tent. But I think there are cheap ways to save 9kg. Like plastic jerrycans or just taking less stuff
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  #10  
Old 9 Apr 2019
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James baroud rooftent
After my original post i bought a James Baroud Evasion rooftent.Fab piece of kit with gas struts.I can erect it solo in 2 mins and 4 mins to put away.If i put a heavy blanket in it as well as the usual duvet then my wifeo helps to press it down.at the time it was cheaper than Autohome so check it out.Starting to see quite a few of them around.
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